Surviving the Succession #1
Author: umedrop24
Date: 2026-02-14T16:42:27.957000+00:00

Information

Table of Contents URL: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/50194/surviving-the-succession-a-transmigration-fantasy

Surviving the Succession (A Transmigration Fantasy)

by umedrop24

Original ONGOING Portal Fantasy / Isekai
Time Travel
Kingdom Building
Drama
Action
Fantasy
Historical
Gender Bender
Low Fantasy
Magic
Reincarnation
Strategy

Warning
This fiction contains:

- Profanity

- Sensitive Content

Formerly titled Transmigrating Into the Main Character's Political Rival

Kayla is a burned-out college graduate who's neck-deep in student debt, stuck in a minimum-wage job, and about to be evicted from her apartment. One morning, she abruptly wakes up in the body of a short-lived villain from a web novel set in Ancient China. Now, Kayla has to deal with living in the body of a man while trying to survive as the doomed political rival of the Seventh Prince. She'd rather roll over and play dead than take on a fight, but fate and the Imperial family seem to have different plans for her. Caught in a web of political intrigue and backstabbing amidst a succession struggle between the Imperial Princes, it will take Kayla every ounce of wit she has to stay alive.

A political fantasy set in Ancient Chinese with elements of magic, transmigration, and time travel. Updated irregularly.

You can find me on Patreon.

Discord link here.

Glossary/Character Index

Character Index

Zhao Household

Kayla

A young woman stuck in a minimum wage job who gets transmigrated into the body of Zhao Wenyuan.

Zhao Wenyuan/赵文远

A 25-year-old young man, son of the Imperial Princess (Emperor's younger sister) and grandson of Grand Duke Zhao. He serves as the Left Secretariat of Justice in the Imperial Court (吏部左侍郎）

Chujiao

Wenyuan's childhood friend and personal serving girl. Her name means "Beauty from the region of Chu", and her original name is Jing Shuyou "景淑尤", meaning "very beautiful and kind". The name Shuyou originates from the works of a famous Chu region poet.

Grand Duke Zhao/赵侯爷

Wenyuan's paternal grandfather and the Central Secretariat/尚书令 of the Department of State Affairs/尚书. He is the older brother of the current Emperor's paternal grandmother, i.e., the older brother of the deceased Great Grand Empress Dowager, and also the most powerful man in court. He was adopted as a son and heir by the former head of the household, his paternal uncle, who did not have any sons himself. While he is legally and socially considered the Great Grand Empress Dowager's older brother, he is in fact her cousin.

Housekeeper Wang

The housekeeper of the Grand Duke's household (manages the Outer and Inner Quarters) and the Grand Duke's most loyal and reliable servant.

Matron Li

A high-ranking female servant who manages the Inner Quarters of the Grand Duke's household.

Qu Boyong

A young guard who is assigned to Wenyuan.

Imperial Family

Emperor Yin/Zhou Yin/周胤

The current Emperor, Wenyuan's maternal uncle. His name means "successor of the forefathers",

Empress Dowager

The mother of the current Emperor and the late Imperial Princess, and the previous Emperor's most favored wife. She was instrumental in the coronation of her son, and dotes on her only maternal grandson Wenyuan.

Seventh Prince/Zhou Xianchun/周显淳

The main character of the novel Kayla transmigrated into and the man who killed Wenyuan in the original timeline. His name means "to show pureness and honesty".

Third Prince/Zhou Kuang/周匡

Xianchun's main political rival, the Emperor's most favored son. His name means "to correct or rectify".

Fifth Prince/Zhou Yunqi/周昀祺

The fifth prince, the characters of his name mean "sunlight" and "luckiness", stemming from the good weather on the day of his birth.

Wise Consort/贤妃

The mother of Yunqi, the Fifth Prince. She is in poor health after experiencing a tragic life event, after her father was executed and her family banished from the capital. Her family was a politically powerful clan, though their influence had declined with the rise of Grand Duke Zhao.

Noble Consort/贵妃

The mother of Kuang, the Third Prince. She hails from an illustrious clan of generals.

Consort Chen

The mother of Xianchun, the Seventh Prince. She was a commoner and died in Xianchun's childhood.

Consort Liang

One of Xianchun's love interests in the original timeline, is married to the current Emperor. She is from the illustrious Liang clan and is known for her beauty and kindness.

Consort Zhao

Wenyuan's aunt and the Grand Duke's niece. She is one of the Emperor's concubines.

Consort Liu

Liu Hongyu's daughter and one of the Emperor's concubines. She had a daughter who did not survive infancy.

Emperor Gaozong

The grandfather of Zhou Yin, the current Emperor. Great-grandfather of Kuang, Yunqi, Xianchun, and Wenyuan. He rose to power after his older brother, who was the Crown Prince, was deposed.

Sir Zheng

A eunuch who issued the Imperial Decree for Kayla, important in the original timeline but has yet to do anything significant.

Cao Shuyi/Third Prince Consort/三王妃

The wife of the Third Prince Zhou Kuang and mother of his son. She hails from the Cao family, a clan of scholars and doctors that has relatively few high-ranking officials in court

Former First Prince

Son of the former Empress, and the heir apparent due to both age and the rank of his mother until he was demoted to the rank of commoner and exiled from the capital. His wife and children were also exiled with him and his in-laws were also removed from positions of political influence. He is no longer allowed to use the surname Zhou.

Former Second Prince

Second son of the former Empress, demoted to the rank of commoner and exiled from the capital along with his older brother. Like the former First Prince's family, his in-laws and his wife suffered similar fates.

Former Fourth Prince/Zhou Zhen/周贞

An upright young man who was completely unsuited for politics, he died of illness after being adopted out from the Imperial Family (aka removed from the family tree) to the family of Archduke Qi. His name Zhen has several meanings, but is often used to describe someone as "pure/upright/honest".

Sixth Prince/Zhou Shu/周曙

Sixth Prince of the Imperial Family, passed away after a horseriding accident. His name "Shu" means "light of the rising sun" and can also signify the arrival of good things or the transition to harmonious and fortuitous circumstances.

Archduke Qi/齐王

Younger half-brother of the current Emperor Zhou Yin, he served as a teacher to the Princes before being forced to leave the capital.

Former Empress/Empress Gongsun/公孙皇后

The former Empress who was deposed after constant conflicts between the Emperor and her family, the Gongsun clan. She committed suicide soon after being deposed.

Retainers of the Imperial Family (Excluding members of the Three Departments and Six Ministries)

Yu Bianfu

A female general who served in the Imperial Guards at the Empress Dowager's side, Xianchun's childhood friend and arm in the military.

Liu Boyue

Xianchun's childhood friend and right-hand man, his primary strategist and confidant.

Qiu Jinwei

Yunqi's strategist, a brilliant man with his fair share of eccentricities.

Li Que

A member of the Imperial Investigator Bureau, he is a high-ranking investigator who answers directly to the Emperor.

Tabuyir

A member of the Imperial Investigator Bureau, a high-ranking investigator who answers directly to the Emperor. He comes from a steppe tribe in the Northwest.

Lord Liang

Head of the Liang clan and originally a scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He sides with Xianchun, and was appointed as the new Minister of Justice following Xie Yunan's removal.

Chen Jian

A young Imperial Investigator who is mentored by Li Que.

An Haoyang

A young Imperial Investigator who has loyalties outside of the Bureau.

Imperial Court

Secretariat Director Liu Hongyu

The Secretariat Director/中书令, head of the Secretariat Department/中书, and the Grand Duke's ally. He is the father of Consort Liu, one of the Emperor's many concubines.

Chancellery Director He Shirang

Chancellery Director/门下侍郎 of the Chancellery Department/门下省, not the brightest tool in the box.

Minister Jun Shao

Minister of Personnel/吏部尚书, head of the Ministry of Personnel/吏部. Xianchun's ally.

Minister Dong Shiqing

Minister of Revenue/户部尚书, head of the Ministry of Revenue/户部. Ally of the Grand Duke.

Minister Liu Xiu

Minister of Rites/礼部尚书, head of the Ministry of Rites/礼部. He is the Grand Duke's nephew-in-law and Liu Hongyu's nephew.

Minister Zhao Wei

Minister of War/兵部尚书, head of the Ministry of War/兵部. He is the Grand Duke's distant relative

Minister Xie Yunan

Minister of Justice/刑部尚书, head of the Ministry of Justice/刑部, the Grand Duke's ally.

Minister Hu Weizhi

Minister of Works/工部侍郎, head of the Ministry of Works/工部. A neutral man with little presence in court.

Ge Renqian

Right Secretariat of Justice/刑部右侍郎, loyal to the Grand Duke.

Jia Fu

A lower-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice and Wenyuan's "assistant", acts as the Grand Duke's eyes and ears in the Ministry of Justice.

Director Ke

Director of Ministry Affairs/刑部司郎中, one of the directors of the bureaus within the Ministry responsible for the administration of the law.

Director Jiang

Director of Ministry Expenditures/刑部比部郎中, one of the directors of the bureaus within the Ministry.

Zhang Dingyong/张定勇

The new Right Secretariat of Justice, Kuang's subordinate.

Sun Ruhui/孙如晦

Formerly the County Magistrate/县尉 (position similar to County Sheriff) of Rongcheng County, now serving as a Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review.

Eastern Turkish Khaganate

Chuluo Khagan

Current ruler/Khagan of the Eastern Turkish Khaganate. He was the youngest son of the previous Khagan and named as the successor, but his older brother rebelled against him. Chuluo was forced to seek aid from the Wu Dynasty, receiving military support from Emperor Gaozong. Unwilling to act as a puppet ruler, relations soured between the two kingdoms after Chuluo's reinstatement as ruler, eventually resulting in an uneasy peace.

Other Characters

Yue Wuxuan

Governor of Anling county, he was executed for treasonous statements after being framed by the Grand Duke's faction. He had attempted to uncover evidence of the Grand Duke's corruption.

Lady Yue

Yue Wuxuan's wife, a descendant of the Great General Liang Anguo, who was wrongfully executed after being framed. She and her daughter were spared from death when her husband was executed and welcomed to the capital as members of the Liang clan.

Liang Anguo

Great General of the West, a deceased general who was framed and executed. He is the grandfather of Lord Liang and Lady Yue.

Chen Caichun

The younger sister of Imperial Investigator Chen Jian, she is a brilliant young woman who worked as a scribe until becoming a Ministerial Case Reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review, serving as an eighth-rank official.

Glossary

Government Structures

Three Departments/Six Ministries: A governance system used in several dynasties where the Imperial Court is governed under a hierarchy with the Emperor at the top, the Three Departments under him, and the Six Ministries beneath, with further divisions within departments and localities.

Department of State Affairs/尚书: Primary executive institution of the court and one of the Three Departments. The Department of State Affairs is the highest-ranked of the Three Departments.

Secretariat Department/中书: Policy formulating agency of the court, one of the Three Departments, ranked below the Department of State Affairs.

Chancellery/门下省: Advisory and review agency for the Emperor and the Secretariat Department, one of the Three Departments, but also the least important one.

Ministry of Personnel/吏部: Equivalent of the Human Resources department of the Imperial Court as well as officials throughout the country, one of the Six Ministries.

Ministry of Revenue/户部: Responsible for government revenue, population census, land census, and collection of taxes. One of the Six Ministries.

Ministry of Rites/礼部: Responsible for religious ceremonies and ritual offerings of the Imperial court, registration and supervision of priests within China, management of the Imperial Examinations, and foreign relations. One of the Six Ministries.

Ministry of War/兵部: Controlled the appointments/demotions of military officials, maintenance of military material, and administrated the courier network (the last part varied by dynasty, but applies for this setting). One of the Six Ministries.

Ministry of Justice/刑部: In charge of judicial, investigative, and penal processes. Also in charge of arresting criminals. One of the Six Ministries.

Ministry of Public Works/工部: In charge of public infrastructure, the management of public and private farming land, maintenance of city walls, irrigation and flood prevention, etc. One of the Six Ministries.

Hanlin Academy/翰林院: An advisory, academic, and administrative institution that functioned similarly to a think tank, university, or research institute. Composed of elite scholars who completed secretarial or literary tasks for the court, one of their primary duties was the interpretation of the Chinese classics/canonical texts, which was what aspiring officials were tested on in the Imperial Examination. Also drafted secret edicts for the Emperor/served as personal secretaries for the Emperor.

Imperial Investigation Bureau: Unlike the previous institutions listed that actually existed, this is a fictional amalgamation of multiple investigative agencies that answered directly to the Emperor through the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties, but approximately corresponds to the 御史台/Censorate, a high-level supervisory agency that served as the Emperor's eyes and ears and checked administrators at every level of government. The Censorate had to move constantly to complete their jobs, but they didn't have to wear masks, I just liked that concept.

Court of Judicial Review/大理寺: The institution for oversight, judicial investigation, and review of judicial cases in Ancient China. This often operated in conjunction (and sometimes in competition) with the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate (corresponds to the Imperial Investigation Bureau but with less tree-jumping and cool masks). Approximately corresponds to the highest court/Supreme Court today, has existed since the Qin dynasty in various forms and was sometimes dissembled but mostly retained its original form and function until the Republic of China era.

Government Officials

Note: There are way too many, so I will only add the ones that become relevant as we go. Same for the Government Structures, I'm leaving out many institutions/agencies that aren't relevant yet.

Official Ranks/官品:Officials were split into 9 ranks, with First Rank/一品 officials as the highest, and Ninth Rank/九品 as the lowest. In the Tang Dynasty, officials were distinguishable by their robes. First to Third Rank officials wore varying shades of purple, 4th to 5th rank wearing red robes, and 6th rank and below wearing varying shades of green.

Central Secretariat/尚书令: The head of the Department of State Affairs, a very powerful and prestigious position to the point that it was often left empty during the Tang Dynasty due to fear of putting so much power in someone's hands, currently filled by the Grand Duke.

Secretariat Director/中书令: The head of the Secretariat Department, often worked closely with the Emperor.

Director of the Chancellery/门下侍郎: Head of the Chancellery.

Minister/尚书: Head of one of the Six Ministries.

Left and Right Secretaries/左右侍郎: Basically the two Vice-Ministers of each Ministry.

Bureau Director/郎中: The heads of the bureaus under each Ministry.

Imperial Guards/禁军: They're called Imperial Guards, but they're basically the personal army of the Emperor that answers directly to him, responsible for protecting the Emperor and Imperial family's safety.

1-The Main Character's Political Rival

Kayla rubbed her temples wearily, staring at the wall with a blank stare. It was her last night in this apartment. Just as well, there'd been a leaky sink and a roach infestation for months now, and Kayla would be more than happy to get a good night's sleep without the sound of her neighbors going at it loudly at ungodly hours of the night. The only problem-well, the only two problems, was that Kayla didn't have anywhere to move into, and she also wasn't getting back her security deposit.

"Fuck capitalism," she groaned. "Fuck landlords. Mao was right."

A roach skittered across the floor. Kayla ignored it. She wasn't going to do her landlord any favors by reducing the number of pests in this shitty hole of an apartment.

Kayla got up and shuffled across the floor to flop onto her bed. The cracked ceiling loomed over her, with the spiderweb she couldn't reach last time still stuck stubbornly in its corner. She was 25 already, but for the last three years, Kayla had no social life and had only gone from one minimum wage job to another, wallowing in student debts and stacks of bills. Kayla was lonely, broke, and about to be homeless.

She let out a deep sigh. Maybe if I was born into a rich and powerful family, my life would be better. With that thought, Kayla shut her eyes and went to sleep.

/////////

"Young lord," a lilting voice called softly next to Kayla's ear. She blinked in confusion. That was not the alarm she'd set on her phone. Kayla's eyes shot open to a high ceiling and what looked to be a lot of embroidered silk hanging from it.

"What the fuck?!" Kayla sat up and glanced around in shock. A young woman in what looked to be traditional Chinese robes stepped back, looking at her with a slightly frightened expression. "Wait, what the hell are you doing in here?!"

The young woman's face quickly slipped into an apologetic expression. She was very pretty and moved in an elegant way as she bowed. Her hair was braided and twisted into a bun, wearing light green robes with narrow sleeves as well as simple but classy jewelry. Kayla stared at the young woman in confusion before realizing the whole room was completely unfamiliar. The bed was not only huge, it was covered in a patterned silk duvet. Since when could Kayla afford silk? Beyond the see-through curtains that surrounded the bed, she could make out a room bigger than her entire studio apartment, with mahogany furniture and porcelain vases.

"What the ever-loving fuck?!" Kayla demanded. She frowned and cleared her throat. Her voice sounded weird, but her throat didn't feel sore.

"Young lord, I apologize for disturbing your sleep, but you were to have lunch with the Grand Duke," the young woman said, head bowed slightly. Kayla gave the woman a the-fuck-are-you-saying-to-me look, touching her throat lightly to check for soreness. Kayla froze as she felt a lump. Holy shit I got throat cancer. She didn't even have medical insurance, guess she'd just have to die now. She swallowed deeply. The lump bobbed. Kayla jumped off the bed in surprise.

The young woman hurriedly took a few more steps back before kneeling on the ground with her head lowered. "Young lord, please forgive my rudeness, I deserve to be punished," the young woman said piteously. Kayla stared at her in shock.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Kayla demanded. The young woman lowered her head further.

"Please punish me as you see fit, young lord."

"What is this?! A BDSM reality show? Real-life Squid Game? Seriously girl, what is all this? Where am I?" Kayla snapped. She whirled around, searching for a camera. There had to be a hidden camera somewhere that was filming all this to try and make her go viral as some sort of Karen. Her eyes landed on a mirror.

Kayla froze. A tall and handsome young man stared back at her with a look of surprise. He had long hair and a wiry figure, dressed in the type of white sleeping robes you saw in Chinese period dramas. Kayla grabbed at her shirt. The young man did the same.

"Young lord? Young lord, can you hear what this servant's saying?"

Kayla turned to look at the young woman who was still kneeling on the floor.

"What?"

"Are you feeling unwell, young master? You were rather drunk last night, so the servants escorted you back to your quarters."

"My quarters?" Kayla asked weakly. Thinking about it now, her voice didn't sound raspy. It sounded like a guy's. Holy shit, no way.

"Yes, young lord, this servant helped you into your bed last night," the young woman said.

"I didn't drink last night," Kayla said.

The young woman didn't reply, but only lowered her head further. Kayla looked back towards the mirror. The young man looked back.

"Do you know my name?" Kayla asked, still staring at what appeared to be her reflection.

"Of course, young lord."

"Well? What the fuck is my name?" Kayla asked, voice trembling as a sneaking suspicion began to dawn on her.

"Your name is Zhao Wenyuan, my lord," the young woman replied.

Kayla's legs gave out, and she unceremoniously crashed to the ground. The young woman hurriedly got up and rushed over with an expression of worry.

"Young lord, are you alright?!"

Kayla stared despairingly at her reflection in the mirror.

"Oh shit."

//////////

Kayla had liked reading web novels on the bus to and from work. It gave her mental fuel to get through another day of mind-numbing work and her manager's ceaseless micro-managing, offering her a welcome escape from reality. One of the last novels she'd been following was Palace of the Six-Clawed Dragon, set in a fantasy version of ancient China. It followed the ascension of the main character to the seat of Crown Prince, and eventually the throne to become the Emperor, a combination of political intrigue, romance, military, and action genres, with random fantasy elements thrown in for just the heck of it. It had been quite a decent read if not a little cliche.

The main character, Zhou Xianchun was the son of the emperor and a serving maid, ranking lower in status than any of his brothers. Against all odds, Xianchun eventually grew into a politically-powerful prince who rivaled the Third Prince, Zhou Kuang for the position of Crown Prince. The novel focused on the showdown between the half-brothers for the most part, but the first arc of the plotline started off with a power struggle between Xianchun and Grand Duke Zhao, one of the most powerful men in the Imperial court. The struggle ended in Grand Duke Zhao's crushing loss, with the old man losing both his title and his grandson, Zhao Wenyuan.

Kayla groaned, recalling that Wenyuan had died after getting tortured, stabbed multiple times, and then run over by a loaded wagon before being hung off a bridge until he bled to death. Staring at her reflection, Kayla felt a mounting sense of horror.

"Wow, I am so fucked."

2-The Grand Duke

Kayla stared at the ceiling listlessly, completely ignoring the doctor as he tried to ask her questions in a soft voice. This was it. She was going to die horribly, and she didn’t know what to do about it. Kayla ran the events of the novel over in her head, but the later chapters had been so interesting that she’d forgotten almost completely about the early arcs.

It suddenly occurred to her that Xianchun had been 25 at the start of the story, and the Grand Duke’s grandson had been the same age. Kayla sat up immediately.

“Young lord! Please take it easy,” the doctor hurriedly said. Kayla whirled towards him.

“How old am I?” she asked.

“25, my lord,” the doctor said slowly, eyes moving over Kayla’s face with a worried look.

“Shit,” Kayla groaned, flopping back onto the bed. Not much wiggle room there.

“Young lord, are you in pain?” the doctor asked. Kayla didn’t respond. The doctor tried again.

“Sir, by any chance, are you experiencing any issues with your memory?”

Kayla turned her gaze onto him again. The doctor immediately balked, lowering his head in a bow.

“Please forgive me, my lord!”

Kayla sat up again. “Actually, yes. I am.”

The doctor relaxed slightly. “My lord, please forgive me for asking, but do you remember anything from last night?”

Kayla shook her head.

“Then, do you feel any pain or discomfort?”

Kayla had a headache from all the stress and anxiety, so she pointed to her head and nodded. The thought of suddenly having a man’s body was really stress-inducing. Just the notion of using the restroom made her heart twinge with discomfort. “My heart also feels weird,” she added.

The doctor’s expression was growing graver. “My lord, I’m afraid that you have been poisoned,” the doctor said.

Kayla glanced at him in shock. Just how bad was her luck?

“Please be at ease, my lord, it seems that there was only a minuscule amount of poison, and it was neutralized by the large amount of alcohol you consumed last night. However, you will still experience some side effects,” the doctor said. “I will prescribe some medicine for you, please be sure to drink all of it and get some rest.”

Kayla didn’t respond and sat in silence until the doctor left. A good number of serving girls, including the young woman from earlier, still remained. She ignored them for a while, but they didn’t leave.

“Okay, can you please leave?” Kayla asked. She glanced at them as they shifted nervously. “Can I get some privacy here?”

The young woman bowed. “Then we’ll leave you to rest, young lord,” she said, before gracefully leaving the room. The other serving girls followed suit, and Kayla watched as they left single file. She lay back down, trying to recall anything about the ill-fated Wenyuan beyond his gruesome death scene.

Wenyuan had joined politics through nepotism and became an official solely through his grandfather’s connections as well as his bloodline, as the sole son of the Grand Duke’s deceased son and the Emperor’s recently deceased sister. Wenyuan had acted as the main character’s political rival for a time, serving as his grandfather's puppet, until the main character took him out and started aiming for the Grand Duke. In other words, Wenyuan wasn’t even a proper rival, he was cannon fodder. And he’d gotten all the benefits of a luxurious life while Kayla was getting the shitty ending. How the fuck was any of this fair?

Kayla buried her face into the soft blankets and groaned, feeling too overwhelmed to even cry. The door opened and someone stepped through.

“Didn’t I ask you guys to give me some privacy here?” Kayla asked without removing her face from the fabric. It came out rather muffled. Steady footsteps approached her and someone pulled the blanket away with a firm grip.

“Hey!” Kayla turned to glare at the rude asshole and stopped. The person in front of her was a tall man with grey hair and broad shoulders. He was dressed in several layers of silk, with a purple outer robe embroidered with a four-claw dragon, and had a seriously impressive beard. Everything about him radiated an intimidating aura of power.

“Oh, um,” Kayla fumbled for words and moved to sit up. The man put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back to the bed.

“Stay there, Wenyuan,” the man said. “How are you feeling?”

Kayla didn’t have to remember the novel’s description of the Grand Duke to tell who was standing before her.

“Uh, I’m ok, I guess,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. The Grand Duke looked at her with a concerned expression, but his eyes seemed strangely aloof.

“I was worried,” the Grand Duke said. “Is it true that your memories were affected?”

“Yes,” Kayla replied quickly. The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed.

“That won’t do, I can’t have the heir of this household go around like that. We’ll have to find the gaps and fill them before you return to the court, or I won’t be able to quash the rumors.”

“Sure,” Kayla said unsurely. He seems more concerned with his reputation than his grandson's condition.

“Don’t worry about the work on your hands. Just focus on recovery.”

“Thanks, grandpa,” Kayla said. She didn’t know what title to use with the Grand Duke, so she just guessed randomly. A look of displeasure flashed across his face.

“It seems your condition was worse than I thought. Once your health is better, we’ll have a lot to work on,” the Grand Duke said disapprovingly. Kayla swallowed nervously and nodded. It seems she’d guessed wrong.

“Get some rest,” the Grand Duke said. Kayla bowed her head and mumbled her thanks as the man swiftly left the room. She let out another deep sigh. It seemed this would be a lot harder than she’d thought.

//////////

After a truly uncomfortable experience of using the restroom in a stranger’s body, Kayla returned to alternating between despair and blind panic. What the hell did she even do now? She wasn’t smart enough to find a way out of this, especially given how many mind games the main character and pretty much every named character played at any given moment. After running over a few options, the only one that made sense was straight up backing out of the story.

Couldn’t she just leave the capital?

Wenyuan had been strictly controlled by the Grand Duke, but if she pretended to be chronically ill, the Grand Duke would probably let her leave. The story was set in Ancient China, after all, no matter what fantasy elements there were, people were still superstitious. If a young man in perfect health suddenly fell ill and no doctors could find the cause, people would think that supernatural forces were at play. Or at least, that was the impression Kayla had gotten from the period dramas focusing on the harems of various Emperors, where characters were routinely sent to live in remote temples when they were assumed to be cursed by spirits.

Kayla vaguely regretted watching the soapy harem dramas instead of shows that focused more on historical details that could probably help her out, but it was too late for that. In her defense, the harem dramas were much easier to find for free on pirating sites and consumed much less mental energy to understand. The few history classes on Ancient China she'd taken had also focused on covering large periods of time in rather broad strokes, with little information on how one went about getting out of politics without incurring too much suspicion.

From what Kayla could tell, the Grand Duke only used his grandson because Wenyuan’s bloodline was closer to the royal family than anyone short of the Imperial princes. If Wenyuan became useless, the Grand Duke probably would want him out of the way.

Kayla decided to play sick with everything she had. Her life literally depended on it.

How the hell do I pretend to be sick? Cough a lot? Kayla quickly crossed out that idea. Her fake coughs were way too obvious, and she also couldn't fake a fever. She briefly ran through her options for feigning illness as a perfectly healthy person, before deciding that the only viable options were to fake fatigue and lack of appetite, two of the most common symptoms in the period dramas she'd seen.

When the servants brought her meal, which was served on silver plates, Kayla determinedly only ate a quarter of it before turning away from her meal with a nauseated expression.

“Is the meal not to your liking, young lord?” the young woman who’d woken her up asked.

“I’m not very hungry,” Kayla replied.

“Are you not feeling well, my lord?”

“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty queasy,” Kayla said hoarsely. She waved her hand at the meal. “Sorry, but could you take this away?” The young woman looked at her in concern but bowed and complied. It was weird to have people bow to her, but Kayla shifted uncomfortably and refrained from saying anything. The servants quickly and silently took away the food, and the young woman bowed to Kayla.

“Then we’ll leave you to rest, young lord. Is there anything else?”

“What’s your name?” Kayla asked. The young woman looked up in surprise before lowering her head again.

“My name is Chujiao,” the young woman said. Kayla tilted her head.

“Which two characters?”

“Chu for the region of Chu, and Jiao for charming, my lord.”

Kayla nodded. Her mother was Chinese, but Kayla never learned the language. Strangely, not only could she now speak it fine, but she also recognized the characters Chujiao spoke of. Maybe it was some kind of transmigration amenity.

“Thanks, that’s all.”

Chujiao bowed. “Then I’ll take my leave now.”

Kayla stayed in bed for the rest of the day, and ate sparingly, ignoring Chujiao’s increasingly worried gaze. She lay awake for most of the night and was roused again by Chujiao in the morning. After complaining of a headache, Kayla was once again consigned for bed rest. Over the next two days, Kayla continued to eat as little as possible and turn away a meal randomly, hoping to be diagnosed as having something seriously wrong with her as quickly as possible.

She tried taking a bath but was shocked to find that the process consisted of a bunch of serving girls stripping her and tending to her in a large bathtub, pouring water and rose petals over her head, and making the discomfort of washing in a male body even worse than it already was. After that, Kayla resigned herself to washing quickly in the middle of the night to avoid having a bunch of servants rush in and start undressing her. She was still unused to her new body, but it took a backseat compared to the constant hunger she now faced as a result of her extreme dieting.

I could at least fill my stomach with cheap food back in my shitty apartment, but now I’m in a luxury suite but I have to go hungry, she thought darkly. Kayla tried not to cry as she pondered the situation. She didn’t know if it was working, or how much longer she had to go on for, or if she had even made the right choice to begin with. The situation still consumed her with panic everytime she tried to think too deeply about it, but that was starting to subside as Kayla slowly processed the drastic new changes.

The doctor had been in a few times but had left each time with a quizzical look on his face, and Kayla was starting to wonder if she should give up on this plan and try to think of another one. There was also a chance that she would die even if she managed to leave the capital. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the Grand Duke entering until he was right in front of her.

“Get up,” the Grand Duke said. Kayla startled at the cold anger in his voice, hastily moving into a sitting position. The Grand Duke glared down at her.

“I said, get up.”

Kayla uncertainly made it to her feet, looking at the Grand Duke nervously.

“Good evening, grandfather,” she said, trying to keep her anxiety out of her voice.

“The doctor told me there’s nothing wrong with your body, the poison was neutralized a long time ago” the Grand Duke said, beginning to pace the room in a deliberate manner, hands clasped behind his back. Kayla followed him with her eyes cautiously.

“Really? I haven’t been feeling well,” she said shakily.

“He said you’re physically fine, that it was a mental condition.” The Grand Duke whirled around to glare at her.

“I…must’ve been shocked at the poisoning,” Kayla replied. This was not going in the direction she’d hoped for.

“Shocked? How can a grandson of the Zhao family be so weak?” the Grand Duke approached Kayla, towering over her with a fierce expression. “I did not raise you to show such shameful behavior, and I will not tolerate it.”

Kayla took in a deep breath. Oh boy. “I’m sorry-”

“That doctor has been silenced. I would not have our family humiliated on account of your weakness,” the Grand Duke snarled. Kayla froze, forgetting to breathe in. Paralyzing fear seeped into her bones as she stared at the Duke shakily. Silenced? Holy shit, he killed the doctor? Did I just get someone killed?

“Uh,” she made out, trembling from head to toe.

“Housekeeper Wang!” The Grand Duke barked towards the door. A middle-aged man hurried in with his head lowered and a whip in his hands. Kayla looked at it with mounting horror.

“Wenyuan, do you remember this whip?” the Grand Duke asked. Kayla haltingly shook her head.

“You will from now on,” the Grand Duke said coolly, turning the whip in his hands.

The housekeeper scurried out, closing the door behind him. Kayla dashed towards the door in a mad rush of fear. The Grand Duke’s hand grasped the back of her neck with crushing strength and flung her back into the room. Kayla crashed to the floor, her body instinctively curling up as the Grand Duke cracked the whip. Oh my god oh my god oh my god. Tears streamed from her eyes as the blow landed, her back erupting in searing pain as the whip broke her skin. Kayla began to sob as the whipping continued. Maybe it was muscle memory or another transmigration amenity, but the body seemed to endure the pain better than Kayla would’ve, and prevented Kayla from crying out or screaming. Rather, she began instinctively counting to a hundred silently in a slow and steady fashion, in spite of the fear and pain screeching through her mind. The nightmare continued until she reached 74, but it felt like it’d been going on forever. Still sobbing silently, Kayla remained curled up on the floor as the Grand Duke stepped away from her.

Kayla didn’t move from her position on the ground as the Grand Duke’s breathing evened out. There was the sound of rustling silk as the Grand Duke adjusted his robes and tossed the whip to the floor.

“From now on, eat properly and behave,” he said. “Don’t ever act in such a shameful way again.”

Kayla remained on the floor as he left until the Housekeeper came in with a doctor in tow. It wasn’t the kindly man with sagging cheeks who’d come in multiple times before, but a younger man she’d never seen before. She flinched away from the doctor’s touch in fear and guilt, remaining stiff as she was helped onto the bed.

Not only was the plan a complete failure, she’d gotten someone killed. What the hell was she even supposed to do now?

3-The Zhao Household

After the event with the Grand Duke, the new doctor had used healing magic on Kayla’s back. It was the first time she’d seen magic, but she’d been in too much pain to feel any awe or wonder. The next morning, Kayla began eating normally again. She glanced nervously at the spot on the floor she’d been beaten on last night, but it had been scrubbed clean of blood while she was being treated.

None of the servants seemed to know what happened, or at least were really good at hiding it. All the faces were familiar, so at least no one had been silenced. The thought of the former doctor getting killed because of her made Kayla shudder and drop her chopsticks.

“Young lord?” Chujiao asked softly, stepping closer.

“It’s nothing.”

Chujiao bowed her head and stepped back. Kayla waved her hand and the serving girls quickly cleared away the dishes. An older servant entered, her more elaborate clothing signifying she was a higher-ranking servant.

“Matron Li,” Chujiao greeted her softly.

“Young lord, the Grand Duke ordered me to dress you and escort you to the study,” Matron Li said. Kayla nodded, feeling too frightened and exhausted to disagree. She stood up and allowed a line of serving girls to dress her in multiple layers of silk robes, forcing herself to hold still every time a girl’s hand brushed against her back. Last night had been the first time in her life Kayla had been subjected to such violent abuse, and it had been fucking terrifying. Even though all the wounds were gone, her back still tingled when touched.

Kayla kept her face expressionless with immense effort as a serving girl smoothed out the fabric against her shoulder blades. Her face naturally settled into a cold expression as she followed the older servant down multiple corridors. It was probably Wenyuan’s usual expression and route, and despite everything being strange and unfamiliar, Kayla’s body knew where to turn corners and stepped into the study as though she did this every day. The older servant bowed and left, leaving Kayla alone in the room.

It was filled with scrolls and books, with shelves upon shelves stacked high with them. Kayla was able to read the calligraphy hanging on the walls without any trouble and understand their meaning despite not recognizing any of them, giving her a strange feeling of anxiousness. The door opened again, and Housekeeper Wang entered. Kayla instinctively stiffened. The events of last night remained at the front of her mind as she cautiously stepped further away from the man.

“Good morning, young lord,” Housekeeper Wang said, bowing his head slightly.

“What do you want?” Kayla asked suspiciously.

“The Grand Duke ordered me to instruct you on the things you’ve forgotten and answer any questions you may have,” Wang replied. Kayla tensed even more at the mention of the Grand Duke. Not only was she trapped in a body about to die horribly, she was trapped with a man who could hurt her at any time.

“Alright then,” she finally said. It wasn’t a good idea to go against the Grand Duke, given how violently he reacted last night. She also needed more information. Kayla sat down at a table, nodding for Wang to begin speaking. The housekeeper remained standing.

“Young lord, what do you remember about the court?” he asked.

Kayla remembered quite a bit from the novel, but she remembered the court as it was when the story was three years in. “Why don’t you just give me a rundown?” she asked.

Wang bowed his head. “As you wish. The court is headed by the Emperor, Zhao Yin, who has reigned over the Empire for 23 years. Under him are the Three Departments and Six Ministries.”

The housekeeper moved to spread out an organization chart on the table, pointing to each name as he spoke.

“There is the Department of State Affairs, the executive administration branch, headed by the Central Secretariat, your grandfather the Grand Duke.” Kayla nodded. Xianchun had become a contender for Crown Prince after wrestling the Department of State Affairs from Grand Duke Zhao and instituting his friend as the new Central Secretariat.

“Then there is the Secretariat Department that is responsible for drafting policies, headed by the Secretariat Director Liu Hongyu, the Grand Duke’s ally and the father of Imperial Consort Liu. There is also the Chancellery, headed by Director He Shirang, also your grandfather’s ally.” All of this seemed vaguely familiar, but Kayla couldn’t remember what role in the story these two had played.

“Beneath the Three Departments are the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel headed by Minister Jun Shao, the Ministry of Revenue headed by Minister Dong Shiqing, the Ministry of Rites headed by Minister Liu Xiu, the Ministry of War headed by Minister Zhao Wei, the Ministry of Justice headed by Xie Yinan, and the Ministry of Public Works headed by Minister Hu Weizhi.”

Kayla’s head swam as she tried to retain all the names.

“Wait, so I guess Minister Zhao and Minister Liu are the Grand Duke’s allies?”

“Yes, Minister Liu Xiu is the Secretariat Director’s nephew and the Grand Duke’s nephew-in-law. Minister Zhao Wei is your distant relative and Minister Liu’s son-in-law. Minister Xie and Minister Hu are also the Grand Duke’s allies.” the housekeeper explained. Kayla let out a long sigh.

“Could you give me a copy of this chart?” Kayla asked weakly. The housekeeper bowed his head obediently.

“Then what is my position?” Kayla remembered Wenyuan being underqualified but not what for.

“The young lord is the Left Secretariat of Justice, one of the two Secretaries of the Ministry of Justice, ranked right below Minister Xie,” Wang said. Kayla dropped her head into her hands. Right, Zhao used his grandson to screw over his political enemies.

“Alright, um, could you give me a rundown of what I’m responsible for again?”

“The young lord assists Minister Xie in running the Ministry of Justice,” Wang said. “Please don’t worry too much about managing your duties, young lord. The Grand Duke has arranged for you to be sufficiently assisted.”

“Great.” Kayla nodded, turning her gaze to the ceiling. So he’s completely a puppet. Looks like I won’t have any wiggle room here either.

//////////

After her lunch, Chujiao bowed and began to direct the servants out of the room again, deftly placing the scrolls Kayla was desperately trying to memorize back onto the table.

“Chujiao,” Kayla called out, stopping the young woman as she bowed and began to leave. The other servants paused too. Kayla waved for them to continue, and they quickly left the two alone in the room.

“How may I assist you, young lord?”

“I wanted to ask you about how I normally act and some other things,” Kayla explained. “My brain’s still jumbled up.”

Her mind flashed to the former doctor and Kayla’s face scrunched up. “But if it’s difficult for you, it’s ok to leave or not answer,” she quickly added. The last thing she wanted was to get Chujiao killed as well.

“Not at all, young lord. Chujiao is happy to answer any questions you may have.”

Kayla nodded gratefully. “Thanks, I appreciate that. Could you tell me how I normally am? Like, my personality and how I act with you guys.”

“Of course. The young lord had the proud manner suiting his station and was well-versed in both literature and martial arts,” Chujiao described succinctly. “Your lordship treated the servants with both magnanimity and might, and was reserved in his expression.” Kayla immediately translated the description in her head. So he wasn’t too great in either and was a proud asshole who was cold and rude to the servants.

“What about you?” Kayla asked.

“This lowly one has been the young lord’s personal maid since ten years ago,” Chujiao replied. Kayla nodded, sympathizing with the young woman who had to put up with Wenyuan’s shit for ten years.

“And how do I normally act around you?” Kayla asked.

“The young lord has treated me kindly and graciously.” So he probably didn’t abuse her but was still an asshole.

“Alright. Now tell me a bit about who I normally interact with,” Kayla said.

“The young lord often meets with the sons of Minister Hu and Minister Xie, as well as lower-ranking officials who seek the Grand Duke’s patronage. Your lordship often drinks with Secretariat Director Liu,” Chujiao explained. Kayla nodded slowly. Liu Hongyu? He’s like a whole generation older though, why would Wenyuan be drinking with that guy?

“Alright, thank you. You can go now, I might have questions to ask later if that’s alright,” Kayla said. Chujiao bowed.

“Of course, my lord. Please excuse me then.” The young woman gracefully exited the room, closing the door soundlessly behind her. Kayla shook her head, filled with more questions than before. Chujiao couldn’t be older than 25, how young had this kid started working? Wasn’t that child labor? Then again, Wenyuan got killed in a way that probably violated the Geneva Convention multiple times, so it wasn’t like she could apply modern standards.

She turned her attention back to the scrolls. Kayla’s first priority was figuring out the situation and finding a way to survive. Everything else could come after that.

////////

Even after going through all the scrolls that were even remotely relevant, Kayla still didn’t see any way to get out of her predicament. The magic theories went straight over her head, and there were so many names and titles in politics that they all got jumbled up. After silently screaming in a corner for a while, it occurred to Kayla that she could try praying. Weren’t there usually a few Gods or Goddesses involved in most isekais and transmigrations? At this point, she would try anything. After asking Chujiao, Kayla hurried to the household’s shrine to try her luck.

Kayla hurriedly kneeled before the golden statue of a Buddha, having shooed everyone out. Clasping her hands together, she began to pray desperately.

Please please please let me get the hell out of here! I didn’t do anything, I don’t want to die! I’d rather be homeless than suffer like that. I’m really really sorry about the doctor, I promise I’ll burn incense for him every day for the rest of my life, please just let me get out of here!

Kayla squeezed her eyes shut, praying for a miracle that would have her open her eyes back in the shitty apartment. Anything was better than dying horribly as Wenyuan did.

There was a soft glow of warmth that washed over her, and Kayla opened her eyes hopefully. The room around her had melted away into a white expanse. Oh thank god, I’m gonna get to plead my case! The isekai novels didn't lie to me!

Kayla looked around, getting up to get a better view.

“Hello, Kayla.” She whirled around to the familiar voice. The smiling face of Zhao Wenyuan greeted her.

“Wait, it’s you!” She gasped, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

“It’s me,” Wenyuan agreed. “I’m here to offer you my help.”

4- The Original Zhao Wenyuan

Kayla stared at the man before her, suddenly aware she was back in her original body. She squeezed her arms around her midriff, enjoying the sensation of actually being herself again.

“Are you going to help me go home?” she asked hopefully.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Wenyuan said. “Not that I wouldn’t like to, but I just don’t have the ability.”

“Oh,” Kayla said, not bothering to hide her disappointment. “Then what’re we going to do? Don’t you want your body back?”

“I do, but since I’m already dead I can’t reclaim my body even after using time magic,” Wenyuan said. Kayla glanced at him quizzically. Wenyuan waved his hand, and the immaculately dressed man was suddenly covered in blood, with his limbs twisted in unsettling angles and a bloodstained noose around his neck. Kayla stumbled back, nearly falling over her own feet in shock.

“Oh my god!”

Wenyuan waved his hand again and was once again immaculately dressed.

“I’m, uh, my condolences,” Kayla said, fumbling for words. Holy shit he’s completely dead!

“Thank you for that,” Wenyuan said. “My mother had left me a magic artifact with powerful time magic, but you can imagine my disappointment when I couldn’t use it. Instead of me, your soul was dragged into this body.”

“How does that even happen?” Kayla asked. “No offense, but you’re literally a character in a novel.”

Wenyuan shrugged. “You know what they say about parallel worlds, things that are fiction in one world may be history in another.” Kayla nodded despite never having heard that saying before.

“Why me though?”

“Chance, most likely. Your luck must be terrible.” Wenyuan gave her a sympathetic look. He wasn't much of an asshole despite what Kayla expected. Though he hadn't been described at length in the novel, Kayla had assumed the first victim of the main character's rise to power had to have deserved it somehow. It was unsettling to see how surprisingly polite the person before her was, but she also couldn’t care less about that right now.

“Then what happens now? Am I stuck in your body? What the hell happens to my original body then?!”

“Theoretically, your original body will be fine,” Wenyuan said.

“Theoretically?!”

“I can’t exactly check. But in either case, your soul is now bound to this body, and I don’t see any way to undo that without killing you for good. So regardless of the state of your original body, you can't return to it.”

Kayla flopped down to sit on the ground and bury her head in her hands.

“I’m so screwed.” She looked up at Wenyuan, who was looking at her sympathetically.

“I’m really sorry. It also wasn’t my intention to foist this burden onto you,” Wenyuan said apologetically. Kayla scrunched her face up.

“Listen, Wenyuan, I don’t want to die. You said you would help me, so what are you suggesting?” Kayla asked. He gracefully sat down across from her.

“I’m suggesting we merge souls,” Wenyuan said calmly. “Two souls, one body. You would be in charge, but I would be there to help you. We’d be able to access each other’s memories as needed and communicate with each other. Like they say, two heads are better than one.”

Kayla mulled it over for a moment before nodding determinedly. She wasn't sure if her panic-fueled decision would come back to bite her in the future, but she didn't have the guts to let go of what could potentially be her path to survival.

“Let’s do it.”

Wenyuan gave her a look of surprise. “Do you not need to ponder it a moment longer?”

Kayla shook her head. “No, I need your help. If I can’t go back, I need to survive at the very least. I can’t do that without knowing anything, and who better to ask than the guy who’s already gone through it before? I tried something and got someone killed already, and I’ve only been here a few days. We’ve got a long road ahead, so I’ll be looking to you for help.”

Wenyuan smiled, looking rather pleased. “I'm impressed with your decisiveness. Very well then, Kayla, I’ll be in your care.”

///////////

The white space faded away, and Kayla was lying on the floor of the prayer room with her cheek pressed against the cold tiled floor. She hurriedly got up and glanced around, but the stick of incense she burned earlier hadn’t grown much shorter.

I haven’t been in this room for years.

Kayla shot up, nearly crashing into the altar at the sound of Wenyuan’s voice inside her head.

I didn’t mean to startle you, Wenyuan’s voice said apologetically.

Oh holy shit, that sure is something. Kayla shook her head and sucked in a deep breath.

Would you grant me permission to access your memories? Of course, I will do the same.

Sure, I need all the help I can get. We should wait until I go back to your room though.

Thank you. You hold important knowledge on the course of events soon to come, I would like to see what I can make of it.

Alright. I also need a lot of information from your end.

Kayla cleared her throat and bowed towards the altar before leaving the room. She wandered back to her room dazedly, nodding half-heartedly at Chujiao’s greeting. Kayla spent the evening and most of the night going through Wenyuan’s memories, vaguely sensing Wenyuan do the same with hers. At almost dawn, she fell into a fitful sleep, Wenyuan still patiently going through her memories of the novel.

When she woke up in the morning again, something had transformed inside her. It wasn’t just that she felt more at home in this body, but there had been an intangible change that somehow made all the difference. It was as though Kayla’s soul had somehow grown in size, not quite doubling, but had absorbed Wenyuan’s soul enough that it had expanded and was now more than it was before.

Wenyuan? Kayla tested for the presence of the other man’s soul.

Good morning.

Oh okay, I was worried you’d disappeared. Does something feel weird to you?

Yes, but don’t worry. That’s just the effect of our souls merging. As time goes on, we’ll share more and more of the same soul.

Kayla frowned slightly. She instinctively knew that she would retain her original consciousness, but it didn’t seem like that would be the case for Wenyuan.

I’m not sure if I’ll be completely absorbed, or if I will always retain a separate existence. But in either case, I’m sure it is better than the fate I was doomed to before.

Sorry to hear that, Kayla offered apologetically.

I do have some good news. From my memories, you may have noticed my interest in magic.

I sure did. Kayla couldn't remember every detail of something she hadn't experienced, but she had at least a broad sense of what Wenyuan's life had been like. In Wenyuan’s memories, the man had often been looking through magic-related theories and scrolls instead of his actual work from the Ministry of Justice.

I took interest due to my mother’s proficiency in the art, but sadly I was never able to use magic. You, however, are different. Perhaps it is due to being brought from another world, but you have large amounts of magic.

Nice! Does that mean we have a new defense mechanism now?

However, you have a specific type of magic that limits you to a very narrow range of actions. Kayla winced in disappointment.

Don’t be so hasty, Kayla. You have nullification-type magic, it is a rare and powerful ability.

Okay, but what exactly does that mean?

You can nullify other people’s magic.

Great! But they have to use their magic first, don’t they? What am I going to do if they just come at me and start swinging?

Due to the prevalence of magic in the capital, there’s a lot of magic in various items and buildings, and many martial artists use it to increase their abilities. In this city, more so than anywhere else, your ability will serve you greatly.

Kayla smiled as the implications of this dawned on her. If all else failed, she had at least some way of self-defense beyond swinging an ashtray at whoever tried to kill her. Her celebration was cut short as Chujiao announced her arrival, entering with a gaggle of serving girls to set out Kayla’s breakfast.

Jiao'er does her job perfectly as always.

Jiao'er?! You call her by a pet name?! Wait, are you two-

No, of course not.

Kayla raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and began to eat, pausing at the sight of a dish of sea urchin served at the perfectly suitable hour of 7 a.m.

Wenyuan, you have no idea how over-the-top all this is, Kayla commented. Wenyuan sent a wave of amusement as Kayla began to eat. Right as she finished, Matron Li entered the room again.

“Young lord, the Grand Duke ordered me to dress you for your visit to the palace,” Matron Li said politely. Kayla blinked at her.

“What visit to the palace?”

“Your lordship was scheduled to meet with the Emperor last week, but the appointment was pushed back due to your health,” Matron Li explained patiently.

“Oh, ok.”

Wenyuan, help. There was a wave of affirmation from Wenyuan, and Kayla relaxed a little. She held still as she was once again dressed in even more elaborate clothes than before, doing her best not to fidget as Chujiao slowly and painstakingly did Wenyuan’s long hair.

After almost half an hour of preparations, Kayla was escorted onto a well-crafted carriage with gold trimming and a luxurious interior. As the carriage rolled smoothly towards the palace, Kayla discreetly lifted a corner of the curtain covering the carriage window to peek outside. The streets were well-paved with what looked to be large white stones, with bustling crowds milling along on either side. There were a large number of expensive residences, high-class restaurants, and hundreds upon hundreds of smaller stores and street vendors selling everything from barbecue to silk brocade.

Welcome to Luoyang, Wenyuan’s voice murmured.

This is really cool, Kayla admitted to him. The noisy streets soothed her nerves somewhat.

There’s no need to worry, the Emperor dotes on me quite a bit, Wenyuan offered comfortingly. Kayla nodded. From Wenyuan’s memories, the Emperor had been an affectionate uncle who pampered Wenyuan and flitted between his many concubines, easily swayed by their fragrant robes and soft caresses. The crowds thinned out as they neared the palace, the stately buildings of the Outer Palace looming over the trees that lined the street. Kayla finally allowed the curtain to fall shut just as the carriage ground to a halt.

“Young lord, we have arrived at the Grand Entrance,” the horseman announced. Kayla got out of the carriage, taking in the large red wall towering in front of her. There were two giant doors with golden knobs on them, the entranceway lined with Imperial Guards. Kayla took in a deep breath and confidently stepped forward.

///////

After walking across several separate courtyards large enough to serve as football fields, Kayla finally arrived at the Emperor’s study. A eunuch loudly announced Wenyuan’s arrival, and Kayla quickly bowed in the direction of the Emperor.

"This vassal humbly greets the Emperor," Kayla began. Large hands grabbed her arms and lifted her upright again.

“Nephew! No need for formalities here, I have missed you!” A cheerful voice boomed. Kayla returned the Emperor’s smile. The Emperor used the normal pronoun I rather than the Imperial pronoun, signifying the casualness he expected Kayla to match. Emperor Zhou Ying was a tall, sturdy man with dark hair streaked with grey, and looked more like someone who would be everyone’s favorite uncle rather than the absolute ruler of a country. The Emperor was rather good-looking, being the son of a concubine renowned for her beauty. He was in casual robes, which were still more elaborate than anything Kayla would consider comfortable, rather than the full vestiges the Emperor wore for court.

“Greetings, your Majesty. I’ve missed you too.”

Zhou Ying’s eyes crinkled as he smiled again.

“As I said, drop the formalities already, we’re all family here. I’m glad to see you doing well, I’d heard you’d fallen ill! Are you fully recovered now?”

“Thank you for your concern, Uncle, I’m all better now,” Kayla replied.

“Good, good. The Empress Dowager was concerned as well, she’ll be glad to hear you’re doing well.”

Kayla followed the Emperor over to a low table on a raised platform with several cushions around it.

“Come and sit down,” the Emperor beckoned affectionately, “These are some candied fruits from the Western provinces, try some!” Kayla happily obliged, to the beaming approval of the Emperor.

In Wenyuan’s memories, the young man had grown increasingly reserved in his interactions with the Emperor as the Grand Duke grew harsher, but Kayla was quickly realizing that the Emperor wanted to play house more than he wanted a reliable nephew.

It’s fine if I act more comfortably, right? Kayla decided to check with Wenyuan first. There was a slight pause before there was a surge of approval from Wenyuan.

Kayla forced herself to relax a bit as she chatted with the Emperor, relying on Wenyuan’s knowledge to maintain the balance between casual and eloquent speech.

“They say that the Western provinces barely need to add any sugar to their candied fruits on account of their climate,” Kayla said, “I guess it really is true, it feels as though they are still fresh from the vine.”

“Well observed, nephew! These candied fruits are about to enter the capital’s market, who knows how hard it’ll be to get then,” the Emperor replied.

“For other people, surely. I’ll just come and bother you when I’m craving them,” Kayla said, sending the Emperor into roaring laughter. The Emperor was a good conversationalist, and more than happy to indulge the whims of his only nephew who survived to adulthood. Other than Wenyuan, of all the Emperor’s nephews and nieces, only the nieces made it past 20 alive. The conversation was still going strong when a eunuch entered to announce someone’s arrival. Both Kayla and the Emperor turned towards the eunuch with identical looks of mild annoyance at the interruption.

“Announcing the arrival of the Seventh Prince!”

Kayla nearly spat out the orange she’d just put into her mouth, looking at the doorway in disbelief. What the hell?! This early?

That asshole also came?!

“Oh, Xianchun’s here? Good! It’s been a while since we’ve sat together,” the Emperor said happily. Kayla silently nodded, forcing herself to smile as she waited with bated breath for the arrival of the Main Character.

5-Xianchun Appears

Kayla watched intently as Xianchun entered the room, immediately bowing towards the emperor. The Emperor waved for him to get up.

“Take it easy, Xianchun, we’re all family here,” the Emperor said cheerfully. “Come and have some of these.”

Kayla got to her feet and bowed her head. “Wenyuan greets the Seventh Prince,” she said. The Emperor clicked his tongue and signaled for her to sit down and relax. Xianchun was staring at Kayla with an intense gaze that bordered on a glare. The protagonist of a political intrigue-action-fantasy-romance novel was really on a whole other level in terms of looks. Even though every named character in the novel under the age of 40 had been more or less described to be good-looking to some degree, Xianchun had warranted an entire three pages all to himself. Xianchun was tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, with extremely handsome features and the cool and self-assured air expected from the Main Character.

He would be better looking if he weren’t trying to kill me, Kayla mentally griped.

His face is the only thing good about him, his personality is terrible, Wenyuan was quick to agree.

Xianchun hovered menacingly over Kayla for a moment, blocking out the overhead light with his ridiculously tall figure, before finally sitting down and smiling politely at his father. Kayla smiled and took another piece of candied fruit.

“Here, have some, these are from the Western Provinces,” the Emperor offered.

“Thank you for your kindness, father,” Xianchun replied, taking a piece respectfully. Kayla watched Xianchun discreetly as she drank some tea. In the early parts of the novel, Xianchun received little help from his father, being too stiff and formal to win the Emperor’s affection. Eventually, Xianchun learned how to sweet talk his father, and that became crucial in helping him win over the Third Prince, whose mounting arrogance was losing him the Emperor’s favor. At this very moment, Kayla was probably closer to the Emperor’s heart than Xianchun. It was one of the few advantages she had.

As expected, Xianchun’s polite and formal responses kept the conversation from getting anywhere until Kayla stepped in to prevent the Emperor from losing his patience. Kayla was soon chatting cheerily with the Emperor, while the Emperor’s own flesh-and-blood sat in silence like his presence here was excessive. Kayla decided to try and include Xianchun rather than risk angering the prince and incurring his wrath.

“And what are your thoughts on this, cousin?” Kayla asked.

“I agree with Father’s words, Left Secretariat,” Xianchun replied. Kayla fought to keep her smile from sliding. Calling Wenyuan by his court position forcibly made the situation a lot more formal. Even though the two weren’t close enough to use courtesy names with each other, Xianchun used Wenyuan’s title instead of addressing him as a cousin to remind Wenyuan of his status as an outsider to the Imperial family. The prince’s cousin was an ambivalent relationship, but a court official was subordinate to the Emperor and the Princes. If a prince started acting formally, a subordinate could hardly go on acting casually. Given that the Emperor was the highest-ranking person present, Kayla would have to act even more respectfully towards Wenyuan’s uncle if she was already acting respectfully towards his son.

Look at this asshole reinforcing the hierarchy here when I’m trying to make peace, Kayla seethed silently.

This shitty prince, Wenyuan agreed, seething not so silently.

He wouldn’t be happy unless everyone’s bowing at his feet, huh? The fact that the prince was literally plotting to kill her had swiftly reduced any and all warmth Kayla held for her former second-favorite character.

That’s right, this pompous bastard goes around accusing people of being arrogant while holding his nose higher than the Heavenly Palace!

“As you say, my prince,” Kayla said respectfully, bowing her head slightly as Wenyuan continued cursing Xianchun inside his head. Kayla then bowed her head towards the emperor as well. “His Majesty is truly wise, the people are blessed to have an Emperor who cares for their lives so earnestly.”

Xianchun scoffed, taking some fruit from the plate. “It is as you say, Left Secretariat, but given how busy the Ministry of Justice has been during your sick leave, I must admit my surprise to learn how open-hearted you are to the affairs of the other Ministries,” he said. Xianchun had a smooth, baritone voice that was described as “having the smoothness of silk and the strength of a sword,” but the sound of it was quickly becoming a nuisance to Kayla.

Look at him trying to pick a fight, this piece of shit.

“The Prince’s admonishment is duly noted,” Kayla replied, maintaining her respectful tone.

The Emperor glanced between the two of them impatiently.

“Alright, that’s enough. Xianchun, I’ve been looking forward to seeing your cousin. I’ve been so worried since I heard of his illness. And this is how you talk to him? The rites of the court are for the court, do you think I called him here to speak to him as my vassal?” The Emperor looked increasingly displeased as he spoke.

Xianchun lowered his head, hastily giving his apologies. Kayla watched as the Emperor shook his head in annoyance. At this point in the novel, Xianchun constantly got on his father’s nerves, and their meetings usually ended unhappily.

“Come on now, Uncle, please take it easy,” Kayla said pleasantly. The Emperor let out a short sigh and Xianchun kept his head lowered. Kayla leaned forward to take a fruit and nudge it onto the Emperor’s plate. “Let’s all eat something sweet and relax.”

The Emperor chuckled, temper fading away at Kayla's earnest expression. “No wonder you’re so relaxed then, with how much you ate.”

“Didn’t you say I should eat a lot?” Kayla shot back. The Emperor laughed and waved a hand at Xianchun, who finally raised his head again. The prince watched Kayla with an intense stare again as she lightened the mood.

“In either case, don’t be angry at my cousin, isn’t it good for a man to be focused on his career? They say that a man should be able to establish himself at thirty-both my cousin and I are in a race against time here,” Kayla continued.

“Your words have merit, nephew. But it’s also important for a man to know how to separate his career from his other spheres of life,” the Emperor replied. “Especially for a Prince.”

Wow, coming from him? Didn't he depose like three of his sons because he had a spat with their mothers? Wenyuan agreed with a sardonic chuckle inside her head.

“Of course, it is just as you say, Uncle,” Kayla replied.

“It is just as you say, Father,” Xianchun echoed.

“I have to say, Wenyuan, I’ve been very pleased to see how much you’ve matured over the last few years, but it’s good to see this side of you as well. After my sister passed, you’ve rarely been so lively. I like it very much,” the Emperor said fondly. “From now on, take it easy when we are alone, don’t run yourself down with cold formalities all the time.”

“Understood, Uncle,” Kayla said.

The hang-out session went on a little while longer before the Emperor left for a meeting, having ordered both Wenyuan and Xianchun to be given some of the candied fruits. The two walked out of the palace together in awkward silence, keeping each other at arm’s length.

Kayla observed Xianchun out of the corner of her eye, trying to figure out if there was any wiggle room for her fate with the prince. He suddenly stopped and whirled towards her, fixing her with a stony glare filled with rage and killing intent.

Stay calm, he can’t hurt us here.

Got it, gotta stay calm, oh boy, Kayla slowly drew in a deep breath, her back stiffening even though she knew Xianchun couldn’t just take out a weapon and start swinging.

“Zhao Wenyuan,” Xianchun snarled.

“At your service, my prince,” Kayla replied, barely keeping her voice steady. She was intensely grateful that she had Wenyuan there for support.

“Just what was that disgusting act you showed before my father?”

Kayla blinked. “That was just-”

“Never do that again,” Xianchun warned her in a deep voice dripping with anger.

Never mind, no wiggle room here, he is 100% totally going to kill me!

Done with his warning, Xianchun turned to leave.

“Are you saying this to me as your cousin or as your vassal?” Kayla asked. Xianchun froze mid-step, turning slowly and deliberately towards her.

“What?”

Kayla let out a sigh and clenched her fist to keep from shaking as she spoke. “If you’re requesting me not to act close with your father as my cousin, then that’s a family matter. You can’t bring yourself to see me as family, so you’re ordering me as your vassal. But as a vassal, I serve the Emperor, so you’ll have to forgive me for not complying.”

Xianchun glared at her, looming over Kayla menacingly.

“Zhao Wenyuan, do you know what you’re saying to me?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly and swiftly raised it again. “Prince, does the Emperor not rank above the Imperial Princes? Even if the Imperial Princes are above the court officials, who would dare to disobey the sun in favor of the stars? Please excuse me then,” she said, quickly making her escape with her heart pounding loudly against her ribcage.

As she speed-walked away from the frightening prince, Kayla didn’t notice Xianchun’s gaze fixedly following her.

///////////

Xianchun walked along slowly, thoughts swarming through his mind. He glanced up as he was joined by his friend Yu Bianfu, the female General in command of the Imperial Guards for the Inner Palace and the guard of the Empress Dowager. One of the only female officers in the military, Bianfu was a bold and outspoken girl who was widely known for being beautiful, strong, and quick to anger. Clad in her armor with a red cloak billowing behind her in the wind, Bianfu bowed her head.

“Bianfu greets the Seventh Prince,” she said.

“Knock it off,” Xianchun said tiredly.

“Ran afoul of the Emperor again?” Bianfu asked playfully.

“Yes,” Xianchun replied shortly.

“I heard that bastard Zhao Wenyuan was also there, I’d be surprised if you didn’t get indigestion from his presence,” she said, nudging him with her elbow. Xianchun smiled, eyes narrowing as he thought back to the events earlier.

“Wenyuan was very different from usual today,” Xianchun said darkly.

“What? How so?” Bianfu asked.

Xianchun didn’t reply. Wenyuan had always grated on his nerves, even when they were children and seldom interacted. That a child born to a vassal could be loved by the Emperor and Empress Dowager so easily when Xianchun was often snubbed had long grated on his heart. When they reunited in court, Wenyuan had become a cold, arrogant man with pride that he couldn’t live up to. Without even working for it, Wenyuan had easily obtained the position of Left Secretariat of Justice solely through his bloodline and the Grand Duke’s connections and drowned himself in wine and pleasure without regard for his duties. Everything about Wenyuan was a slap in the face to all of Xianchun’s hardwon accomplishments.

But today, Wenyuan was noticeably different, to the point where Xianchun was doubting his eyes. It was obviously still Wenyuan, but the Zhao scion had been laughing and chatting in earnest with the Emperor and had spoken with Xianchun as though he actually thought they were actually family. He couldn’t figure out for the life of him what that was about.

Wenyuan’s parting words kept echoing in his head. Since when was Wenyuan able to respond so well without the help of his grandfather’s supporters? It left Xianchun’s mind in a jumble.

“I want eyes on his every move,” Xianchun said. “I’ll figure out what he’s playing at.”

/////////

What are you thinking, Kayla?

Kayla sat with her eyes closed in the carriage as it headed back to the Grand Duke’s household.

Wenyuan, do you mind that I acted like that before the Emperor?

Not at all, why?

I was worried it would’ve hurt your pride, she admitted.

If it was for someone else, it would’ve. But the Emperor is my Uncle.

Good, I’m glad. Kayla listlessly shifted her position to be more comfortable, feeling rather exhausted already. Wenyuan waited patiently.

I was thinking earlier, the Emperor’s pretty unreliable. It’s fine for an individual to be capricious, it might even be a loveable trait. But for the leader of a country to be like that is kind of scary. Still, if I play my cards right, his affection for you won’t be so easily swayed.

Kayla ran over the events of the novel in her head. At the moment, Kayla had no way of gaining any ground in either her household or the court, both of which were completely under the control of the Grand Duke. Of the few things she did have, the Emperor's favor was one of the most useful.

Remember how they forced the Grand Duke’s resignation after killing you off? The thing is, they couldn’t have done anything other than assassination-the Emperor would have protected you. So that’s what I’m betting on.

If we survive the initial assassination, the Emperor will take care of the rest, Wenyuan mused. That much is true. Even if the Grand Duke’s entire household was sentenced to death, the Emperor would spare me. The worst that could happen is exile.

Exactly! And exile’s not that bad either, I mean I was a minimum-wage worker with a shit ton of debt, I could take care of us even if you’re not used to it.

Wenyuan let out a soft laugh that sounded more like a sigh. I know, you’re a very capable person.

Kayla scoffed out loud at that. Like hell I am. But thanks anyway. Now, I’m thinking that we should try to avoid plot points as much as we can from now on to throw events off-track and increase our chances of survival. If we can make it past this arc, we’ll pretty much be home-free.

Wenyuan gave a sound of approval, and Kayla sighed in relief. It was good to have the original to talk to, much more than she would have ever thought.

Let’s do our best and make it through this, Wenyuan. She was determined not to die.

6-The Secretariat Director

Kayla wandered down the corridors of the Grand Duke’s household until she reached the Inner Garden, one of Wenyuan’s favorite spots. It was an elegantly crafted and luxurious garden, large enough to be a small park and lush with rare plants and flowers. The Grand Duke’s household was separated into the Outer Quarters and the Inner Quarters. The Outer Quarters was where the Grand Duke carried out his business and met guests, while the Inner Quarters was the residence of the Grand Duke, Wenyuan, and the late Imperial Princess. Kayla had mostly stayed in Wenyuan’s room and study since her arrival, but now she instinctively sought out the gazebo that had brought Wenyuan peace of mind in the previous timeline.

The gazebo overlooked a small pond with colorful koi and lotus flowers, surrounded by delicate leaves that swayed in the wind.

You have good taste, Wenyuan, Kayla complimented him as she basked in the relaxing atmosphere.

Of course I do, this gazebo was commissioned by my mother herself.

Kayla glanced up as Chujiao quietly approached the gazebo.

“What is it?” Kayla asked. Chujiao bowed slightly.

“Young lord, please forgive my rudeness in interrupting you. I came to remind you that you were to drink with the Secretariat Director tonight,” she said politely.

“Liu Hongyu? What’s the occasion?” Kayla asked. In Wenyuan’s memories, the drinking sessions had been annoying occurrences in which the young man had continuously toasted the Secretariat Director to get them both drunk and end the meeting faster. The sessions didn’t seem to serve any particular purpose except maybe to cement the alliance between Liu and the Grand Duke.

An uncomfortable look flashed over Chujiao’s face. “This servant wouldn’t dare to ask about the affairs of the lords.”

Kayla sighed sharply, a sharp pang of annoyance that belonged more to Wenyuan than herself in her chest.

“Wasn’t he the guy I was drinking with the night I got poisoned?” Kayla asked. Chujiao bowed her head in affirmation. Kayla sighed again.

I’m guessing I’m not allowed to refuse?

Not unless you want to incur Grandfather’s wrath.

Yeah, nope. Let’s go then.

“Alright, when do I head out?” Kayla asked.

“In three hours,” Chujiao replied. Kayla nodded and thanked her, but Chujiao didn’t immediately leave.

“Is there anything else?” Kayla asked. Chujiao looked at Kayla with a complicated expression.

“Young lord, are you feeling alright?” Chujiao asked.

She must be worried since I only come here when I’m troubled, Wenyuan said fondly.

“I’m alright, thank you for your concern,” Kayla replied. She was slowly overwhelmed by the affection welling up from Wenyuan.

“Jiao’er, stay here awhile longer,” Kayla called out fondly before she could quash the feeling. Chujiao’s face lit up.

Wenyuan, seriously, are you two a thing?!

No, we’ve known each other for ten years, it’s hardly strange for there to be a bond between us!

“Young lord,” Chujiao said with barely-contained joy, “May this servant play the flute for you?”

Wenyuan’s memories of sitting in the gazebo with Chujiao playing the flute across the years flashed through Kayla’s mind.

“I’d love that,” she said. Wenyuan’s happiness bubbled comfortably inside her chest as Chujiao entered the gazebo and began playing a piece. Strangely, Kayla was just as pleased. Likely due to the effect of their souls merging, Wenyuan’s memories evoked an emotional response in her as well. Kayla leaned back, enjoying the short respite that seemed to recharge her from the events of the last few days.

Hallelujah for the power of childhood friends, Kayla silently cheered, ignoring the ripples of exasperation from Wenyuan.

///////////

Kayla got onto the carriage again, nodding for the horseman to depart. As the young lord of the Zhao family and a relative of the Emperor, Wenyuan’s carriage was always accompanied by several armored guards on horseback. They also served to keep an eye on Wenyuan for the Grand Duke, which made the whole arrangement a little less appealing.

We need to start working on our magic, Kayla thought. Any ideas?

Chujiao is skilled and efficient. She can’t perform advanced spells, but she could easily cast simple spells for us.

Okay, I also really like her, but I feel like things will get a lot messier once people know we have nullification magic. Is there any way we can practice secretly?

We could use magic talismans to practice, they’re activated as soon as you rip them.

Would they be easy to get though? We have to be discreet.

They’re just paper, you could get books of household spells off the street, and it would hardly be strange for me to get one.

Kayla shook her head in disbelief and immediately saw a street vendor selling books of household talismans with a giant sign advertising his low prices.

Damn, alright. Kayla knocked on the window and opened it, a guard coming over to inquire about Wenyuan’s orders.

“Could you go buy a few books from that vendor? It looks interesting,” Kayla said, pointing towards the vendor they were passing by. The guard immediately went and did so.

That was easier than I thought, guess we can just spend some time ripping up books every day.

As I said, the capital is full of magic, Wenyuan sounded rather pleased with himself.

The carriage stopped at the household of the Secretariat Director, which was just as extravagant and large as the Grand Duke’s household. It was hardly strange since Liu was also the father-in-law of the Emperor through his daughter, Consort Liu, and the maternal grandfather of the Twelfth Princess. If his daughter had borne a son, Liu would surely have become even more powerful.

Kayla followed a pretty serving girl into the room where Liu was waiting, which was in the Inner Quarters rather than the Outer Quarters where one normally entertained guests. As soon as he saw Wenyuan’s figure enter the door, Liu raised a glass in greeting. He was a man in his sixties, with crafty eyebrows and a hooked nose. Compared to Wenyuan, who had changed into semi-formal robes, Liu was in an extremely casual outfit with only two layers. It was pretty clear that Wenyuan was not a respected guest.

“There you are, Wenyuan, it’s been a while! Are you recovered now?”

Wenyuan literally got poisoned drinking with him but he’s acting like it has nothing to do with him. Kayla was echoed by intense distaste from Wenyuan.

“Uncle Liu,” Kayla greeted him, faking a warm smile as she took her cue from Wenyuan. “I’m all better now, thanks to your concern.”

“Come and sit with me,” Liu Hongyu beckoned. Kayla sat down and was immediately handed a cup of wine. Liu began to ramble about the ongoings of the court, Kayla barely paying attention as she slowly sipped her wine. Recognizing Wenyuan’s signal to start toasting nonstop, Kayla reached out for the wine jar and poured it into Liu’s emptied cup.

“Let’s not talk business here, Uncle Liu. Let me toast you,” Kayla said, filling up her own cup as well. Liu obliged willingly, watching as Kayla immediately filled up their cups again. The older man’s gaze evoked a strange feeling of discomfort in Kayla. It was strangely similar to how frat boys in her college had watched pretty girls on the beach, a sticky gaze that seemed to be fixed on a piece of meat rather than a person. When Kayla toasted him again, Liu watched with a satisfied smirk as she drank the wine.

This guy gives bad vibes.

A few more glasses in, Liu was steadily becoming drunk, while Wenyuan’s body seemed to have a slightly higher alcohol tolerance.

“You really take after your mom,” Liu said, his words slurring together a bit. Kayla stiffened at the informal tone Liu took while speaking about the late princess.

“She was really such a beauty,” Liu continued. Kayla barely avoided freezing up.

Oh wow, oh shit, wait is that what this is? He’s so much older than her though?!

This old lecher doesn’t have any scruples.

“If I was born twenty years later, I’d have taken her for my wife!” Liu laughed. “Too bad, she went to that little pasty brat.”

Oh my god please just stop talking.

“You look just like her,” Liu continued, with no intention of stopping. Kayla hurriedly filled his glass again, suddenly understanding why Wenyuan always speedran the drinking session.

“Is that so? I’ll drink to that,” Kayla said, keeping her voice pleasant with immense effort.

Liu emptied his cup without waiting for Kayla, turning his unpleasant gaze on her again.

“She had a lovely figure too, such a small waist, and she kept it even after having you. Most women become so thick after childbirth, their waists become hard and uncomely, but she stayed just as trim, you could tell even with all the layers,” Liu said. “And the loveliest bosom of any woman I’d seen.”

Dude right in front of her son?! Can’t you talk like a fuckboy somewhere else?

Liu peered at her, squinting as he ran his eyes over Wenyuan’s body.

“Terrible shame you were born a boy, if you were a girl, you’d be identical. Too bad you don’t have an illegitimate sister, huh?” Liu burst into laughter at that. Kayla mechanically continued to refill their cups, trying to hold back her intense disgust.

“Let me know if you do find one though, I’d snatch her right up!”

Jesus fucking Christ. Wenyuan, how the fuck do you deal with this?

I drink.

You’ve got some incredible patience.

We’re almost there, he should be passing out after a few more cups.

Kayla hurriedly toasted Liu nonstop, blocking out his words as the old man continued to make lecherous remarks about Wenyuan’s mother before starting in on how soft and smooth Wenyuan’s skin was. Thankfully, he did end up passing out after what seemed to drag on forever. Kayla got to her feet with some difficulty, having gotten rather drunk herself. She waved off the hand of the servant who came in to clean up and made her way back to the carriage.

It suddenly occurred to her that the Grand Duke was subjecting Wenyuan to all this on a regular basis to please his ally without any consideration for his grandson. She was instantly filled with disgust.

Are you alright?

I should be the one asking that.

I can deal with it. He can’t touch me without invoking the consequences, so all he can do is ramble on pathetically like this.

Kayla swallowed hard as she peered out the carriage window at the city streets, which were much more empty now that it was night. Even if Wenyuan was supposedly under the protection of the Grand Duke, he was nothing but a tool to his grandfather. If Liu had actually done something to Wenyuan, Kayla highly doubted the Grand Duke would retaliate if it would affect their alliance. Nothing was more important to the Grand Duke than power, and Wenyuan had to know that as well, but all the man could do was drown Liu in alcohol as fast as possible to avoid getting harassed any more than necessary. It made her feel hurt, for both Wenyuan’s sake and herself who now had to go through this as well.

I seem like a coward to you, don’t I?

Kayla physically shook her head, swallowing past a lump in her throat.

No, not at all.

It’s fine if you do, since it is true.

Dude, I really don’t, okay?

Wenyuan seemed to be comforted by that. Kayla let out a deep sigh, feeling well and truly exhausted by the day’s events.

“Young lord,” someone knocked on the carriage window. Kayla leaned forward and opened it, recognizing the guard she’d spoken to earlier.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Yes, my lord. Here are the books you asked for, I didn’t know which specific ones you wanted so I grabbed the three best-selling ones,” the guard said, respectfully holding out the books.

“Well done.” Kayla took them and reached into her robes to retrieve a gold coin, handing it to the guard.

“Thank you, young lord!”

“What is your name?” Kayla asked. The guard was better-looking than the others, and in the novel, most good-looking people tended to become important or at least play a part in the plot.

“My name is Qu Boyong,” he replied. Kayla nodded.

“That’s a good name. Keep up the good work then.”

Kayla didn’t recognize the name, but then again there had been over 300 named characters in the novel. She shook her head and turned her head to the books, a welcome distraction from the shitty drinking session earlier.

Oh wow, you meant it when you said these are easy to find, Kayla looked at them in wonder.

"Three Hundred Talismans for the Busy Housewife", "Household Talismans for Daily Use", and "Magic for Fun! One Hundred Spells for Parties and Get-togethers", the books were made with cheap paper, but each had hundreds of spell talismans, the circles and symbols swirling over the pages.

I told you, didn’t I?

Kayla smiled at the smug feeling Wenyuan was emitting. It was time to get working on Plan B.

7-The Court Convenes

Kayla ripped the talisman in half, activating the cleaning spell. Focusing intently, she unraveled the magic as it traveled through the circuits of the talisman, successfully nullifying it before it could clean the desk again.

“Yes!” Kayla clenched her fist, feeling vindicated for her efforts. Satisfied with her progress, she finally called it a night and went to sleep. After obtaining the talismans last night, Kayla and Wenyuan had been practicing nullification magic every time they could do so without being noticed, which isn't really a whole lot of time at all. The thing about a rich household was that there were almost always a stream of servants moving around, and the amount of time Kayla would have to herself would be even smaller once she returned to work tomorrow.

You sure your job isn’t too hard? Kayla asked for the fifth time.

Yes, I’m sure, Wenyuan reassured her a little impatiently. Kayla closed her eyes, but continued running through the novel’s plot in her head. Currently, they had Plan A: Throw off the novel’s plot to avoid the death ending, and Plan B: Use nullification magic to either gain so much attention that Xianchun couldn’t move on them, or use the magic as self-defense. Neither would be easy, but Plan A was looking to be the harder route.

Ever since the initial merge after meeting Wenyuan, Kayla hadn’t experienced any further changes. Even if she had, Wenyuan’s memories about the events leading to his death weren’t exactly helpful, given how little he knew about his grandfather and Xianchun’s ploys. Kayla remembered the first arc of the story kicking off on a case regarding a locality’s governor plotting against the throne. Governor Yue was actually just a thorn in the Grand Duke’s side for continuously looking into the Grand Duke’s networks of corruption, but ended up being framed for spreading treasonous writings and executed along with his wife and 12-year old daughter.

At this point in time Xianchun was still a prince without much power, and despite objecting to the Governor’s execution, couldn’t do anything to prevent the tragedy. Saddened by the death of Yue’s family, Xianchun vows to take out the Grand Duke, and actually manages to do so within a few months. Realistically speaking, it should have taken him years since he didn’t have political support from the Emperor or maternal relatives who could help him, but the author had wanted to focus on the drama and tragedy of two brothers ripping at each other’s throats, so the whole thing played out rather quickly.

It was also this case that raised Wenyuan’s death flag, since as the Left Secretariat for Justice, he had presented the case in court and argued for the execution of the Governor.

You haven’t received that case yet, right?

I’m not sure, grandfather had me present a lot of cases in court, and then his people would argue whatever it was they wanted. This happened a lot.

Come on, you can’t remember an execution?

Grandfather argued for a lot of executions.

Kayla didn’t know what to say to that. It wasn’t fair to judge Wenyuan when she relied on his knowledge and support to this extent, but this was leaving her in a pretty bad place. Kayla sighed and decided to just check for herself the next morning.

//////////////

Kayla lifted her chin to let Chujiao button the collar of the dark blue official court robes she was now dressed in. Chujiao was almost half a head shorter than Wenyuan, who was in turn about half a head shorter than Xianchun. The young woman smiled as she stepped back, checking the robes for any untidiness. The distance between Kayla and Chujiao had shrunk dramatically after the day in the gazebo, back to what had been the usual relationship between Wenyuan and Chujiao.

“All done, young lord,” Chujiao said.

“Perfect,” Kayla said, echoing Wenyuan’s voice inside her head. “As expected of Jiao’er.”

Chujiao smiled happily. “Thank you, young lord. Best of luck at court.”

Kayla’s smile stiffened a little. It was unfortunate she was returning to work on a day when the court convened. The court only convened once every five days, starting from the first day of every month at the ungodly starting time of seven in the morning, with officials having one day off every five days. Due to both Wenyuan’s illness and his favored position with the Emperor and the Grand Duke, Kayla hadn’t been to work even once in the six days since her arrival.

She could only hope that her luck wasn’t shit enough that the plot would kick off right away. When Kayla got on the carriage to leave, the Grand Duke had already left, sparing her from having to face him again. Vendors were already setting up shop, with multiple food carts already bustling with people looking for their breakfasts. The sun was still low, its warm glow making the streets glow softly golden.

The peaceful feeling it gave her lulled Kayla into a false sense of security. This was quickly shattered as soon as she arrived.

“Left Secretariat! It’s so good to see you, sir.” A mustached man with a small goatee greeted her, dressed in the green robes that denoted his lower title. Kayla recognized him as Jia Fu, Wenyuan’s assistant in the Ministry of Justice.

“Jia Fu, it’s good to see you too. Is the Minister already in the court hall?”

“Yes, shall we go join him?” Jia Fu eagerly offered. Kayla nodded and headed in, Jia Fu following behind respectfully.

“Jia Fu, is there anything of note going on this morning?” Kayla asked. Perhaps she was just nervous, but she was getting a pretty bad feeling about the court session.

“Not particularly, sir. But there is a case you were planning to present, may I show it to you?” Jia Fu asked. That meant the Grand Duke had a case that Wenyuan knew next to nothing about to present, which probably wasn’t anything good. Kayla nodded. Jia Fu passed her a scroll, and she opened it in a practiced motion that Wenyuan’s body had performed hundreds of times. Her eyes widened as she saw the name of the felon.

Oh shit. Ohhhh boy, I am so screwed. Kayla squeezed her eyes shut in despair. It was the Governor Yue case.

Wenyuan, do we have any wiggle room here?

I don’t think so. Wenyuan sounded apologetic.

Kayla took in a deep breath and nodded at Jia Fu, who was looking at her curiously.

“I’ll take care of it,” Kayla said coolly, continuing to walk forward. She fought to keep her composure, but her heart was racing and sweat beaded on her forehead.

What if I don’t present it?

There was a burst of surprise from Wenyuan. Grandfather wouldn’t forgive that!

I-I know, but we’re marching straight towards our death flag, do you really want to go through the same thing twice?

There was a heavy silence from Wenyuan and a sense of resignation.

Listen, I’m going to try this. I’ll apologize in advance for whatever happens after this.

Alright. I trust you, Kayla.

Kayla let out a soft sigh, putting the scroll into her sleeve. She entered the court hall, where officials were already gathered in small groups, talking with each other in soft voices. The Grand Duke was together with Liu Hongyu and He Shirang, the three of them surrounded by officials. Wenyuan normally didn’t openly approach them in court, so Kayla was able to avoid them a little longer. Instead, she walked over to Xie Yunan, the Minister of Justice, who was currently speaking with the Right Secretariat Ge Renqian.

“Good morning, Minister,” Kayla greeted him with a slight bow before nodding towards Ge Renqian. “Right Secretariat.” They both returned her greetings.

“Wenyuan, I’d heard you were ill, how are you feeling now?” Minister Xie asked her. Kayla assured him she was fine, and the three chatted pleasantly for a bit as they made their way to their places in the hall. A eunuch walked in with the small shuffling steps unique to the castrated workers, head slightly lowered.

“Announcing the arrival of the Emperor!” The eunuch called out.

The officials hastily returned to their spots and knelt with lowered heads as Zhou Ying entered in his full vestiges.

“We humbly greet His Majesty, may the Emperor live ten thousand years,” the officials said in unison. From the corner of her eye, Kayla saw that Xianchun had silently made his entrance as well. Zhou Kuang wasn’t present, since at this point in the story the Third Prince was working hard to deal with a border conflict, and the Fifth Prince Zhou Yunqi was also absent on account of his mother’s ill health. To her surprise, Xianchun was looking in Wenyuan’s direction with the same intent gaze as last time.

“You may rise,” the Emperor said, his voice echoing through the room.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” the officials said in unison before getting up in a more or less synchronized motion. Kayla tried to swallow but her mouth was dry. The officials began to present each of their affairs before the Emperor, with the Ministers of Rites and Public Works each having several items to present as well as one shared item to argue over. Their words flowed in one ear and out the other as Kayla grew more and more nervous. Her hands were dripping with sweat by now, and she tugged lightly at her collar as it tightened around her throat.

Wenyuan was just as anxious, even more so with the Grand Duke standing just within sight. Between the nervous energy bouncing between the two of them, Kayla was almost expecting to break out in hives.

In what seemed like only a few seconds but must have been almost an hour, the Minister of Justice was presenting his items already. Wenyuan would technically be next if he planned to present, but Kayla decided to remain still and not do anything. As Minister Xie finished up, Jia Fu leaned forward from where he was standing behind her.

“Young lord, next is your case,” Jia Fu whispered. Kayla ignored him. Her heartpace quickening, Kayla watched as Minister Xie bowed and returned to his spot, glancing towards her to signal her turn. She resolutely remained still.

“Young lord?” Jia Fu hissed. Kayla breathed in slowly and continued to remain in her spot. Seeing that the Secretariats of Justice had nothing to present, the next Ministry prepared to present their items. The Minister of Revenue, who was also the Grand Duke’s ally, stepped forward while giving Kayla a curious look. She avoided his eyes, sweat already dripping down her face.

“Pardon my rudeness, but please wait one moment, Minister Hu. It seems we’ve omitted an item by mistake,” Ge Renqian’s voice rang out. Kayla whirled to stare at him with a shocked look. Ge Renqian stepped forward and bowed towards the Emperor before turning expectantly towards Kayla.

“The Left Secretariat also had a case he was to present the last time the court convened, but missed his chance due to illness. May I be so impudent as to request that he be allowed to present it now?” Ge Renqian asked.

Wait, what the fuck?! Ge Renqian!

“Wenyuan did? Well, of course then,” the Emperor said. Kayla’s breath quickened into short gasps as she mechanically stepped forward and bowed.

“Your Majesty, I beg your pardon,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

“Not at all, Wenyuan. Go right ahead,” he replied kindly. The open favoritism only made Kayla more nervous. Even worse, Xianchun’s gaze was piercing into her shoulder blade.

“I must apologize for dereliction of duties, your Majesty. I had planned to present this case in the last court session, but while contemplating my work from my sickbed, I came to realize that the case still required further actions on my part before presenting it before your Majesty. Befuddled by illness as I was, I failed to communicate this in a timely manner to my superior and coworkers in the Ministry, and am deeply ashamed for the inconvenience,” Kayla said. She ignored Ge Renqian’s look of disbelief and annoyance. Even if she was called out, there wasn’t anything more important than avoiding the death flag!

“No need to apologize for such a thing! Wenyuan, I’m impressed at how devoted you are to your duties, to even continue thinking of it while you were ill. Such spirit is commendable! Very well, you may present it at the next session,” the Emperor said, looking deeply pleased. The Grand Duke didn’t turn to look at Kayla, but she could already tell she was in serious trouble.

“Thank you for your benevolence, your Majesty, I don’t deserve such praise.” Kayla bowed deeply and began to step back towards her position.

“Oh my, to think the Left Secretariat was worried about that! The Left Secretariat must’ve forgotten due to his fever, but the message you sent was received at the Ministry, and we’ve already taken care of it,” Minister Xie chuckled. Kayla froze.

What the fuck. You too?! Holy shit, you all are going to get me killed!

“What? That’s wonderful! See, nephew, you had nothing to worry about,” the Emperor said affectionately. I really do!

“I hadn’t realized,” Kayla made out faintly.

“Did you bring the case today, Left Secretariat?” Minister Xie asked in a kind voice, but she could sense the forcefulness behind his cue.

“I’m afraid not, Minister,” Kayla said apologetically.

Oh my god, please just let it slide, if I could get five more days-

“That’s alright, it’s good that I brought along a copy,” Minister Xie said with false benevolence.

What the fuck?! Kayla stared at him in horror as Minister Xie retrieved a scroll from his sleeve.

“The Left Secretariat hasn’t seen the revisions yet, would the Right Secretariat kindly present the case?” Minister Xie passed the scroll to Ge Renqian. Kayla watched the scroll pass hands before her, head swimming as Ge Renqian read it out.

“Yue Wuxuan, Governor of Anling County, has committed treasonous acts against the Imperial Throne,” Ge Renqian read in a loud, clear voice. Kayla blocked out the rest, her mind blurred with fear and horror.

“Your Majesty, Yue Wuxuan’s crimes are great and he deserves to die! We urge your Majesty to sentence him to death and exterminate his family!” Ge Renqian finished passionately. Kayla’s legs nearly gave out as Xianchun stepped forward, blazing with righteous anger.

“Father, I object!”

Kayla closed her eyes in resignation as Xianchun said the exact same lines as he did in the novel.

“Yue Wuxuan does not deserve to be punished!”

8-The Court Convenes (II)

Kayla watched as Xianchun stepped closer to the throne, shooting a glare at Wenyuan in the process.

“Father, please do not be swayed by the crafty words of ignoble people,” Xianchun said earnestly. “Yue Wuxuan may have used unadvisable methods, but his heart is tied to the fate of the country and Father’s reputation!”

“Prince, please pardon my disbelief, but how on earth could this traitor be concerned for the Emperor’s reputation? His Majesty’s nobleness and virtue are known throughout the lands, and there is no threat to the Emperor’s reputation other than the blasphemous words of this ungrateful cretin,” Minister Xie said, voice tinged with mock surprise. “And when you say ignoble people, who among us does the Prince wish to admonish? All here are loyal to the Emperor’s interests, and while we dare not compare ourselves with the virtue of the Emperor or the Princes, we also cannot deny being earnest in our service.”

Kayla stared blankly at the wall, wishing she could find a bathroom to have a breakdown in. While reading the first arc, Kayla had remembered feeling sympathetic to the Prince.

Goddamnit Prince, get his crusty ass! She had cheered for him silently while scrolling through this on the bus, but now she only wanted to curse her fate and maybe scream out of a window.

“They know who I’m talking about,” Xianchun said, voice laced with spite. He shot Wenyuan a dirty look but frowned a little on seeing Kayla’s blank expression and thousand-foot stare. Xianchun turned his attention away and continued.

“Yue Wuxuan never criticized Father’s boundless virtue, nor did he speak with malice. What he criticized was the corruption of the officials who suck the blood of the nation while seeking to cover the eyes and ears of the Emperor, the men who dominate the court and crush those who dare to voice their objections with ruthless cruelty!” Xianchun shot back, gesturing with his arm. “Father, please clearly discern the motives of those who seek to kill an honest man, do not be fooled into confusing right and wrong!”

“Your Highness, your words are sincere and your concern for the Emperor commendable, reflecting your piety and consideration for the country, but does the Prince not need to discern the motives of this inscrutable man? He spouts vitriolic libel and seeks to defame those who serve the Emperor whole-heartedly, all while criticizing the Emperor as a weak-hearted fool who is easily manipulated, an accusation so vile and untrue that it invokes the anger of both humans and the gods. Prince, in your haste to protect the Emperor, is it not you who was fooled?” Minister Xie bowed his head slightly as he criticized Xianchun, who turned a steely glare on him.

“Am I a fool then?” Xianchun demanded.

“I dare not criticize the Prince,” Minister Xie replied, despite having just done so.

“If I am a fool, then it must be that even a fool can see the corruption that roots itself into the court like an invasive weed that uproots the crops. It must be that even a fool could perceive the power that Grand Duke Zhao so greedily claims, and the outright collusion between the Three Departments, and yet in a court full of the best and the brightest, no one wishes to say it out loud!” Xianchun snapped.

“Enough! I’ve heard my fill of both of you!” The Emperor shouted. Both Minister Xie and Xianchun hurriedly knelt down as the Emperor showed his anger.

“Please appease your anger, Your Majesty,” the two said in unison. Kayla took a few steps backward to where Ge Renqian had retreated to. The Emperor let out a sharp sigh.

“Xianchun, it’s good to have a keen heart that worries for the country, but your concerns are excessive and unreasonably biased against my loyal vassals,” the Emperor admonished him.

Xianchun clenched his jaw in anger but kept silent.

“Prince, it seems that this old man has earned your suspicion,” the Grand Duke said, finally entering the battle that had already been won as though to whip a corpse. “I deeply lament whatever failings I have shown to worry you so, but I must plead my case if you would accuse me of disloyalty.”

The Grand Duke stepped forward, bowing to the Emperor before continuing. “Through the reign of three emperors I have served this country and the Imperial Family, as a General in my youth and as a statesman in my twilight years, and I have never held anything but reverence and absolute loyalty to the throne. If I have failed in my duties, I have no excuse. But if I have failed as a subject, then may the Heavens strike me down where I stand!”

“No need to speak like that, Grand Duke, not only have you served me well, you have assisted my father and grandfather too. Xianchun is still young and rash, and lacking in both experience and wisdom. Xianchun, apologize to the Grand Duke,” the Emperor ordered.

“Please, there’s no need for that. I am unworthy of the Prince’s apology,” Grand Duke Zhao said.

“Nonsense. If the Grand Duke is unworthy, there will not be a second man who is worthy,” the Emperor said firmly.

Xianchun bowed his head slightly towards the Grand Duke. “I apologize for my words,” he gritted out.

“Please do not worry about it, my prince,” the Grand Duke replied.

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. “Minister Xie, I approve the verdict. Take care of it as you will. Since we have come to a decision, the court may disperse. All other items should be sent to me or presented at the next convening.” The Emperor got up and walked out of the room, everyone hastily kneeling down until he was gone. Kayla remained on the floor a bit longer before Jia Fu scuttled over. She quickly stood up rather than listen to his faked concern.

Minister Xie gave Kayla a confused frown, opening his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by an official from the Department of State Affairs.

“Left Secretariat, the Grand Duke wishes to speak with you,” the official said in a hushed tone. Kayla nodded, following him woodenly out of the hall and down a side corridor to a narrow alleyway. It was empty save for the Grand Duke, who waved away his subordinate, leaving Kayla alone with him.

She had thought it was impossible for her to become more afraid, but both her fear and Wenyuan’s managed to reach record levels.

“Zhao Wenyuan,” the Grand Duke snarled, “How dare you?”

Kayla fought the instinctive urge of Wenyuan’s body to drop to its knees and failed. Her knees hit the floor with a painful thud that she barely felt. Her breathing quickened until she was almost hyperventilating.

“Grandfather,” she said shakily, but couldn’t make out any other words. The fierce glare from the Grand Duke seemed to leave a white-hot mark on her head as he looked at Kayla like she was a piece of trash.

“You even dare to defy me now?” the Grand Duke asked in a steely voice. Her back tensed even though he wasn’t holding a whip.

“N-no, G-Grandfather,” Kayla stammered. “I-I…I-”

“Be prepared to face the consequences,” the Grand Duke said. “Return to the household and wait there.”

Kayla tried to find some kind of excuse or defense, but her body was shaking too hard to force out any words. She watched helplessly as the Grand Duke walked away. With some effort, Kayla stumbled to her feet. She had tried, but the death flag was still raised, and now she was going to face the Grand Duke’s wrath as well. It all seemed so hopeless.

Wenyuan was just as despondent, his sympathy, fear, and disappointment melting into a sickening medley inside her chest.

I’m sorry.

Don’t be, Kayla. At least you tried.

All of it was too overwhelming. She had wanted to be able to live without penny-pinching, not being saddled with all this. Against her will, tears welled up inside her eyes.

Oh my god, seriously? I promise I’m not going to cry in public, Kayla thought frantically. She wiped them away, but her eyes kept watering.

It’s alright, I wouldn’t blame you for that, Wenyuan assured her.

Kayla froze as fast-paced footsteps approached her.

Shit, what now?

“Zhao Wenyuan!” An angry voice rang out in the alleyway. Kayla let out a shuddering sigh. Of course it was the Main Character.

She bowed slightly at Xianchun as he approached, mustering every effort she could to refrain from crying.

“Prince,” she greeted him.

“Zhao Wenyuan, do you have any conscience left?! How could you go against morality to act against a loyal man like this? Not only do you sign away his life, you even target his family!” Xianchun shouted angrily. Kayla felt a pit of despair opening up in her stomach. She had tried as hard as she could have given the circumstances, but the death flag seemed to have become even stronger. Just which god was toying with her fate like this?

“This was not my decision.” The words came out before she could stop them.

Kayla froze. Xianchun froze as well before his expression became even angrier. Fear surging again, Kayla hastily bowed and made her escape.

“I have to go right now, there are urgent matters waiting. Please excuse me, Prince.”

She hurriedly rushed past Xianchun and began speed walking away, almost running in her haste to get the hell away from him. The tears that continued to well up in her eyes blurred her vision as she moved.

A strong hand harshly grabbed onto her arm and yanked it backward. Kayla yelped as she was forcibly pulled to turn around again, flinching from the painful grasp. To her extreme mortification, the tears in her eyes rolled down her face as she met the glare of the prince with a frightened gaze. Xianchun froze, looking at her with a shocked expression. Taking the chance, Kayla jerked free from his grip and fled.

She wiped her face and slowed down as she headed back towards the crowded courtyard, steeling herself for what would happen after she returned to the Grand Duke’s household.

/////////////

Xianchun watched Wenyuan’s retreating figure in shocked silence, hand still outstretched. His rage had been replaced by a sense of bewilderment.

“This was not my decision.” The despondent tone Wenyuan had spoken in seemed to ring out repeatedly in Xianchun’s mind. Wenyuan was just a puppet. A useless idiot who danced on the Grand Duke’s strings and sponged up power and resources.

Since when could a puppet cry?

Xianchun shook his head violently, but the image of Wenyuan’s teary expression remained in his mind’s eye. Clenching his fists, Xianchun let out a frustrated sigh.

//////////////

Kayla sat in anxious silence, body taut as a drawn bow as she forced herself to breathe in and breathe out slowly. After returning to her quarters, Chujiao had helped her change out of the official robes and into a more casual robe, gently showing her concern through speaking softly and keeping her touch light. Chujiao had avoided outright asking what had happened, and Kayla had no intention of saying anything. She clenched her hand around the scroll Chujiao retrieved from Kayla’s sleeve, glaring at the document that hounded after her life so intently.

The door opened, and Kayla shot to her feet, heart pounding painfully against her rib cage. The Grand Duke stepped through with a severe expression on his face. Housekeeper Wang waited outside the door, a familiar shape in his hands.

“Grandfather-”

“Kneel down.” The Grand Duke ordered. Kayla once again dropped to her knees, already beginning to tremble.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit-

The fear from last time was doubled, now that it was combined with Wenyuan’s memories and emotions. The Grand Duke held out a hand, and Wang scuttled forward to place the whip in it before leaving and closing the door behind him.

“Grandfather,” Kayla began, not caring that her voice was quivering. “I was just-”

“Wenyuan. It seems you’ve forgotten the consequences of disobedience,” the Grand Duke said, his voice calm and level despite the malice in his eyes.

“No, no wait, it’s not like that!” Kayla pleaded. The Grand Duke’s face hardened and he cracked the whip.

“This will serve as a reminder.”

Kayla cried out as the whip lashed into her face before she could react. She curled up, turning her back towards the Grand Duke and covering her head, in a position all too familiar to Wenyuan’s body. Kayla whimpered as the whip curled around her arm from where it shielded her head, uncurling so quickly that it sliced through the flesh of her arm.

Instinctively, she began counting to a hundred again, drawing her breath in with shuddering gasps. The nightmare didn’t end until she passed a hundred. Blood was dripping from the whip, leaving droplets smattered across the floor. She curled up further, frightenedly backing away as the Grand Duke dropped the whip to the floor, terrified he would just start in with his bare hands as well. Instead, the Grand Duke let out a sound of frustration.

“What is it?!” He snapped towards the door. Kayla belatedly realized someone was knocking on the door.

“Grand Duke, it’s General Yu from the Inner Palace, we couldn’t stop her!”

Kayla stiffened even more until her muscles were completely tensed. Yu Bianfu had been the one to murder Wenyuan in the novel, the fierce and strong-willed woman who had helped Xianchun come to power by paving a path of blood.

“What?! Even if she’s from the Inner Palace, she can’t just come in like this!”

The door flew open and another shadow was cast onto the floor.

“General Yu, how can you barge into the Inner Quarters like this?!” The Grand Duke snapped.

Kayla was instantly overcome by the wave of fear and rage from Wenyuan.

That bitch! It’s her! This goddamn piece of shit-that sadistic asshole had the guts to come here! Wenyuan raged on as Kayla slowly uncurled from her position and looked up.

Half-blinded by the blood dripping from the gash on her forehead, Kayla met the eyes of Yu Bianfu.

9-The Empress Dowager

Yu Bianfu showed a look of surprise at Wenyuan’s blood-covered appearance before quickly hiding her emotions behind a polite smile.

“Grand Duke, I am also reluctant to act in such a rude manner, but it can’t be helped since I am here on the direct orders of the Empress Dowager,” Bianfu said sweetly. The Grand Duke’s brow furrowed.

“The Empress Dowager?”

“Her Highness was keen to see her grandson, and sent me to escort him to her palace,” Bianfu explained. She glanced at Wenyuan. “Though I can see that I came at a bad time.”

The Grand Duke let out an angry huff and stormed off, gesturing over his shoulder at Housekeeper Wang. The Housekeeper quickly shouted for a servant to bring the doctor, and Kayla slowly let out the breath she had been holding. The nonstop fear that had started that morning wasn’t easing up, now that the person who would be killing her in a horrible way was standing before her.

Housekeeper Wang scuttled to her side, helping Kayla onto a chair. She winced as pain flared up in her wounds from the movement, avoiding meeting Bianfu’s eyes again as the General looked at Kayla intently.

Just what the hell is with the protagonists and staring at people? Kayla wiped away the tears that had left streaks across her face during the beating. In addition to the pain, she also now wanted to throw up. The doctor hurried in, nervously moving around Bianfu when she didn’t budge from where she stood smack in the middle of the door.

“Does the General intend to watch me undress?” Kayla asked. To her chagrin, her voice shook while she said it. Yu Bianfu let out a short laugh.

“No. Please pardon me, young lord.” Yu Bianfu stepped out of the doorway, allowing Wang to close the door. The doctor’s healing magic washed over Kayla’s body, the pain fading away to a strange tingling sensation. With it, Kayla’s emotions calmed down somewhat.

“Oh,” Kayla sighed in relief. “That’s much better.”

The doctor let out a worried noise, and then promptly slipped in some blood. He hastily scrambled back to his feet and bowed.

“Young lord, I have finished. Are you feeling alright?” He asked nervously.

Kayla did not feel alright, but that didn’t have anything to do with the doctor. She nodded and dismissed him.

Will Bianfu tell the Empress Dowager or will she keep it as something to tell Xianchun only? We’ll have to react based on what she does.

That fucking bitch deserves to slip and smash her face in! Wenyuan was too busy seething to be of much help. Kayla stood up and allowed Housekeeper Wang to help her change into a new set of clothes, her current robes now ripped and stained with blood. Wang opened the door and bowed as Kayla stepped out.

She turned towards Bianfu, who was leaning against a pillar and looking at Kayla with interest.

“Well then, General Yu?” Kayla said coolly.

“Of course, my lord. Allow me to escort you.”

Kayla silently made her way onto the carriage from the Imperial Palace that the Empress Dowager had sent for Wenyuan, ignoring the piercing stare boring into her back.

Wenyuan, as much as I sympathize, calm down a bit. We’re going to meet your grandmother.

That actually worked, Wenyuan’s rage fading into a forlorn sense of dejection.

Grandmother…she was always so kind to me.

Wenyuan’s memories of being cuddled by the Empress Dowager as a child flashed into her mind, and the tenderness of the moment washed away a bit of the horror of everything that had happened throughout the day. Kayla let out a deep sigh and leaned her head against the side of the carriage, once again heading into the palace.

///////////

The Empress Dowager was as kind as she had been in Wenyuan’s memories. Before Kayla could even bow, she was quickly beckoned to sit at the Dowager’s side, where the elderly woman affectionately stroked Kayla’s hair. Bianfu had left without saying anything about what she’d seen in the Grand Duke’s household, which probably meant she was saving that information for Xianchun’s usage.

“Wenyuan, you left so quickly after the court without sparing a thought for your lonely grandmother?” The Dowager asked lovingly. A wave of affection washed over her from Wenyuan, who basked in the kindness from his maternal grandmother.

“Grandmother, I couldn’t help it, there was an urgent matter back home,” Kayla said, nudging the Dowager’s hand gently with her head. The Dowager smiled, appeased by the childish action.

“Of course, our Wenyuan’s all grown up now,” the Dowager said. She gestured for a serving girl to pour Kayla some tea and pointed towards the snacks laid out before them. “Have some, go ahead.”

Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seemed to enjoy feeding Wenyuan. Kayla obediently drank the tea and took a pastry.

“Thank you, grandmother,” she said. The Empress Dowager watched happily as Kayla ate.

“Wenyuan, when are you getting married?” she asked. Kayla nearly choked on the pastry.

Why do all grandmothers ask this?!

“Grandmother!” Kayla protested.

“You’re at the right age,” the Dowager said patiently. “When a man grows up he should take a wife, and when a woman grows up she should marry a husband. You’re doing well in your career, isn’t it a good time?”

Kayla shook her head vehemently. “I’ve been so busy lately, I’ll think about it later.”

“Well, there are so many well-educated and beautiful young ladies in the capital city, it’ll be easy to find you a good wife.”

The Dowager peered at him with amusement. “Or is there already a young lady in your heart?”

Kayla quickly shook her head.

“No, grandmother. There really isn’t,” Kayla insisted.

“Alright, alright. Enough of that then, but you should really start thinking about this seriously,” the Dowager said. Kayla nodded obediently.

She quickly steered the conversation away from the topic of marriage and started chatting with the Dowager. Kayla slowly relaxed, the tension in her body unwinding in the presence of Wenyuan’s grandmother. She was rather enjoying herself when Bianfu re-entered the room, accompanied by Xianchun. Kayla nearly spat her tea out.

“Grandmother, I humbly greet you,” Xianchun said, bowing formally. The Empress Dowager waved for him to get up, and stopped Kayla with a hand on her shoulder when she tried to get up to greet Xianchun.

“Xianchun, come here and sit by me, have some tea with your younger cousin,” the Dowager called to him. Xianchun swiftly walked over and sat down a distance away from Kayla.

“Thank you, Grandmother,” he said, still using formal mannerisms and bowing his head sharply.

“I was just talking with your cousin, it’s good that you’ve joined us,” the Dowager said pleasantly. If she felt any irritation at Xianchun single-handedly killing the mood, she didn’t show it.

“Cousin,” Kayla greeted Xianchun. This time, Xianchun returned the familial greeting instead of calling Wenyuan’s official title. The prince’s eyes remained fixed intently on Wenyuan for a moment too long before moving away, and Kayla had to fight to keep her hands from shaking as she drank her tea.

The Empress Dowager was a more experienced and patient conversationalist than the Emperor and managed to work around Xianchun’s stiffness to keep the mood light. Kayla continued to chat amiably as she had with the Emperor, fighting the fear and annoyance that was once again twinging in her heart.

Just why the hell did this bastard come?

I bet he’s here to pick a fight or blackmail us about getting beaten by grandfather.

What a piece of shit.

Despite internally having a curse-fest in which she and Wenyuan insulted Xianchun and Bianfu, Kayla kept her expression cheerful, smiling brightly before the Dowager. The three continued to chat more-or-less pleasantly for another hour or so, Xianchun surprisingly not picking a fight at all. Kayla had a vague feeling that Xianchun might be trying to piggyback off the Dowager’s affection for Wenyuan, invoking a strong sense of outrage. Not only was this guy going to kill her, he was trying to profit off her in the meantime. But it wasn’t like she could do anything about it.

“Well, I’ve kept you boys long enough,” the Empress Dowager said. “I suppose I shouldn’t keep you too much longer.“

“I had a lot of fun, Grandmother,” Kayla said sweetly. The Dowager patted Wenyuan’s head affectionately.

“Good, good. Remember to come see me often then, don’t make Bianfu have to chase you around on horseback,” she said.

“We’ll take our leave then, please get some rest, Grandmother,” Xianchun said, bowing his head.

“Please get some rest, Grandmother,” Kayla echoed playfully.

The two left together, but the air between them rapidly cooled as soon as they exited the room. Bianfu joined them, walking behind Xianchun. The air cooled to a freezing point.

“Wenyuan, join me for a walk,” Xianchun said. Kayla did her best not to scowl.

Just what does he want?!

“Now, my prince?” She asked skeptically.

“The garden’s lovely at this hour,” Bianfu piped in. “I think you’d enjoy it, my lord.”

Seeing no option to refuse, Kayla nodded and followed Xianchun with a growing sense of resignation. There were so many eyes in the Inner Palace, Xianchun couldn’t hurt her here. Once they reached a quiet section of the garden, which Kayla was too nervous to enjoy, Bianfu peeled off after ascertaining no one else was present. Kayla watched her leave with apprehension. Her head was starting to hurt, a dull ache that made her feel sluggish. It had been a long and exhausting day. Kayla didn’t want to stay here with Xianchun and she didn’t want to return to where the Grand Duke was, but there was nowhere else to go.

“Was there something you wanted to talk about, Prince?”

Xianchun looked at her, a cool gaze that didn’t hold the intensity of his previous stares.

“You were certainly clumsy at court today,” he said. Kayla closed her eyes and held back a sigh.

“As you say, my prince.”

Xianchun stepped closer. “Zhao Wenyuan, could it be that you didn’t want to present the case?”

Kayla’s eyes snapped open. She met Xianchun’s gaze determinedly.

“That’s right.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve always been obedient to the Grand Duke. Since when have you dared to have your own thoughts?”

Kayla let out a bitter laugh, but couldn’t think of a good reply. Wenyuan had always had his own thoughts. He had been a man who drowned himself in alcohol and pleasure to hide the deep-rooted fear and helplessness he felt, but it wasn’t as though Xianchun ever cared to see that. For some reason, it felt like nothing she said would be taken well, or otherwise get through to Xianchun. She shook her head and looked down, avoiding a response.

“Or is it that you’re throwing a tantrum because of a disagreement with the Grand Duke?”

Kayla shook her head again. She was tired. Perhaps at a better time, she could say something to win over Xianchun, but she was at her limit. Her head was now throbbing painfully and Kayla felt vaguely nauseous.

“But who would’ve thought that even the precious grandson of the Grand Duke can also invoke his anger?” Xianchun asked in a carefully casual tone. Kayla stiffened.

So he wants to threaten me.

Xianchun glanced at her. “The capital city would be thrilled to gossip about that.”

Kayla sighed, turning away from his gaze. “Do you think that’s something I care about?” she asked. “Prince, you shouldn’t threaten someone you know so little about.”

She met his gaze with tired eyes. “It doesn’t work.”

Kayla bowed slightly without waiting for a response from Xianchun, wanting to get out of here as fast as possible. “Then I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

She rose quickly and whirled around to leave. That turned out to be a bad idea. Kayla’s vision blanked out for a second and her head spun, the place where she’d been struck by the Grand Duke in the forehead aching painfully. Firm hands grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her down. Kayla struggled against the grip until she landed gently on a hard surface. It took a moment longer for her vision to clear up.

Kayla gingerly touched her head as the dizziness ceased, and glanced up to see Xianchun’s discomforted expression. Surprisingly, Xianchun had stopped her from crashing facefirst into the ground and had moved her to sit on one of the large rocks in the garden.

“Are you-do you need a doctor?” Xianchun asked, evidently very uncomfortable with the situation. He couldn’t let Wenyuan get hurt while they were alone, at risk of incurring the Dowager’s ire, and was forced to awkwardly make sure Wenyuan didn’t keel over. Kayla tried to shake her head and winced at the sharp pain it caused.

“I’m fine,” she croaked. “Just need a moment.”

“Were you struck in the head?” Xianchun’s voice remained dispassionate. Kayla sighed and didn’t answer him. Xianchun reached out and she flinched away from him. The prince stopped and withdrew his hand.

“Do you want to move to a seat?” Xianchun asked instead.

“Thank you, I’m fine here,” she hurriedly replied. Her head was clearing up and the pain was slowly disappearing. Xianchun sighed and moved to sit down on a rock opposite her.

“Just what’s with you these days? You’ve been acting strangely,” Xianchun said, an accusatory note in his voice. He seemed frustrated that the predictable puppet of Grand Duke Zhao was not acting as expected.

Kayla didn’t reply, changing the topic back to the Governor Yue case. “And what’s with you? The Emperor might not have given the verdict to exterminate his family if you didn’t talk like that,” she shot back. She might as well act more unpredictably before Xianchun, and hopefully, that would confuse the shrewd prince enough that Kayla had more chances to survive.

Xianchun scowled. “Governor Yue didn’t deserve to die! If you didn’t want his family to be exterminated, why the hell did you suggest that verdict in the first place?” He snapped.

“Oh, you think I get to choose the verdicts?” Kayla snapped right back. “Whether or not he deserves to die, that man’s done for. Even a fool can tell that all the powerful forces in court want him dead-what did you think you could do alone? Rather than defending him, you should have defended his family. Uncle would’ve been much more willing!”

Xianchun’s face morphed into an expression of shock before returning to a scowl.

“Your allies would have condemned them to death either way. How could a powerless prince do anything against the Grand Duke?!” Xianchun snarled bitterly.

Kayla sighed deeply, knowing what he said was true. In the novel, the Emperor had later come to regret killing Governor Yue’s wife and daughter. It suddenly occurred to her that rather than changing the plot through her role as a side character, she would probably have better luck having Xianchun change the plot himself.

“Then don’t do anything. There are definitely people who would speak up for Lady Yue if they knew her true identity,” Kayla said.

Xianchun gave her a questioning frown. “What are you talking about?”

“This can be confirmed if you seek out Lady Yue’s foster-mother Lady Gu, who currently resides in the Capital with her son. He’s a low-ranking official with the surname Gu, but I don’t know which one he is,” Kayla said slowly, trying to recall the details from the novel.

“Confirm what?” Xianchun asked impatiently.

“Lady Yue is the great-granddaughter of the great General Liang Anguo. After he was framed and executed, much of his descendants fled throughout the country, including Lady Yue’s parents. They passed away before General Liang’s name was cleared, and Lady Yue was raised by the Gu family whose care she was left in. The current head of the Liang family does not know of Lady Yue yet, since she was born after the General’s death, but he would recognize the pseudonyms her parents used while in hiding,” Kayla told him.

“You should act quickly and find out which family with the surname Gu used to live in Anling, and then share this information with the other officials,” Kayla continued. “There’s quite a few that remain neutral simply because they don’t have anything to strike back with, but they wouldn’t pass up a chance to disparage Minister Xie for trying to kill someone with the bloodline of General Liang.”

Xianchun looked at her in shock. “Just how do you know all this?! And why didn’t you say anything in court? You just stood there like a wooden doll!”

Kayla gave him an affronted glare. “I got beaten just for not complying enough, and you think I would directly go against my grandfather publicly? Do you think people should go around getting themselves killed just to convenience you?!”

Oh wait, he does think that. Oops.

To her surprise, Xianchun looked slightly admonished but quickly returned to scowling.

“You still haven’t told me how you know this.”

Kayla shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. It’s fine if you don’t trust my words, just conduct the investigation and you’ll see for yourself. Don’t you want to save Governor Yue’s family?”

Please do it and strike down the death flag! Kayla also didn’t want to share responsibility in getting an innocent woman and her child killed for no good reason, it would grate on her conscience too much.

Xianchun slowly nodded. “I’ll be checking the truth of your words myself. Know that if your words are untrue-”

“I’ll face the consequences, I know. Word of advice? Don’t present the information yourself if you can find someone else to do it for you, it wouldn’t be taken well. You said too much today,” Kayla urged him. She really needed Xianchun to make this happen. Hopefully, it would have a ripple effect on the plot, but even if it didn’t, it might leave her in a better position to try again.

Xianchun didn’t respond, but quickly stood up and turned to leave. He stopped a few steps away and awkwardly glanced at Kayla.

“Can you walk?”

“Yes, but I’ll go after you,” Kayla said. “I need another moment.”

She didn’t, but she wanted to avoid walking with Xianchun. The prince turned and disappeared between the trees. After waiting a few more moments to make sure he was gone, Kayla got up and made to leave.

“Are you two done speaking then?” Bianfu’s voice rang out from behind her. Kayla squawked and nearly fell over. Bianfu reached out to steady her, but Kayla moved further away from the General.

“General Yu!”

“Did I startle you, young lord?”

Kayla let out an angry huff and ignored the question. “Did you come to escort me?”

Yu Bianfu bowed slightly. “Yes, my lord. I’ll see you back home safely, though unfortunately, my duty stops at the door.” Kayla ignored the mocking tone in Bianfu’s voice. Ultimately, whether or not the news of her beating was spread through the court depended completely on Xianchun’s decision. If Xianchun did, Kayla was planning to use it as an excuse to publicly distance herself from the Grand Duke. If he didn’t, that also left her with some autonomy as to what to do with the information.

Even if it meant that people gossiped or mocked Wenyuan for getting beaten, the fact that Bianfu withheld the information from the Dowager was ultimately to Kayla’s advantage. Wenyuan’s pride probably made Bianfu exclude the possibility that Wenyuan would reveal the information himself, but Kayla was different.

She looked at Bianfu coldly. “Of course it does. Since when could a guard interfere in the Grand Duke’s household affairs?”

Bianfu’s smug grin faded a little. Kayla ignored her and began walking back to the carriage. There was no way she could suck up to Bianfu after what the General did to Wenyuan, who was her only support in this world. If that was the case, Kayla would have to work on removing her instead.

10-The Emperor’s Verdict

Kayla returned to work the next day in the Ministry of Justice, where she had pretty much nothing to do as expected. She took the time to work through the plot instead and figure out her next steps. For Plan A, the only way she could change the current death flag was if Xianchun managed to pull through with Lady Yu’s real identity before the next time the court convened. As for Plan B, Wenyuan had assured Kayla her magic was progressing at an unnaturally fast pace. They were running low on talismans despite having procured hundreds of them since they only took seconds to rip and nullify, and Kayla was practicing on multiple targets. No matter how many talismans you had, ripping stacks of them at a time tended to make short work of them.

Kayla nodded as Jia Fu brought another document for her to stamp, silently noting which case it was. Once the man left, she turned her attention back to the paper she was jotting on in cursive English. No one else within the Ministry would be able to read any of this, and she was planning to blot it out with ink once she was done.

There were now several more details Wenyuan had pulled out after extensively sifting through Kayla’s memories: First of all, Matron Li was later revealed to be Xianchun’s spy, an annoying development that left Kayla in even more of a pickle. Second of all, even though Xianchun took a few months to take down the Grand Duke, the old man’s career only started going downhill after the death of Wenyuan, so Kayla only really had about two months' worth of wiggle room.

In the novel, Yu Bianfu was responsible for killing Wenyuan, using her position as a high-ranking officer to get rid of Wenyuan’s guards and kidnap him. Kayla had some thoughts on how to get rid of Bianfu, but none of them were guaranteed to work. There was also the sticky issue of two important plot points that she had no control over whatsoever.

Wenyuan’s schedule had been revealed to Xianchun by one of the serving girls in the Inner Quarters, who was only described as having a necklace made of red jade. The girl had been described as burning incense for Wenyuan and tossing the necklace into the river after his death, which still left Kayla with no useful information. Wenyuan had never paid close enough attention to the large numbers of serving girls to know who had a red jade necklace either.

In addition to the serving girl, there was also the issue of when Liu Boyue, Xianchun’s left-hand man and strategist, would infiltrate the Grand Duke’s household. Boyue had uncovered evidence of the Grand Duke’s crimes, including how the Grand Duke had poisoned Xianchun’s mother to death. That information had steeled Xianchun’s heart to take revenge and order the gruesome murder of Wenyuan, departing from his previous righteousness and signaling his awakening as a Machiavellian politician.

But how the fuck was Kayla supposed to stop Boyue? It wasn’t as though she knew when he would infiltrate or where she could intercept him. Even if she did, Boyue was a strong fighter who could probably just kill her right there and then.

Let’s just focus on the serving girl from now on. Would it be weird if I went around peering at all the girls’ jewelry?

No, you would just be thought of as a pervert though.

Goddamnit. You know what, I’m just going to do it. I’m technically also a girl, so I’ll just look at them with pure intentions.

I’m not sure that would help.

Kayla didn’t have the luxury of avoiding it. She really hoped she didn’t make them too uncomfortable, but it was her life on the line.

On the carriage home, Kayla was pleasantly surprised to see Qu Boyong again. She called him over, talking with him through the carriage window.

“Boyong, you’re on guard duty again?”

“Yes, my lord. I’m on guard duty for the evenings after 5 o’clock.”

Kayla nodded. That would explain why she’d only seen him when she used the carriage later in the day.

“Boyong, could you go get some more talismans for me? I want some higher-level ones to look at,” Kayla said, handing the guard another golden coin.

“Of course, my lord. Would 3rd to 5th tier spells suffice?”

The current spells she was using were 1st tier, or the lowest level of magic spells. Kayla felt ready to practice with more advanced magic, and Wenyuan’s more knowledgeable opinion was in agreement with her.

“Sure. I’ll trust your selection,” Kayla nodded at him. Boyong peeled off, soon returning with another three books. Kayla took them, giving Boyong a few words of gratitude. Boyong flashed a happy smile at the praise before returning to his position. Kayla squinted at him as the guard moved away. She couldn’t remember there being a Qu Boyong in the book, but his appearance reminded her of someone from Wenyuan’s memories. Kayla shook her head and turned her attention to the books instead.

/////////////

The next four days passed uneventfully, despite Kayla’s mounting nervousness about the death flag. She had also been peering closely at the serving girls, who professionally hid their discomfort. Despite her efforts, Kayla didn’t find anyone with a red jade necklace. The only thing she did make progress on was her nullification magic, which didn’t seem to find nullifying 5th tier spells any more difficult than 1st tier spells.

On the day the court convened again, Kayla was a mess of nerves. She repeatedly counted to a hundred inside her head, consciously evening out her breathing as Chujiao dressed her. Kayla smiled as Chujiao finished, patting the smooth silk with satisfaction.

“Thanks, Jiao’er,” she said warmly. Chujiao was always highly attentive to Kayla’s needs while refraining from being nosy, and the constant nature of Chujiao’s elegant and steady presence was becoming an important source of comfort. Kayla mentally noted to herself to try asking Chujiao later if she knew any girls with red jade necklaces and maybe ask the young woman to play the flute again.

“Best of luck at court, young lord,” Chujiao said dutifully, bowing as Kayla left the room. Kayla and Wenyuan spent the entire carriage ride sharing nervous assurances that surely, Xianchun would be able to pull through.

He’s the Main Character, if he can’t do it who else could?

Even if he’s an asshole, he’s pretty solid in terms of abilities.

Kayla entered the court hall, joining Ge Renqian to wait for Minister Xie. Xianchun entered the hall, talking in hushed tones with Jun Shao, the Minister of Personnel. Kayla feigned casual disinterest, hiding her excitement.

Hell yeah! He’s allying up with Jun Shao way earlier than in the book! This wasn’t supposed to happen until three months later!

If he’s talking with Minister Jun, it’s probably going to go smoothly. Minister Jun is a loyalist to the throne, but Grandfather could never remove him because of how capable he was! Wenyuan’s excitement bubbled up as well, and Kayla bit the inside of her cheek to resist the urge to smile. If she could change the plot even a little bit, then there was still hope for Plan A.

Minister Xie soon arrived, greeting Wenyuan and Ge Renqian with a smile. The three of them chatted casually about the items Minister Xie planned to present, without a word about the Governor Yue case that Xie firmly believed to be a done deal.

“Announcing the arrival of the Emperor!”

Kayla went through the greeting with her heart pounding loudly, in excitement rather than fear for the first time since her arrival. The items that were presented went by in a blur as she waited with feverish anticipation for the Governor Yue case to be revisited.

Minister Xie presented his items and bowed, preparing to return to his position. Kayla spotted movement from the corner of her eye and turned to see Minister Jun step forward and bow. The middle-aged man seemed to be glowing with divine light in Kayla’s vision as she fervently watched him.

“Your Majesty, Minister Xie, please pardon my interruption, but I would like to revisit an item,” Minister Jun said.

Oh my god, it’s happening! Let’s go, Jun Shao! Go get it! Kayla barely managed to keep her expression under control.

“Which item does Minister Jun speak of?” Minister Xie asked.

“The case of Yue Wuxuan, Governor of Anling County,” Minister Jun announced. “I humbly beg the Emperor to think thrice before exterminating his family!”

“Ridiculous, that case has already been decided! The Emperor had deemed Yue Wuxuan’s crimes worthy of severe punishment, are you questioning His Majesty’s infinite wisdom?!” Minister Xie shouted accusingly, evidently having been caught off guard by the sudden objection.

The Emperor raised his hand to silence Minister Xie, nodding at Jun Shao. “Go on, Minister Jun,” he ordered.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I would not dare to object to Your Majesty’s verdict if not for the fact that carrying out the extermination of Yue Wuxuan’s family would place the Emperor in the predicament of being viewed as a despot,” Minister Jun said respectfully, bowing his head slightly.

“Why do you say this?” The Emperor asked curiously.

“Your Majesty, I have evidence to show that the wife of Yue Wuxuan is the great-granddaughter of the Great General and Tiger of the West, the late Liang Anguo,” Minister Jun announced. A murmur went through the court.

“Lies! We have evidence to show that Yue Wuxuan’s wife was an orphan!” Minister Xie interjected.

“Yes, Lady Yue is the foster daughter of the Gu family, left in their care by her father Wu Youfu. However, Wu Youfu was in fact the grandson of Liang Anguo who passed away in hiding before his family was pardoned and had their titles returned,” Minister Jun said.

“It is true, Your Majesty, I can confirm that my Uncle used that pseudonym while in hiding, and have my father’s letters from him signed with that name as proof.” Lord Liang, the current head of the Liang family stepped forward, bowing towards the Emperor as he spoke. “Your Majesty, I beg of you to please spare my cousin! Despite being born as a member of the Liang family, she was raised as a nameless orphan, and is now even facing execution due to her unfortunate marriage!”

“Your Majesty, while Yue Wuxuan’s crimes surely merit the extermination of his family, I beg the Emperor to spare his wife and daughter, to avoid harming the flesh and blood of an honored hero,” Minister Jun quickly added, backing up Lord Liang’s pleas. The Emperor looked at them with a shocked expression.

“To think that Lady Yue was the descendant of General Liang! My grandfather’s greatest regret was to have been fooled by crafty and ignoble fools who framed the Great General, and his dying wish had been to treat the Liang family with benevolence. If what you say is true, then Yue Wuxuan’s wife and daughter must be pardoned and treated with respect,” the Emperor said.

Yes! We did it! Kayla cheered internally, joined by Wenyuan in her elation.

“Thank you for your mercifulness, Your Majesty,” Minister Jun and Lord Liang bowed in unison.

“Lord Liang, once you confirm the identity of Lady Yue and her daughter, you may add them to your clan’s family tree,” the Emperor added.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! It is the wish of this humble vassal to welcome them into my household, I beg your Majesty to grant me permission. Though my cousin was shackled for the crimes of her husband, she and her daughter have committed no crimes. I cannot bear to turn them out to the streets as a widow and orphan,” Lord Liang pleaded.

“I will approve it. Lord Liang, your graciousness as the head of your household has been witnessed by all, and I am once more impressed by your generosity and love for your kin,” the Emperor said approvingly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Lord Liang bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty, when I learned of the tragedy that nearly came to pass, I was deeply shocked by the carelessness that led to this. How is it that the Ministry of Justice overlooked something so important, only caring to push for the extermination of Yue Wuxuan’s family without proper investigation of their background?” Minister Jun asked accusingly.

“That-we carefully investigated the case! How is it possible for us to know a secret guarded so tightly by Lady Yue’s late father?” Minister Xie shot back. Even though the case was supposed to be presented by Wenyuan, the Minister couldn’t push everything onto him, since Wenyuan had the backing of the Grand Duke.

“Minister Xie, you should be more careful from now on. Your negligence nearly pushed me to act unfilial and disobey the dying wishes of my grandfather,” the Emperor admonished him. Minister Xie knelt, bowing deeply in apology. Kayla vaguely sensed Xianchun’s piercing stare once again boring into her side from where he stood before the throne, but chose to ignore him for now, still basking in excitement.

She changed the plot. Even if she hadn’t prevented Yue Wuxuan’s execution, she managed to stop the extermination of his family. No matter how small it was, it proved that the storyline could be affected. Kayla hid a smile, already thinking about her next steps. There was still a long way to go.

11-The Girl with the Red Jade Necklace

“My prince, I am deeply grateful!” Lord Liang bowed towards Xianchun tearfully. Minister Jun stood by with a pleased smile, also serving to keep watch for anyone who might enter the empty corridor.

“Please don’t say that, Lord Liang. I am happy to be of any help in preventing this tragedy,” Xianchun replied.

“Lord Liang, the Prince worked day and night to investigate Lady Yue’s identity over the last few days for fear of being too late to save her. I was deeply surprised when he approached me late in the night two days ago and was moved by the depth of his benevolence,” Minister Jun said, gesturing at Xianchun.

“You praise me too much, Minister Jun,” Xianchun protested, hastily stopping Lord Liang before he could bow again.

“My prince, I am in your debt and eternally grateful for your kindness,” Lord Liang said earnestly.

“Lord Liang, there’s no need to think like that,” Xianchun replied with false modesty. Despite his words, Xianchun had every intention of making use of Liang from now on.

“Prince, Lord Liang, I was deeply pleased to see the strength of your characters,” Minister Jun jumped in, determined to facilitate an alliance. “For too long, the Grand Duke has coveted power and covered the sky with his hand, crushing innocent lives without remorse. I have felt hopeless, like a small boat trying to row against the current, but today’s events have given me the determination to struggle against the powerful darkness that engulfs the court. I propose that the three of us should join hands, following the lead of the Prince, who demonstrates both strength and intelligence.”

Xianchun smiled as Lord Liang quickly agreed. As shocked as he had been when Wenyuan had told him Lady Yue’s true identity, he had never expected things to go this well. Minister Jun had quickly seen the opportunity present in this case to build a political coalition against the Grand Duke, and easily brought in Lord Liang.

Who would have thought that his political rival was the one who helped him make the most progress?

“The two lords are vastly more experienced and virtuous than me, and I dare not call myself your leader,” Xianchun said. “However, I will not show rudeness through refusing your kind intentions. Though I may be inexperienced and lacking in skill, please assist me with your wisdom.”

Lord Liang and Minister Jun both bowed towards him. Xianchun smiled at them, but the satisfaction of forming an alliance could not fully quash the curiosity within his heart. Everything about Lady Yue had been exactly as what Wenyuan had said, and Xianchun really did find people who were eager to argue the case for him. It was uncanny how accurate it all was.

Zhao Wenyuan, just who are you?

//////////////

The excitement of successfully affecting the plot carried Kayla through the workday, only dimming when she remembered that she had to go to Liu Hongyu’s household instead of returning home. Even then, the sharp annoyance Kayla and Wenyuan felt was dulled by their sense of accomplishment.

Kayla nodded to Qu Boyong as she got on the carriage, leaning back as the carriage began to roll forward. If she could keep Lady Yue from getting killed, she could probably find the girl with the red jade necklace and fire her. The next day was her day off, so Kayla was planning to go around staring at people creepily until finding the right serving girl.

The carriage arrived at the Liu household, and Kayla reluctantly went in to meet Liu Hongyu. Like last time, Liu had already changed into casual clothes and had started drinking. Kayla began toasting him speedily, but Liu Hongyu seemed to be in a talkative mood tonight. Rather than drinking, he brandished the filled cup, ignoring the wine that sloshed out as he complained.

“Just what the hell was Jun Shao playing at, that little rat?” Liu shouted angrily. “A descendant of General Liang? They can’t prove that!”

Kayla nodded, keeping her silence.

“Can they really prove that his grandson’s wife wasn’t a fucking whore? Maybe his grandson was a cuckold, huh? It might not even be his daughter!” Liu continued. “Where the hell did any of this pop up from anyways? It’s like they were holding onto this information to use it against us!”

Kayla knew exactly where all this came from, but wasn’t about to say anything about her role in it all.

“Is it that bad? It’s just sparing the wife and daughter, isn’t it?” Kayla asked. Liu snorted.

“Wenyuan, you’re as beautiful as a woman but as stupid as one too. Yue Wuxuan’s been collecting evidence for a while, and we have the testimony of his servant that he shared all the evidence with his wife for whatever reason,” Liu said. “We meant to eradicate the threat, but now that woman not only gets off, she gets a free pass to enter the capital!”

Wow, ok you chauvinistic fuck.

“I see,” Kayla said calmly. “Uncle Liu, there isn’t anything we can do right now, please drink some wine and calm down.” She quickly poured him another cup as soon as he drank. Instead of drinking, Liu set down the cup angrily, splashing out some of the wine.

“I can’t calm down! The thought of it makes me angry!”

He let out an angry huff, before turning narrowed eyes onto Kayla. “You drink. I’m in a bad mood because of your Ministry’s issues, so I’ll have you drink three cups as punishment.”

Kayla balked. Seriously?!

Liu slammed his hand onto the table. “I said drink!”

Kayla forced a smile and emptied her cup. “I’m working on it, Uncle Liu.” Liu filled her cup again, and Kayla drank the second cup, and then the third. Kayla choked down the alcohol, feeling extremely uncomfortable with the situation.

“I’ll apologize on behalf of the Ministry, so let me toast you, Uncle,” Kayla offered. Liu scoffed but accepted the wine she poured for him. Perhaps it was because Liu was in a bad mood, but the older man quickly became drunk and passed out. Withholding a sigh of relief, Kayla left Liu’s household, being quite inebriated herself.

Boyong hurried forward to help Kayla onto the carriage, gently shutting the door after getting her onto the seat. Kayla dozed off, waking up with a start as the carriage stopped.

“Young lord, we’ve arrived,” Boyong announced. He opened the door and reached out to help her out. Kayla stumbled into the Inner Quarters, feeling overwhelmingly sleepy. Chujiao hurriedly came over to greet her, gently guiding Kayla back to Wenyuan’s quarters.

“Young lord, shall I bring you some tea?” Chujiao asked worriedly as she helped Kayla undress.

“That’s okay,” Kayla said, words slurring together. “Jiao’er, I had something to ask you.”

“Chujiao’s listening, young lord.”

Kayla flopped onto the bed, blinking sleepily. Chujiao gently covered Kayla with a blanket.

“That’s right, the necklace,” Kayla said, eyes slipping shut. “There’s a girl with a red jade necklace but I don’t remember who…” She turned her face away from the shining lamp at her bedside.

“Ugh, I’ll ask tomorrow,” Kayla groaned. Chujiao leaned close and put a hand on Kayla’s arm softly.

“Young lord, are you speaking of the red jade necklace the late Princess gifted me?” Chujiao asked. Kayla blearily opened her eyes to look at Chujiao. The young woman reached into her collar and pulled out a piece of jewelry that had been hidden by her robes. Kayla’s eyes widened with shock as she stared at the necklace.

“Is Chujiao’s necklace the one you were thinking of, young lord?”

Oh shit. Kayla nodded mechanically.

“Chujiao, I-” Kayla’s head swam and she squeezed her eyes shut, anxiety racking her insides. With great effort, she managed to keep from reacting outwardly.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Let’s talk in the morning,” Kayla finally settled on procrastination. “I-I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lord. Please have a good rest,” Chujiao said, bowing slightly. The young woman extinguished the lamp next to Kayla’s bedside before leaving the room quietly. Despite Wenyuan’s shock and anger, Kayla couldn’t focus on anything at the moment. Overcome by exhaustion and alcohol, she fell into a dreamless sleep until morning.

/////////////

The first thing in the morning Kayla woke up to was Wenyuan’s wounded sense of betrayal, ringing painfully like a jagged cut in her heart.

Wenyuan, what’s wrong? Kayla thought groggily. Her eyes shot open as last night’s events came back to her.

How could Jiao’er sell me out like this? I was hardly perfect, but I was far from being a bad master! Wenyuan sounded deeply aggrieved. Kayla’s heart rate increased as she considered the situation.

Could it be a red herring? Maybe there’s more than one necklace.

But it makes sense, most serving girls don’t know my schedule.

Okay, how about we ask her if she knows any other girls with a red jade necklace. I mean that stuff’s expensive, so Chujiao would probably know. We can go from there.

As much as she was trying to stay calm, the thought of it made Kayla sick to her stomach. If it was Chujiao, then that meant the person who sold her out had been right under Wenyuan’s nose. How long ago did Chujiao meet Xianchun? The prince only began his rise to power around this time in the novel, but he had been making connections with servants of households for a while. Even without having political power, Xianchun did have some semblance of an intelligence network, though he still missed a lot of important information at the start of the story.

Kayla forced herself to calm down as Chujiao entered with Wenyuan’s breakfast, but could barely manage to force the food down. She waited until the serving girls cleared away the breakfast to call Chujiao over, the young woman waiting patiently until the other servants were gone.

“Young lord, you wished to speak with me?” Chujiao asked.

Kayla smiled at her in what she hoped was a kindly manner. “Jiao’er, could you tell me about your necklace?”

Chujiao bowed her head slightly. “Yes, my lord. This was gifted to me by the late Princess when I first became your maid.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “I see. And are there any other girls who had a similar necklace or any kind of necklace from red jade within the Inner Quarters?”
Chujiao shook her head and Kayla’s heart dropped. “No, young lord. The red jade is only available in the palace; this was from the Princess’ dowry. The Princess was generous to the servants, but while she gifted other jewelry, I don’t believe anyone else received an ornament of red jade.”

“Got it, thank you. You can go for now, but come by again a little later,” Kayla said, keeping her voice as light she could. Chujiao bowed and took her leave.

Wow, holy shit.

It was Chujiao after all. I can’t believe it was her!

Okay, Wenyuan, what do we do? If we just fire her it’ll be suspicious.

There was a surge of dissatisfaction from Wenyuan at the suggestion.

I get it, you don’t want to fire your childhood friend. Could we get her to leave in a manner that doesn’t screw her over then?

I suppose she would leave if she was getting married. Wenyuan sounded extremely reluctant at the idea. Kayla sighed.

That’s an option. Not a great one, but an option.

I don’t think she would agree to it.

You have any other ideas?

There was a resigned silence from Wenyuan. Kayla buried her head in her hands for a moment before turning to nullifying talismans for stress relief until Chujiao came back a while later.

“Young lord, Chujiao is here,” she called from outside the door. Kayla hurriedly pushed all the ripped-up paper into the trash can and closed its lid.

“Come in,” she replied. Kayla watched apprehensively as Chujiao entered. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat at the anger and hurt that Wenyuan’s soul was emitting.

“Chujiao greets the young lord.”

“Jiao’er, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. How old are you this year?”

Chujiao looked slightly confused but answered without hesitation. “I’m 23, my lord.”

“Hm, 23 is a good age. Jiao’er, haven’t you ever thought of getting married?” Kayla gave Chujiao a questioning look.

Chujiao seemed extremely flustered, her face turning red. “No! I haven’t! I mean, I haven’t, my lord.”

Kayla nodded sagely. “Well, you should start thinking about it.”

Chujiao gave Kayla a horrified look. “What? But I-I’m in no rush, young lord. I don’t wish to be married yet.”

Kayla found herself echoing the Dowager’s words. “When a man is grown he should take a wife, when a woman is grown she should marry a husband. 23 is the perfect age to find a good match for you. Jiao’er, you’re an important person to me and I want to ensure your happiness as the official wife of a talented and responsible man,” Kayla said. “I’ll be sure to find you a good husband.”

To her surprise, Chujiao dropped to her knees tearfully. “Young lord, I don’t wish to leave!”

Yeah?!! Why, though, to get me killed?!

“Could it be there’s someone in this household you’re sworn to?” Kayla asked. “Let me know who he is and I’ll see to it that he gets promoted before your wedding.”

“That’s not it! Young lord, I’m truly grateful for your kind intentions, but I’ve seen my mother and sisters suffer in poverty after they were widowed or abandoned. I don’t wish to be provided for, I want to have skills and a career of my own. Chujiao wants to stay here rather than hand her life into someone else’s hands!” Chujiao pleaded.

Kayla sighed. With Wenyuan’s position, he could easily force Chujiao to marry whoever he chose, but neither she nor Wenyuan could bring themselves to do it.

“Alright then, Chujiao. I understand.”

Chujiao stiffened at the change in how Wenyuan addressed her, before lowering her head forlornly, tears still dripping off her face.

“Thank you, young lord! Chujiao is truly grateful!”

Kayla nodded. “I’m sorry for distressing you, go and wash your face.”

She watched Chujiao quickly retreat from the room, feeling a headache coming along. Wenyuan didn’t want Kayla to fire Chujiao, and Chujiao didn’t wish to marry. Was there no other way to move Chujiao out of the way?

An idea suddenly occurred to her.

Wenyuan, aren’t there female secretaries in the Outer Quarters?

Wenyuan hesitated before affirming it. There are, but there are very few of them.

Alright, since Chujiao wants to be a career woman, we should absolutely support her hopes and dreams. And also stop her from getting us killed. Let’s send her to the Outer Quarters!

Would that work?

Why wouldn’t it? We’re the young lord of the household, if we order an unimportant serving girl to join an unimportant position, it shouldn’t be too difficult. We just need to avoid anything that interferes or is directly related to the Grand Duke.

I guess that could potentially be a solution-

Then I’ll try that. There really wasn’t anything Kayla could do other than trying every option she had. Kayla stepped out of the room and stopped a serving girl who was hurrying past.

“Wait a moment, could you call Matron Li for me?” Kayla asked her.

The girl bowed, looking a little surprised. “Yes, my lord. I’ll do so immediately.”

“Please do that. If you’re late because of this, say that I directly ordered you not to be punished.” Kayla said.

“Thank you, my lord! I will go right now!”

Kayla watched the girl disappear down the corner and returned to her room. Within a few minutes, the girl was back, looking slightly out of breath.

“Young lord, please excuse me. Matron Li will arrive shortly,” she said. Kayla nodded and gave the girl a coin.

“Good work, you can go now.” The girl accepted the coin with a bright smile, thanking Kayla before hurrying off again. It didn’t take long for Matron Li to come knocking at the door.

“Young lord, please excuse me,” Matron Li said as she entered. “I heard your lordship was looking for me?”

“Matron Li! Great to see you,” Kayla said cheerfully as she faced the other spy in the household. Luckily for her, Matron Li had been described as a woman whose only grudge was against the Grand Duke and had actually been indebted to the late Princess. The novel had described Xianchun hiding his hand in Wenyuan’s death to appease Matron Li, so even if she was a mole, Kayla was fine leaving her be for now.

“Matron Li, I was thinking recently that Chujiao has grown into a bright young woman,” Kayla remarked.

“Indeed, your lordship’s observation is apt. Chujiao is known for her attentive and efficient work,” Matron Li agreed.

“I was thinking that her talents shouldn’t be confined to the position of a personal maid. I heard Chujiao mention she wanted to be a career woman rather than marrying, and I was rather moved by her determination. I’d like to help her become a secretary in the Outer Quarters. It has more room for advancement and better pay, so it should be the perfect chance for her,” Kayla said. “Does Matron Li know of any open positions?”

Matron Li didn’t show any surprise, bowing her head slightly as she responded. “Yes, my lord. An old secretary who works on household purchases recently retired. If you wish, I can arrange for Chujiao to enter the position.”

Given how large the household was with all its staff, there needed to be several secretaries and managers at any given moment. Kayla had a hunch there would be an opening, but Matron Li’s willingness to comply had surprised her.

“Will any official recommendation letter or application be needed?” Kayla asked.

“Not at all, my lord. Even if Chujiao is a woman, the young lord’s word will be enough if the position is not related to the Grand Duke’s work,” Matron Li said smoothly. Kayla nodded. That seemed to make sense since it wasn’t as though they had LinkedIn here, people were probably hired through word-of-mouth all the time. As long as it wasn’t suspicious enough to get Chujiao into trouble, Kayla was fine with whatever strings Matron Li planned to pull.

“Then please arrange it for me,” Kayla said. “Oh, and Chujiao’s a very devoted worker, so I’m worried she won’t be able to perform as well if she keeps thinking about the ongoings of the Inner Quarters. For the time being, don’t tell her anything about the Inner Quarters or my schedule. Let her find her feet in the Outer Quarters first. Even if she’s unhappy about it, it’ll be good for her career in the long run.”

“Understood, young lord,” Matron Li said, bowing her head. “Chujiao will surely be deeply moved by the young lord’s thoughtfulness and generosity.” Kayla waved away the compliment and thanked Matron Li before sending the older woman on her way. Once she was alone again, Kayla let out a deep sigh.

That should take care of it.

She had hoped to rely on Chujiao like Wenyuan did, though it seems now that the serving girl had played both of them for fools. Even so, there was a bond between them deepened by ten years of daily interaction, and Kayla couldn’t sever that. She hadn’t thought about it much with everything that had happened, but the soul merge had changed her in a fundamental way. Wenyuan’s memories were just as impactful to her as her own now, and it was increasingly difficult to ignore the effects of that. The only thing she couldn’t access was Wenyuan’s death, the memories having been completely blocked off. Even Wenyuan couldn’t access them, and Kayla suspected it was a mental defense mechanism to prevent the two of them from being too traumatized.

Kayla’s musings were interrupted by Chujiao announcing her arrival for the third time that day. Chujiao entered, eyes wide and dewy with tears.

Oh boy. Kayla uncomfortably avoided Chujiao’s gaze.

“Young lord, please pardon my intrusion,” Chujiao said in a shaky voice. “I heard that I was to be moved to the Outer Quarters.”

“Oh, did Matron Li tell you the news? I’m sure you’ll do great, Chujiao. It might be a bit difficult at first, but once you get used to the work, I’m certain you’ll have a lot more opportunities than you would here,” Kayla assured her.

Chujiao dropped to her knees. “Young lord, please let me remain at your side! I don’t have the ability to take on the position of a secretary, and I don’t dare to take on a role I can’t perform!”

“Don’t say that, Chujiao. I sincerely believe that you can do it. Listen, most secretaries don’t know how to perform the duties before they start anyways, you’re intelligent and a quick thinker, you’ll be just fine,” Kayla said firmly.

“Young lord! Did Chujiao do something wrong? I was rude to reject your kind intentions so quickly, but I truly meant no disrespect!” Chujiao pleaded.

Kayla sighed, her head aching dully. “Chujiao,” she said tiredly. “Please just try it out, alright? I recommended you for the post because you said you wanted to have a career. What kind of career can you have as a personal maid? Are you going to do housework all your life until you retire? If you become a secretary, no matter how low the position is, you can rise all the way up to a managerial position. Isn’t this perfect for you?”

“But-young master, I-” Chujiao protested.

Kayla quickly cut her off. “Listen, Chujiao. Take the post for a while, it’s fine if you want to stop later, but I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t even try. You’re more than capable enough to achieve a great deal, and I really want you to take this opportunity. You can always come back later, but chances like these don’t come along every day.” Regardless of whether or not that was true, Kayla didn’t have any intention of allowing Chujiao to refuse. Or return, for that matter, but that didn’t need to be said aloud.

Chujiao opened her mouth to protest again, but Kayla stopped her again. “Chujiao, even the great strategist Kongming himself accepted a job post after he was offered thrice. Don’t toss aside my good intentions without at least giving it a go.”

At the firm tone in Kayla’s voice, Chujiao’s shoulders slumped, the young woman bowing her head in a resigned manner. “Young master, I’m truly grateful,” she said miserably. “Please take care of yourself from now on.”

“You as well, Chujiao. I’m looking forward to your accomplishments,” Kayla said. Chujiao bowed again and left the room, silently crying as she closed the door. Kayla felt sorry for Chujiao a little, but ultimately she was satisfied with the results. At least one person involved in Wenyuan’s death was now taken care of.

12-Xianchun Appears (Again)

After a mostly sleepless night, Kayla resigned herself to accepting the current circumstances. Even with Chujiao now working in the Outer Quarters, Kayla was still in danger. She needed to start taking more drastic measures. She only had a few weeks left, and it probably wasn’t enough to only make small ripples.

Kayla would have to start acting aggressively, and her first plan of action was to move Bianfu out of the way. Lost in thought on the carriage ride to work, she didn’t notice Xianchun approaching until he was right in front of her.

“Zhao Wenyuan.”

Kayla startled at the familiar voice, looking up at Xianchun’s stony face. She looked around them, but the corridor was empty save the two of them.

“Prince,” she greeted him with a short bow. The familiar feeling of anxiousness crept up in her mind, but Xianchun somehow seemed less hostile than before.

“Your information turned out to be less inaccurate than I expected,” Xianchun said.

Fuck you, it was completely accurate, you asshole.

“I’m glad to hear that, my prince,” Kayla replied insincerely.

“Yue Wuxuan was executed at noon yesterday,” Xianchun told her. “However, his wife and daughter are en route to the capital already.”

“It’s good they’re safe,” Kayla said, her voice tinged with relief. She really did want to save Lady Yue, though her own survival instincts were stronger than her concern for the widow. Xianchun hesitated, as though he were deciding whether to criticize Wenyuan for Yue Wuxuan’s death or thank Wenyuan for saving Lady Yue.

Kayla jumped in before he could speak. “Will Lady Yue be staying at Lord Liang’s house?” Kayla asked. Liu Hongyu had mentioned that whatever Yue Wuxuan had known, his wife knew as well, and Kayla wasn’t going to miss her chance to shake up the plot. Not to mention that if Xianchun got evidence of the Grand Duke’s corruption, he might not order the infiltration of the Grand Duke’s household. As long as Xianchun didn’t learn of his mother’s murder, the man’s moral compass would probably still prevent him from outright murdering Wenyuan to get at the Grand Duke.

“Of course,” Xianchun replied, sounding slightly defensive. “Lord Liang is eagerly awaiting his cousin’s arrival.”

“As he should. Prince, now that you have found allies in the court, you should make sure they use their resources properly, it’ll be to your benefit as well,” Kayla said, trying to avoid giving the information outright. Kayla sighed at Xianchun’s scowl. The prince evidently hadn’t gotten the hint. “What I’m saying is, Lady Yue was her husband’s confidant. Why do you think they pushed for the extermination of his family so eagerly?”

Xianchun’s eyes widened. “You’re saying that Yue Wuxuan found evidence?”

“They say Lady Yue is intelligent and well-educated, able to share the burdens of her husband and assist in his affairs,” Kayla replied. “I wish you the best of luck, my prince.”

She glanced around at the sound of footsteps in the distance. “I must take my leave immediately, please excuse me,” she hurriedly said. Kayla quickly made her escape before Xianchun could stop her, turning down another corridor before she was seen with the prince.

Speaking of, why did he approach me again?

////////////

Xianchun walked along the outer walls of the palace. The number of people thinned as Xianchun followed the wall until he reached an empty garden that was now rundown with disuse. Stopping beneath a withered tree, Xianchun waited for the familiar rustle of its branches.

A young man landed softly on the ground behind him, bending a knee to greet Xianchun. He was handsome in an androgynous way without seeming effeminate, holding himself with grace even while dressed in the tight-sleeved robes of a servant.

“My prince,” he greeted.

“Boyue, there you are,” Xianchun said fondly. Boyue got up with a soft smile, eyes crinkling into shining crescents.

“What are your orders, my prince?” Boyue asked.

“I heard some interesting information, and I’d like you to pass on a message to Lord Liang,” Xianchun told him. “Lady Yue likely has the evidence against the Grand Duke, and Lord Liang should gently persuade her to reveal it.”

Boyue’s eyes widened. “Governor Yue’s wife? May I ask where you heard this, my prince?”

Xianchun hesitated before replying. “From Zhao Wenyuan.” He had actually approached Wenyuan to test if the young man knew what he was doing, or if Wenyuan had only helped Xianchun by accident. To his surprise, Wenyuan had immediately deduced the alliance between him and Lord Liang. While it was hardly much of a stretch for someone who knew Xianchun’s role in this case, Xianchun had thought of Wenyuan as too much of a fool to put the pieces together. It turned out he was wrong.

“Zhao Wenyuan? Are you sure it’s not a trap?” Boyue frowned at him.

“I am also…reluctant, but what he said about Lady Yue did turn out to be true,” Xianchun admitted.

“Wait, the information was from him?” Boyue’s eyes were almost the size of dinner plates, the young man slowly pacing around Xianchun as he took in the information. “But why would he help you, my prince? It doesn’t make sense, the Grand Duke is his grandfather.”

Xianchun shifted uncomfortably. “I have reason to believe that his relationship with the Grand Duke is deteriorating.” He continued at Boyue’s questioning look. “The time when he didn’t present the Governor Yue case in court, Bianfu witnessed the Grand Duke administering corporal punishment afterward. I would guess that a pampered guy like that would hold a grudge.”

Boyue looked vaguely confused. “My prince, forgive me for contradicting you, but that doesn’t make sense. I’ve looked into Wenyuan as you ordered, and it seems that the Grand Duke often used corporal punishments, even before the Imperial Princess passed away. Why would he only begin to rebel at this point in time, when he no longer has the Princess’ support?”

Xianchun frowned at the unexpected information, not knowing how to respond to it. “What else did you find out about him?”

Boyue shook his head. “He drinks with the Secretariat Director often, but I don’t know what for. The Grand Duke wouldn’t send Wenyuan to talk business on his behalf.”

“Find out what their meetings are about, I need to know if he’s setting me up for a trap,” Xianchun ordered.

“And the information about Lady Yue?” Boyue asked. Xianchun nodded.

“Pass it along,” he said decisively. Trap or not, Xianchun had to at least give it a try. Boyue bowed, before flipping back over the palace wall, leaving Xianchun alone with his thoughts. Over the last two weeks, Wenyuan had been surprising him one time after another, as though a switch had been flipped inside the weak-willed young man.

A gust of wind swept up a shower of dust around the courtyard, and Xianchun’s thoughts turned to nostalgic memories instead. Xianchun had once laughed and played in this courtyard with his brothers, but now only the three of them were left. One day, he’d have to take on his remaining two brothers if he wanted to ascend to the throne, and at that time this courtyard would well and truly have no meaning left to it. But for now, Xianchun’s enemy was still the Grand Duke. As to what role Wenyuan would play in the conflict, only time would tell.

//////////////

When the workday was over, Kayla hurried to where the carriage awaited. To her relief, Qu Boyong was there as well. She waited until the carriage began moving and all the guards were in their positions to call Boyong over again.

“My lord,” Boyong greeted her as she opened the window. Kayla smiled at him.

“Boyong, it’s good to see you again. I was pleased with your selection last time, and I have another request,” she said. Boyong smiled, looking happy at the chance to earn a hefty tip.

“Of course, young lord. Boyong is at your service.”

“This request is…more specific,” Kayla said, “And I’ll have more requests like this over the next couple of days. Can I rely on you?” The plan had taken shape inside her head, but it would be too obvious if she gathered the necessary pieces too quickly. Kayla also didn’t want to get Boyong in trouble if things went south.

“Yes, my lord. How can I serve you?” Boyong asked eagerly. Kayla passed him a gold coin.

“I want some books of appearance-related talismans, a variety of them,” Kayla said. Boyong nodded and quickly peeled off from the carriage. He returned soon with several books of talismans. Among the books, Kayla was happy to find that Boyong had included a book on women’s cosmetics. Flipping through the table of contents, she quickly located the spell that covered blemishes and a second spell that essentially served as a setting spray for magical cosmetics that prevented the cosmetic spells from becoming undone by other magic. It likely wouldn’t work for higher-tier magic, but it was sufficient for Kayla’s purposes.

Over the next two days, Kayla sent Boyong to purchase talismans on her trips back from work, tipping him each time. Reliably, Boyong brought Kayla a variety of talismans in response to her vague and general requests. By the third evening, Kayla had gathered talismans for preserving spells used to maintain household goods and heirlooms, as well as for gardening spells with high levels of specificity in their effects. She only really needed the cosmetic spell and the preserving spell, but she’d thrown in gardening as well since it was in the same category of magic. It would hopefully serve to make the request seem more natural and prevent Boyong from getting punished for his involvement. Luckily, it also meant she had also obtained a talisman that added soil to plants, which Kayla absolutely intended to use as pocket sand for self-defense purposes.

According to Wenyuan’s memories, he visited the Empress Dowager about once every ten days, usually on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of every month. If he didn’t go, the Empress Dowager would send someone to invite her maternal grandson to the palace. The old woman wasn’t too fond of most of her daughters-in-law, and the power struggles between members of the Imperial Harem made it difficult for the Empress Dowager to spend time with her grandchildren without causing a domino effect in the Inner Palace’s politics. Within the walls of the Inner Palace, the Dowager’s favor was a potent tool that could easily propel someone upwards in the hierarchy and wasn’t something that could be given and received with simple, untainted intentions. The only ones the Dowager could truly dote on were her maternal grandchildren. The Emperor’s brothers were located in their respective territories and rarely entered the capital city, so really, the only one left close to the Dowager was the Princess’ son, Wenyuan. The Princess’ ineligibility to succeed the throne had led to her being doted on by her older brother and her mother, and that favor had been extended to Wenyuan.

Kayla planned to take advantage of that. She felt bad, but she really did need to make use of everything and everyone that she could.

Tomorrow is when you would usually go visit her, right?

Yes. Are you sure you want to do this? It’s pretty extreme to do this to yourself.

Sorry for doing this to your body, but yes. It sucked that it would also coincide with the convening of the court, but Kayla didn’t have much choice. Luckily, there were talismans for pain relief in the book for cosmetic magic, intended to relieve period pain and prevent a young lady from acting in an unseemly manner during a public outing. She didn’t know if it was strong enough for her purposes, and could only pray it was meant for pretty serious period cramps.

Kayla took in a deep breath as she went over her plan again. She had gotten off work early today, not for lack of things to do, but because she had a meeting with Liu Hongyu again. Rather than going straight to the Secretariat Director’s household, Kayla had returned to Wenyuan’s room first to steel her nerves. Kayla needed to place Yu Bianfu under scrutiny to prevent the female General from making a move on Wenyuan. Xianchun deeply valued his friends and allies, and even after he became a cunning politician, he still prioritized their wellbeing over his plans. If Bianfu wasn’t in a position where she could act without incurring suspicion, Xianchun wouldn't force her hand. It opened up other troubling possibilities as well, but Kayla could only deal with one problem at a time.

I guess you can also consider this petty revenge, Kayla remarked to Wenyuan.

Not that I don’t appreciate that, but you’ll be suffering more than her, Wenyuan’s voice radiated with concern. Kayla sucked in a deep breath, preparing the talismans she needed and tucking them into the folds of her inner robes.

Thanks, Wenyuan. There were really a lot of uncertainties in all this, and there was a big chance she would be going through all this for nothing. It was a high-risk, low-return plan, all things considered.

“Young lord, it’s time to head out,” a serving girl called from outside the door. Sucking in a deep breath, Kayla determinedly headed to the carriage. She kept her face carefully blank as she got in, keeping the nervousness out of her expression. Wenyuan’s practiced unreadability helped her out, and she entered the Liu household with the same contained pace as usual.

Liu Hongyu greeted her casually, again having started drinking already. Kayla joined him at the table after giving her greetings but didn’t toast him repeatedly as she normally did. Rather than getting him drunk until he passed out as soon as possible, Kayla toasted him at a more relaxed pace, stretching out the amount of time between Liu getting sloshed and Liu blacking out.

Rather than fear, Kayla was filled with disgust and determination as Liu began talking shit again. Being in a good mood, the topic of discussion soon drifted from the banalities of the workplace to the late Princess and Liu’s lust for her. Kayla kept her expression a mask of perfect politeness, blocking out most of what Liu said. The older man was much more insufferable when he wasn’t interrupted every three words with a refilled glass of wine, and a whole lot sleazier.

“You seem different today,” Liu remarked, his words already beginning to slur. Liu leaned across the table, a slimy smirk on his face as he observed Wenyuan.

Yeah, because I’m not trying to get you drunk. Kayla was hoping that Liu would eventually say something disrespectful enough to warrant throwing a tantrum and storming out. There was no surer way to piss off the Grand Duke. Instead, Liu shuffled his seat around the corner of the small table to sit closer to Wenyuan, peering closer at his face.

“Your eyes are the same as the Princess’,” Liu said observationally. Kayla fought to keep from frowning at the stench of alcohol on his breath. “Beautiful and prideful. I guess the greater the beauty, the more haughty the person.”

Kayla smiled politely and didn’t reply. Liu chuckled, eyes sweeping over the lines of Wenyuan’s neck. “You’re not as haughty as her though, are you? You’re a good kid,” Liu said. His hand landed on Wenyuan’s knee. Kayla froze. This had not been what she was aiming for.

“Please remove your hand,” she requested, carefully hiding her disgust. Liu didn’t comply. Instead, he slid his hand upwards to Wenyuan’s thigh.

This slimy old fuck! Kayla stood up abruptly, overturning her chair. She furiously grabbed the half-full cup of wine and splashed it into Liu’s face, glaring as the old man squawked in outrage.

“You little bastard!” Liu shouted angrily. Two servants hurried into the room, freezing in shock as they took in the sight. Liu was dripping with wine, Kayla standing over him with a furious expression.

“Fuck you, you piece of shit,” she snarled at him in a low voice. Kayla threw the cup to the floor and let it shatter into tiny pieces. Ignoring Liu’s angry shouts, she turned and left the room, storming back to her carriage. None of Liu’s servants dared to stop her despite Liu’s demands that Wenyuan come back and apologize.

Wenyuan’s guards were startled as they saw her emerge.

“Young lord, are you heading back already?” Boyong asked, quickly hiding his surprise. Kayla didn’t respond, getting into the carriage without a glance back. Boyong waited awkwardly for a second before ordering the horseman to depart.

Kayla sat in the carriage, still seething with rage. Combined with Wenyuan’s anger, the emotions inside her roared out of control.

That bastard! I’m sorry, Wenyuan.

Why are you apologizing?! He’s the one who promised not to touch me-he promised grandfather!

Fuck him too! Why the fuck would your grandfather even let you go to someone who has to promise that?!

Their angry ranting was interrupted by the carriage stopping before the Grand Duke’s household. Kayla took a deep breath, steeling her nerves for what was about to come. The Grand Duke and the Secretariat Director had magic communication devices, so she had no doubt the Grand Duke was already aware of what had happened.

All of this is for survival, Kayla assured herself. Pain only lasts for a bit, death is pretty permanent.

She entered the Inner Quarters, returning to her room with faked nonchalance. The Grand Duke was already in Wennyuan’s room, glaring at her in silent fury. Kayla bowed her head slightly in greeting.

“Hello, Grandfather.”

She could only hope that this would be worth it.

13-The Female General

The Grand Duke waved his hand, and the servants in the corridor quickly scurried away. His whip was already on Wenyuan’s desk, and the Grand Duke was blazing with rage.

“How can I help you, grandfather?” Kayla asked. Even as her heart rate increased, she tried to keep her tone light.

"You little whelp, do you know what you’ve done?!” the Grand Duke snapped at her. Kayla tilted her head questioningly.

“What’s wrong, grandfather? You look so troubled,” she said.

“How dare you act so rudely before the Secretariat Director?” The Grand Duke shouted. “You’ve disgraced this household!”

Wenyuan’s anger roared inside her chest at the injustice of the accusation. Kayla’s voice cracked as she replied. “I disgraced this household? He was the one who acted rudely!”

“You arrogant brat!” The Grand Duke shouted angrily, grabbing the whip off the desk. Wenyuan’s rage combined with her own and erupted into a mess of emotion.

“You said he wouldn’t touch me! You promised!” She shouted back. A stinging feeling rose through her throat and nose, and Kayla was vaguely aware that she might have started crying.

The Grand Duke paused for a second, looking rather shocked.

“Why? Didn’t he tell you? Didn’t he say what he did? Why are you blaming me when he was the one who broke the promise first?!” Kayla demanded. The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed.

“He put his hands on you?” The Grand Duke asked. Kayla nodded.

“Then you should have come to me instead of acting so rashly!” The Grand Duke snapped. “What were you even hoping to accomplish here? I could’ve wrapped this up quietly, all you’ve done is announce it to the world!”

Even if she hadn’t expected anything, Kayla was still stunned into silence at the Grand Duke’s reaction. Wenyuan’s soul was emitting a pained, furious noise, and if he had a body, she was sure he would be crying.

“I’m your grandson,” Kayla said in a shocked tone. “I’m your family! How could you take his side over mine?!”

“You’re a goddamn disgrace!” The Grand Duke shouted. “What did you even do for him to act like that? He has 7 concubines! 7 of them! Do you think his appetite is still unfilled? Why the hell did you have to overreact like that?!”

“Fuck off!” Kayla shouted back in a rage-fueled frenzy. “You fucking coward! When most people sell their daughters for glory, they at least have the fucking guts to admit it! You send out your grandson and you don’t even have the balls to own up!”

Her face exploded into pain as the Grand Duke punched her. Kayla crashed to the floor, glaring up at him through her tears as the Grand Duke seethed at her.

“Fuck you,” Kayla hissed.

The Grand Duke brought the whip down. Kayla instinctively curled up, shielding her head as the Grand Duke began to whip her. She didn’t count to a hundred this time. Her soul seemed to blaze as Wenyuan’s anger melded with her own, their white-hot rage coiling like a hot iron chain inside her stomach. They were experiencing it together, their fury seeming to wash out everything else, even the pain on her back. Wenyuan’s presence seemed to be shifting and combining further with her own as their emotions synchronized.

Xianchun, even if you don’t destroy him, we’ll destroy him. The silent vow carried them through to the end of the beating. The Grand Duke let the whip clatter to the floor, chest heaving as he panted with exertion. With one last hateful kick to the ribs, the Grand Duke stalked out of the room.

Kayla uncurled, wincing in pain as the rush of anger subsided a little. The Grand Duke had really gone all out, and Wenyuan’s entire back was bleeding and raw. Kayla grit her teeth, hurriedly pulling out the talismans from her inner robes before the doctor arrived. With immense effort, she pulled her arms behind her back to activate the talismans over her left shoulder, nearly blacking out from the pain. With Wenyuan’s steady encouragement, she managed to finish and shove the ripped talismans under the seat cushion of the chair next to her before the doctor scurried in on the heels of Housekeeper Wang.

She barely registered their presence, allowing herself to be physically lifted onto the chair in a pain-filled haze by the doctor as Housekeeper Wang got to work cleaning up the blood, but was still wracked with anxiety as the doctor began healing her wounds.

The talismans worked perfectly. Kayla let out a sharp sigh of relief, even as her shoulder ached painfully. The doctor used pretty low-tier spells, and never so much as used magical scans since all of Kayla’s wounds tended to be pretty visible. That had left Kayla with some room to work with.

Kayla had combined the blemish-hiding talisman and the magical cosmetic setting-spray talisman to hide part of the wounds on her shoulder, further combining it with a clothes mending spell to fix the rips over the area where the whip had landed, and a preserving spell that kept things in the exact same condition as it currently was in to prevent further bleeding. It was a simple and stupid combination that fell apart under any close scrutiny, but it worked because of how nervous the doctor was with the Grand Duke’s domestic abuse, and how eager the poor man was to hurry up and get out of here.

Once he was done, the doctor stepped back and bowed, and Housekeeper Wang moved forward to help Kayla change. She choked down a whimper of pain as she moved her shoulder while changing into new robes, and quickly shooed Wang out of the room. She gasped in relief, staggering over to where she’d placed the pain relief talisman under her pillow. Once she ripped it in half, a wave of blessed numbness swept over her. Kayla let out a soft laugh at the sudden absence of pain. She removed the ripped talismans under the seat cushion and took the remaining talismans from her desk. She had another two pain relief talismans prepared since each one only lasted six hours.

Please let this work out, she pleaded to whatever god was listening. After I’ve gone through all this trouble, I’ll seriously cry if it doesn’t work. So what if she cried a lot anyway? Kayla hadn’t even had a mental breakdown yet. She gingerly laid down on the bed, carefully positioning herself on her side to avoid her left shoulder, and was asleep within moments.

/////////////

Kayla awoke to excruciating pain from her left shoulder and hastily ripped the pain relief talismans by her pillow. She glanced furtively at the clock. It was almost 6 am, and she had at least another few hours before meeting with the Empress Dowager. The cosmetic spell had worn off, but the preservation spell was meant for days, if not weeks.

Even with the pain relief spell, her left shoulder still tingled unpleasantly. Kayla sighed and turned to nullifying household spells as stress relief.

Wenyuan was the favored grandson of the Empress Dowager, but he didn’t have any actual power of his own. Kayla had no way to remove Yu Bianfu with her own hands, but she could use the Dowager’s power. Even better, she was unlikely to be suspected for it, since Wenyuan had always been a slightly hedonistic but not very crafty person. One could say he was naive and stupid, or that he avoided facing his issues head-on, but the point was that even the Dowager who witnessed countless gambits and ploys for power within the Inner Palace would not suspect that Kayla was trying to target the female general.

Kayla went to the Palace after breakfast, once again going through the court meeting. Neither Xianchun nor his new friends made a move, so either Xianchun doubted Kayla’s intel or they were still investigating, and the court was dismissed after an uneventful meeting. She quickly left the hall, despite a strange feeling that someone was staring into her back.

Making an excuse about having something to tend to at home, Kayla got the day off from Minister Xie and got back on the carriage. She ignored the surprise from Wenyuan’s guards and ordered the horseman to take her back to the household. Kayla returned back to her room and waited. Everything would have been for naught if the Empress Dowager didn’t send General Yu, and Kayla began to regret choosing a plan that hinged on so many uncertainties.

She had hoped it would work because it was so out-of-character for the novel’s characterization of Wenyuan. But now everything was in the hands of someone who had no idea how important her next decisions were for Kayla. Kayla groaned softly, slowly lowering her head to the desk, carefully keeping her left shoulder still.

Wenyuan, tell me it’ll work, she pleaded.

It’ll work. Wenyuan sounded very sure of himself. I would never be able to think of something like this, much less carry it out. If we’ve gone to this extent, it has to work.

Kayla wasn’t sure that was how things went but was still comforted by Wenyuan’s confidence. To her immense relief, a servant came knocking at the door to announce General Yu’s arrival.

“Let her in,” Kayla said immediately.

“Pardon, my lord?” The servant asked quizzically. It wasn’t customary for guests to enter the Inner Quarters, and Yu Bianfu had already transgressed upon the Grand Duke by storming in last time.

“Did I stutter?” Kayla asked, raising an eyebrow at him. The servant bowed and left to deliver Kayla’s message. Within a few minutes, there was a short knock on the door before it flew open. Kayla looked up at Yu Bianfu with a bored expression.

“Good afternoon, young lord, please pardon my intrusion,” Yu Bianfu said with a smile.

“General Yu, are you making it a hobby to burst into my room?” Kayla asked flatly. Yu Bianfu raised an eyebrow.

“But didn’t you ask me in, young lord? Or did Bianfu misunderstand?” She asked with mock nervousness. Kayla sighed and stood up.

“You’re here to escort me to the Empress Dowager’s palace then?” Kayla asked, not bothering to banter with Bianfu. Bianfu gave a mocking bow, gesturing grandly towards the exit.

“As you wish, my lord,” she said cheerfully. Kayla made her way back to the carriage with Bianfu nonchalantly strolling behind her.

“By the way, young lord, are you feeling unwell? I thought you had work today,” Bianfu asked. Kayla shook her head but didn’t bother explaining. Kayla got into the carriage without saying anything further, continuously reassuring herself on the way to the palace.

When Kayla entered the Empress Dowager’s quarters, she was immediately greeted by the Dowager cheerfully calling Wenyuan’s name.

“Oh, Wenyuan’s here! Come and sit,” the Dowager called affectionately, waving for Kayla to stop bowing. Kayla happily obliged, freezing as she realized that Xianchun was also there. She bowed her head and stiffly greeted him.

“Come and sit, cousin,” Xianchun said. He was evidently trying to be less stiff, but the words still came out in a formal tone. Kayla mechanically joined them, heart pounding furiously.

Oh shit, why is he here?! She half considered calling off the plan completely, but the plot had already begun, and Kayla had no idea how many more chances she would get.

Do we continue? Wenyuan asked nervously.

Kayla steeled herself. Yes. Even if it doesn’t work, the Dowager will probably still extend her protection over us. One way or another, we can’t let go of this opportunity!

She smiled as the Dowager pushed some snacks towards her, and cheerfully began conversing with Wenyuan’s grandmother. Xianchun’s eyes seemed to be following her, increasing Kayla’s anxiety. Kayla braced herself and nullified the preservation spell, and then the pain relief spell.

The pain was immediate, and Kayla had to squeeze her eyes shut and clench her jaw to keep from crying out. It would take quite a while longer for the wound on her shoulder to bleed through the multiple layers of robes, but Kayla had to act in a believable way to avoid suspicion once the injury was discovered.

“Wenyuan, what’s the matter?” The Dowager asked in concern.

“Tea’s too hot,” Kayla choked out. “Oof, that was scalding. I think my tongue’s fully cooked now.”

“Slow down and blow on your drink,” the Dowager scolded affectionately. “Spit it out next time, don’t just force it down or you’ll burn your throat.”

“Got it, grandmother,” Kayla croaked. She breathed in deeply and continued the conversation, but the blinding pain from her back made it more and more difficult to act normally. Sweat began to bead on her head and back, and she could feel the cool drops trickling down.

“Cousin, is something wrong?” Xianchun asked. Kayla blinked and looked at him. Xianchun looked at her with a small frown. “You don’t look very well.”

“I’m fine,” Kayla forced out a smile. “Thank you, cousin.” The dampness on her shoulder was slowly increasing, but she wasn’t sure if it was visible yet.

“Goodness, young lord! Your shoulder!” One of the dowager’s ladies-in-waiting gasped. Kayla guessed it was visible after all.

“What?” She asked in false bewilderment, trying to twist her head to look. The lady-in-waiting rushed forward to lightly press her handkerchief against the dark spot on Kayla’s shoulder, eliciting a pained groan. The Dowager made an alarmed expression, getting up to see for herself. Xianchun stood up as well, a strange look on his face.

“Good gods, what is this, Wenyuan?” The Dowager asked, looking at the blood in horror. “Hurry and call for the Royal Physician!” Kayla forced herself to breathe in and out slowly despite the anxiety she felt.

“It’s nothing!” Kayla protested.

“When on earth did you get injured like this?” The Dowager asked in an urgent tone. She gently wiped the sweat on Kayla’s face. “Wenyuan, what on earth happened?!”

Kayla shook her head and remained resolutely silent. Yu Bianfu stepped forward with a confused look on her face from where she had stood near the entrance of the room, just in time for the Dowager to turn a fierce glare at her.

“General Yu, you escorted him here and you don’t know what’s going on?!” The Dowager snapped. Kayla sensed her chance and went for it.

“Grandmother, it’s not-it’s not General Yu’s fault,” Kayla stumbled over her words and her voice was shaking at the thought of framing Bianfu in front of Xianchun, but the Dowager only seemed to take it as a sign of Wenyuan’s pain.

“Child, who did this to you?” The Dowager asked gently. Kayla had to turn her face away from the sincere concern radiating off the old woman to shield her conscience.

“A c-country has its laws and a family has its rules, it’s not like General Yu could have interfered,” Kayla grit out. “I-I wouldn’t know what to do if I walked in on something like this either.” A look of anger flashed over the Dowager’s face, and she turned a cold gaze onto Bianfu, who was staring at Wenyuan in shock.

“General Yu, step out for now. I’ll summon you later,” the Dowager said icily. Her tone softened into a gentle voice as she turned back towards Kayla. “Alright, Wenyuan, the Royal Physician’s here, it’s going to be alright,” the Dowager soothed her.

The Royal Physician quickly rushed over to Kayla and healed her shoulder. Kayla sighed in relief as the pain disappeared.

“Young lord, would you allow this servant to check your shoulder?” The Royal Physician asked. Kayla hesitated, feeling weird about stripping in front of so many people.

“Escort the young lord to the side chamber to be examined,” the Dowager ordered. Her lady-in-waiting quickly helped Kayla to her feet and guided her into the attached room. Kayla undressed with the older woman’s help, showing the Royal Physician her back. He began a magical scan, before stepping back with a complicated expression.

“Young lord, please pardon my asking this, but did you sustain other injuries within the past few days?” He asked. Kayla stiffened. Had the Physician noticed something?

“What kind of question is that?” Kayla asked accusingly.

“Please pardon my rudeness, young lord,” the physician replied, bowing his head. “I couldn’t help but notice that there were traces of multiple healing and pain relief spells. I mean no offense, my lord.” Kayla breathed in sharply.

Shit, did he realize I kept the wound on purpose?

“You must have seen it wrong,” she said, her voice wavering a little bit. Kayla cursed her inability to hide her reactions, but neither the Royal Physician nor the lady-in-waiting looked suspicious, instead looking slightly worried.

“Can I get dressed now?” Kayla asked. The Royal Physician bowed.

“Of course, my lord,” he said. “Please excuse this servant.” Kayla nodded and he quickly left the room, the lady-in-waiting helping Kayla get dressed again. The blood was gone from her clothes, the older woman having discreetly cleaned them off with spell talismans while Kayla was being examined.

“Would you like to lay down for a while?” The lady-in-waiting asked. Kayla shook her head, nervous at what was going on in the other room now that only Xianchun was left there. Kayla had gone through all this trouble just to make Bianfu seem like she wasn’t performing her duties properly. Essentially, Kayla was framing Bianfu this time with the general’s actions last time. Bianfu had withheld the domestic abuse she witnessed to blackmail Wenyuan, but Kayla had no qualms about revealing it to the Empress Dowager. Though Kayla wasn’t sure what Bianfu would have done if the Grand Duke hadn’t sent for the doctor, it was hardly untrue that Bianfu walked in on Wenyuan getting beaten within an inch of his life and hadn’t done a thing to get him healed or help him. Even if Kayla was twisting the truth dramatically, Bianfu couldn’t fully deny that it had happened.

Now, not only was Bianfu someone who withheld important information from the Empress Dowager about the welfare of her favorite grandson, she was also someone who didn’t even get him a healer. Even if Bianfu wasn’t punished for it, she would be under much more scrutiny after this happened before so many people.

Kayla re-entered the room with the lady-in-waiting walking a few paces behind her. Upon her arrival, the Royal Physician who had been whispering softly to the Dowager stepped away hurriedly, bowing towards the Dowager before scurrying away. Kayla’s heart skipped a beat in fear at the Dowager’s angry expression.

Shit, did it backfire?

Thankfully, the Dowager’s expression melted into one of complete concern as Kayla approached. “Wenyuan, why didn’t you go get some rest?” She called out worriedly. Kayla shyly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for the disturbance, grandmother,” she said. “I’m fine now, really.”

The Dowager gently placed a hand on Kayla’s arm, looking at her sadly. “That’s good, my child.”

“Cousin, are you sure you’re alright?” Xianchun asked.

Kayla glanced at him. He wore a concerned expression, but there was something unreadable in his eyes that made Kayla nervous. After all, she had framed his friend right in front of him.

“Yes, thank you,” Kayla replied. “I do apologize for ruining the mood like this.”

“Not at all,” Xianchun said, his eyes narrowing briefly before his expression went back to normal. The Empress Dowager fussed over Kayla for a while, until they reached the time when Wenyuan would normally leave the palace, but the Dowager seemed reluctant to let Kayla leave. After a long moment of deliberation, the Dowager bid her goodbyes to Wenyuan and Xianchun.

Kayla walked out, extremely conscious of Xianchun’s heavy silence next to her.

“I’ll take you back, cousin,” Xianchun said. Kayla glanced at him in surprise.

“That’s alright, please don’t waste your time on these things,” she quickly replied.

“No, I’ll see to it you arrive safely to your household,” Xianchun said firmly.

He probably wants to chew me out but can’t do it when so many eyes are watching.

Resigning herself to her fate, Kayla subduedly accepted. Xianchun got into the carriage before Kayla and settled into a seat as though he owned the vehicle. Kayla watched him apprehensively as they departed, waiting for the prince to start accusing her.

Instead, he frowned pensively and turned to her with a confused expression.

“Why did you do that?” Xianchun asked, his voice surprisingly quiet and calm.

“What are you talking about?” Kayla asked back.

Xianchun looked at her with a complicated expression. “You were trying to trap Bianfu, weren’t you?”

Kayla tilted her head. “Is that what you think this is?”

Xianchun shook his head disbelievingly. “Is it not? I could hardly believe that you of all people would use a strategy like this, but what on earth for?”

“What I said was hardly untrue, even if the timeline is a little skewed,” Kayla said candidly. “But I don’t think that Bianfu was undeserving of it.”

Speaking of, why is he so certain it’s on purpose? Kayla thought back to Xianchun’s intelligence network and mentally shook her head. Never mind, he probably already knows what happened last night, it wouldn’t be hard to put two and two together.

“Why do you think that?” Xianchun asked. He didn’t seem particularly angry or accusatory, even less so than before. Had she surprised him that much?

“She wanted to blackmail me for getting beaten by my grandfather,” Kayla said. “That’s reason enough. First of all, who even does that? That’s just shitty to begin with. I also remember telling you that I don’t care if people gossip about this, it’s not like I’m the one who goes around beating people.”

She took in a deep breath and continued feeding the prince half-truths. “Second of all, I was beaten because I tried to do the right thing. It took me a lot of effort to muster the courage to do that, and she was going to use it against me. Did you think I would take that lying down?”

Xianchun looked at her with an unreadable expression for a moment, before letting out a long sigh. “What would you do if I told you she threatened you on my orders?” Xianchun asked.

I know she did, alright? She killed Wenyuan on your orders too, asshole.

“I would wonder why an Imperial Prince would stoop to using such methods,” Kayla replied after a long pause. “And you, my prince? Do you think I'm a petty person?”

Xianchun looked at Kayla thoughtfully for a long moment, until Kayla cleared her throat to show her discomfort. “I heard there was a large commotion at Liu Hongyu’s household last night,” Xianchun finally said. “Do you know anything about that?”

“No, not at all,” Kayla replied. “I heard that Lord Liang has been drinking with Minister Jun often. Do you know anything about that?”

Xianchun chuckled at that and shook his head again. “Zhao Wenyuan, I’ve really underestimated you,” he said, a tinge of amusement in his voice. “I’m beginning to take an interest in you.”

Is that a death flag or a good sign?! Speak clearly, you asshole!

Kayla chose not to reply, biting back the annoyed retort on the tip of her tongue. The carriage came to a stop in front of the Grand Duke’s household, and the two of them got off.

“Well, I’ve made it back home safely, thanks to your highness,” Kayla said, giving Xianchun a polite bow. He nodded before getting into the carriage without another word. Kayla as the carriage rolled away into the distance.

After everything she’d done, she still didn’t have any idea of how much progress she was making. She could only hope that it was enough.

14-Consort Zhao

“Did you hear about General Yu?” Ge Renqian asked Kayla in a conspiratorial half-whisper, fully intending for the surrounding officials to join in and gossip.

Kayla kept her expression unreadable. “No, what about her?”

After the Empress Dowager had sent Kayla back home yesterday, there hadn’t been so much as a whisper from the Inner Palace, the Dowager having fully quashed any rumors. Unlike her son, the Empress Dowager was decisive, careful, and extremely capable. While Wenyuan only ever saw the Dowager’s kindly and nurturing side, Xianchun had actually been on the receiving end of the Dowager’s ruthlessness in his rise to power. The reason why Xianchun had suddenly fallen completely out of favor with the Dowager hadn’t been mentioned in the novel, but the old woman quickly became Xianchun’s greatest obstacle in the fight for the throne. Despite all his plot armor, he was only able to make further progress after the Dowager passed away of illness.

The former emperor had often praised the Empress Dowager as someone who could’ve easily become an important government official if she was born a man. She had monopolized the last Emperor’s affections for the good part of fifteen years at the prime of her beauty, giving birth to the current Emperor and the late Imperial Princess. Even after she was no longer his sole favorite, the Empress Dowager had kept the Inner Palace firmly under control by ensuring the concubines who received her husband’s favor were her own people. Kayla wasn’t surprised that even with an incident that had happened before a good number of servants and ladies-in-waiting, the Empress Dowager was still able to keep things quiet.

She doubted the Dowager would punish Yu Bianfu harshly, but the female General would at least be walking on eggshells for a while. After all, it was a serious breach of trust to withhold information from the Dowager, no matter how small, and Yu Bianfu would likely never fully regain her standing.

“General Yu was suspended from her post!” Ge Renqian whispered gleefully. Kayla looked at him in surprise.

“What?” She hissed. “She was suspended?” Kayla had not expected that.

“Exactly! No one knows what happened either, she was the golden child of the Imperial guards and then she just lost favor overnight! She must’ve done something pretty serious,” Ge Renqian said, not even bothering to lower his voice now that there were a good number of officials eager to hear the gossip.

“I heard she was instructed to reflect in her home, isn’t that basically just house arrest?” Jia Fu chimed in eagerly. Almost a dozen officials from the Ministry of Justice were now crowded around Kayla's desk, gossiping eagerly with each other. Kayla raised her eyebrows, rubbing at her temples as she took in the information. House arrest? Had the Dowager been that angry? She couldn’t have even imagined succeeding to this extent.

“What did she even do? I thought she was the Dowager’s favorite!”

“I mean, something like this was due to happen eventually, wasn’t it? It’s strange that she even lasted this long. What’s a woman doing in the military anyway?” Ge Renqian laughed. Kayla shifted uncomfortably. All the civil officials were men, and there were no women in the military either, save for Yu Bianfu, who was the daughter of a highly-respected General guarding the Northern border.

“How did she even get the position to begin with?” One of the officials asked, a sly tone in his voice. “I mean, even if she’s strong for a woman, she’s still weaker than a man. How on earth did she ever come out on top?”

“It wouldn’t be hard if the other men were falling under her skirts,” Jia Fu pointed out, leading to a wave of laughter among the men.

Wenyuan, is this how these guys normally talk about women with each other?

This is actually pretty tame, they haven’t even started discussing her figure yet.

Wow, seriously?! What a bunch of fucking chauvinists. Kayla shook her head in disgust. Even if she wanted Bianfu out of the way, she didn’t want to be a part of this. Not to mention that if Bianfu caught wind that Wenyuan had been spreading malicious rumors about her, it might raise another death flag.

“That’s a bit of a conjecture, isn’t it?” Kayla said, lacing her voice with doubt.

“I mean, she isn’t even married yet at her age, doesn’t the Left Secretariat find it strange? She has no marriage vows, no fiance, and runs around showing her face openly in circles of men,” Ge Renqian replied. “Come on, surely you have your doubts as well.”

“I don’t actually, I know full well that she could beat me in a fight. Not that I would fight her, I value my safety,” Kayla said. “Why? Does the Right Secretariat have confidence in his own abilities?”

“I’m a civil official, not a military one,” Ge Renqian said, sounding a little annoyed. “Why would I need to be able to beat General Yu in a fight?”

Kayla shrugged. Even if Bianfu was put on the bench for a bit, Bianfu was the female lead and Xianchun’s right-hand woman, she doubted that the general would be in the icebox for long. She mostly just didn’t trust Bianfu’s plot armor not to kick in.

“I just think we shouldn’t say too much when we don’t know what’s happened. What are you going to do if she gets promoted tomorrow? Are you going to run away every time you see her then?” Kayla asked. The officials glanced at each other with a mixture of annoyance and uncertainty.

“Well, the Left Secretariat best understands the Empress Dowager’s character. What do you think, my lord?” Jia Fu ventured to ask.

“The Empress Dowager is good at shaping her subordinates to excel through combining effective punishments and rewards, it’s still too early to say if Bianfu’s fallen from favor or if this is just another step upwards for her,” Kayla said. “I’m going to play it safe rather than tread on ice later.”

Ge Renqian frowned at her, but was prevented from saying anything further by the arrival of Minister Xie. The officials quickly scattered back to their own desks and engrossed themselves in pretending to be as busy as possible.

I can’t believe Bianfu was actually put under house arrest. Kayla was still reeling from the shock a little.

Does this mean we’ve made it?

As much as Kayla wanted to assure Wenyuan of their success, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. Even with Bianfu out of the way, Wenyuan’s life was still like a candle in the wind before Xianchun, whose rise to power necessitated the bloodshed of countless characters. There was still quite a long way to go.

//////////////

When Kayla returned to the Grand Duke’s household, she was quickly ushered to the Grand Duke’s study. It was a large room with extravagant decorations, hardly losing out to the Emperor’s quarters in terms of luxury. Her previous fear of the Grand Duke seemed to have faded somewhat after her soul had further merged with Wenyuan’s last time, and Kayla only felt a strong sense of annoyance that she had to deal with him.

“Grandfather,” she greeted him with a slight bow. “Wenyuan is here.”

The Grand Duke turned towards her with an annoyed glare. “You damn brat, just what the hell did you do yesterday?” He was holding a yellow scroll that Kayla immediately recognized as from the Dowager’s palace.

“What are you talking about, grandfather? Did I do something wrong?” Kayla asked innocently. She barely caught the scroll as it was thrown at her face. Kayla unrolled it, glancing over the lines of the letter. It was penned in the Empress Dowager’s elegant handwriting.

The letter was addressed to the Grand Duke, and opened rather innocuously. The Grand Duke had his son rather late in life, but he was in fact the Uncle-in-law of the Empress Dowager, who wrote to him in a respectful tone. The Dowager started by inquiring after the health of the Grand Duke, and then delved into talking about her own health and advancing age. She then thanked the Grand Duke for his service to the current Emperor, complimenting his exemplary performance in the court, before moving on to praise Wenyuan for growing into a well-mannered and outstanding young man.

Kayla gave the description of Wenyuan a second readover in confusion. “Wenyuan holds the country in his heart and has fully inherited the Grand Duke’s strength of spirit. His filial piety delights the heavens and serves as a comfort for the soul of the deceased Princess, and his conduct in court reflects the careful and measured manner of his late father. My dearest maternal grandson whom I hold close to my heart has grown into a great man under your kind tutelage…” Who was the Dowager describing again? Since when did Wenyuan fit any of those descriptions? She shook her head and kept going, ignoring Wenyuan’s protests at her skepticism.

The letter’s tone shifted after that, going from familial to the more formal tone that addressed the Grand Duke as a vassal. Rather than directly accusing the Grand Duke of anything, the letter instead extolled a whole list of historical figures who educated their children by guiding them with kindness and virtue rather than harsh discipline.

Is this high-level guilt tripping? Kayla frowned slightly, continuing through the rather lengthy scroll. The Dowager proceeded to discuss how difficult it is for elders to educate their children, comparing it to the difficulty Emperors faced in commanding their vassals. She emphasized the moral philosophy of winning people’s obedience with virtue rather than violence and brutality, quoting historical texts and ancient philosophers throughout.

The letter ended on that note, signing off with well-wishes for the Grand Duke. Kayla wanted to shake her head at the huge circle the Dowager had gone in to get her message across, but it made sense that she wouldn’t outright criticize the Grand Duke or call him out. Not only might it incite gossip, but it also wasn't suitable for her to directly admonish someone who was not only tied to the Imperial family but also her elder.

This is like the reverse of Chu Long's persuasion of the Queen Dowager of Zhao.

Kayla slowly rolled up the scroll, thoughts flying through her mind. Wenyuan had been born to incredible power and privilege and had the affections of the most powerful people in the country. How did he end up living like this? She was interrupted by the Grand Duke’s angry harrumphing.

“Well?” The Grand Duke demanded. Kayla shrugged lightly.

“Grandmother’s writing is very eloquent,” she said. The Grand Duke stood up, slamming his hand on the table in anger.

“Do you think this is a goddamn joke?! Just what did you do that she wrote something like this?!”

Kayla let out a soft sigh. “I won’t lie to you, grandfather. I wasn’t feeling very well yesterday, it must have shown through during my visit.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed with rage. “You-just what did you say to her?”

Kayla met his eyes calmly. “I didn’t say anything, actually, but I didn’t need to. Someone as perceptive as grandmother can tell these things even if I don’t say a word.” She tilted her head questioningly. “But why are you so upset, grandfather? If you didn’t want people to talk, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”

Kayla, maybe take it easy for a bit, Wenyuan hurriedly reined her in.

Yeah okay, I probably shouldn’t be provoking him so much.

The Grand Duke clenched his jaw, veins throbbing on his forehead as he glared at Kayla. He couldn’t do anything, since Kayla was scheduled to visit the Emperor on her day off work tomorrow. Still, there was no telling if the Grand Duke’s anger would be unleashed once that was over.

“Tomorrow when I enter the palace, would you like me to visit my Aunt and bring her your well wishes?” Kayla offered, trying to extend a thin and paltry olive branch. The Grand Duke let out an angry huff.

“Tell her to guard her spot carefully,” the Grand Duke finally said. “And don’t you dare say anything strange in front of the Emperor.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “As you wish, grandfather. I’ll take my leave now.” She quickly escaped the room. She felt an immense rush of gratitude towards the Empress Dowager. Even if she wasn’t sure the letter would have any effect on the Grand Duke’s behavior, the Dowager had gone through the trouble of suspending her favorite guard and penning a carefully-worded warning.

Your grandmother rocks, Kayla said admiringly to Wenyuan, who was just as pleased.

She does, doesn’t she? But my Aunt is not…easy to get along with. Why did you offer to visit her? I’ve been avoiding that woman like the plague.

Kayla sighed. Plot reasons. Xianchun’s progressing a lot faster than he did in the novel, so if he wants to kill us, it’ll probably be earlier too. Aunt would probably know of any changes before we do, we’ll need her help.

What would she know? She’s stuck in the Imperial Harem.

Kayla could understand Wenyuan’s hesitance. Consort Zhao was the Grand Duke’s niece and Wenyuan’s aunt, a beautiful woman who oozed with sensuous charm. As beautiful as she was, she was also jealous, selfish, and spiteful, and was absolutely the type of woman to start a hair-pulling, face-scratching fight with other women her husband favored. Perhaps for that reason, Consort Zhao had never become a favorite of the Emperor and had remained childless for the last ten years, but her husband was often reminded of her charms upon seeing her full and voluptuous figure.

Consort Zhao had also been forced to commit suicide after the fall of Grand Duke Zhao. Thinking about it now, Kayla began to realize how unfair the novel had been. Even after everything he’d done, the Grand Duke only lost his reputation and power, but both his grandson and his niece lost their lives. What kind of logic was this anyway? She couldn’t help but wonder if the author planned to keep the Grand Duke as a Chekov’s gun later in the plot, but he hadn’t shown up in the novel since his fall from grace.

In either case, Consort Zhao was the one who benefited the most from the death of Xianchun’s mother. Even if she wasn’t an accomplice, she would be most sensitive to any changes if the information were discovered.

Consort Zhao was the canary in the mine, so to speak. If Xianchun were to discover the truth, she would be the first one to feel the consequences.

15-A New Alliance

Kayla returned to her room and began nullifying talismans again, hoping to increase her self-defense stats for Plan B. She was suddenly interrupted by Wenyuan doing the equivalent of throwing himself at a door while screaming loudly inside her head.

Kayla! Kayla, stop nullifying talismans!!! Kayla dropped the talisman in shock, frowning slightly.

Dude, I’m listening, calm down! What the hell’s wrong with you?

Did Xianchun bed his father’s concubine?! It seemed that Wenyuan was sifting through the novel’s details again in Kayla’s memories, which she was more or less pretty appreciative of.

What? Oh yeah, Consort Liang, she wasn’t all that important in the plot. It was a novel set in Ancient China, after all, so of course the main character had a harem. Xianchun had snagged himself quite a few of the capital’s most notable beauties, including his right-hand woman Yu Bianfu, the slender and lovely Lady Shunan of the Ye household, the virtuous and beautiful daughter of Minister Jun, among many other young women who were described as being good looking in one way or another. One of the fan favorites, however, had been the twisted romance between Xianchun and his father’s youngest concubine, the 23-year-old Consort Liang. He had carried on an affair with her that wasn’t all that historically unusual, and the novel had him take the young woman as a member of his own Imperial Harem after ascending to the throne.

Unusually for this genre of novels, Xianchun had been a bisexual icon who also had a good number of good-looking men that he romanced, including his left-hand man Liu Boyue, among several other characters who were to appear during his fight for the throne. It had been fun to read about Xianchun developing his romantic relationships along with his career, but now Kayla couldn’t care less about who Xianchun slept with as long as he didn’t murder her.

What do you mean she’s not important?! She’s married to the Emperor!

I mean, good for her. Wu Zetian had an affair with Emperor Gaozong while still in his father’s harem, and she later became the Emperor. It's not really all that unusual, is it?

You’re going to let Uncle get cuckolded?! Wenyuan sounded rather outraged.

I see your point, but also how many concubines does he have? He doesn’t need that many.

But Xianchun could get in a lot of trouble if you reveal it, couldn’t he?

He doesn’t start sleeping with her until long after he killed us, it can’t benefit us now.

She also wasn’t sure about getting Consort Liang executed for adultery. After all, it wasn’t the young woman’s fault that her husband’s son was both hotter and closer to her age, and she had Kayla’s full sympathy. But she could see the benefits in making use of this information. Kayla scratched her head quizzically, something suddenly occurring to her.

Wait, Wenyuan, do you know if Consort Liang is related to Lord Liang? After all, the surname wasn’t too uncommon, it wouldn’t be strange if it were just a coincidence.

She’s his niece, why?

Kayla ran through the current situation in her mind again, before finally coming to a decision.

We need to be more assertive in front of Uncle, and we need to do something about Xianchun. There’s not much we can do about most of the death flags, Xianchun was mostly angry about the Grand Duke’s behavior rather than Wenyuan’s actions, so we need to create more distance between us and the Grand Duke in his eyes.

That sounds reasonable. But how? We can’t just go against him empty-handed.

Kayla let out a sigh. I…kind of have a plan.

//////////////

Xianchun sat across from Bianfu, gently patting her on the arm.

“I’m sorry, Bianfu. All of this was my fault,” he said morosely. Bianfu shook her head. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked worse for wear. After receiving the Dowager’s decree last night, she must not have gotten any sleep at all.

“Don’t be, my prince. None of us could’ve even thought of this,” Bianfu replied, her voice hoarse and tired. “More so than the Dowager’s punishment, I was shocked at being trapped like that by someone I’d thought so little of.”

She gave a bitter chuckle. “Who would have thought that he had the balls to do that?”

Xianchun sighed, lowering his gaze to avoid looking at the expression on Bianfu’s face. Wenyuan had carried out a plan that seemed to come straight from the history books, so outlandish and unthinkable that he couldn’t tell if the man was stupid or brave. Who even did that in real life? Excluding, of course, the historical figures whose emotions and actions always seemed so much larger than life. After all that, Xianchun was far angrier at his own failure at assessing Wenyuan than the other man for his actions.

“I’ll do whatever I can to lift the suspension,” Xianchun promised. Bianfu quickly grabbed his hand, shaking her head vehemently.

“No, my prince, you can’t! Right now, the Dowager’s furious, once she calms down she’ll probably soften her stance, but if you interfere right now, you’ll get hurt in the crossfire,” Bianfu urgently advised him. “You should focus on the court right now, I’ll be back at your side in due time.”

Xianchun nodded slowly. “I know you’re right, but I feel burdened by guilt. How can I just leave you to suffer even though it was my responsibility? If I had known Wenyuan would react so strongly, I never would’ve taunted him with this matter,” Xianchun lamented.

“I was the one who chose to withhold the information to give you an advantage over Zhao Wenyuan,” Bianfu replied. “I valued short-term benefits over long-term gain, why should you take responsibility?”

She patted his hand gently, wrapping her strong fingers around his own. “I will also take this chance to work harder on my military strategy and martial arts. Normally I’m too busy to do that, might as well take the chance, right?”

Xianchun laughed softly. “I came to comfort you, not the other way around,” he said affectionately. The two looked up as Boyue deftly flipped over the wall, landing with a soft thump.

“My prince, Bianfu,” he greeted them. Xianchun nodded at him, smiling as Boyue approached.

“Boyue! Did you come to comfort my poor, wounded soul?” Bianfu asked teasingly.

“Fortunately, no. I came to report on the investigation,” Boyue said lightly. His tone shifted into a serious one as he turned towards Xianchun. “My prince, most of the leads that Lady Yue told us about are gone, only a few of the more local cases remain. We won’t be able to take on the Grand Duke with this.”

Xianchun’s temper flared. “Goddamnit! That sly old fox, just how quickly did he cover his tracks?!”

“Isn’t there anything useful then?” Bianfu asked with dismay. Boyue sighed defeatedly.

“There’s a good number of documents to comb through, but we’re working on it,” Boyue promised. “Another thing, my prince. I heard that the Emperor planned to meet Zhao Wenyuan later today.”

Xianchun’s emotions flitted between disappointment and concern. Wenyuan always met with the Emperor and Empress Dowager with regularity, but Xianchun couldn’t help feeling suspicious after the incident yesterday. Just what was Wenyuan going for now?

“If that’s the case, I’ll head over as well,” Xianchun decided. “I need to make sure he doesn’t drop a rock into the well on Bianfu’s case.”

///////////////////

Kayla’s carriage ground to a halt outside the Imperial Palace, and she made her way into the Inner Palace where she was due to meet the Emperor. She had purposefully arrived well before the meeting time so she could visit Wenyuan’s aunt.

Consort Zhao greeted Kayla happily, evidently having no small amount of affection for her nephew. She was as beautiful as Wenyuan remembered, and Kayla was shocked at the bombshell figure the older woman sported.

I never thought I’d see a figure like this in Ancient China, Kayla thought with surprise. In period dramas she'd seen before, imperial concubines tended to have slim figures with few curves to speak of, compared to Consort Zhao's Hollywood hourglass figure.

“Aunt, you’re as beautiful as ever!” Kayla said with absolute sincerity. “It’s like you’re getting more beautiful every time I see you.” It was technically Kayla’s first time seeing her, so it wasn’t a lie. Consort Zhao preened a little, looking very pleased with the compliment. When the woman wasn’t starting shit with her love rivals, she was actually rather easy to get along with.

“Our Wenyuan has such a sweet tongue,” Consort Zhao said happily. “Come and sit next to me!”

“I’m afraid I can’t stay too long, I have to meet the Emperor in a bit,” Kayla said apologetically. “But I wanted to chat with you while I had the chance.”

“Of course, I’m so happy to see you! You’ve grown into such a fine young man, too bad you don’t come see me enough,” Consort Zhao lamented. “How is Uncle?”

“Grandfather’s doing well, he also sends you his regards,” Kayla replied. She glanced around the room casually, a twinge of uncertainty at the sight of the multiple serving girls and eunuchs present. Would it be too suspicious if she asked to speak in private? An idea occurred to her.

“Aunt, since I’ve had the chance to speak with you, there was something I was hoping to ask,” Kayla said, looking at Consort Zhao with earnest eyes.

“Ask away, I’ll happily answer anything for our Wenyuan,” Consort Zhao replied. “What do you want to ask?”

“Well, that is,” Kayla looked away shyly. “Aunt, I’ve heard you’re the most experienced member of our family in terms of love.” Consort Zhao practically lit up at that, leaning forward so quickly she nearly knocked over the teacups.

“What? Could it be that Wenyuan has someone in his heart?” She asked gleefully. Kayla pretended to be embarrassed at that.

“Aunt! Don’t speak so loudly, I-” Kayla glanced furtively around the room, the serving girls and eunuchs looking down with knowing smirks. “I don’t even like her that much!” The servants giggled softly, visibly biting their cheeks to hold in their amusement.

Consort Zhao was almost rubbing her hands together in glee. “Oh my, Wenyuan’s so shy! Don’t worry, Aunt will take care of allllll of your worries,” she drawled. She waved away the servants until they were alone in the room. “So, tell your Aunt, who is the lucky girl?”

Kayla leaned in closer, any trace of her act fading away. “Aunt, we don’t have much time. I came here to warn you,” she said softly in an urgent tone. Consort Zhao’s eyes widened as her glee melted away to a serious expression.

“Speak plainly, nephew. What’s the matter?”

“Aunt, I need you to trust me. I know you respect and trust grandfather, but you need to believe me on this,” Kayla said. Consort Zhao looked confused but nodded in response.

“When you entered the palace, the Emperor was still focusing all his attention on Consort Chen. It wasn’t until her death that you caught his attention, am I right?” Kayla asked. Consort Zhao’s face hardened, but she nodded again. “What about it?” she asked.

“Grandfather murdered Consort Chen.”

Consort Zhao looked more uncomfortable than shocked, leaning away from Kayla. Kayla hurriedly grabbed the woman’s hand.

“So you know,” Kayla let out a short huff of breath. “Just as well. Please answer me honestly, Aunt. Your life depends on it. Were you involved?”

“No!” Consort Zhao hissed, glaring at Kayla angrily. “Of course not! I was confident I could win over that plain woman!”

“Good. I really hope, for your sake, that what you said is the truth,” Kayla said seriously. “Because there’s evidence.”

Consort Zhao paled at that. “What? What do you mean? Uncle’s never that careless!”

“Why are you so scared? Didn’t you say you weren’t involved?” Kayla demanded. “Aunt, tell me the truth or I can’t help you!”

“It’s the truth! But-but I did benefit from it, who would believe I wasn’t involved?” Consort Zhao asked despairingly. “Even the Emperor wouldn’t believe it!”

Kayla let out a sigh. Wenyuan, can you tell if she’s lying?

She’s probably telling the truth. Aunt has a bad personality, but she only does petty things, she could never pull off murdering someone.

“I’ll believe you, Aunt. But the two of us need to work together,” Kayla said. “Because once the evidence is revealed, both of us will be under intense scrutiny.”

Consort Zhao nodded fearfully, looking to be on the verge of tears. “What do we do if the Dowager finds out? She’d kill me without a second thought!”

“Aunt, you need to keep your ears open. If you sense any change in the mood of the palace, tell me immediately. Also, you should befriend Consort Liang. Help her out, and keep helping her out. That’s the way you can survive this, Aunt. Do you believe me?” Kayla urged her.

Consort Zhao gripped Kayla’s hands tightly. “I do, nephew. I’ll listen to you, but what about Uncle?”

“Grandfather’s a loyal vassal of three courts, I doubt he would be punished to the full extent. On the other hand, we are easy to crush, and grandfather hasn’t prepared to protect us properly either. We can only protect ourselves. Aunt, if he could kill Consort Chen for your benefit, he could silence you for his own benefit!” Kayla said. Consort Zhao nodded, and Kayla didn’t doubt that Wenyuan’s aunt also understood the Grand Duke’s nature.

“I’ll do as you say then, nephew. But why rely on Consort Liang?” Consort Zhao asked.

“Trust me, Aunt. If she needs help, provide it. If she needs a hand, stretch one out. If she wants to reveal evidence that would hurt the Zhao clan, tell her you’ll withhold mercy for your kin in favor of the greater good,” Kayla said seriously. “That woman can save you from both the Emperor and the Seventh Prince.”

“What about you, nephew?” Consort Zhao asked.

Kayla sighed. “I’ll rely on the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Even if they’re angry at grandfather, they can’t turn their backs on my late mother.”

“Alright then,” Consort Zhao said, a resigned expression on her face.

“Be careful, Aunt,” Kayla warned her.

“Of course, you should also take care,” Consort Zhao replied. “And you should pretend to be embarrassed as you leave.”

“Understood,” Kayla said. “I’ll be off then.”

She left the room with an embarrassed expression, flushing as she met the amused gaze of a serving girl and hurriedly left the building, the sound of soft giggles behind her.

Wenyuan had so many connections to the Imperial Palace, it was a waste not to make use of them. Especially since Consort Zhao’s life also hinged on this, and Kayla also stood to benefit if Consort Liang was indebted to Wenyuan’s aunt. The youngest concubine was isolated in the palace, being viewed with jealousy and hatred as yet another competitor, the women’s resentment towards their husband being redirected to his newest favorite. Given how kind and virtuous Consort Liang was, except for in regards to the sanctity of her marriage, Kayla didn’t doubt that the young woman would plead for Consort Zhao’s life if the two were to become friends, and with her current status in the Emperor’s heart, it would probably work as well.

Kayla pensively made her way towards the building where she had her meeting with the Emperor. There was still a little time left, so she purposefully slowed down her pace, taking the chance to clear her mind. Had that plan even worked? Or would Consort Zhao capitulate and send word to the Grand Duke? What did Kayla do then?

A voice cut into her thoughts sharply. “Zhao Wenyuan.”

Kayla glanced up, surprised to see the familiar figure of Xianchun. She blinked in confusion before bowing slightly.

“Greetings, my prince,” she said politely.

Just why the hell is he here?!

16-Xianchun Keeps Appearing

“Were you on your way to meet my father?” Xianchun asked. Kayla bowed slightly.

“That’s right, my prince.” Please don’t join me please don’t join me please don’t-

“I’ll join you then,” Xianchun replied. “Let’s walk together.” Kayla looked at him nervously, trying to assess the prince’s mood. She had expected him to be angry, but the prince didn’t seem to be radiating the same intense fury she’d grown used to.

“Yu Bianfu is currently under house arrest,” Xianchun said after a short silence. “Does this satisfy you?”

“I doubt she’ll be there long, but honestly? Yes,” Kayla replied. “Grandmother is more likely to place importance on people whose faults have already been tempered, so General Yu probably won’t be suffering for this in the long run anyway.” Xianchun let out a sharp breath.

“A maternal grandson like you has a better understanding of Grandmother than me,” Xianchun said, a faint note of bitterness in his voice. “I’m sure you know best.”

“I won’t lie though, I didn’t think the Dowager would be that angry,” Kayla admitted. “But I won’t apologize if that’s what you want from me.”

“Of course she was angry,” Xianchun snapped. “The Imperial Doctor told her you’d been injured multiple times recently and she was furious. She took out her anger at your grandfather on Bianfu instead!”

Kayla blinked in surprise, not knowing how to react to that. “Oh,” she managed lamely. “Okay.”

Xianchun didn’t push the topic further, looking away with a look of slight frustration.

“Let me make it up to you then,” Kayla said, mustering her courage to push forward with her plan. “I didn’t do that to remove your military support, it was purely personal.”

“You want to make it up to me? How?” Xianchun laughed incredulously.

“With information, like I did with Lady Yue’s case. Aren’t you interested?” Kayla offered. Xianchun glared at her but gave her a short nod.

“Grandfather’s good at protecting himself, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s covered all his tracks already,” Kayla said. “But Chancellor He isn’t quite as good at this.”

“He Shirang?” Xianchun gave her a sharp look of surprise. “He’s the least of my worries right now.” He Shirang wasn’t particularly crafty, competent, or organized, and was more or less a mascot in the Grand Duke’s alliance.

Yeah? You sure needed him in the novel!

“Anling County is where He Shirang’s nephew handles money laundering for the family. If you go through the accounting you shouldn’t have trouble finding the evidence, and it’s pretty damning,” Kayla said. “I bet he’d do anything to avoid execution, my prince.”

In the novel, Xianchun had eventually uncovered Lady Yue’s true identity and found evidence of He Shirang’s corruption, using it to threaten the man into selling out the Grand Duke. Xianchun had further pushed the Chancellor out of power, replacing him with his own ally. Even though the Grand Duke also didn’t place much importance on the Chancellor, his power soon became threatened once the Chancellor was gone, his other allies scattering for self-preservation. Kayla planned to move that plot point forward.

“You’re suggesting I blackmail him? I thought you disliked blackmail,” Xianchun said, focusing on a strange point. Kayla frowned at him.

“Not for actual crimes, I don’t, I’m against blackmailing people for shitty reasons,” she said in annoyance. “The point isn’t that, it’s-”

“Take down He Shirang and use his information to pressure the Grand Duke, I understood just fine,” Xianchun said. He gave her a curious look. “Just how do you know all this?”

“If you don’t believe me, investigate and you’ll see,” Kayla said, echoing her words from last time. Xianchun nodded. He actually seemed to believe Kayla, though he could just be good at pretending.

“I don’t understand why you don’t use the information yourself,” Xianchun replied. Kayla didn’t reply to that, choosing to push her plan forward instead.

“Consort Liang has never met her cousin and niece before, right?” Kayla ventured bravely. Xianchun gave her a questioning look.

“Consort Liang, who’s known for her beauty and virtue, and greatly favored by His Majesty the Emperor, must be concerned for Lady Yue, isn’t she?” Kayla prodded with much less subtlety. Xianchun’s eyes flashed with understanding before crinkling with amusement.

“Zhao Wenyuan,” he said with a voice tinged with interest, “You really are something.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?” Kayla asked nervously. He doesn’t seem pissed off though.

“It’s also a compliment,” Xianchun replied. “Come on, let’s go in.”

They had arrived at the building, Kayla following Xianchun as they entered. She silently cheered inside her head. If this worked out, she would be much further away from suffering Wenyuan’s horrible death.

//////////////

The meeting with the Emperor was pleasant, even with Xianchun awkwardly trying to act casually with his father. Once the mood was light enough, Kayla gently redirected the topic to Lady Yue.

“I heard her daughter hasn’t spoken a word since arriving in the capital,” Kayla said sympathetically. “The whole experience must have been quite a shock for her.”

“Indeed, it’s quite a pity,” the Emperor remarked. “But the doctors in the capital are quite good, I’m sure she’ll recover quickly.”

Kayla nodded morosely, ignoring the incredulous look Xianchun shot at her performance.

“Even now, I can’t help but break into a cold sweat upon thinking of my mistake,” Kayla said, her voice dripping with sincere repentance. “I’ve let you down, Uncle.”

“Oh, come on now, Wenyuan. Who doesn’t make mistakes? It’s a good thing that the tragedy was averted, but as long as you’re more careful from now on, there’s nothing for you to worry about,” the Emperor said kindly. He was far less forgiving towards his own sons, but Kayla supposed that not having a bunch of stepmoms trying to screw you over really helped her case.

“Thank you for your graciousness, Uncle,” Kayla said meekly.

“But how did such information slip past the Ministry of Justice’s investigation, cousin? It’s true that it was not an obvious fact, but it was easily uncovered by a basic investigation. How could the Ministry responsible for this have failed to know?” Xianchun asked. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to cooperate with her or corner her, but it suited her objectives just fine.

“Actually, I was also concerned about that as well,” Kayla said in a hesitant tone. “Local cases are usually handled by the regional investigators, and this one further included the capital’s investigators due to being a crime of treason. However, when I went back to check the documents after Lady Yue’s case was revealed, there were discrepancies in both teams’ notes and their witness statements. What was more, the documents they had were also different from the documents that were presented to me.”

Perhaps because everyone in the Ministry knew Wenyuan was a puppet who only stamped documents and presented cases, no one stopped Kayla from flipping through documents or going through archived scrolls, so long as she kept a bored expression on her face like someone with nothing better to do. Kayla had spread it out over a good amount of time and looked through a good variety of cases, so no one had suspected it either. If anything, they were annoyed that someone in such a high position barely did any work while they were struggling to finish their duties.

“What? Speak clearly, cousin, what on earth is going on?” Xianchun asked. She could sense he was trying to hide his excitement now that Wenyuan seemed to be actively throwing the Ministry of Justice under the bus.

“Is there a problem in the organization of the Ministry of Justice?” The Emperor asked, face becoming serious as he took in Kayla’s words. “What do you suspect, nephew?”

“It’s too early to say, but after realizing the discrepancy, I went through some other cases as well. There were a large number of discrepancies between investigation notes and the final reports, and there also seemed to be parts of investigations that were obscured after the fact, if you look at how the pages were numbered and dated. None of the differences are very large, and wouldn’t be particularly noticeable either unless you know what you were looking for. But I suspect that there’s something rotten in the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla said in a low voice.

“Why did you not mention this earlier, nephew?” The Emperor asked.

“I don’t know how big or small the issue is, or who is involved, I’m afraid of startling the snakes by beating the grass without being able to uncover the root of the issue,” Kayla said. “I haven’t revealed my suspicions before now because I hoped to speak about it with you privately, Uncle.”

The Emperor nodded. “Well done, Wenyuan. It’s good you’ve grown into such a cautious and capable man. What is your grandfather’s stance on this?”

Kayla hesitated, looking awkwardly away from the Emperor. He frowned slightly, a confused look on his face.

“What, you haven’t told him?” The Emperor seemed genuinely shocked at this.

“It’s complicated, Uncle, I have reason to believe that those people are trying to make use of my grandfather,” Kayla confessed. It was actually the opposite that was true, but it wasn’t the right time to say that.

“Explain,” the Emperor ordered. Kayla slightly bowed her head.

“Many of them were rather talented as students, and as you know, my grandfather deeply cherishes youths who have potential. However, after receiving my grandfather’s patronage, they seem to have used the Grand Duke’s name to their benefit in making dirty deals during investigations,” Kayla admitted. “I’ve come to see that they are abusing grandfather’s kindness, and I don’t know how to break the news to him. He’s always been dedicated to mentoring younger officials, it would be a huge blow to him if he learned of this, especially if he learned of it from his own grandson.”

The Emperor nodded. “Wenyuan’s thought about this deeply,” he said thoughtfully.

“My cousin has a point,” Xianchun said. He ignored Kayla discreetly giving him a meaningful look. “If we don’t have evidence to put the pieces together properly, we would only upset the Grand Duke without carrying out justice.” He gave Kayla a smile that sent chills down her spine.

“Father, why not have my cousin continue to investigate in secret? If he is able to eradicate the issues in the Ministry of Justice, the Zhao clan’s reputation can also be preserved by the achievements of their heir,” Xianchun proposed. Kayla forced herself not to glare at him.

No! I’m trying to push the work onto the Emperor! Why are you pushing it towards me?! She had hoped to kick off a secret investigation by the crown, not get dragged into it herself.

“I don’t have the intelligence and bravery to carry this out myself,” Kayla hurriedly protested.

The Emperor gave her an assuring smile like she had given Chujiao, and Kayla’s heart dropped. “Don’t be so humble, nephew. Xianchun’s proposal pleases me. Of course, I won’t make you work on this alone, I’ll be sure to send Imperial investigators to assist you by investigating in the regions and localities as well. But who else has the familiarity with the documents and personnel of the Ministry to do this for me?” He said gently.

Nooo, goddamnit, Emperor! “But, my grandfather, I,” Kayla feebly protested.

“This’ll be a secret between us,” the Emperor promised. “But rest assured, I’ll make sure to protect you if things go south.” Kayla scrambled to find the words to object before giving up, resignedly bowing her head.

“Then I’ll give it my best, Uncle,” she said morosely. The Emperor gave her an approving nod and patted her on the shoulder.

“Let me know if you need any help, I’ll take care of it,” the Emperor assured her. Kayla didn’t feel very reassured but gave her thanks anyway. The meeting wrapped up soon after that, Kayla and Xianchun taking their leave together. She glanced askance at the prince. It felt like it was becoming a pattern that she had to leave together with Xianchun. As soon as there were fewer people around, she shot him a glare.

“What was that?” Kayla asked accusingly. He gave her a knowing smirk.

“Since it also benefits me, I’ll help you out,” he said smugly.

“How is that helping?! I was going to leave it to the Emperor’s investigators!” Kayla groaned, covering her face in exasperation.

“Why? You’d be throwing away an opportunity to establish yourself,” Xianchun said in a confused tone. Kayla looked at him in surprise.

Could it be that he wants to make use of me now? Does that mean I’ve avoided the death ending?

She thought back to Consort Zhao’s fearful expression, her hopefulness fading. Never mind, it’s probably only temporary. I can’t let my guard down around him.

“I don’t particularly want to establish myself,” Kayla finally replied. “I just don’t want to be an accomplice any longer.”

“What a waste,” Xianchun snapped. “I wouldn’t have spoken up for you the way you were before, but I’m extending a chance for you to draw a clear line between yourself and the Grand Duke! I’m not foolish enough to let a useful man languish in the dust, but it can’t be helped that you’re this lacking in ambition.”

“The higher the ambition, the tighter the noose. I prioritize my survival over all else,” Kayla replied. “But I’ll thank you for your good intentions, my prince. I hope the matters we spoke of earlier will play out the way you hope. Please excuse me then.”

She sped up, trying to throw Xianchun behind, but the prince kept pace easily, likely due to having longer legs. “We’re going in the same direction,” Xianchun said with annoyance.

Dude, either go faster or go slower, don’t keep pace with me! I’m already stressed!

Their awkward walk together was thankfully interrupted by a eunuch, but Kayla’s thankfulness quickly faded as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Seventh Prince, Young Lord Zhao,” the eunuch greeted them. “Young lord, the Empress Dowager wishes to speak with you.”

“Grandmother?” Kayla said quizzically. She glanced at Xianchun out of the corner of her eye. The prince was frowning, looking rather displeased.

“Shall I join you then?” Xianchun asked, seeming intent on monitoring Kayla’s actions in the palace.

“The Empress Dowager only asked for the young lord,” the eunuch said apologetically. “Please have a safe trip, your highness.” Xianchun let out a displeased scoff, giving Kayla a long, meaningful look.

“Well then, have a nice talk with Grandmother then,” Xianchun said, continuing to make intense eye contact. “I had an interesting talk with you, so I’ll have a lot to think about.”

“Have a safe trip, your highness,” Kayla said, bowing her head slightly. Xianchun turned and walked off without a word, his robes billowing in the wind. Kayla turned back to the eunuch.

“Is the Empress Dowager alright?” Kayla asked worriedly. Just what the hell was this about?

“Her Highness is well,” the eunuch replied politely. “This way, young lord.”

Kayla followed him back into the Inner Palace. The more doors she passed through, the more she felt the oppressing weight of the towering walls. The palace that upheld the dignity of the Imperial family was majestic at times and terrifying at others, and now that she was up against the unknown, it seemed more like a dark labyrinth than anything else.

Do you think she noticed and we’re in trouble now?

Wenyuan didn’t reply, radiating with nervousness. Kayla withheld a sigh, following the eunuch into the Dowager’s quarters. The eunuch announced Kayla’s arrival before stepping out of the way.

“Grandmother, Wenyuan has arrived,” Kayla said, bowing politely.

“Drop the formalities! Come here, Wenyuan, sit by me,” the Empress Dowager called out affectionately, waving Kayla over. Kayla went over to sit close with the old woman as usual, feeling slightly relieved that the Dowager was as affectionate as always. To her surprise, the Dowager then waved her hand slightly, and her ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs quickly left the room, closing the door behind them.

There was now only Kayla and the Dowager left in the room. A cold fear gripped her heart, and a chill went down her spine. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, and Kayla suddenly felt like prey in a room with a predator, but the Dowager only continued smiling affectionately.

“Wenyuan, are you feeling alright now?” The Dowager asked gently. “I have been so worried since last time.”

“Thank you for your concern, grandmother,” Kayla replied. “Wenyuan’s fine now, please don’t worry anymore.”

The Dowager nodded, looking at Kayla with such genuine fondness that for some reason, it made her even more afraid. “Grandmother, was there something you wanted to speak with me about?” Kayla ventured tentatively.

“You’ve probably heard, but General Yu was suspended from her post and ordered to reflect on her errors at home,” the Dowager said. “After how she acted towards you, would you be satisfied with that?”

Kayla blinked in surprise. “I don’t…understand, Grandmother,” Kayla said nervously. Was the Dowager testing her? Or did she truly love her grandson so much she was willing to go even further in punishing General Yu?

What’s the right move? She met the Dowager’s eyes with confusion. The old woman’s eyes were deep and unfathomable, and Kayla suddenly realized that there wasn’t a right move.

“Of course I’m satisfied, grandmother, how could I be dissatisfied with any of your decisions?” Kayla asked, smiling innocently despite the cold sweat beading under her collar.

“Wenyuan’s such a good child,” the Dowager said tenderly. “Wenyuan, what would you think if grandmother were to lift her suspension?”

That fast?! It’s barely been three days!

Kayla forced herself to continue smiling. “It’s up to grandmother, of course. Whatever you decide is surely for the best.”

The Dowager gently patted Kayla’s head. “Wenyuan, do you understand why I intend to lift her punishment?”

Kayla shook her head silently.

“Your grandmother would like to just protect and cherish you, but grandmother’s also the Empress Dowager of this country,” she said, still in that same affectionate tone. “I have to keep the scales balanced since the Emperor can’t seem to do so.”

Kayla’s blood ran cold. She knows. Instinctively, Kayla knew the Dowager knew.

“Grandmother,” Kayla said urgently, hurriedly dropping to her knees. “I-”

“Come on now, Wenyuan, get up and sit,” the Dowager said.

“I was wrong! I deserve to be punished!” Kayla barely got the words out, trembling in fear before the Dowager. The Dowager only smiled in that same affectionate manner.

“Come and sit with me, Wenyuan,” the Dowager insisted. “I’m not done talking yet.”

17-The Imperial Court

Kayla stumbled to her feet and sat down again rigidly, looking at the Dowager with badly concealed fear.

“Wenyuan, General Yu is Xianchun’s person, so whatever she did, it is probably on Xianchun’s behalf,” the Dowager said. “I have to restore her position, or Xianchun will be at too much of a disadvantage against the Grand Duke, and also against his brothers.”

“Grandmother,” Kayla said, feeling genuinely shocked at this. “You’re supporting Xianchun?”

“The key to ruling a country is keeping the forces balanced,” the Dowager replied. “I’m supporting all the capable princes, and also none of them. How else will we know who deserves the seat of Crown Prince?”

Something clicked inside Kayla’s head. She had thought it was just the author’s writing choices in having Xianchun successfully defeat the Grand Duke so quickly, and successfully rise to be a politically powerful prince on par with the Third and Fifth Princes. It had all seemed like plot armor, but looking at it now…it was probably the behind-the-scenes support of the Empress Dowager. Who else had the power to make a prince with no political support into a force to be reckoned with in such a short time?

“Grandmother wants to ensure the next emperor is the best of the three,” Kayla murmured. “I didn’t even realize…everything is already under your grasp.”

“I knew you would understand quickly, given how clever you are. Whoever becomes the next Emperor will decide the fate of the country over the next few decades. All capable princes must compete, regardless of their backgrounds. It is their responsibility to do so,” the Empress Dowager said. She turned to Kayla with a smile.

“I know General Yu wronged you,” the Dowager said, gently patting Kayla’s hand. “But you understand the importance of this?” Kayla nodded mechanically. Just what kind of behemoth had she poked at in her clumsy plan?

“But Wenyuan, I won’t allow her to harm you. Xianchun neither. None of the princes may harm you, or I will personally crush their aspirations for the throne,” the Dowager assured Kayla gently. “I had pushed my son to the throne, as none of his brothers would have allowed him to live had they won. But I’ve spared their lives. For this alone, the Emperor’s ascension was worth it, even if he’s hardly the most competent man to grace the position.”

The Dowager’s voice took on an edge of determination as she continued. “This time, it’ll be different. While both the Emperor and I are still able to keep things under control, the heir must be decided so that his brothers may be allowed to live. If we begin the struggle for the throne too late, how can I ensure that my family remains protected? Of course, that also includes you, my dear child.”

Kayla’s eyes widened. That was why the Empress Dowager kept opposing Xianchun! She must’ve realized he killed Wenyuan!

“Grandmother, I don’t deserve such kindness,” she replied in shock. “I was foolish to use such underhanded methods, I-”

“Wenyuan, I never told you any of this before because you’ve always been a sensitive child. You hated conflicts and difficult things, and I was more than happy to protect you and take care of you at my side,” the Dowager said. She continued to pat Kayla’s hand fondly. “I furiously opposed your appointment to the Left Secretariat of Justice, because you would surely become a puppet who would be mercilessly battered in any political conflicts to come. But my son easily agreed to it, and there was only so much I could do. After all, the Inner Palace cannot interfere with the court, at least not so openly.”

The Dowager smiled again, and this time it didn’t set off so many alarm bells. “But now things are different. Wenyuan, I was angry last time, but not a single bit of that anger was directed at you. I was furious that I never noticed how much pain you were in until you had to put yourself in such a situation, and also furious that Xianchun had pushed you to that point.”

Kayla lowered her eyes, avoiding the Dowager’s gaze.

“But I was also deeply pleased, and I felt immense relief that you had finally stood on your own feet.” The Dowager’s voice was practically glowing with warmth.

“Wenyuan, I always had high hopes for you, and now they are beginning to be realized. I’ll fully support you, so act without reservation,” the Dowager said. “When I saw how you carried out your plan, I realized how much you’d grown without my realizing. Even if it’s hardly something I would choose to do myself, you were right to implicate General Yu before me in that manner, rather than give Xianchun the upper hand in how to use that information.”

Kayla hadn’t actually done that to avoid getting blackmailed, but she wasn’t about to object to what the Dowager said.

“Grandmother, I shouldn’t have used our relationship to do that,” Kayla said, genuinely feeling bad about it. “It’s true I was desperate, both in terms of facing grandfather and my cousin, but that’s not an excuse. I’m truly sorry.”

“No, Wenyuan.” The Dowager shook her head with a smile. “To the contrary, you have to use our relationship. How else will you be able to stand on your own in the court?”

“I don’t particularly want to do that!” Kayla hastily explained. “I was just-”

“Desperate, I know. Wenyuan, struggle is what forges a great man. Even if you have no love for power, your blood necessitates that you will always be in a position of great struggle. If you cannot rise, you can only sink. You refused to struggle before, and I was hoping to gently lower you down to where the fierce currents could not harm you. But now that you feel threatened enough to act, you must move upwards,” the Dowager said. “Don’t worry, my child, I will support you.”

“I don’t have the ability to fulfill your expectations,” Kayla said honestly. She knew her limits, and she wanted to survive. If she couldn’t take on the role, it was probably best for everyone involved if Kayla just stuck to something more suitable instead.

“Not right away, you wouldn’t. All things take experience, my child. But I’m afraid there isn’t enough time for you to gain your own grounding in politics. The Grand Duke’s time has come,” the Dowager said. Kayla nodded slowly.

As expected, it was by her hand.

“I had thought countless times of how to protect you from the crossfire,” the Dowager spoke heavily. “Thankfully, you have made it easier for me. The Grand Duke had been a cornerstone of the country for decades, but his thirst for power and wealth has slowly grown out of control. Now, it is past the limits of what can be accepted. I will see him removed, Wenyuan. And I would have you benefit from it.”

“Grandmother,” Kayla began but didn’t know what to say in response. Much more so than the Emperor, it seemed that the Empress Dowager was the one who had the court within her palm.

“Don’t worry, my child. Walk the path you have chosen without fear, and everything will work out. I promise,” the Dowager swore.

The conversation ended soon after, the Dowager further inquiring after Wenyuan’s injuries and taking the chance to stuff her grandson with snacks before finally giving Kayla her leave. Kayla sat on the carriage, feeling the heavy weight of exhaustion sinking into her bones. Her head spun as she took in everything that had happened over the day. She’d taken steps forward, that was for sure, but how far? If she stepped into an empty ravine rather than landing on solid ground, she wouldn’t survive.

We’ll just have to do our best then. Kayla wearily watched the scene of the capital flow past her window. We’ll just try and hope that’ll be enough.

///////////////////

Burdened with the emperor’s orders, Kayla had no choice but to begin investigating cases from the Ministry of Justice. Luckily, her bored scroll-flipping behavior over the past few days had convinced the people around her that the Left Secretariat was entertaining himself with old papers, and she was allowed to continue as long as she kept stamping the right documents. Kayla didn’t really like the idea of doing all this right out in the open, but it was the method that garnered the least suspicion. Even before the transmigration, Wenyuan often read random things since he wasn’t actually given any power to carry out his duties.

Luckily, Kayla had been a History major in college, so it wasn’t as though this was completely out of her field of expertise. The major that had more or less trapped her in low-paying jobs with a shit ton of debt finally showed its worth in archival research, though Kayla had to carefully appear to be suitably bored rather than concentrating intently.

Combing through documents was slow and painstaking work, especially since Kayla was a constant mess of nerves as a result of doing it in front of pretty much the entire Ministry. Within a few days though, Kayla was starting to see results. Among the mess of statements, dates, and signatures, patterns were beginning to emerge. Xianchun was likely having a harder time, and the next convening of the court began and ended with no further incidents. Kayla had pre-emptively spoiled two major plot points for this arc to the prince already and was fervently hoping that would be enough ammunition for the prince. The infiltration of the Grand Duke’s household was something she had no control over, so she could only push and prod at the issue from the side.

However, things were proceeding so uneventfully that Kayla felt suspicious. How the hell hasn’t anything happened yet? In the novel, Xianchun had been constantly struggling to hold the line. Why on earth aren’t there any ripples? It felt like the calm before the storm, and Kayla didn’t like it.

Her suspicions were proven correct quickly enough. Kayla was immediately summoned to the Grand Duke’s office after returning from work one day. She entered apprehensively.

“Grandfather,” she said. “How can I help you?”

The Grand Duke gave her a cold look but didn’t look particularly angry.

“Wenyuan, you’re here.” He nodded and waved for her to sit down. Kayla reluctantly settled into a chair.

“In the next few days, go visit the Secretariat Director,” the Grand Duke said, in a voice so calm that it made the order sound even more ridiculous.

“What? What for?” Kayla demanded.

“You’ve had long enough to throw your tantrum,” the Grand Duke’s voice hardened. “Go and apologize to him.”

Kayla instinctively began shaking her head. “I’m not going.”

The Grand Duke’s brows furrowed into an intimidating glare. “A few words from the Empress Dowager and you think you can defy me? Should I remind you of the consequences?”

“Why should I apologize? Did he even apologize for breaking his promise?!” Kayla cried in outrage.

“He apologized to me already,” the Grand Duke snapped. “Just go and apologize!”

“To you? He should be apologizing to me!” Kayla threw her hands up in exasperation. “I won’t do it! I’m not going!”

The Grand Duke stood up abruptly, slamming his fist onto the table. Kayla instinctively flinched back.

“Zhao Wenyuan! You will go, or you will pay the price for it!” The Grand Duke shouted.

“Give me a few days then, I can’t face him without mental preparation,” Kayla replied in a small voice. At the Grand Duke’s frown, she continued on. “How else should I control my temper?! Do you really want me to make this worse? It wouldn’t even be on purpose, I just wouldn’t be able to do it without blowing up!”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed. “In three days, go to the Liu household to apologize. Surely you don’t need any more than that.” The warning tone in his voice quashed any thought of pushing any further, and Kayla nodded resignedly. She wandered back to her room, feeling rather despondent. She hadn’t even ended up buying much more time before having to face the Secretariat Director again. How much longer did she have to deal with that guy?

Kayla turned back to nullifying talismans for stress relief. Qu Boyong had acquired several more books of talismans for her, and Kayla had been glad to see that neither Boyong nor the doctor had faced any unintended consequences. Her Plan B remained a last-ditch effort since despite Wenyuan’s assurance that Kayla was progressing well, she would still be in a bad situation if she was going against someone who didn’t use magic at all.

Kayla could already sense that the upcoming apology would be highly unpleasant. Other than her own reluctance, she also felt that Liu Hongyu would be giving her a hard time. There was also a more abstract uneasiness clouding her heart.

Whenever things happen, they happen all at once. Kayla doubted she would be catching a break this time either.

//////////////////

Kayla’s anxieties soon became grounded in reality. The next day, when Kayla was taking her day off, a serving girl arrived to announce the arrival of Yu Bianfu.

“General Yu is here to apologize to the young lord on the Empress Dowager’s orders,” the serving girl announced. Kayla’s heart sank. It had been over a week, and the Dowager was likely going to lift the house arrest, if not the suspension.

“Show her to my room, I wish to speak with her alone,” Kayla said. She didn’t have to wait long. Soon, there was another knock on the door.

“Young lord, the General is here,” the serving girl said.

“Come in, General,” Kayla called. The door opened and a shadow fell over the floor. Kayla looked up to meet the eyes of Yu Bianfu.

“Young lord,” Bianfu greeted her with a formal bow.

“Close the door behind you, General,” Kayla said. She carefully kept some distance between herself and Bianfu as the serving girl left. Even if Bianfu couldn’t hurt her in the Grand Duke’s household, Kayla was still anxious before the woman she’d tried to frame.

“Young lord Zhao, I came to apologize to you for my shameful behavior,” Bianfu said with badly faked sincerity. The General got down on one knee and lowered her head sharply. “I beg your forgiveness.”

Kayla glanced at the door. Certain that no one was there, she lowered her voice to speak to Bianfu. “General Yu, is there anything you were asked to pass on?” It was unlikely Xianchun would actually have anything for her, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

Bianfu looked up sharply. Kayla sighed and waved for Bianfu to get up. Standing at her full height, the General was almost as tall as Wenyuan and about an entire head taller than Kayla’s original body.

“So it’s true…” Bianfu looked at her with an assessing gaze before scoffing. “No. Why would there be a message for you?”

Kayla shrugged. “Alright then, we’re done here. You can leave.” She hoped that General Yu wouldn’t be restored to her original position so quickly, but the Dowager seemed to have her own ideas of how to handle all this. Kayla could only hope the Dowager really could protect Wenyuan, given how the old woman had failed in the novel.

“Wait,” Bianfu said sharply. “There was a message.”

“Yeah? Well, tell me what it is and then you’re done here,” Kayla replied. She looked at Bianfu expectantly.

“It was as you said,” Bianfu said begrudgingly. “The evidence has been located.”

“That was fast,” Kayla remarked, unable to keep her surprise out of her voice. It had taken Xianchun much longer in the novel, but he hadn’t had a laser-guided investigation then. “Please give him my congratulations.”

“What are your intentions towards the prince?” Bianfu asked suspiciously. “I can’t imagine you’re sincerely helping him.”

Kayla shrugged. “What does it matter? Does everyone have to revere him in order to cooperate with him? If it was the Third Prince who was here instead of the Seventh Prince, I would reach out to him instead. We each take according to our needs, what’s wrong with that?”

“What do you need then? You’ve changed your behavior so suddenly, I can’t help but suspect your intentions,” Bianfu insisted stubbornly.

“I’m faced with difficulties I can’t easily explain,” Kayla replied. “But ultimately, I need to survive, and the weaker the Grand Duke becomes the higher my chances.”

Bianfu didn’t look convinced but finally dropped the topic. After a long moment, the general relented.

“There was a request,” Bianfu said with extreme reluctance. “Well, more of a question.”

“Yes?”

“How will the Grand Duke react if the evidence were presented?” Bianfu asked.

“I would think your master knows just as well as I do that the Three Departments are in collusion with each other. Is your master asking me when would be the best opportunity?” Kayla couldn’t read between the lines so easily when it came to the crafty Xianchun.

“Something like that,” Bianfu said grudgingly. A plan began to come together in Kayla’s mind. She frowned, annoyed at how much trouble these things seemed to necessitate. Then again, it did align with what she already had in mind for Liu Hongyu.

“A rift may appear between the Grand Duke and the Secretariat Director before the next court convening,” Kayla said slowly. “But there’s no guarantee that would affect their performance in court.”

Bianfu’s eyes flashed with surprise. “You…intend to create an opportunity?” Bianfu asked.

Kayla shrugged. “I intend to piss off both of them at once, but I can’t promise that would affect their professional behavior.”

Bianfu’s face twitched. “You would purposefully anger the Grand Duke?”

“I was planning to anger him regardless of your master’s plans, our timing just happens to align,” Kayla said. Even if it didn’t work, and it most likely wouldn’t, she would still be incurring some degree of favor from Xianchun at having tried, if the novel’s characterization of the prince was accurate.

“I see, I’ll pass that along,” Bianfu said.

“Then I won’t keep you any longer, General,” Kayla replied. Bianfu bowed slightly, and swiftly left the room, leaving Kayla alone to contemplate her next steps.

///////////////

“Zhao Wenyuan said that?” Xianchun’s heart skipped a beat in surprise. Had Wenyuan truly lost it? Xianchun had expected Bianfu’s house arrest to be extended for even longer after Wenyuan had spoken with the Empress Dowager alone, but not only did that not happen, the house arrest had been lifted. At Boyue’s suggestion, Xianchun had taken the opportunity of Bianfu’s apology to prod further at Wenyuan’s intentions. After all, even if Wenyuan had entered what seemed to be a strange form of cooperation with Xianchun, there was no guarantee the man was on Xianchun’s side.

Xianchun had planned to launch a three-pronged attack against He Shirang now that he had the evidence. He intended to present the evidence of corruption in court, spread rumors throughout the city to create pressure through popular opinion, and finally, use Consort Liang to gain the Emperor’s sympathy for Lady Yue. The evidence was concrete enough that even the Grand Duke wouldn’t be able to do much. He hadn’t even expected Wenyuan to offer anything more at this point, could it be that Wenyuan didn’t actually know the potency of the tip he’d given Xianchun? Or was the man trying to clearly express his attitude?

“He seemed determined to move forward with creating discord between the two houses,” Bianfu said uneasily. “But this guy’s been moving between one extreme to another, isn’t it possible he’d go overboard and create a mess?”

Xianchun could understand Bianfu’s concerns, it was something he was worried about as well. It was like someone who had always laid down and acted as though they were dead suddenly began running around and setting things on fire. But more so than concern, he felt strangely pleased.

“It is possible, my prince, but even a wildfire can be useful if it burns the enemy’s crops,” Boyue interjected. He smiled at Xianchun. “My prince, I’ve recruited a serving girl within the Liu household who is deeply unsatisfied with her master. I suggest we go with the flow and observe the events of their meeting, and see what we can make use of from there.”

Xianchun smiled broadly. “As expected of Boyue! I’ll do as you suggest. Since my cousin is taking the initiative, we might as well let things take their natural course. In either case, we have a mountain of evidence, so no matter what kind of mess that man stirs up we won’t be the ones to get hurt.”

“As you wish, my prince,” Boyue said warmly.

“Boyue, Bianfu, you two have always been closest to me,” Xianchun said. “I’ve endured quietly these years and prepared in secret, all while hoping for a chance to appear, but now the opportunities are sprouting up like wildflowers after a rain. Whether these are the intentions of some higher power, or simply the Grand Duke’s misdeeds catching up to him, I want to strike the iron while it’s hot.“

Boyue and Bianfu’s faces lit up with excitement, knowing where Xianchun was going with this.

“My prince, you mean that-?!” Bianfu asked gleefully. Xianchun nodded.

“Boyue, I want to take the next step forward while the Grand Duke’s occupied with He Shirang’s case,” Xianchun said firmly. “It’s time to infiltrate the Grand Duke’s household.”

18-Making Amends

Kayla’s heart wasn’t in her investigation over the two days, but as a student who was a late-stage procrastinator in college, whether or not she was willing to get the work done didn’t affect her actual ability to get things done. There was a steadily growing list of names and evidence, which Kayla kept jotted in English and tucked securely inside her innermost robe, and there was also a growing pile of random documents piled haphazardly in a box behind Wenyuan’s desk that her coworkers politely ignored. The anxiety related to investigating your coworkers discreetly while literally right in front of them had faded to a dull background feeling, and Kayla had several dozen different excuses scripted.

Taking her lunch break to get away from the stifling air of the Ministry, Kayla strolled along the Palace walls until there were fewer and fewer people around. Before she’d realized it, Kayla was alone. The plants in this part of the palace weren’t overgrown or untidy, but they were visibly maintained with less regularity and effort than in busier parts of the palace. There were towering trees that stretched above the walls, forming a second wall of greenery that swayed in the wind. One of the trees in particular was rustling even though there currently wasn’t that much wind. Kayla squinted at it nervously before she jumped back in shock.

A man clad in all black robes deftly dropped down from the tree, landing in front of her with scarcely a sound.

“What the hell?!” Kayla squawked, hurriedly stepping away from him. The man was broad-shouldered and had an intimidating air to him that was magnified by the painted mask over his face. To her surprise, the man dropped to one knee and removed his mask. In contrast to the sharp sense of danger the man gave off, his face was that of a plain and unassuming middle-aged man.

“Greeting, Left Secretariat. I am Li Que of the Imperial Investigators, at your service!”

Kayla looked at him in surprise. “You’re an Imperial Investigator?”

“Yes, I directly serve His Majesty the Emperor,” the man responded. He retrieved a golden plaque from his inner robes that Kayla recognized as from the Emperor. She nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Mister Li. Is there an order from the Emperor?” Kayla asked.

“Sir, I came to inquire as to the progress of your investigation on behalf of the Emperor. His Majesty further ordered me to help you with anything you may need,” Li Que said.

Kayla reached for the notes inside her robes, squinting at the small words. “Of course, I have some preliminary results, but I’ve written it in code. Do you need this right now?”

“I could return at a later time of your convenience,” Li Que replied. “When would be suitable?”

Kayla quickly ran over her schedule for the day and couldn’t find a good window of opportunity.

“There isn’t a good time today, but if you don’t mind waiting a bit, I could transcribe it right now,” she offered. Li Que looked at her in surprise before bowing his head slightly.

“Then, if I could be so bold as to trouble you, my lord.”

Kayla nodded, patting her sleeves for a brush. She pulled out a talisman that gave ink to the brush as you wrote, providing a similar effect to a pen, ripping the paper to activate it.

“Do you happen to have blank paper on you?” Kayla asked Li Que. The man got up, reaching into his robes to offer her an empty scroll with both hands. Kayla took it, her hands now awkwardly full. Carefully balancing the empty scroll with her own notes and holding the pen in her other hand, Kayla tried and failed to locate a suitable writing surface and settled for the wall. She tried to hold her notes with one hand while pinning down the empty scroll with a spare finger, holding it flat with the blade of her palm while trying to write at the same time. Li Que watched her awkward attempt to write it down with equal awkwardness, evidently not having foreseen this.

“I’ll hold your notes for you, my lord,” Li Que offered. Kayla gratefully passed the notes to him, focusing on the difficult feat of writing against the wall. It probably wasn’t difficult for artists, but it was a bit of a stretch for a paper-pusher like her. Kayla found herself craning her neck and writing in an awkward position, struggling to get the task done. She finally succeeded after quite a bit of effort, rolling up the page and handing it back to Li Que and taking her own notes back from him.

“Alright then,” Kayla said with audible relief. “All done.”

Li Que bowed his head apologetically. “Apologies for the trouble, my lord. Next time I’ll be careful to meet you in a more suitable setting for your needs,” he said.

“Sounds good.” Kayla smiled at him, mentally noting to take future walks in places with tables around.

“Is there anything I can help you with, my lord?” Li Que asked. Kayla shook her head.

“No, please just pass that along to the Emperor,” Kayla replied. Li Que bowed his head before bidding his goodbyes and somehow vaulting back onto the tree he’d dropped down from. Kayla let out a short sigh of relief, turning to go back. Her lunch break should be wrapping up around now.

Kayla was startled as another figure dropped down from a different tree than Li Que had. The man was also clad in black, but visibly more wiry than Li Que.

“Wait, you’re not Li Que!” Kayla yelped. The man knelt on one knee, removing his mask to reveal a ruggedly handsome man who looked to be mixed-race or from a steppe tribe.

“Greetings, Left Secretariat, I am Tabuyir of the Imperial Investigators, at your service.” He lifted out a golden plaque.

Kayla nodded at him. “Nice to meet you, Tabuyir. Were you waiting in that tree since earlier?” Her voice was only slightly accusing.

Tabuyir bowed his head apologetically. “Apologies, my lord. My orders were separate from Investigator Li’s.”

Kayla decided it was better not to ask about the Imperial Investigators’ seeming obsession with trees. “I see. And do you have an order from the Emperor?”

“No, my lord. I have come to report on what we’ve uncovered in the localities. It is as written on this document, my lord. Please be sure to read it in secret.” Tabuyir handed Kayla a scroll, which she quickly tucked into her robes.

“Got it, I’ll read it as soon as possible,” Kayla replied. “Is there anything you need from me at this point?”

“No, my lord. Please pardon my interruption,” Tabuyir said. He bowed slightly. “I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait, Mister Tabuyir! I have a question!” Kayla called out. Tabuyir immediately stilled.

“I’m at your service, my lord,” he said. “Please ask whatever you wish.”

“How do I contact you guys?” Kayla asked. “Is there something I can do? Or do I just wait for you guys to come to me?”

“We will come to you, my lord. It is for your safety. However, if there is anything you need, please contact us with this,” Tabuyir passed her a talisman that was visibly higher-tier than anything Kayla had bought before. “My lord, was this not given to you before?”

Kayla shook her head quizzically. “Was I supposed to get this from someone?”

Tabuyir hesitated. “You were meant to have received this earlier. I’ll look into it, my lord.”

Kayla nodded at him gratefully. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

“Of course, my lord. Then Tabuyir will take his leave,” he said, bowing before launching vertically into the air and back into the tree. Kayla shook her head as the tree rustled loudly.

“How the hell are they doing that?” Kayla muttered softly to herself.

Her heart was pounding with excitement and anxiety as she absorbed what had just happened. She had assumed the involvement of the Imperial Investigators was more a formality than actual support, but the Imperial Investigators were actually cooperating with her, and if what she suspected was true, they were keeping an eye on her too. Now that she also had a talisman to contact them with, she had another card to play. Xianchun must have known that the investigation would mean Kayla would fall under the watchful protection of the Emperor, and he’d helped to make it so Kayla would be harder to kill off.

Does that mean he isn’t going to kill me? Even if he later changed his mind, it would have become more difficult for Xianchun to make a move without being noticed by the Emperor.

Or maybe it meant Xianchun was aiming for something more nefarious. Kayla couldn’t help but view the prince with suspicion, even as she helped him press fast-forward on the plot. Xianchun had been so determined and blazing with rage and bloodlust throughout the first arc, eventually calming down and growing into a more balanced character after having numerous romantic relationships. Would he really help Kayla when he’d murdered his more-or-less innocent cousin so brutally in the novel?

The most crucial point, as to whether Xianchun learned of his mother’s murder, was completely outside of Kayla’s control. Even if she managed to delay it, she would still be subject to Xianchun’s unhinged revenge once the murder came to light. Kayla’s excitement faded away. She couldn’t let her guard down yet.

//////////////////

The night of the meeting with Liu Hongyu approached without any regard for Kayla’s reluctance, and she soon found her carriage trundling towards the Secretariat Director’s household again. The next day was the convening of the court, and the Grand Duke had likely timed it so that Liu Hongyu would be more willing to give his support for the Grand Duke’s policy before the Emperor. It was a shitty policy that rerouted the distribution of emergency funds in a way that the Grand Duke would earn a ton, but Kayla doubted it was even necessary. The Grand Duke already earned a lot from disaster profiteering, but somehow always walked away being praised as a philanthropist. The cuts he took from the disaster funds were under the table, while his comparatively paltry donations were overt and usually made very publicly, and many of the contracts for rebuilding went to the Grand Duke’s men. It all came together in the Grand Duke’s favor.

What does he even need a policy like this for? Who benefits from this?

It may be for the sake of his allies, Wenyuan mused. They’re pretty upset that he reaps the benefits alone.

Kayla nodded. That did kind of make sense, but something about it still bothered her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the carriage coming to a halt.

“Young lord, we’ve arrived,” Qu Boyong called from the door. The young guard had quickly been established as being Wenyuan’s favorite, and often eagerly offered to bring Kayla more talismans. He reached out to open the carriage door for Kayla, who thanked him before turning towards the entrance like a man marching towards his execution.

Kayla entered the Liu household with great reluctance. She was determined to stir shit up if Liu Hongyu acted like an asshole, and she could already tell that he absolutely planned to do so.

“Greetings, Secretariat Director,” Kayla said politely as she entered the familiar room. Liu Hongyu was already drinking as usual, but the unpleasant air around him was many times stronger than usual. He scoffed at Kayla’s polite bow.

“I don’t dare to accept the greetings of the young lord,” he said mockingly. “Who knows how I might offend you again?”

Kayla considered flipping the table and leaving already, but kept her temper reined in.

“Please don’t say that, sir. I was rash and foolish, please forgive my rudeness towards you,” Kayla said humbly. Liu Hongyu sneered at her.

“Do you think you can make up for that with words alone?” He asked loftily. “Even your grandfather who stands above the court didn’t try to pass me off so easily!”

The new policy began to make a bit more sense. Was it the Grand Duke’s attempt to appease Liu Hongyu?

“I wouldn’t dare. Wenyuan is too foolish to think of a suitable recompense, please tell me how I can receive your forgiveness,” Kayla replied, keeping her tone respectful.

“Hey, just how did your mother raise you? Even a child would know that if they want to apologize they should at least do it on their knees!” Liu shouted. He angrily downed a cup of wine, a serving girl hurriedly scuttling forward to refill it before scuttling back out of the way. Kayla took in a deep breath and knelt.

“Please forgive me, my lord. I was wrong,” Kayla said. Her blood was already boiling at the man’s attitude. Liu Hongyu had been the one in the wrong, but she hadn’t so much as gotten a single word of regret from him. Why the hell was she the one to kneel?

Fucking asshole.

This goddamn piece of shit, how the fuck is he acting so boldly with a hairline like that?! As Wenyuan had also absorbed Kayla’s memories, the man had grown considerably more foul-mouthed, not that Kayla minded in the slightest.

Her mental cursing was interrupted as Liu Hongyu splashed his wine into her face. Kayla wiped the alcohol off, the liquid dripping down her hair and face. It had soaked the front of her robes completely, dying it a dark red. Kayla met Liu Hongyu’s gloating expression with a blank poker face.

“You should know your place, you little brat,” Liu Hongyu sneered at her. The serving girl let out a small squeak of surprise as he stood up, grabbing the bottle out of her hands. “A useless bastard like you who’s only good for his bloodline should just shut up and behave!” He strode over, upturning the bottle over Kayla’s head. She squeezed her eyes shut as the liquid sloshed down over her face again. The bottle emptied out over Kayla’s robes, and Liu Hongyu tossed it to the side where it rolled over the floor loudly. Slowly breathing in, Kayla kept her expression steady.

“It is as you say, Secretariat Director,” Kayla said politely. Liu Hongyu seemed to have sufficiently vented his anger, smirking as he returned to his seat. He waved at the serving girl, who hurriedly brought a new bottle.

“I’ll let you off for that face of yours,” Liu Hongyu drawled patronizingly. He waggled a finger and the serving girl poured out a cup, before respectfully bringing it over to Kayla. Kayla remained kneeling in a pool of wine, still dripping like a wet dog.

“Given how much eye candy I got from your mother, I’ll forgive you with just this. Drink up, and consider your apology accepted,” Liu Hongyu said. Kayla accepted the cup from the serving girl, lifting it slightly before downing it. She got up, smiling at the Secretariat Director.

“Thank you for your graciousness, my lord,” she said politely. “Please allow Wenyuan to make a toast to you to express my sincerity.”

Liu Hongyu snorted but waved for her to go ahead. Kayla stepped forward, dripping wine over the expensive cushions as she poured out two cups, taking the bottle from the serving girl who nervously backed away.

“I thank the Secretariat Director for kindly overlooking my faults,” Kayla said. “As you have said, I am inexperienced and foolish, and rely on the benevolence and support of my elders. Without your help, there is nothing I can accomplish in the court.”

Kayla raised the cup slightly, her smile growing wider as her tone became even more polite. “My rudeness is inexcusable, my lord, especially since I’m a useless bastard who’s only good for my bloodline. And what good is that? I only happen to be the late Princess’ only child, and the only maternal grandson of the Empress Dowager, as well as the Emperor’s favorite nephew. No, more accurately, I should say his only nephew.”

Liu Hongyu’s smile dropped away as he realized this was going in a direction he hadn’t expected. Kayla quickly pressed on. “What accomplishments have I achieved? What virtues do I possess? There’s nothing of that sort. I’m only the closest relation to the Emperor outside of his direct descendants, am I right?”

Kayla’s smile dropped away. “And so, I propose a toast to the Secretariat Director, who in his infinite wisdom and virtue has repeatedly spoken in a base manner of the late Imperial Princess before her son. With this drink, I make my amends. I also make a promise that if you so much as speak another word about my mother in any capacity, I will publicly denounce you for your libel against the Imperial Family.”

She tilted her head questioningly at Liu Hongyu’s increasingly outraged expression. “What was the punishment for that again?” She asked sweetly. “I’ll drink to that, my lord.” Kayla downed the cup, setting it down gently on the table.

“You bastard,” Liu Hongyu said in a low voice, so angry that he was shaking. “How dare you?” He slammed a closed fist against the table, knocking over his cup. “Do you think I’ll let you get away with this?!”

“You misunderstand me, Liu Hongyu. It’s not whether you let me get away with this, but rather if I allow you to get away with what you’ve said and done so far,” Kayla shot back.

"Zhao Wenyuan!" Liu Hongyu let out an angry shout, throwing the bottle at Kayla. It missed, Kayla looking unimpressed as the bottle shattered on the ground.

“You should be careful of the glass,” Kayla said casually. “I’ll take my leave now.”

She turned and left, ignoring Liu Hongyu as he erupted in rage behind her. Kayla made her way back to the carriage, dripping wine the entire way. Liu Hongyu’s servants stared at her in shock and horror, and Kayla felt mildly apologetic towards whoever would be mopping up the floors later. But it wasn’t her fault the corridors were so goddamn long.

When she exited the front gate, Wenyuan’s guards were so shocked that one of them dropped his weapon.

“Young lord, are you alright?!” Qu Boyong rushed forward, glancing over Kayla urgently.

“I’m fine,” Kayla replied. “I actually feel very refreshed.” She patted him on the shoulder and prepared to get into the carriage.

“I have a few cleaning spells, my lord,” Qu Boyong offered. Kayla shook her head.

“That’s fine, I don’t need it,” Kayla replied. She held up a hand to silence him before Boyong could insist. He got the message, and instead offered his own hand to help Kayla into the carriage. The carriage departed, smoothly rolling towards the Grand Duke’s household.

Kayla knew what was awaiting her upon returning, but her fear was muted by the sound of wine dripping onto the carriage seat and the satisfaction Wenyuan was emitting.

19-A New Ploy Begins

Kayla opened the curtain of the carriage, waving for the horseman to stop the carriage.

“My lord, we’re not at the door yet,” the horseman protested, reluctantly pulling the horses to a stop. Kayla met his worried expression with cool eyes. Every time Wenyuan was sent to drink with Liu Hongyu, he always returned to the Zhao household from the back door near the middle of the night. It was much earlier now, and there were still people on the street.

Qu Boyong got off his horse and bowed to Kayla as he approached, looking slightly confused.

“My lord, is there a problem? Are you feeling alright?” Boyong asked. Kayla shook her head. She looked around at their surroundings, grimacing in annoyance as the movement of her head caused wine to drip down her hair. They were stopped at the corner where the carriage usually turned to take Wenyuan to the back door, at the intersection of the main street and the quieter side alleys.

“We’re this close to the door,” Kayla said. “I want to get off and walk.”

“B-but my lord, your clothes-” Boyong began, at the same time the horseman began to protest.

“Young lord, but it’s the front door!” The horseman said incredulously. Kayla shot him a glare and the horseman quickly lowered his head.

“Please forgive me my lord, but-but the Grand Duke-” The horseman stuttered. Kayla sighed.

“I know you’re in a difficult position, but don’t worry. I’m the one he’ll be angry at.” Kayla said before resolutely moving to get off the carriage. Boyong hurried forward, but to Kayla’s relief, he offered his hand to help her down instead of trying to shove her back into the carriage.

“My lord, would you be needing a cloak?” Boyong offered, already moving to take off his cloak.

“Keep it on,” Kayla replied. She walked down the street towards the front door, Boyong and three of his fellow guards quickly moving into their positions with confused and slightly frightened expressions on their faces.

Kayla, is it really alright to do it like this? Wenyuan asked her worriedly. Xianchun doesn’t need our help to this extent just to take on He Shirang.

I doubt Xianchun needs our help at all. The point of this isn’t just to gain his favor or to take down He Shirang, that man will be taken down no matter what. I’m dragging the Empress Dowager into this. Kayla ignored the startled looks of passersby as she approached the front door of the Grand Duke’s household. She said she would help me, so I should at least give her a good reason to interfere.

Even if it were taboo for the women of the Inner Palace to openly interfere in court affairs, it would be different if Liu Hongyu’s offense fell into the territory of familial affairs. Wenyuan had never dared to push Liu Hongyu far enough to make a public spectacle out of it, and was even less willing to denounce the Secretariat Director for his remarks about the late princess. But given the opportunity that had presented itself, Kayla had no such qualms.

We’re going to drag Liu Hongyu into this.

The Third Prince won’t sit still then, Wenyuan warned her. Even if he’s not in the capital, his people will begin to move. Liu Hongyu was a supporter of Zhou Kuang, the Third Prince and Xianchun’s main contender for the throne, and was also his relative on his mother’s side.

Good. It’d be bad if he didn’t make a move. So long as he moves, the Empress Dowager will act to keep the stakes balanced. The more she directly interferes, the less room they have to target me. Kayla nodded at the gaping doormen as she arrived at the front door.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and open the door for the young lord,” Boyong ordered. The doormen hurriedly complied, and Boyong slightly bowed his head.

“Young lord, I would escort you to the Inner Quarters with your permission,” he said politely.

“I’d appreciate it,” Kayla replied.

“Perhaps it isn’t my place, but will you be alright, young lord?” Boyong asked quietly. Kayla shot him a glance in surprise.

“Thank you, but it’ll be alright,” Kayla replied just as quietly. The servants hurriedly bowed their heads, scuttling out of the way as Kayla walked through the corridors of the Outer Quarters casually, as though she wasn’t soaked in wine and likely making a mess for the cleaning staff.

It didn’t take long for Housekeeper Wang to appear, his expression a mixture of shock and horror as he took in Kayla’s appearance.

“Young lord, what on earth is this?!” Housekeeper Wang asked, his normally respectful demeanor dropping in his surprise.

“I’m back,” Kayla replied. “As you can see.”

Housekeeper Wang took in a deep breath, collecting himself and bowing his head. “Welcome back, young lord. I’ll have the serving girls bring you a change of clothes.”

Kayla nodded for him to go ahead before turning to Boyong. “You can go now,” Kayla said to him. “If anyone gives you trouble for this, just say it was at my insistence.” Boyong bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you, my lord. Is there anything else I can do for you?” Boyong asked softly.

“Not at the moment.” Kayla waved her goodbyes as Boyong bowed and left.

She made her way back to Wenyuan’s room, stopping as she saw the Grand Duke approach, his face red with rage.

“Good evening, Grandfather,” Kayla said, bowing her head slightly. She lifted her head to be greeted with a slap. Kayla winced at the stinging pain in her cheek.

“You little bastard, just what the hell did you do?!”

Kayla met the Grand Duke’s furious expression with a spiteful smile.

“Grandfather, are you sure this is what you want to do right now?” Kayla asked sweetly. “You’ll only be inviting trouble.”

“M-my lord, the young lord entered from the front gate, a lot of people would have seen!” Housekeeper Wang hurriedly interjected.

“How dare you!” The Grand Duke roared. Housekeeper Wang and the other servants hurriedly dropped to their knees fearfully and Kayla had to resist her urge to do the same.

“I went ahead and did it because I knew you’d be like this, grandfather,” Kayla replied. Her voice wavered slightly despite her efforts.

“You ungrateful little brat, you think your childish gimmicks would stop me?” The Grand Duke snarled. “Housekeeper Wang, what the hell are you still doing here? Go take care of it!”

Kayla watched as the Housekeeper left. It was true that under normal circumstances, a move like this would’ve meant nothing. The Grand Duke could just quash any rumors by intimidating eyewitnesses into silence and bullying them into signing agreements to keep their mouths shut, which was likely why Wenyuan had never tried. But then again, Wenyuan wasn’t being watched by Imperial investigators, and if Kayla’s suspicions were correct, the Empress Dowager’s people had probably started watching her as well after their last meeting.

Go ahead and dig your own grave, you old fart.

Kayla was shaken from her thoughts by the Grand Duke’s hand grabbing her collar. She breathed in shakily as he leaned forward to glare at her.

“You just don’t learn your lesson,” the Grand Duke said icily. “I must’ve been too lenient with you before.”

Kayla waved her hand at the servants, who gladly took their leave at an unbelievable pace.

“Grandfather, would you please listen to what I have to say first?” Kayla asked, her voice coming out as a squeak.

“You have one chance to explain why I shouldn’t skin you alive,” the Grand Duke hissed.

“Okay, that’s a bit too much. But the Secretariat Director was really the one in the wrong this time, he insulted my mother! You know it’s a crime to insult the Imperial family,” Kayla hastily explained.

The Grand Duke scoffed. “And? That’s a crime for the powerless, not people like us.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “How are you going to explain this to the Emperor? He’s been on edge for the Lady Yue case, there’s no way he won’t take note of what happened today. You’re right under the foot of the throne, can you really make this debacle disappear so easily?”

The Grand Duke gave a disbelieving chuckle. “That’s all you had to say?” His grip tightened on Kayla’s collar until the fabric was digging painfully into her neck.

“I don’t know what delusions you have, but there’s nothing you can do in your position. Under the foot of the throne? I control what the Emperor does and does not take note of.” The Grand Duke said coldly. He shifted his grip, smashing Kayla facefirst through the door. Kayla crashed to the floor of Wenyuan’s room, groaning as the broken wooden panes of the door dug into her skin. The thin door had all but broken in two, the paper screen ripped into jagged shreds. Kayla hastily backed away as the Grand Duke stepped in.

Holy shit he’s not really going to skin me, right?! Right?!!

I don’t know! I’ve never seen him this angry before!

The Grand Duke reached into his sleeve, and Kayla flinched as he retrieved his whip. She hastily curled up and covered her head with her arms. The whip struck with unbelievable force and Kayla couldn’t help but cry out in pain. It landed a second and then a third time, but was quickly interrupted by Housekeeper Wang’s frightened voice as the man ran down the corridor.

“Grand Duke! Sir, there’s-” Housekeeper Wang skidded to a stop, glancing at the broken door in shock and swallowing his words. “S-sir, there’s a problem.”

The Grand Duke let out an angry hiss, tossing the whip across the room.

“What on earth is it?!”

“S-sir, maybe we shouldn’t talk here,” Housekeeper Wang awkwardly reminded him. The Grand Duke gave Kayla a forceful kick in the side.

“Don’t think this is over!” He snarled at her. Kayla quickly stumbled to her feet as the Grand Duke left, Housekeeper Wang hurrying after him while whispering in hushed tones.

What the fuck was that?

Do you think something’s happened with the Imperial investigators?

Kayla’s blood ran cold. Holy shit, I sure hope not. We’ll really be dead then.

Well, not necessarily. As long as he doesn’t know what they’re after, grandfather might not suspect us. He thinks I’m pretty useless.

Kayla nodded, not sure whether to feel comforted at the thought or sorry for Wenyuan. She winced in pain, gently prodding at her face. There were gashes on her forehead and cheek, and her lip had been split open. Her back felt burning hot but strangely, it didn’t seem to be hurting much. She slowly moved to sit down on the bed as a few servants nervously came into the room to clean up and fix the door. One of the serving girls approached tentatively, looking extremely frightened.

“Young lord,” she began. She couldn’t seem to find her words and glanced at Kayla nervously.

“What is it?” Kayla asked between gritted teeth, her face hurting whenever she moved her mouth.

“The Grand Duke has orders,” the girl looked down, avoiding Kayla’s gaze. “That the doctor won’t be coming tonight…”

“Seriously?” Kayla groaned. The serving girl dropped to her knees, lowering her head.

“Please forgive me, my lord!” She cried out.

Kayla waved for her to get up. “It’s not your problem. Finish up here and go,” she ordered.

“Thank you, my lord!” The serving girl quickly got up, grabbing a few splinters of wood off the floor as she scuttled away. The door had already been fixed with magic and the remaining servants hastily took their leave as well.

Did that poor girl lose while drawing lots?

Probably. When Chujiao was here, they would’ve just left it to her. But this is the first time grandfather’s withheld treatment, he must’ve really been angry. Will you be alright?

Kayla sighed, reaching under her mattress to retrieve the remaining pain-relief talisman she had. I should’ve asked Boyong to get more. She activated the talisman before slowly reclining onto the mattress, sinking into the softness of the blankets. A wave of numbness washed over her as the spell took effect, and Kayla felt too tired to even care about the dampness of her robes. Within moments, she was fast asleep.

20-The Prince’s Strategist

Kayla gritted her teeth together, hissing in pain as she moved slowly to sit up. No matter the potential rewards, she was regretting her actions from last night. The wounds Kayla had gotten from the Grand Duke were excruciatingly painful now that the pain-relief spell had worn off, and Kayla was beginning to worry about infection. The open wounds hadn’t been dressed at all, and Kayla hadn’t done them any favors by accidentally sleeping on her back while the pain relief spell was still in effect. Her face was now swollen where it had been smashed through the door and Kayla’s mouth tasted of blood when she woke up. She hadn’t changed out of her wine-soaked robes, which were now uncomfortably sticky on her skin.

My robes had alcohol on them, do you think that would count for sterilization?

I’m pretty sure that’s not how sterilization works.

Kayla moved slowly to get up, but gave up and went back to bed after realizing there was no way she’d be going to the Imperial court today. Her next step was meeting the Empress Dowager to tattle on Liu Hongyu, but there was no way she was going anywhere at this rate.

There was a knock on her door.

“Young lord, this humble servant has brought your breakfast,” a serving girl called from the doorway. Kayla’s head was swimming and she couldn’t imagine trying to stomach anything in her current state.

“I don’t want it, take it away for now,” Kayla replied, surprised at how raspy her voice came out. The serving girl hesitated slightly but bowed her head.

“As you wish, my lord. We’ll take our leave then,” she said, softly closing the door. Kayla closed her eyes, letting out a deep breath. She drifted back into an uneasy sleep, startling as there was yet another knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Kayla called out wearily. A servant softly opened the door, stepping into the room quietly.

“Young lord, I’ve come to bring you water,” the servant said, bowing his head respectfully. Kayla frowned at him. There weren’t that many male servants in the Inner Quarters who directly served Wenyuan, but her head felt too heavy to mull it over.

“Thanks, just set it down on the bedside table,” Kayla said. The servant bowed and brought a tray with a water pitcher and a cup over, setting it down so softly that Kayla could barely hear anything. The smooth movements unwittingly reminded her of Chujiao. Even though the girl was definitely a ticking time bomb, Kayla couldn’t deny that Chujiao was probably the most capable servant in the Inner Quarters. She glanced up at the servant absently as he deftly poured out a cup of water.

Her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the servant’s face. He was very handsome. Her heart skipped a beat in fear. The servant was way too handsome to be an unnamed character or even a side character. That was not a good sign.

“Who are you?” Kayla asked sharply. The servant bowed slightly.

“I’m Zhang San, I work under Matron Li,” he said politely. Kayla stared intently at him. He had smooth features and deep, intelligent eyes.

That can’t be right. He’s too handsome. He can’t just be a background character!

That’s right, since when did we have someone this handsome in the Inner Quarters?!

“Like hell you are!” Kayla snapped. She narrowed her eyes, peering intently at him as her mind raced. When had there ever been any named characters in the Grand Duke’s household other than Wenyuan, the Grand Duke, and Matron Li? Even Chujiao didn’t have a name, and Boyong hadn’t even been featured in the story.

An exceedingly handsome man with elegant mannerisms who had been in the Grand Duke’s household. Who the hell fits that description?

There hadn’t been anyone like that from the Grand Duke’s household. The only times the Grand Duke’s place was even mentioned outright was when Liu Boyue had been sent to infiltrate the Inner Quarters.

The pieces clicked together in her mind. Kayla gasped involuntarily as it occurred to her that this was the famous Liu Boyue. The prince’s strategist had appeared before her, and he was here to raise Kayla’s biggest death flag. Her heart was pounding so hard against her chest that Kayla felt nauseous with fear.

Why the hell was Xianchun proceeding with the infiltration? He had everything he needed already!

He must be striking the iron while it’s hot! What do we do?!

Kayla squeezed her eyes shut, feeling an urge to dry-heave as she was overwhelmed with stress.

Oh my god, I didn’t strike down the death flag, I fucking sped up my death ending! How long had Xianchun waited before killing Wenyuan in the novel after infiltrating the Grand Duke’s household? It had been three days. Three fucking days! Kayla trembled, her teeth clattering against each other as she clenched her fists into the sheets.

“Young lord!” Liu Boyue moved forward to help Wenyuan at Kayla’s evident distress. She violently flinched away from his touch.

“Don’t touch me!” Her voice cracked as she slapped away his hand. Boyue quickly backed away, lowering his head apologetically.

“Apologies, young lord, but you look to be unwell,” Boyue said.

Yeah?! Whose fault is that?!

“I’ll give you one last chance, who the fuck are you?” Kayla snapped, no longer caring if her voice shook. Should I kill him now? Could I even kill him if I tried? What happens even if I do kill him?

“I’m Zhang San, your humble servant, my lord,” Boyue said with a concerned tone.

“Lies! Do you think I wouldn’t notice you don’t work here? How many good-looking men do you think there are, huh? You have a face like this and you pretend I’m blind?” Kayla shot back. How do I get him out? Can I stop him? Has he already found the evidence? Her gaze flitted over the water nervously. Was the water poisoned?

Kayla, what do we do?! Wenyuan was just as panicked, which did not help Kayla’s nerves at all. Liu Boyue hadn’t encountered Wenyuan during his infiltration in the novel, but Kayla was already too overwhelmed to bother considering if this change to the plot was a good thing or a bad thing.

“My lord, I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Boyue said, backing away nervously. Kayla’s mind settled firmly onto a course of action.

“Even if Matron Li took pity on you and let you work as a temporary employee, how can you enter the Inner Quarters? You should’ve refused even if someone ordered you to go!” Kayla snapped.

Boyue blinked in surprise, but hastily went along with Kayla’s apparent misunderstanding. “I beg your pardon, my lord! I-I wanted to refuse, but-”

“But what? You want to say you were scared of punishment? Huh? Do you know what’ll happen if the Grand Duke notices you? You’d be a goddamn smear on the floor!” Kayla snarled angrily. She shot Boyue a glare. “Hurry up and go back to the Outer Quarters! If you die, I don’t want to get haunted by your ghost!”

“Young lord, but the manager said-”

“Listen, do you know how much you stand out with a face like that? The Grand Duke isn’t blind, he’ll notice the second he sees you that you’re a temp, and then he won’t just punish you, he’ll punish Matron Li as well! I like that woman, I won’t allow her to get hurt because of you. You know it’s against the rule to hire temporary workers without express permission, right?” Kayla warned him, making shit up off the top of her head.

“I didn’t realize, my lord,” Boyue mumbled his apologies. “I was just doing my job.”

“Here, go to my desk and take the coins in my top drawer. Consider yourself paid and get the hell out of here before someone notices, I won’t have your life on my hands,” Kayla snapped, pointing towards the desk.

”That won’t be necessary, my lord,” Boyue bowed deeply. “I’ll take my leave, thank you for your warning.”

“Just take the coins, don’t go around saying you were cheated of your wages,” Kayla ordered. Boyue bowed his head and didn’t go to her desk, instead turning towards the door. Kayla did her best to ignore his leaving, wincing in pain as her shoulder throbbed when she tried to grab the cup of water. Her back seemed to have worsened since when she’d woken up, and now she could barely summon any grip strength. Maybe it was the combination of fear and her injuries, but Kayla’s hand trembled uselessly without being able to lift the goddamn cup. She pulled her hand back, comforting herself that there was probably poison in it anyways. There were soft footsteps and Kayla looked up in alarm as Boyue returned to her bedside.

“What? I told you to take the money and go!” Kayla said nervously, trying to back away from him.

“The drink, my lord,” Boyue said gently. He lifted the cup towards Kayla, who quickly moved her head further away, viewing the cup with suspicion.

“Then please pardon me, my lord,” Boyue said, before taking a sip from the cup himself before bowing towards Kayla. “As you see, my lord, there’s nothing wrong with the drink. I’ll fetch you a new cup.”

“Forget it, just leave the Inner Quarters, and tell Matron Li not to let temp workers go romping around like this,” Kayla said, trying to shoo the man away. “Get out of my room.”

Boyue looked at her earnestly, once again lifting the cup. Kayla relented at her body’s need for hydration, allowing Boyue to help her drink the water. She found herself gulping down the entire cup within seconds, not caring that water trickled down her face. Her throat was much more parched than she’d cared to notice earlier. Boyue refilled her cup and helped her drink it again. He refilled it a third time, leaving it at the bedside after seeing that Kayla seemed satisfied. She wiped her chin, avoiding Boyue’s gaze.

“Thanks,” she said. She glanced up at him. “Now get out of the Inner Quarters.”

Boyue bowed, a slight smile on his face. “Thank you, my lord. I’ll take my leave now and be sure not to be seen.”

“Go, hurry and leave,” Kayla shooed him away successfully this time. Her mind was left in a mess of thoughts as the door closed behind Boyue. The water didn’t seem to be poisoned, or maybe Boyue had brought an antidote for himself and Kayla had been undone by the temptation of a drink. And why had he even helped her? Did that mean he hadn’t found the evidence yet? Was her last-second act enough to make him leave preemptively? Or was it all just part of his act as a servant?

Kayla groaned, burying her face into her pillow as her head began to ache to match her back. Her face throbbing, Kayla winced and pulled back.

I’ve been pulling every string I can, why the fuck is everything going off the rails like this?!

She lay there for a while, consumed with fear and anxiety until there was yet another knock at the door.

“What is it now?!” Kayla snapped angrily. I swear to god if that guy’s back to kill me I’m going to pull a knife on him. She didn’t actually have a knife or know where to get one, but that was beside the point.

“Young lord, it’s your humble servant,” a familiar voice called out gently. Kayla’s thoughts ground to a halt.

“Chujiao,” she said. She looked towards the door with a dumbfounded expression. “What are you doing here?”

“May I enter, my lord?” Chujiao asked, her voice sounding teary. “I know it’s not my place, but I heard you were injured. I couldn’t help but come here.”

Kayla softened at Chujiao’s words and spoke before she could stop herself. “Enter.”

The door opened, and Chujiao entered. Her lovely face was stained with tears, just as Kayla had suspected. The young woman was dressed in the dark blue robes of a secretary, but her movements were the same as Kayla and Wenyuan remembered.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Kayla admonished her. Kayla should’ve felt more nervous at Chujiao’s sudden reappearance, but instead, there was only the instinctive relief of seeing Chujiao’s face. It was probably due to Wenyuan’s long friendship with the young woman that Kayla could barely summon any suspicion.

“I know, I’m so sorry, young lord,” Chujiao wept piteously as she took in Kayla’s injuries. “Young lord, just what on earth happened to you?”

Kayla sighed, steeling herself as she remembered Chujiao’s role in the original novel. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Don’t you need to get back to work? Outer Quarter servants aren’t allowed to enter without permission.”

“Matron Li gave me special permission,” Chujiao replied pleadingly. Kayla sighed again.

“I told her not to bother you with news about the Inner Quarters for the time being,” Kayla said tiredly.

“It’s not her fault! I begged her endlessly until she gave in, please blame me if you’re angry,” Chujiao hurriedly explained. She looked at Kayla with earnest concern and Kayla hastily avoided Chujiao’s eyes.

“I’m not angry, but you shouldn’t have come. I’ve just angered grandfather, you should be keeping your distance right now rather than running over like this,” Kayla said, trying but not quite managing a gruff tone.

“Please don’t say that, young lord. How could I not come to see you when something this terrible has happened?” Chujiao asked.

“It’s not your duty to be concerned about me anymore,” Kayla reminded her gently. “Right now, your duty is to be concerned with bookkeeping.”

“That’s not true! Young lord, Chujiao would happily do anything for your sake, please believe me when I say that!” Chujiao said earnestly. Kayla instinctively understood that was true. She felt something click in the back of her mind, and she nodded at Chujiao with a smile.

“I know, thank you. But I’m fine, you really should go now,” Kayla said. She gently patted Chujiao’s hand. “Otherwise it’ll be my turn to worry.”

Chujiao nodded reluctantly but took her leave, Kayla watching her until the door closed.

I think I understand her role in the novel now, Kayla mulled over Chujiao’s words in her mind. Xianchun, that bastard, it seems I’ve underestimated how far he’d go.

What do you mean, Kayla?

Look at her, do you think she could hurt you? Xianchun must’ve somehow fooled her into thinking it would benefit you, why else would she have told him anything?

Chujiao’s the smartest woman I know, she wouldn’t have been fooled so easily!

Yeah? Love makes fools of us all.

I have no idea what you’re talking about. Kayla snorted out loud at Wenyuan’s hasty deflection.

Oh Wenyuan, you are fooling absolutely no one. But the fact he was able to convince someone as meticulous as Chujiao says a lot.

What do we do then? Kayla frowned, running through the information she had so far in her mind.

We need to bring in more actors.

Kayla closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. After all, if you couldn’t beat the other guy at chess, you just had to keep adding pieces to the board.

21-Lèse-Majesté

The Grand Duke eventually sent the doctor over in the evening, and much to Kayla’s relief, there was no news of a temporary worker being caught in the Inner Quarters. Regardless of how Xianchun would react to any evidence Boyue uncovered, Kayla’s fate would be far worse if Boyue was injured or killed in the Grand Duke’s household. In the novel, Xianchun had exterminated the entire family of an assassin who targeted Boyue, and Kayla shuddered to think about what he would do to the family of someone he already hated with a burning passion.

Her mind was a mess as she returned to work the next day. Alone in the carriage, Kayla drummed her fingers against her thigh as she frantically ran through her options.

Do I have three days? Or less? There wouldn’t be another court convening before then so Kayla couldn’t even get a glimpse of Xianchun’s attitude towards her. Unlike the prince who was able to move about with impunity, Kayla didn’t have as much freedom to go around seeking him out. She groaned, dropping her head into her hands. Xianchun always appeared at the most inopportune times and refused to appear when she actually needed to see him.

Perhaps it’s for the best, if he really is angry he would be difficult to face, Wenyuan comforted her. We still have the talisman to contact the Imperial investigators and your nullification magic. That’s way more than what I had.

But are the Imperial investigators really reliable? I’d rather rely on your grandmother’s people. Remember what Tabuyir said about the talisman? I wouldn’t be surprised if there were internal issues with the investigators. The delayed arrival of the talisman was better late than never, but Kayla had no choice but to suspect that either there was a communication error between the investigators or that someone was purposefully trying to screw her over. But then again, she didn’t have any evidence that the Dowager was actually keeping an eye out for her at all.

What’s worse is that they’re in the shadows while I’m in the light. I don’t even know how many investigators were assigned to me, much less their intentions and allegiances.

But their allegiance is to the Emperor, right?

Kayla sighed. I want to say yes, but also we’re talking about your Uncle here. He’s a great guy and all, but I’m not sure his people are completely reined in.

That’s fair. But is Qu Boyong really reliable? He’s just a guard. Even if he’s handsome, there’s no proof he’ll become important later.

Kayla shook her head. I’m just dragging in everything I can and hoping for the best. She tried to calm her nerves before arriving at the Ministry, taking her chance to read the scroll she’d been given by the Imperial investigators en route. It didn’t help at all.

Wenyuan, your grandfather must be afraid of not getting everyone in his family killed to be acting like this.

Kayla pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. She slipped the scroll back into her robes. Help me come up with some ideas here, should I keep defending him to the Emperor or start condemning him? Which would work better?

I don’t know. Uncle really prioritizes familial bonds, but it really depends on whatever his mood is in the moment. That’s why I always said as little as possible since I’m bad at reading his mood.

Kayla bitterly cursed the situation. Even if she played some part in uncovering the Ministry’s corruption, she would still be in a bad position if she fell out of favor with the Emperor. If their bond remained strictly relegated to that of uncle and nephew, she doubted that anything would have shaken the Emperor’s fondness of Wenyuan, but now that there was the Grand Duke between them, it was difficult to say.

I really dug my own grave! Can I even drag Liu Hongyu in at this point? Our household is the one on the edge of the blade right now!

The carriage rolled to a stop, and Kayla entered the Ministry with a heavy heart. A small sachet of gold hung heavily in her robe sleeve. Even if her next steps with the Emperor were unclear, she could still make the most of what she had on hand.

////////////////////

Liu Boyue bowed his head apologetically, kneeling on one knee before Xianchun.

“I’m very sorry, my prince. This is because of my incompetence.”

Xianchun waved away the apology, grabbing Boyue’s arm to pull him up.

“Don’t say that, there’s nothing you could’ve done to get rid of the Imperial investigators. I suppose this is also my own fault. I should’ve known that shoving the investigation onto Wenyuan would make things more complicated,” Xianchun sighed.

“Perhaps it’s best to wait a little longer, my lord,” Boyue said. “It’s too dangerous to try again with the Imperial investigators watching the Zhao household so closely.”

Xianchun nodded. “We’ll have to put it off for now. But did you find anything of use?”

“Only a few pieces of information here and there, but I’ll need some time to piece it together,” Boyue replied. “But I promise I’ll do everything I can.”

Xianchun sat down and waved for Boyue to sit next to him, mulling over their situation.

“My prince, though I didn’t obtain any solid evidence from the Grand Duke’s household, I did gain some information that may be of interest,” Boyue offered. Xianchun nodded for him to go ahead.

“There were two Imperial investigators around the Grand Duke’s household, but they appeared to be moving separately from one another,” Boyue said. Xianchun frowned.

“Were they sent on separate missions?” Xianchun asked. Boyue shook his head.

“One of them didn’t seem to notice the other investigator, but the second one was a lot more skilled. He even seemed to be watching the first investigator. I would say that they were sent by completely different people,” Boyue said. Xianchun immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

“It seems my cousin had a fruitful conversation with grandmother last time,” Xianchun mused.

“I would certainly say so, my prince,” Boyue said. “What’s more is that Zhao Wenyuan immediately noticed I didn’t work there and sent me away, but I can’t tell if he really thought I was a temporary worker or if he had noticed my true identity.”

“That’s impossible, I’ve kept your identity under wraps for this long,” Xianchun said confidently. “Even if he was suspicious, there’s no way he would be able to guess your actual identity. But still, he’s seen your face. That’ll make things more difficult for you next time, won’t it?”

Boyue bowed his head slightly. “I apologize, my prince.”

Xianchun patted Boyue’s shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t worry about it and focus on what we’ve gotten so far, I’ll try and test the waters with Wenyuan.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed as he mulled it over in his head. Zhao Wenyuan, to think you’d be able to move grandmother’s investigators with so little effort. Just what on earth are you trying to do?

///////////////////////

Kayla’s lunch break was interrupted by a summon from the Emperor, which wasn’t all that unusual. Wenyuan had often been called over on the Emperor’s whims when the man suddenly wanted to see his nephew, and no one in the Ministry showed even the slightest hint of surprise. If anything, it was a good sign for them that their Left Secretariat was favored to this extent. Kayla, however, was practically quaking in her boots.

Okay, last call, drag in Liu Hongyu or deal with the investigation first?!

Just go along with Uncle’s flow, Wenyuan helpfully offered his unhelpful advice.

If I don’t tell him now I can’t tell the Dowager later! He’d be angry I was going over his head, and it’s not like I want to create another opportunity for this! Kayla continued agonizing over her choices all the way to the Emperor’s study.

Take it easy, Uncle really likes me so I doubt he’d be too angry.

Kayla breathed in deeply. It was true that the Imperial Princes often fell in and out of favor with the Emperor, but she didn’t have any stepmoms trying to screw her over at every turn and slandering her before the Emperor on a daily basis.

You’re right, I need to keep my cool. I’m in a better position to deal with the Emperor than any of the princes. Kayla felt vaguely nauseous with stress. She entered the Emperor’s study with a heavy heart, bowing as she faced the Emperor.

“This humble servant greets the Emperor,” Kayla began.

“No need for formalities, nephew.” The Emperor didn’t seem particularly pleased or displeased as he waved Kayla over to sit down. “Wenyuan, quite a lot happened at court, you’ve missed a lot on your day off.”

Kayla bowed her head. “I apologize for my negligence.” She carefully watched the Emperor’s reaction. He furrowed his brow, but Kayla couldn’t sense any anger towards Wenyuan.

“It can’t be helped. Chancellor He’s case is creating waves throughout the entire court, yesterday the court was such a mess that it might’ve been best that you missed it,” the Emperor sighed. Kayla nodded. He Shirang’s case must’ve created quite a ruckus when everyone realized that the Governor Yue case hadn’t been wrapped up so neatly after all, and she almost regretted not being able to see the panicking officials trying to deal with the mountain of evidence.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t help Uncle shoulder the burden,” Kayla replied. The Emperor shook his head.

“You’re already doing quite a lot. I’ve read the scroll you handed in last time, I’m impressed with how far you’ve gotten so far,” the Emperor complimented her. Kayla bowed her head in thanks.

“I am doing my best to fulfill your expectations, Uncle.” Kayla hesitated, trying to decide whether or not to proceed.

“You’re already exceeding my expectations,” the Emperor said. “Did you see the preliminary investigation results from the localities?”

“I have, Uncle. But I must admit, the water is much deeper than I had dared to imagine before,” Kayla said carefully. She watched the Emperor’s reaction as she continued. “I never would’ve thought that the local officials would be so shameless in their actions.”

“Shameless? They’re worse than animals!” The Emperor tossed his copy of the scroll to the table. Kayla hurriedly bowed her head again. The Emperor angrily pointed at the scroll. “These bastards take their wages from the court and look at what they do! Is this what I pay them for?!”

“Uncle, please appease your anger, your health is most important!” Kayla hastily replied. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead and she had to grit her jaw to keep her teeth from clattering. The Emperor let out another angry huff.

“Look at this, look at all this! Extortion, bribery, assault, even kidnapping civilian women! They’re no better than bandits!” The Emperor raged on. “Just what on earth are the Ministers doing to let things get to this extent? And your grandfather too! What kind of talents is he picking for me, huh? What are they talented in?!”

Kayla bowed her head lower and stayed silent.

“Talented in screwing over the populace? Talented in eroding the foundations of this dynasty? What did I do in my past life to be saddled with these bastards?!”

Kayla kept her head bowed. “I beg your forgiveness, uncle.” She breathed in deeply, trying to ease her nerves. “Please-please select a more capable person for this investigation.”

The Emperor straightened immediately, looking at her in shock. “What? Am I hearing you right? The situation is messed up to this extent and you want to quit?” He narrowed his eyes in rage. “Wenyuan, I’ve doted upon you since your childhood, and this is how you repay me! Where is your conscience?!”

“Uncle, since ancient times it has been difficult to fulfill both filial piety and loyalty. Even if I am incapable of fulfilling either, it is still my duty to try. I cannot bring myself to continue the investigation, your majesty,” Kayla replied. Her voice came out shaky and a little more high-pitched than she would’ve hoped for.

The Emperor grabbed Kayla’s shoulder with a firm grip but only gently gave her a gentle shake, his attitude softening.

“What are you saying, nephew?” He asked.

Kayla met his eyes with an earnest gaze. “I’ve believed in grandfather, and I’ve always wanted to believe in grandfather. But with this, I don’t know how to face him anymore, or even how to face myself. My father passed away early, and my grandfather has no other direct kin other than me. He’s already had to suffer through the tragedy of the white-haired sending off the black-haired, if I continue with this, I don’t know how painful it’ll be for him. The court has so many capable talents, surely one of them could replace me as the investigator!”

The Emperor’s gaze softened, becoming mixed with lament and pity. “Wenyuan, you’re a filial child. But stepping away from this won’t necessarily help your grandfather, rather, if the Zhao name becomes completely disgraced, that would be the greatest blow to him.” He patted Kayla’s shoulder and let out a deep sigh. “It’s clear now that his involvement is much more than what we previously believed. I know you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, and now that you’re riding the tiger it’s difficult to dismount. But you can’t just back out now, Wenyuan.”

Kayla steeled her nerves and shook her head. “I don’t dare to lay claim to the virtue of filial piety, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you in that regard as well, uncle.”

The Emperor frowned slightly, looking thrown off by the direction the conversation was taking. He had probably expected Kayla to cave in and apologize to avoid digging her grave deeper, rather than grabbing the shovel to start digging a separate grave. “What on earth are you talking about?”

Kayla bowed her head again. “Uncle, I’ve failed your expectations. I don’t even know how to face myself anymore.”

“Wenyuan, I really can’t follow your thoughts. Just from where to where are you jumping around to?” The Emperor gently patted Kayla’s shoulder, looking increasingly concerned. “I’m not angry at you, what are you so upset about?”

“I don’t know how to go about saying this,” Kayla said honestly. “But I also don’t want to let it pass by silently.”

“I heard there was a commotion the night before last when you returned home. Does this have anything to do with it?” The Emperor asked. “I was planning to ask later, but has your grandfather begun to suspect you?”

Kayla shook her head. “He hasn’t had reason to suspect me.”

“Then it’s an issue with the Secretariat Director?”

“Uncle, please help me! Grandfather wouldn’t believe me when I told him, you’re the only one who I can turn to,” Kayla replied, grabbing onto the Emperor’s sleeve.

“Speak clearly, Wenyuan. Your uncle will take charge so long as you’re honest with me,” the Emperor urged Kayla. Kayla fumbled for words, her nerves having more or less laid waste to the script she’d prepared beforehand.

“It’s-that is-I really don’t know how to say this. I don’t want to repeat what he said because it disgusts me to my core, but I also can’t bear to ignore what he said about my mother,” Kayla said.

The Emperor’s face immediately darkened. “About your mother? What did he say?”

“I always convinced myself that I must’ve heard wrong before, or maybe that I was too drunk and imagined it all. After all, he’s not only my elder but also a respected official in court. But I didn’t drink anything this time and last time, and no longer had any excuse for my willful cowardice,” Kayla said regretfully. The Emperor waited impatiently for her to speak.

“The Secretariat Director spoke in a rude manner about my mother,” she fumbled for a good way to raise the complaint. How the hell was she supposed to say it anyway?

“I’ve understood that much. But what did he say that could’ve angered someone as easygoing as you?”

“He spoke in a lustful manner about her, saying disgusting things about her figure and looks,” Kayla replied. “Things that I can’t bear repeating. I really don’t know how to deal with this, uncle. It’s true I was rude in return, but I don’t regret it at all. Even if he complains to grandfather, I won’t go back and apologize.” She let out a sigh and averted her eyes from the Emperor’s incensed expression.

“I’m sorry to be dragging up these household matters before you when there are so many important issues at hand, uncle. But these events have also shown me my soft-willed nature and cowardice. I can’t even deal with this properly, how can I handle an investigation pertaining to the state’s affairs? Please find a more suitable investigator, uncle. I really don’t want my inefficiency to be a burden for you,” Kayla said in an earnest tone.

“Don’t be ridiculous, this isn’t just a simple household matter! Are you saying he’s spoken in a base manner about the Imperial Princess, and not just one or two times?” The Emperor asked, a dangerous edge in his voice. Kayla bowed her head.

“I apologize, uncle. I was usually quite drunk by the time he started saying those things, and I don’t know if I misheard on those occasions,” Kayla hastily replied.

“That bastard! Wenyuan, you did well to bring this to my attention. I’ll investigate this matter thoroughly. If that old codger dared to insult my sister, I won’t just let it slide,” the Emperor seethed. “I won’t force you to speak more on this for now, seeing how difficult it is for you.”

“Thank you, uncle!” Kayla let out an internal cheer of relief at the Emperor’s reaction.

“I won’t be removing you as the investigator, Wenyuan. You’re not just my only nephew, but one of the few people who dare to speak the truth to me earnestly. How many people would’ve let something like this slide for their political career? I have hundreds upon thousands of capable officials, but how many of them would be sincere with me? Even my own sons are constantly calculating against me for the position of the throne. Wenyuan, I know this is not an easy task for you, but you must persevere for my sake if not your own,” the Emperor said.

It’s rare to hear Uncle say something so cognizant of his position, Wenyuan said with a hint of surprise. I’d say you’ve hit the jackpot.

“Uncle, I’m honored by your words. Even though I’m undeserving, I’ll spare no effort to meet your expectations,” Kayla said humbly.

“Good. You just need to continue with what you’ve been doing so far and don’t worry about anything else. No matter what the consequences are, or even if you cause a mess, I’ll take care of it,” the Emperor assured her. Kayla bowed her head.

“Thank you, uncle. I’ll do my best.”

22-Qu Boyong

Kayla left the Emperor’s study with a renewed sense of confidence. Just as Wenyuan had said, the Emperor heavily prioritized familial bonds. Showing her reluctance to continue investigating the Grand Duke was a way to appease the Emperor’s anger by emphasizing her filial piety and further cementing her image as a sincere and earnest nephew.

Hopefully, telling him about Liu Hongyu at this time will make him angrier at both the officials and at that old bastard. The more the two are emotionally linked in his mind, the more we’ll benefit.

Now that you’re at the center of a scandal, Xianchun won’t be able to easily move on you either.

Kayla deflated a little at the mention of the seventh prince. She had hoped to make the situation messy enough that Xianchun’s cautious nature would prevent him from wading into tumultuous waters. But the situation was also messy enough that she didn’t have a good grasp on where it would lead her. The only thing she could do was hang on for dear life to the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s favor.

If only I could figure out if the Dowager’s got people watching me, and if I could somehow make Xianchun know that the Dowager’s got people on me, Kayla groused. His hands would be tied if it was certain your grandmother’s involved.

That’s out of our hands.

You’re right, I should work with what I can first. It was already evening, so Kayla went directly for the carriage rather than going back to the Ministry. She brightened as she caught sight of Qu Boyong. He bowed towards her after seeing her approach, the other guards quickly following suit. Kayla waved them off.

“Greetings, young lord. May I escort you back now?” Boyong asked politely. The horseman of the carriage carefully avoided Kayla’s eyes.

“I want to breathe some fresh air first, today was rather busy,” Kayla replied.

“We’ll escort you then,” Boyong quickly offered.

“It’s right outside the palace, you don’t all have to come,” Kayla said. She casually waved for Boyong to follow. “Since you offered, you do it. The rest of you can just relax for a bit until I’m back.”

“As you wish, my lord.” Boyong dutifully fell into step with Kayla as she sauntered off in a carefree manner. She waited until they were out of earshot from the other guards before speaking.

“Did I cause any trouble for you the other night?” Kayla asked.

“Not at all, my lord. We weren’t questioned about the incident, and no punishments were issued,” Boyong said. He hesitantly continued. “And for you, my lord?”

“I’m the young lord of the family, how much trouble could there be for me? No matter what, I wouldn’t be in much danger. I can’t promise there won’t be more incidents from now on, so just remember to push everything onto me,” Kayla told him. “Make sure to tell the other guards as well.”

“I understand, my lord. Thank you for your concern,” Boyong replied. Kayla breathed in deeply before broaching the subject she pulled him away for.

“Boyong, I have a favor to ask of you,” Kayla said after a moment of hesitation.

“Of course, my lord. How can I be of service?”

“From today on, no matter who orders it, don’t leave your post while guarding me.”

Boyong gave her a look of confusion. “Of course, that’s a natural part of my duty, please be assured.”

“You don’t understand. I mean that even if the Imperial Guards order it, or even if a Prince orders it, please don’t leave your post,” Kayla said. She pulled out the pouch of gold in her sleeve and placed it into his hand. Boyong looked at the pouch with a frown before he bowed his head slightly, still looking befuddled.

“I…I won’t, my lord,” Boyong said. “I can’t accept this.” Kayla felt a wave of guilt.

He’s only about the age of a college student and I’m asking him to go up against the main character. I don’t even know if he’s strong enough to take on Yu Bianfu.

“Let me ask you something. Hypothetically, if you were to fight General Yu, how would you fare?” Kayla asked. Boyong lowered his head further, evidently uneasy at the question.

“Nevermind. Don’t bother answering that.” Kayla sighed deeply, her conscience prickling. “Keep the gold. Also, you should just forget what I just asked of you. Just do whatever you think is best for the situation, don’t push yourself.” She at least had the attention of the Imperial investigators. There was no need to drag Boyong into this.

Boyong gave her a look of surprise. “Please don’t say that, young lord. It’s my duty not to abandon my post to begin with, I’ve made you uneasy with my incompetence.”

“That’s not it.” Kayla sighed again. “Just forget it. Let’s go back.”

“Please wait, my lord. Are you worried about some sort of danger?” Boyong quickly held out his arm to stop her from leaving. Kayla hesitated, not knowing how to tell him that an Imperial prince was maybe trying to kill her.

“Are you worried about retribution from the Liu household?” Boyong asked.

Kayla nodded, deciding to go along with that. “Yes. I’ve offended quite a few others lately, so I’m a little uneasy.”

Boyong gave her a thoughtful look. He suddenly seemed completely different from his usual image in a way Kayla couldn’t quite put her finger on. She had a growing feeling that she had missed something important about him.

Shit, did I ask the wrong person?

“My lord, can I ask why you’re going against your grandfather?” Boyong asked. Kayla resisted her instinctive urge to protest that she wasn’t going against the Grand Duke, sensing something strange in his tone.

“How should I say this? It’s primarily for self-interest, but there are also things that I’m doing because I feel like I have to,” Kayla replied, trying to be as vague as possible.

“The young lord has a prestigious background and you’re set to inherit great wealth and power, why act in a way that could change your position?” Boyong asked.

“It’s true that I’m from a household with unimaginable wealth. I’ve eaten from jade plates and worn brocade since my childhood, and I’m close with the Imperial family as well, but that doesn’t mean I can be satisfied by enjoying all this while ignoring the consequences,” Kayla said. “It’s not like I can do much, but I still need to try.” Her vagueness levels were reaching new heights at this point, but it wasn’t as though she could outright call the Grand Duke out as a corrupt bastard who was going to get her killed.

Boyong nodded, his gaze becoming distant as he mulled over her response. “I see.” Kayla watched him with a small amount of apprehension. She suddenly had the feeling that Qu Boyong was probably way more important than he was letting on.

He’s definitely not just a background character. But what’s his role?

Boyong’s expression shifted back into a polite smile, and he bowed his head towards Kayla.

“Thank you for forgiving my rudeness, young lord,” he said. “Please be assured that I’ll do everything within my ability to protect your safety.”

“I appreciate that,” Kayla replied.

“Young lord, may I be so bold as to ask a favor of you as well?” Boyong asked. Kayla nodded.

“If in the future you learn something unexpected about me, could you please give me a chance to explain myself before punishing me?”

Kayla frowned at the strange request. Isn’t he basically saying he’s got a secret identity? Or is he closeted? She peered at him with squinted eyes. Maybe both? Seeing her expression, Boyong quickly bowed his head again.

“Please forgive me, my lord. I don’t have the right to ask a favor of someone of your status, how dare I be so foolish?”

“No, that’s not it. It was just kind of a weird request, but I’ll accept it,” Kayla said. “By the way, I don’t care about employees’ private relationships, so don’t worry if it’s something like that.”

Boyong was the one to look confused now. “P-private-? No, never mind. Thank you, my lord.”

Kayla nodded. “Alright then, it’s settled.”

Boyong smiled at that. “I appreciate it, my lord. But I assure you that it won’t be a decision you regret.”

Kayla stared blankly at him. Why does that sound like he’s raising a flag? She decided not to push the topic further and headed back to the carriage.

/////////////////////////

A servant hurriedly scuttled into the room, bowing before the folding screen.

“Your highness, please pardon me but I have an urgent report!” The servant knelt on one knee. The man behind the opaque screen lifted a hand, waving for him to give his report.

“Two hours ago, imperial investigators suddenly appeared at the Secretariat Director’s house and took away several serving girls and servants,” the servant reported. “They were all taken directly to the Imperial prison.”

“Imperial investigators took people away in the middle of the night, and straight to the Imperial prison rather than the Ministry of Justice,” the man said thoughtfully. “What on earth has the Secretariat Director gotten himself into?”

“I’m afraid there’s been no news on that,” the servant replied. “I’ll send someone to inquire about it.”

“No, don’t. Do you really think the imperial investigators have all left after arresting a few people? That was the bait. Whoever goes now will be dragging themselves into the mud, the last thing we want to do now is get involved. Ask our man in the Imperial prison instead,” the man said.

“As you wish, my prince. But sir, he’s only a guard, it’ll take a while before we can get the information, don’t we need to take action swiftly?”

“Third Brother has always been careful, this wouldn’t have anything to do with the He Shirang case. As long as it doesn’t directly impact us, acting with caution is more important than anything,” the prince ordered. “I’ll get in contact with Third Brother to see what he thinks.”

“Yes, your highness. I’ll take care of it according to your orders,” the servant bowed. The prince waved him away before retrieving an intricately carved wooden box from his desk. With a flick of his finger, the communication magic in the box activated. It quickly connected with a soft flicker of blue light.

“Third Brother!”

“Yunqi, what’s happened? Is there news on the Chancellor’s case?” Zhou Kuang smiled affectionately at him.

“Third Brother, something’s happened with the Secretariat Director. Two hours ago, the imperial investigators went to his household and arrested several servants. They were taken straight to the Imperial prison,” Yunqi hurriedly explained.

Zhou Kuang frowned slightly. “Straight to the Imperial prison? Then that means- is it father’s will or grandmother’s?”

“I don’t know,” Yunqi replied. Zhou Kuang’s frown deepened.

“Whichever one it is, we can only plead to the other. The worst-case scenario is that they’re aligned on this,” Kuang said. “Just what on earth is going on these days? First the Chancellor’s stage crumbles, and now the Secretariat Director. Listen, don’t send anyone to the Liu household right now.”

“Don’t worry, I know. I’ll get our man in the Imperial prison to find out. But isn’t there anything we can do? Liu Hongyu’s our greatest supporter, we still need him to balance out the Grand Duke,” Yunqi said worriedly. Kuang let out a deep sigh, rubbing at his temples.

“The border conflict won’t be resolved so quickly, I’ll have to leave this to you. But you’re not in a good position to deal with this either, with everything that’s happened with your mother’s family,” Kuang said. He looked exhausted and worn out. “What a troublesome situation, I can’t be in two places at once.”

“Brother, gaining military merit is the first priority right now. I’ll figure out the details about what happened with Liu Hongyu as soon as possible, and we can go from there,” Yunqi comforted him. Kuang nodded slowly.

“Even with military merit, I still need a pillar to lean on in the court. My mother’s words won’t mean much to the Emperor, but I don’t want to become indebted to the Grand Duke. Isn’t there anyone else we can make use of to deal with this?” Kuang quickly ran over the situation in his mind. Yunqi lit up as an idea came to him.

“Brother, what about our cousin?” Yunqi asked. Kuang furrowed his brow.

“Zhao Wenyuan? He’s not a bad kid, but he’s pretty incompetent. What use could he have?” Kuang asked.

“The point is that he’s incompetent. But father likes him, and grandmother adores him. If we make use of him to save Liu Hongyu, he would gain the favor of the Secretariat Director and also improve his reputation in court. With one move, he’d receive two benefits, and we could push the boat along the current to prop him up further,” Yunqi explained.

Kuang gave him a thoughtful look. “You want to make him our man?”

Yunqi smiled. “Third Brother is astute as always.” Kuang chuckled lightly.

“It’s a good idea, but it’s talking military strategy on paper. We’re usually distant from Wenyuan, we don’t know his temper, much less his wants and needs. I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as that. Not to mention, given his incompetence, we might not be able to prop him up no matter how hard we try,” Kuang said.

“But brother, if Liu Hongyu’s angered father, we can’t use any of our people in the court or we’ll be accused of forming cliques for selfish gain. That’s the last thing we need right now, but we also don’t have anyone else to use,” Yunqi argued.

“Your words have merit. I have my reservations, but we might as well try. It’d be a huge blow to lose the Secretariat Director at this time, especially now that Xianchun’s gaining footing in the court. There’s no telling if this is also his doing, and we have to be careful not to jump straight into a trap,” Kuang said. “I’d not have the situation deteriorate, if Wenyuan’s rotten wood that can’t be carved, don’t waste your time and effort.”

“Understood, brother.”

“You also need to be careful, the situation with your mother’s family hasn’t completely blown over yet. Even if things look calm on the surface, the undercurrents are as fierce as ever. There’s no telling if you might be dragged in as well,” Kuang warned him.

Yunqi smiled. “Don’t worry, brother. No matter what, I’m still the fifth prince. Even if Xianchun turns the court upside down, he can’t easily drag me into the mess if I refuse to make an overt move.”

“Good. Regardless of what happens, both your safety and mine requires that you not be implicated. Don’t let anyone rile you up, and make sure Wenyuan doesn’t flap his tongue either,” Kuang said.

“Leave it to me, brother. My mind was a mess after hearing the news, but I feel much better now,” Yunqi replied. Kuang smiled.

“I have to go now, keep me updated,” Kuang said.

“I will, brother. Please stay safe,” Yunqi bowed his head slightly as the communication magic faded. He closed the wooden box, placing it back onto his desk.

23-The Fifth Prince

Kayla lay in bed, mulling over the events of the previous day. It was her day off, and even though most officials wouldn’t take the break if they’d already taken off a sick day, Kayla wasn’t about to miss any chance to stay within the relatively safe walls of the Grand Duke’s household. No matter what went on in Xianchun’s mind, he wouldn’t dare to kill her right under Zhao’s nose.

Even with everything that had happened with the Emperor, Qu Boyong was on the forefront of her mind.

His vibe is definitely not that of a minor character, but there wasn’t anyone named Qu Boyong. Was he someone that didn’t appear until after Xianchun became Emperor?

Even his name is quite unusual, not only is his surname Qu, his parents even named him Boyong.

That’s actually what bothers me, he’s supposedly from the Chu region. But isn’t it strange that he’s from Chu, has the surname Qu, and the name Boyong?

Isn’t that just a coincidence?

When has anything that has happened so far been purely a coincidence? Even if it was only fate’s hand, it still had consequences.

Like they say, if you doubt someone don’t use them, and if you use someone don’t doubt them. The arrow is already on the bow and must be fired, why trouble yourself over it? If he’s important, we’ll find out sooner or later.

It’d be a huge issue if he’s important as Xianchun’s ally.

But he doesn’t know Xianchun, does he? If you thought he was reliable before, surely you weren’t too much off the mark.

Hey, we thought that about Chujiao too. Huh, she’s also from the Chu region, isn’t she?

Yes, but I don’t think they’re related. Chujiao’s surname is Jing.

Kayla frowned. Jing? Jing and Qu, weren’t those two of the three noble clans in the Kingdom of Chu?

I guess they are. But what does that have to do with anything? Did you remember something?

No. Kayla sighed, giving up on the issue for the moment. It wasn’t as though she had anything to go off of. There was a knock at the door.

“What is it?” Kayla asked tiredly.

“Please pardon me, young lord. There was an invitation from the Fifth Prince for you to join him for tea.” Kayla sat up at the sound of Matron Li’s voice.

“The Fifth Prince? What? Why?”

The door opened and Matron Li stepped inside, bowing her head in greeting.

“He did not say, but requested you join him at your earliest convenience,” Matron Li said. She closed the door behind her. Kayla narrowed her eyes.

“Is there a problem, Matron Li?”

“My lord, there appeared to be an incident at the Secretariat Director’s house last night,” Matron Li said worriedly. “The Imperial investigators took away several servants and serving girls, he likely wants to speak about that. It’s not my place to speak of these things, but please be careful, young lord.”

Kayla nodded slowly. The Emperor had really started going for it the second his sister was dragged in. Zhou Yunqi was allied with Zhou Kuang. He’ll probably be furious at me.

“Is there any way I could avoid going?” Kayla asked.

Matron Li bowed her head. “Young lord, few people know anything about your involvement in the incident. If you refuse to go, it’ll be the same as admitting it,” she replied.

Kayla leaned forward urgently. “Do you have any advice for me?”

“I don’t dare call my foolish words as advice, my lord. But in either case, the fifth prince’s current position won’t allow him to move against you. As long as you give him a stair to step down on, the Third Prince likely won’t try to settle the score after his return,” Matron Li said.

“Thank you, Matron Li.”

“Not at all, my lord. I’ll call the serving girls to help you get dressed,” Matron Li said.

“One moment,” Kayla called out as Matron Li turned to leave. “What was Chujiao’s name before she was given her current name? I never found a good chance to ask her before.”

Matron Li gave Kayla a look of surprise, not understanding where Kayla was going with this while on the verge of a crisis. “It was Jing Shuyou, my lord. The late princess changed her name to a simpler one at Chujiao’s request.” Kayla nodded slowly.

“Got it, thank you.” Kayla watched as Matron Li bowed and left.

The name Shuyou is also from Qu Yuan’s poem, isn’t it?

Kayla, is now really the time for conspiracy theories? Hurry up and think of how to deal with the Third Prince’s faction first!

Kayla sighed. I’m procrastinating because I don’t want to!

She turned to mulling over the current crises as she was dressed and chauffeured over to the Fifth Prince’s household. The Fifth Prince’s maternal family was rather powerful, but he had suffered a huge blow when his grandfather had been accused of disloyalty and stripped of his position. Zhou Yunqi’s mother had turned to fasting in hopes of gaining the Emperor’s mercy, but the Emperor no longer had any feelings for her and didn’t ease up even when she fell ill. Just like that, Zhou Yunqi’s political career was instantly crushed. Rather than continue to worsen the situation, Yunqi had wisely taken a leave of absence with the excuse of tending to his mother’s ill health. Not only did he thus avoid public disgrace, he was also able to discreetly dig at the Emperor for his coldness towards Yunqi’s mother while cementing his image as a filial son.

Even though Zhou Yunqi had always been Zhou Kuang’s loyal supporter, he was no easy man to deal with. In terms of reading the situation and making the correct judgment, he was no less astute than Zhou Kuang and Xianchun.

Just how am I going to deal with him?

I usually don’t contact my cousins much, so I can’t help you with that.

Kayla sighed again. It can’t be helped.

The Fifth Prince is a pretty reasonable person though, so he probably won’t be too harsh.

In the novel, Yunqi had indeed been a pretty reasonable and overall decent man but had been forced to commit suicide along with his mother after Xianchun won the position of crown prince. It was a pretty harsh ending for someone with considerable popularity in the fandom, but the author had justified it as a realistic ending for the loser of a political struggle.

Kayla stepped down from the carriage, hiding her nervousness as she entered the Fifth Prince’s household. Wenyuan never had occasion to enter the households of any of the princes, so it was the first time for both of them. A servant respectfully greeted Kayla and guided her into the household. Rather than stopping in the Outer Quarters, she was brought into the Inner Quarters. Kayla glanced about the corridors discreetly. Compared to the stately and luxurious household of the Grand Duke, Yunqi’s household was decorated in a simple and elegant manner.

The novel described him as having the air of an orchid. I haven’t even seen him yet and I’m starting to agree.

Kayla was led into a sitting room, the servant taking his leave after opening the door for her.

“Wenyuan greets the Fifth Prince,” Kayla bowed her head respectfully.

“No need for formalities between family,” Yunqi replied. He waved for Kayla to sit down across from him. Like Xianchun, the fifth prince was tall and good-looking but had a more refined air compared to the seventh prince. Kayla sat down at the elegantly carved wooden table with a tray of tea on it. The room was tastefully decorated and Kayla could also vaguely sense a magic spell at work. It was likely a high-circuit spell, but she couldn’t tell what it was.

“It’s good to see you, Wenyuan. It’s been a while since we last met, hasn’t it?” Yunqi asked.

“That’s right, it’s an honor to be invited by you,” Kayla said politely.

“I know you’re busy with court affairs, I hope my invitation didn’t come at a bad time?”

Kayla shook her head respectfully. This guy’s words mean more than they say, don’t they?

Yeah, I have trouble dealing with guys like him.

“Not at all, I’ll always find time if it’s at your request,” Kayla said.

Yunqi smiled. “How kind of you. How is your grandfather?”

“He’s doing well, thank you for asking. And how is the Virtuous Consort’s health?”

“Not as good as your grandfather’s, unfortunately. My mother’s body is still weak, I reckon it’ll take a while for her to recover,” Yunqi shook his head regretfully.

“I’m very sorry to hear that, my prince,” Kayla bowed her head slightly. Shit, I shouldn’t have come empty-handed.

“Thank you for that. Wenyuan, I know you’re a straightforward person, I’d like to open the door to see the mountain rather than talk in circles,” Yunqi said.

Here we go. “As you wish, my prince.”

Yunqi began pouring the tea with steady movements. “You may have heard that there was a commotion at the Secretariat Director’s household last night. Imperial investigators went to his house in the middle of the night and arrested several servants,” he said. He pushed a cup of tea to Kayla with a nonchalant smile. “Do you know anything about that?”

Kayla accepted the tea with a slight bow. “I also heard about it just this morning, my prince. It’s certainly strange, isn’t it? Does your highness think it has to do with He Shirang’s case?”

Yunqi shook his head slightly with a smile. “Perhaps so, perhaps not. I’m afraid I’m not in a good position to find out. I've been tending to my mother for the past few months and haven’t been in contact with any court officials. In just the last few weeks, the sky has changed outside, and I’m rather surprised by how much has happened.”

Kayla nodded in agreement. “It’s as you say, my prince. So much has happened that it’s overwhelming.”

Yunqi leaned forward slightly. “Overwhelming as it may be, they say that great change leads to great chances. Wenyuan, you could also stand to benefit from this situation.”

“Please enlighten me,” Kayla replied.

“Currently, the court is dominated by the faction of the Grand Duke, but until now, you have yet to gain recognition for your talents,” Yunqi said. “Though you hold the position of Left Secretariat, please pardon my saying so, but you have little footing of your own. Now that He Shirang’s set to lose his position and Liu Hongyu has been implicated, the hegemony of the Grand Duke is set to fall apart. Rather than take the blow mutely, I’d like to help you gain merit through this situation. Of course, we also stand to benefit as well.”

Kayla frowned slightly, finally grasping the situation. She hurriedly held out a hand.

“My prince, I’m grateful for your words, but could you allow me to say something first?” Kayla ventured. A brief look of surprise flashed over Yunqi’s face, but he quickly returned to a calm smile.

“Of course, Wenyuan. Please speak freely.”

Kayla glanced towards the folding screen where the magic spell seemed to be located. “As for what I have to say, please convey it to his highness the Third Prince as well.”

Yunqi nodded. Kayla breathed in deeply to calm her nerves.

“I can’t help you with the Secretariat Director’s case,” she said. “I was the one who reported him.”

“What?” Yunqi barely managed to keep the shock out of his voice. Kayla pressed on before he could speak.

“I didn’t do so for any political reason, it was purely a personal matter. But I can tell you now that Liu Hongyu has a high chance of being implicated for lese-majeste. It would be best to take your hands off of this matter,” Kayla said.

“You expect me to believe you reported him for a personal reason? I’m afraid I have my doubts about that,” Yunqi said, a slight edge to his voice.

“I apologize, my prince. But that’s the truth of it. If you would allow it though, I have a few more words to say on the matter,” Kayla insisted.

Yunqi let out a sharp sigh but nodded for her to go ahead.

“I came today with the full intention of being forthcoming with you to show my sincerity,” Kayla said. “I know that what I did was equivalent to attacking the Third Prince’s faction, but I believe that in the long-term, your Highnesses stand to benefit from this situation.”

Yunqi gave her a thoughtful look. “How so?”

“It is just as you said earlier, my prince. The greater the changes, the greater the opportunity. Currently, the hegemony of the Grand Duke has created a stable power structure within the court. This appears to be beneficial, but the larger the tree, the greater the wind. Once you reach the peak, the only path left is downwards. It is only a matter of time before the Grand Duke’s power declines, and Liu Hongyu would be in a position to replace him. On the surface, this appears to be a good thing for you and the Third Prince, but it’s also only on the surface,” Kayla said. She stopped, her mouth feeling dry. Yunqi motioned for her to drink the tea, and Kayla quickly complied. Yunqi was watching her with an amused expression.

“Why only on the surface?” Yunqi asked.

He’s trying to get as much information from me as possible, is there anything we can’t let him know right now? Kayla’s mental gears were working at a breakneck pace. She tried to drag for time by drinking the tea slowly, but the cup was extremely small. She set down the teacup and cleared her throat.

“First of all, it goes against the will of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to continue allowing a single official’s hegemony. That means that you would be the ones on the blade’s edge once Liu Hongyu is in power. All emperors prioritize the balancing of officials against each other to prevent the concentration of power, and the current events have made the Emperor more sensitive towards any signs of forming cliques for selfish gain. Also, right now you want your supporter to become powerful, but how will you deal with him once the fight is done? He’d be too strong to get rid of, and you’d also be indebted to him.”

“You’re saying some pretty interesting things, Wenyuan. I’d have expected you to ramble on a bunch of nonsense to appease me, but when I said to open the door for the mountain, you really took it at face value,” Yunqi said. He lifted his teacup to his mouth, pausing before he drank. “You said first of all, what else do you have?”

Kayla breathed in deeply. She couldn’t directly tell him it was the Empress Dowager’s will to clean house, or the Dowager would view it as an act of allegiance towards the Third Prince.

“Thank you for offering your ear, my prince. Second of all, this is the opportune time for you to form new alliances that would be firmly under your control. The commotion at court will only get bigger from now on rather than diminishing. I expect there will be huge changes in personnel within the ministries and departments soon.”

“Where are you getting this intel?” Yunqi asked.

Kayla grimaced. It wasn’t as though she could say it was in the novel.

“Since you seem reluctant to speak, I’ll assume it was father,” Yunqi murmured. Kayla glanced away nervously, not sure whether to address the misunderstanding or not.

“Thank you for your understanding, your highness,” she said instead. It was neither a confirmation nor a denial.

“Your words are interesting, but it sounds to me like you’re resorting to sophistry to get out of this,” Yunqi said gently. Kayla hastily bowed her head.

“I can’t help it if that’s how you understand it, my prince. But please allow me to remind you that the position of Crown Prince is not decided by the political battle at court, but by the will of the Emperor, as both your Emperor and your father,” Kayla said. “Please don’t be sidelined by the immediate benefits at hand and remember that acting according to the Emperor’s wishes is the true path to success.”

Yunqi raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying that cajoling father is more important than maintaining our footing in court? What a naive way of thinking.”

The example of Yongzheng flashed into Kayla’s mind, but she resisted the urge to use it. The novel took place in a historical period long before the Qing Dynasty; she wasn’t going to get anywhere with that. She had expected this much from Yunqi; his reaction was in line with what had caused the Third Prince’s downfall in the novel. Having experienced the consequences of the Emperor’s capricious mood swings since childhood, the Third Prince and Fifth Prince were both extremely jaded with the Emperor and sought to firmly grasp power in their own hands. But the more powerful they grew, the more ill at ease the Emperor felt, leading to his eventual favoring of Xianchun.

“Perhaps so. But you can’t ignore the will of the Emperor either. Right now, the Third Prince is set to return with hefty military merit, if he also has a strong footing in the court, how can the Emperor be at ease with that? It’s true that the Third Prince has a great reputation in court, but being praised by all the officials won’t do you any good. Surely, any ruler would grow suspicious at that. If you can get all the officials to praise you, couldn’t you also unite the officials to overtake his authority? No matter how little you wish to rely on the Emperor, you can’t obtain success without being attentive to his feelings,” Kayla argued.

Yunqi nodded, but she couldn’t tell what he was really thinking.

“Thank you for being so forthcoming with me, Wenyuan. Your words have merit, I’ll need some time to think it over by myself,” Yunqi said. Kayla recognized it as a dismissal and quickly bowed her head.

“Thank you for the tea, my prince. I’ll take my leave now,” Kayla said. Yunqi waved her away, and Kayla hastily retreated from the room. A servant quickly appeared to guide her back out. Kayla resisted the urge to wipe away the sweat beading on her brow. She had run her mouth this much in hopes of avoiding the wrath of the Third Prince and subsequently another death flag, but had gotten absolutely nothing in turn from Yunqi, not even a reaction that she could deduce his attitude from.

Dealing with princes is so exhausting. Whether it was Xianchun or Yunqi, it was clear that none of the princes that survived to adulthood were easy to please.

/////////////////

Once he was certain Wenyuan was gone, Yunqi stood up and went behind the folding screen.

“Well, you heard him,” Yunqi said lightly. On the other side of the communication device, Kuang was wearing an amused smirk.

“That kid really is interesting,” Kuang said. His smirk widened. “Yunqi, I want you to recruit him.”

“What? You were reluctant before,” Yunqi said, not bothering to hide his surprise.

“He’s pretty eager himself, why shouldn’t I go along with it?” Kuang asked. “If he wanted to avoid offending me, he should’ve just kept his mouth shut and played innocent. He went through all the trouble to say all this, isn’t he just auditioning at this point? I won’t deny being annoyed that he went this far, but I’m a little impressed that he would create a position opening for himself in this manner. In either case, if Liu Hongyu’s committed lese-majeste, we can’t use him anymore.”

Yunqi raised an eyebrow. “I keep forgetting that you like aggressive individuals, brother. What do you think about what he said though?”

“He’s banking a lot on the premise that there will be a huge storm at court,” Kuang said thoughtfully. “Try to find out more about that. If it’s true then there will definitely be signs. If there really will be personnel changes, I’ll have to react accordingly. I can’t just let someone else slip into the cracks and insert their own people. ”

“Leave it to me,” Yunqi replied.

Kuang nodded. “I’ll be relying on you, Yunqi.” Kuang’s eyes narrowed. “But he makes a good point about father. The last thing we need is for father to start raising obstacles everywhere because he’s in a bad mood. On the other hand, if I show support for a thorough investigation of Liu Hongyu’s affairs, I’ll gain the image of a righteous man who prioritizes the country over his own power base.”

“It’s true that Father likes that kind of thing the most,” Yunqi said.

Kuang shook his head. “I’m not just trying to appeal to father, but also to grandmother. Her words have more weight than all the officials added together.” Kuang sighed deeply. “Keep your eyes and ears open while I’m gone, make sure not to get burned by the flames.”

“I will, brother. You should also take care,” Yunqi replied. Kuang nodded before ending the call, leaving Yunqi alone in the room again.

24-The Wrath of a Prince

“Prince!” Boyue’s voice rang out. Xianchun looked up from his seat, opening the window to wave to Boyue.

“I’m in here,” Xianchun called to him. He opened the window wider and Boyue directly jumped in rather than going around to the door. Boyue quickly knelt to give his greetings, Xianchun pulling him into a seat before Boyue’s knee could touch the floor.

“My prince, there’s news,” Boyue said.

“What is it that’s got you in such a rush?” Xianchun asked. “You’re usually the calmest of us all.”

Boyue bowed his head slightly but didn’t smile at Xianchun’s teasing tone.

“Apologies, my prince. The serving girl I’d contacted from Liu Hongyu’s household was also arrested last night,” Boyue said seriously. “The Imperial investigators also arrested Liu Hongyu’s housekeeper, they’re only one step short of arresting Liu Hongyu himself now.”

Xianchun sighed. “All this fuss and we still don’t know what’s happened,” he said. “But I’d bet it has to do with Wenyuan.”

“I believe you’re right, my prince. The first arrests were made the same night as when Wenyuan was summoned by the Emperor, and he was summoned this morning to the Imperial Investigation office,” Boyue said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the reason why this is happening.”

Xianchun shook his head in disbelief. “Just what did he do that father’s going this far?” He tapped a finger on his chin contemplatively. “But it’s also a good chance for us to make him one of ours. What he’s doing is no different from attacking the Third Prince outright, he won’t be able to refuse any offer we make him.”

Boyue hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Actually, I heard that he went to visit the Fifth Prince yesterday,” Boyue said. Xianchun glanced at him in surprise.

“The Third Prince’s already retaliating? How did he even figure out it was Wenyuan?” Xianchun asked.

“I don’t believe it was to retaliate, my prince. After he left, the Fifth Prince sent a gift of high-quality tea to Wenyuan’s quarters,” Boyue replied. “According to the doorman at the Grand Duke’s household, Wenyuan looked to be in a good mood after his meeting. Rather than retaliation, I would say that the Fifth Prince’s trying to express his good will.”

Xianchun stiffened immediately, anger flaring up in his chest.

“Expressing good will? You mean to say Wenyuan’s courting the Third Prince’s faction?” Xianchun asked sharply. Boyue gave him a sympathetic look.

“I believe it’s the opposite, actually. It may be that the Third Prince’s faction wants to recruit him. After all, they’ve just lost their pillar of support in court, what they need right now is someone with a strong familial background to stabilize their position,” Boyue said.

Xianchun clenched his jaw tightly, feeling a sharp pang of irritation.

“My prince, we could also recruit Wenyuan,” Boyue comforted him. “Since his goal seems to be targeting the Grand Duke’s faction, we’re much more aligned with him than the Third Prince is.”

“Exactly! That’s the problem, we’re already on the same line of battle and he’s considering the Third Prince’s faction?!” Xianchun seethed.

“Why are you so upset over this, my prince? We still have the upper hand when it comes to him,” Boyue asked. Xianchun turned his head away, not sure how to respond.

“I don’t know myself, but the thought of it is annoying me,” Xianchun admitted, deflating slightly. Boyue gave him a thoughtful look before nodding to himself.

“It’s true we’ve never recruited him,” Boyue said. “Even though our goals have aligned so far, he’s not one of your men.”

“I know that much,” Xianchun said. He frowned as he realized Boyue’s meaning. “Are you trying to say I’ve taken it for granted that he’s one of my people? That guy?”

Boyue bowed his head slightly. “I’m glad you understand, my prince.”

Xianchun’s frown deepened. “That’s not true.”

Boyue raised an eyebrow but only shook his head. “If you say so, my prince. But if you want to know the situation for certain, perhaps you should just ask Wenyuan yourself. Since you want to recruit him, might as well move faster before the Third Prince grabs him up.”

Xianchun sighed, standing up and straightening his robes. “You’re right, I might as well ask him myself.”

/////////////////

Kayla let out a deep sigh, rolling her neck as she exited the Imperial Investigation Bureau. The guards at the door bowed their heads as she passed by them.

This must be grandmother’s will. Even though the summons came from the Emperor’s study, it was clear that it hadn’t been the Emperor’s own idea. Before she’d even managed to get to work, the carriage had been stopped en route and redirected to the Bureau. Kayla had almost had a panic attack until she’d seen the golden plaque of the Imperial investigators. She had almost thought it was Xianchun’s people, though it didn’t make sense he would make a move in broad daylight like this. In the novel, Wenyuan had been kidnapped on his way back from Liu Hongyu’s household in the middle of the night, but Kayla’s nerves were frayed from the continuous stress of waiting for Xianchun to make a move.

“Left Secretariat.”

Kayla stopped in her tracks, turning at the familiar voice. She frowned slightly.

“Li Que? When on earth did you get here?” Kayla asked. She hadn’t seen or heard him approach. Li Que bowed before removing his mask.

“Just now, my lord. I came over to give my greetings and apologize for any inadequacies in the etiquette of my colleagues,” Li Que said.

“There was no such thing, they were very professional,” Kayla replied. She glanced at the sun, which was almost in the middle of the sky. “Unfortunately, I should probably get back to work now, but I’ll see you around.”

“I’ll walk you to the carriage, my lord,” Li Que offered. Kayla hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Li Que’s presence was probably the Emperor’s intention, likely to check in on Wenyuan. She had acted as though Liu Hongyu’s words were distressing to talk about before the Emperor, and not only had the Emperor accepted that, it seemed to have further aggravated the Emperor’s anger towards Liu Hongyu. But given his fondness for Wenyuan, he likely wouldn’t have publicly dragged Wenyuan into this through a summons to the Bureau in broad daylight. Lese-majeste or not, the summons was more or less declaring to the court that Wenyuan was directly involved in taking down the patron of many important officials.

Even though it was a summons to provide an official statement, Kayla had given it in a comfortable office rather than an interrogation room, with only one high-ranking investigator present rather than the norm of two interrogators and two guards. It had been awkward to recount the things Liu Hongyu said, and she had been as vague as possible about the Secretariat Director’s actions towards Wenyuan, though she had no doubt that the Empress Dowager would put together the pieces with ease.

“My lord, this case is rather high-profile, may I suggest that you increase your security for the time being?” Li Que asked. Kayla hesitated.

Breaking off someone’s path to fortune is like killing someone’s parents. Liu Hongyu’s officials had gained a lot of benefits thanks to his backing, things will likely get more complicated from now on.

“Should I? I didn’t do anything wrong, won’t it be suspicious that I’m increasing the number of guards?” Kayla asked. The question was for the sake of assuring the Emperor of her sincerity, but she was actually hoping Li Que would disagree.

“I understand your feelings, my lord. But I would still recommend you close the windows before the rain, rather than be taken off guard by the unexpected,” Li Que replied. “With the Emperor’s permission, the Imperial investigators assigned to assist you will also be increased to take care of your safety as well.”

That was exactly what Kayla had hoped to hear. “There’s no need, I’ll just increase the number of guards. How can I trouble the Imperial investigators like this? All of you are the best and most talented of the lot, having to waste your time and effort on my safety would be a pity,” she said.

“Please don’t say that, my lord. It would be our honor,” Li Que replied.

“If you say it like that, then it would be rude for me to refuse further. Please convey my thanks to the other investigators as well,” Kayla said. Li Que bowed slightly.

“Of course, my lord.”

They had reached the spot where Kayla’s carriage was parked, Li Que putting his mask back on as they exited the Bureau’s grounds. Ever since she’d spoken to Qu Boyong last time, he had somehow gotten his shifts changed to be centered around Wenyuan’s schedule rather than the usual 8-hour blocks that would assign him to the evenings. Boyong quickly stood alert as he noticed Kayla approaching. She turned to Li Que to give her thanks.

“Thank you for escorting me,” Kayla said. Li Que bowed his head.

“Please have a safe trip, my lord.”

Kayla nodded to Boyong as she got back onto the carriage.

“Where to, my lord?” Boyong asked.

“The Ministry of Justice, I still have work,” Kayla said. Even if there wasn’t much work to do, she still had archives to rustle through.

Doesn’t grandmother know about our investigation? Why would she draw more attention to us through this?

She probably has her own plans, she did say she wanted you to benefit from the upcoming changes but didn’t say how. We’ll just have to trust this was her doing.

It must be. Other than uncle, only grandmother could influence the doings of the Bureau, and you seem certain it’s not his doing.

Kayla nodded. Actually, whether or not I continue the investigation no longer matters. Just the information from the localities is enough to drag in most if not all of the higher-ups involved in this, so long as the investigation is started, the outcome is inevitable. But there’s no way I can let go just yet, I need the protection of the Imperial investigators. With their eyes on me, it’s the same as having direct access to the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s protection.

Here’s to hoping that the Third Prince’s faction won’t be out for blood.

Kayla winced at the reminder. No matter how much she knew about the plot, there was only so much she could do to control her situation. There was no telling what Zhou Kuang might do if he was seriously angry. As she was pondering the situation, the carriage rolled to a stop. Kayla glanced out the window and frowned.

“Why have we stopped? We’re not there yet,” Kayla asked, feeling increasingly alarmed. Boyong came over to the carriage window with a worried expression.

“My lord, it’s the Seventh Prince, he wants to speak with you,” Boyong said nervously. Kayla’s heart dropped.

Oh shit. Kayla peered out the window, hastily withdrawing her head upon seeing a servant dressed in the uniform of Xianchun’s household. It’s the middle of the day, he can’t do anything to me in the middle of the day, Kayla hastily reassured herself.

“Is something the matter, my lord?” Boyong asked. Kayla cleared her throat.

“No, I’ll go meet him then,” Kayla replied. It’s a good chance to test his attitude, at least I’ll be prepared for whatever’s coming. She got out of the carriage and nodded as Xianchun’s servant came over to greet her.

“Young lord, the prince asks for a moment of your time,” the servant said, gesturing towards the side street where Xianchun’s carriage was parked. Kayla nodded and followed him over. Boyong came along as well, matching his pace to Kayla’s and looking around attentively.

“Sir, the prince wishes to speak with you alone,” the servant said as they neared Xianchun’s carriage. Xianchun’s guards were all standing a good distance away. Kayla nodded to Boyong, who bowed his head and took a step backward.

Kayla breathed in deeply and headed to the carriage.

“Wenyuan greets the Seventh Prince,” Kayla said, bowing her head. She stood next to the carriage window apprehensively. The curtain drew back and she was greeted with Xianchun’s scowling face.

“Wenyuan, get in the carriage,” Xianchun ordered. Kayla froze.

“My prince, I’ll just talk from here,” Kayla replied quickly. Xianchun’s scowl deepened.

“Get in. Don’t make me ask a third time.”

Kayla reluctantly got into the carriage, settling as far away from Xianchun as she could. Shit, look at the mood he’s in, he probably knows.

“The whole situation with Liu Hongyu’s turning out to be quite the commotion,” Xianchun said in a level tone.

“Indeed, I did say I was going for it,” Kayla replied.

“You said you were going to create a rift between the Grand Duke and Liu Hongyu, not that you were going to take him head-on. I shouldn’t even be surprised at this point,” Xianchun sighed, shaking his head.

“I wasn’t sure about the outcome before starting it either,” Kayla said. She relaxed a little, seeing that he didn’t seem particularly upset. Never mind, he probably doesn’t know yet.

“Just what did you do?” Xianchun asked. Kayla hesitated for a moment before replying.

“I accused him of lese-majeste. I expect he’ll be convicted, I would recommend keeping your hands off of this case for now. The Emperor was rather displeased with him,” Kayla said. She wasn’t about to give him more information than she did for the Third Prince’s faction unless absolutely necessary.

“He insulted the Imperial family?” Xianchun let out an amused chuckle. “It’s not so simple as that, is it?”

“Simple? I guess it depends on the level of insult. Given the grave he dug for himself, I certainly wouldn’t consider it simple,” Kayla replied.

“Alright then. The Third Prince’s faction must be quite unhappy with you,” Xianchun said. His tone remained the same, but something was off. Kayla shifted uncomfortably.

“I…can’t be sure about that,” Kayla said hesitantly.

“No? Even though the Fifth Prince is already demonstrating his goodwill towards you?” Xianchun’s voice grew colder as he spoke. Kayla frowned in confusion.

Just what is this about? He’s not angry about the Grand Duke but the Third Prince’s faction?

“He wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t all that pleased with me either, he was just polite,” Kayla said.

“He gave you a gift and you call that just being polite? Just what kind of etiquette are you used to?” Xianchun demanded.

“He did give me some tea, but that was because I sent a servant to bring some medicinal supplements to take to his mother,” Kayla explained.

“You met with him privately, and now you’re exchanging gifts. Just what are you trying to do, Wenyuan?” Xianchun asked. There was a dangerous edge in his voice that set off alarm bells in Kayla’s head. She scooted further away from him.

“I went to give him an explanation, and I sent a gift to appease him. After all, Liu Hongyu is the Third Prince’s supporter, I don’t want him to misunderstand,” Kayla quickly replied.

“Misunderstand? Misunderstand what?” Xianchun demanded.

Kayla stared at him in confusion. “That I did it for personal reasons, not political ones.” Xianchun’s face darkened at her response.

“Wenyuan, I’ll advise you to think over your situation clearly,” Xianchun said. His eyes narrowed as he seemed to grow angrier. “Between the Third Prince’s faction and me, which side are you taking? If you keep stepping between two boats like this, you might just get bisected.”

Stepping on two boats? Why is he making it sound like I’m cheating?! Just what the fuck is going on with this guy?

“My prince, you’re speaking nonsense,” Kayla said stiffly.

“Zhao Wenyuan, I won’t deny you’ve helped me quite a bit. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you act however you please!”

Kayla flinched as Xianchun raised his voice. She didn’t even know what Xianchun was upset about, but it was clear that the longer she was here the angrier he would get. She mustered her courage to reply.

“My prince, I don’t think I’ve done something worthy of your anger. I’ve done what I could regardless of the difficulties, and I haven’t done anything to attack you. I don’t understand what you’re so angry about! If you want to throw a tantrum, that’s fine, but you’ll have to excuse me. I’ll take my leave now!” Kayla bowed her head before hastily getting out of the carriage.

“Zhao Wenyuan, get back here! I’m not done talking to you!” Xianchun shouted after her.

Kayla quickly bowed towards the carriage before speedwalking away. Xianchun’s guards glanced between each other nervously but let her leave. Kayla subconsciously felt a wave of relief as Boyong stepped into sight.

“My lord, have you finished speaking with the prince?” Boyong asked politely, as though he hadn’t just heard Xianchun shouting after her.

“Yes, let’s hurry up and leave,” Kayla replied. “Like, right now.”

“As you wish, my lord. But it seems there’s been an accident on the main street, we’ll have to take a detour,” Boyong said.

“Whatever, anywhere’s fine, let’s just get out of here,” Kayla said. Boyong bowed his head as she got back into the carriage. He spoke a few words to the horseman, who quickly started the carriage. She leaned back, letting out a sigh and closing her eyes as she tried to soothe her nerves.

What the fuck was any of that? Kayla shook her head despairingly. She breathed in and out slowly, letting the smooth motion of the carriage ease up the anxiety in her chest. The moment of peace didn’t last long.

“It’s an assailant! Protect the carriage!”

Kayla sat up bolt straight at the sound of Boyong’s voice. What the fuck?!

“What’s going on?!” Kayla shouted, cautiously lifting a corner of the curtain to see. The horseman gave a high-pitched scream, hastily hopping off the carriage and fleeing as an arrow hit the doorframe. Kayla gasped, staring at the arrow that had hit an inch away from her hand.

“My lord, stay in the carriage!” Boyong shouted. Another guard hurriedly pulled the curtain shut again. Kayla didn’t need to be told twice. She flinched away from the carriage door, her breath hitched at the sound of blades clashing.

Holy shit, Xianchun’s going for it! I thought he wouldn’t go for it in broad daylight!

What do we do?! What do we do, Kayla?!

Kayla backed into a corner of the carriage, gripping onto the seat in fear. There had been several men dressed in all black with their faces covered, and even with only a glimpse, she could tell they were trained in martial arts.

Shit, what do I do?! Kayla could barely hear her thoughts over the sound of metal clanging and her panicked heartbeat.

The talisman! Use the talisman and summon the Imperial Investigators! Kayla immediately reached into her robe to grab it, stopping halfway with a start at the sound of horse hooves.

What is it now?! Is it their backup?

Just use the talisman!

“Protect the Left Secretariat!”

Kayla frowned at the unfamiliar voice. Who the fuck is that?! The sound of blades clashing intensified and several shouting voices intermingled. Before she could react, the carriage door was yanked open. Kayla hastily backed away from the door, stopping at the sight of the intruder.

“Zhao Wenyuan!”

Oh shit, I’m done for.

Kayla flinched as she met Xianchun’s eyes.

“My prince,” Kayla forced out the words in a shaky voice. “What are you doing here?”

25-Sworn Warriors

Zhou Xianchun stared down at Kayla where she was huddled on the floor of the carriage. She watched him apprehensively, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

“I came to help you out,” Xianchun said. Kayla gave him a look of disbelief as he held out a hand towards her.

“Come on, get out of the carriage,” Xianchun said. He sounded much calmer than earlier, which only frightened Kayla more. She furiously shook her head.

Like hell! Do you really think I’d walk to my own execution like this?!

Xianchun made a small noise of annoyance before reaching out and forcibly pulling Kayla up. She let out a high-pitched squawk as she was bodily removed from the carriage.

“My lord!”

Kayla turned towards Boyong’s voice hopefully, launching off the carriage and away from Xianchun to where Boyong was standing.

“Boyong!” Kayla glanced around, frowning as she took in the scene. Xianchun’s guards were standing among Wenyuan’s guards, looming over the black-clad men from earlier.

Are they not Xianchun’s men? Or is this an excuse to detain me?

“My lord, are you alright?!” Boyong asked urgently, reaching out to gently place a hand on her arm. Kayla hid her confusion and nodded.

“Is everyone alright?” Kayla asked urgently.

“Yes, we’ve detained all the assailants thanks to the Seventh Prince’s help,” Boyong bowed his head slightly. Did that guy really help me?

Kayla awkwardly turned back towards Xianchun, who looked at her expectantly. She bowed deeply towards Xianchun, still keeping a good distance between them.

“Thank you so much, my prince. I’m eternally grateful for your help and don’t know how I could ever repay you,” Kayla said politely. But why the hell are you even here?

Xianchun scoffed and waved her off. “It’s not like I came to help you, it just happened that I ran into this while going after you,” he said. Kayla gave him a confused look and Xianchun cleared his throat, looking away from her.

“I lost my temper earlier and didn’t convey my meaning properly, there was still something I wanted to discuss with you,” he explained. Kayla stared at him incredulously. Does he expect me to believe that?

“I…see, my prince,” Kayla replied.

Xianchun furrowed his brow at her reaction, opening his mouth to say something before one of his guards urgently approached him. Xianchun nodded at the guard, who leaned in to whisper something to him. A strange look flashed across Xianchun’s face and he quickly walked over to where one of the assailants was struggling against the guard who had him pinned against the floor. The prince yanked away the assailant’s face covering before hurriedly putting it back, looking back at Kayla with a complicated expression.

“Is something the matter, my prince?” Kayla asked. Xianchun stood up, looking deeply troubled. He slowly walked back to Kayla and breathed in deeply.

“Wenyuan, could you let this matter go?” Xianchun asked. Kayla involuntarily took a step away from him.

“I’m not sure what you mean, my prince,” Kayla said warily.

“You said earlier you didn’t know how to repay me, could I request that you refrain from reporting this?” Xianchun asked urgently. Kayla’s breath hitched. Sensing her fear, Boyong hurriedly moved forward to step between Xianchun and Kayla, and one of Xianchun’s guards unsheathed his sword in response. Kayla put out a hand and stopped Boyong, trying to ignore that her hand was shaking.

What the hell is this, was it his men after all? He expects me to not report it so he has a better chance next time? Her befuddlement must’ve been visible, and Xianchun grabbed her by the arm. Kayla nearly bit her tongue as Xianchun pulled her over to the assailant, removing his face covering again. Kayla looked at the unfamiliar face in confusion and back at Xianchun, who pulled her away again.

Xianchun let out a sharp sigh and gestured at the man. “He’s Governor Yue’s subordinate,” Xianchun said in a hushed tone. Kayla glanced back at the man in shock.

“What-”

“All these men, they were all guards for Governor Yue,” Xianchun explained with a desperate edge to his voice. “I promise they won’t bother you again, they don’t know you’re the one who saved Lady Yue-”

“So they’re his sworn warriors out for revenge,” Kayla interrupted him.

Xianchun breathed in deeply. “That’s right.”

“Are you sure?” Kayla asked. She carefully watched Xianchun’s expression, trying to figure out if it was a ruse. “My prince, are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Xianchun said firmly. “Zhao Wenyuan, if you do this for them, I’ll be the one who owes you.”

Is he lying or not? Xianchun’s eyes were practically glowing earnestly, but Kayla wasn’t sure if she should buy the story. In either case, I’ll be certain to offend him if I refuse right away. But what about the Imperial investigators? They’d be sure to notice this.

“Alright. Fine. But my guards-”

“I’ll tell them they got the wrong carriage, that they were trying to target me and Lord Liang,” Xianchun assured her. “Even if your grandfather doesn’t buy it, he’ll let it go since if I give him this much.”

So he wants to buy the Grand Duke's silence on the matter.

Kayla nodded, silently accepting the offer. With Xianchun's alliance about to become obvious soon enough, she wouldn’t end up indebted to Xianchun even if he offered up the information to the Grand Duke as a diversion.

Xianchun smiled in relief, giving Kayla a pat on the shoulder before going over to Boyong. His guards quickly took away the assailants. Kayla stood still, watching as Boyong frowned at Xianchun’s words, evidently not believing the excuse. Boyong glanced over at Kayla questioningly and she nodded at him, signaling for him to shut up and accept it. Boyong bowed towards Xianchun, who came back over towards Kayla.

“Wenyuan, I appreciate it,” Xianchun said sincerely. Kayla bowed her head slightly in response. Xianchun hesitated as though he wanted to say something.

“There’s something I want to speak with you about,” Xianchun said. “We’ll talk next time, I’ll take care of this first.”

Kayla nodded. “As you wish, my prince.” Xianchun nodded and made to leave, but stopped short and scanned the area with a furrowed brow. After a moment, he shook his head and walked away. Kayla watched blankly as Xianchun got onto his horse, thoughts jumbled together in her mind as she tried to process the situation.

“My lord,” Boyong called out softly as he approached her. Kayla collected herself and turned to him.

“The horseman ran off, but I’ll draw the carriage,” Boyong offered. “Shall we return the household for now?”

Kayla hesitated. She had agreed to let the incident go without reporting it, but the Grand Duke wouldn’t agree once he heard of it. If she let him gain the upper hand in how to use the information, Kayla would be in a difficult position between her agreement with Xianchun and the Grand Duke’s decision.

More importantly, how do we deal with Uncle? There’s no way he won’t hear of this, I only just left the Investigation Bureau a while ago. Meeting with Xianchun in and of itself is not a problem, but helping him cover up an incident like this is a completely different story. The Emperor’s current trust towards Wenyuan was rooted in Wenyuan’s disinterest in political struggles, and more importantly, because Wenyuan was neither sided with the Third Prince’s faction nor the up and rising Seventh Prince. Any protection she derived from the Emperor’s favor could disappear just as easily.

I need to find a chance to explain this as quickly as possible.

“Go to the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla said to Boyong. She would have to bet on the Emperor summoning Wenyuan as soon as he heard of the incident. The Emperor would likely wait for another day if she went back to the Zhao household, but she couldn’t risk having him draw conjectures about Wenyuan’s political stance in the meantime.

“Are you sure, my lord?” Boyong asked, doubt lacing his voice. Kayla gave him a nod.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Kayla replied. Boyong bowed his head slightly and moved to help her back into the carriage, before taking his seat at the front and pulling on the reins.

///////////////////

As it turned out, Kayla’s hunch had been correct. She had only returned to her desk at the Ministry for all of three-quarters of an hour, most of which was spent deflecting questions from Wenyuan’s coworkers about Liu Hongyu’s case before she was hastily summoned to the Emperor’s study for the second time in three days.

“Wenyuan humbly greets His Majesty,” Kayla bowed deeply as she entered the study.

“Enough of that!” The Emperor snapped, gesturing sharply for her to come over. Kayla quickly complied.

“Uncle,” Kayla said in a cautious tone as she knelt before his seat. “Is something wrong?”

The Emperor shot her an icy glare that sent a chill down Kayla’s spine.

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?” The Emperor snapped. Kayla quickly bowed her head apologetically.

“What on earth happened?” The Emperor asked. The coldness in his voice was unfamiliar to Wenyuan, who had only ever seen it used on other officials before.

“Is Uncle referring to the incident with the Seventh Prince?” Kayla asked in a small voice.

“What else am I supposed to be referring to?” The Emperor snapped. “Is there more that I should be asking about?”

Kayla lowered her head further, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

“No, uncle. Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself,” Kayla said shakily. “I had a small argument with the Seventh Prince about-”

“That’s not what I’m asking about and you know it!” The Emperor shouted, slamming his fist onto the table hard enough to knock over a teacup.

“I beg your forgiveness!” Kayla quickly raised her head to meet the Emperor’s eyes. “Uncle, please let this incident go.”

The Emperor met her gaze with narrowed eyes. “Let it go? Wenyuan, I trusted you to be smarter than this! You’re the last one I expected to get involved in the power struggle, how could you disappoint me like this?!”

“I’m not siding with any of the princes,” Kayla protested.

“You’re still denying it?!” The Emperor shouted. “How dare you lie to me?”

“Please hear me out, Uncle! I would never lie to you, this is more complicated than it seems,” Kayla pleaded.

“You would never lie to me? Do you know how many officials kneel before me and promise that day after day? Every single time, they swear upon their family's lives and ancestor’s honor that they’re nothing but loyal, and every single one of them is lying!” The Emperor growled. He leaned forward, glowering at Kayla. “Wenyuan, I can forgive them for lying, but not you.”

“Uncle doesn’t need to forgive me, because I don’t need to lie to you, Uncle,” Kayla forced out the words in as steady a voice as she could manage. “Uncle, those assassins were Governor Yue’s men. I couldn’t bring myself to report them because I feel guilty, not because I’m covering for my cousin.”

The Emperor looked visibly startled at the revelation, his anger washed over by surprise. “Governor Yue’s men? Explain,” he ordered. Kayla drew in a deep breath.

“I think Governor Yue may have been framed,” she said honestly. “I feel really bad about my part in all this, uncle. Because of my negligence, I robbed Lady Yue of a husband and her daughter of a father, and further brought misfortune upon the officials of Anling County. It’s only natural if his guards were angry enough to try something stupid, so when my cousin wanted to spare them I was happy to agree.”

The Emperor glanced towards the curtained side door, where Kayla belatedly realized an Imperial investigator was standing discreetly. She couldn’t see what the investigator did at her angle, but he must have confirmed Kayla’s words. The Emperor breathed in deeply before letting out a sigh, looking tired but no longer as angry.

“Wenyuan, you’re a good kid but you can be so foolish sometimes,” the Emperor said wearily. “The investigation wasn’t conducted by you, and we don’t have sufficient reason to believe Yue Wuxuan is innocent in the first place. If he wasn’t innocent, then you’ve just let his co-conspirators run away after attacking a court official.”

Kayla lowered her head nervously. “I-I’m sorry, uncle, but even in the initial investigation, no one mentioned his guards being involved,” she said.

“Even if they weren’t involved before, they’re involved now! How can you just let this incident go like this?” The Emperor sounded more exasperated than anything else, and Kayla let out an internal sigh of relief. The Emperor seemed to believe that Kayla wasn’t siding with either prince’s faction, but there was still the problem of the Emperor choosing to pursue the issue, which would place her in a bad position to deal with Xianchun.

“I heard good things about Governor Yue’s men before,” Kayla hurriedly said, drawing on her knowledge from the novel. “They were known for carrying out their duties properly and treating civilians well, throughout the entire time Yue Wuxuan was governor, Anling was not only free of robbers and bandits but there had never been instances of violence or harassment towards civilians.”

She quickly glanced over the Emperor’s expression and continued after seeing that he didn’t seem too upset.

“Uncle, they were originally men of virtue, isn’t it a pity that they’ve fallen to carrying out attacks as though they were bandits? Even if Governor Yue treated them well, they’re men with a strong respect for the law, I doubt their reasoning was so simple as taking revenge without differentiation. If they have a strong reason to believe Governor Yue was executed under false pretenses, then perhaps they have information we can use,” Kayla said. “With your permission, I would like to speak with them and figure out what their motivations are.”

“Absolutely not!” The Emperor immediately cut Kayla off in an admonishing tone. “You’re my only nephew and my sister’s only son, what will I do if anything happens to you? Even if you’ve gotten water into your brain and want to risk your own safety, there’s no way I would allow the son of a Princess to risk coming to harm for the sake of a few assassins!”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “Uncle, I’m deeply grateful for your concern, your kindness towards me is truly beyond measure,” she said. The Emperor let out a soft sigh, reaching over to pull Kayla up and motioning for her to sit down. Kayla obediently sat down.

“As long as you understand,” the Emperor sighed. “Not to mention how your grandmother would react, I received quite the shock myself after hearing about this. The last thing I need is for you to get involved in something this dangerous.”

Kayla nodded, sensing that the danger the Emperor spoke of referred both to the incident with the assassins and also the battle for the throne between the Princes. She wanted to avoid the latter anyway, but she couldn’t back away from the first.

“I understand, Uncle. But…Uncle, could you please give the assassins a chance to make up for their crimes with merit? If their testimonies are worthy of consideration, then not only would we be able to know for certain whether Governor Yue was framed, but uncle would also be widely praised as a benevolent Emperor,” Kayla pleaded. The Emperor shook his head.

“They’ve already tried to assassinate an official with royal blood, I’d already be showing my mercy if I didn’t sentence them to death by a thousand cuts and exterminate their entire families,” the Emperor said firmly.

Kayla shifted uncomfortably. “It’s true that I am your nephew and a member of the nobility and they’re only commoners, but we’re all your subjects, uncle. The law exists to protect morality, if you can give them a chance, it will surely become a good tale for history,” Kayla argued.

The Emperor shook his head and sighed. “Well said, Wenyuan. You’re really coming into your own now. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t necessarily refuse, even if only to let you practice your hand more. After all, it’s easy enough to re-open an investigation if they turn out to have useful information or execute them if they don’t. But there’s a reason I’m so against this,” he said wearily.

Kayla nodded. “I understand, Uncle. If I do this, then people will think I’m covering for the Seventh Prince and believe me to be his supporter,” she said. “Would it help if I visited the Wise Consort to inquire about her health and visited the Third Prince’s wife with gifts?”

The Emperor shot her a look. “It’s not so simple as that, Wenyuan. Do you think if you pour a cup of water it’ll quench the flames?”

Kayla lowered her head slightly. “Uncle, all the princes are my cousins, I don’t want to help them fight each other, but I also don’t know how I should then interact with them,” Kayla said in a small voice. If the Emperor chose to execute the assassins for Wenyuan’s sake, she would really be done for. Even if she somehow avoided the upcoming death flag, Xianchun wouldn’t let her live peacefully after he ascended to the throne. She glanced at the Emperor. He was in good health and while no longer young, he was hardly old enough for age to be a concern. Just how did such a man pass away from ill-health in three years' time?

The Emperor looked to be deep in thought for several moments before letting out a deep sigh.

“They all say that the Imperial family is the most heartless, but looking at you before me, I feel much comforted,” the Emperor said. He patted Kayla’s arm affectionately. “You’re right, they’re all your cousins anyway. I trust you won’t get yourself involved in this, and I’ll drag you out even if you do.”

Kayla looked at him hopefully. “Then Governor Yue’s guards?”

“If they can make up for their crimes with merit, I’ll exile them to the Northwest border. That’s as much leniency as I can show in this situation,” the Emperor said. “I’ll order Xianchun to bring them in himself.”

Kayla lit up in joy. “Thank you, Uncle! Thank you so much!”

The Emperor shook his head, looking slightly exasperated. “Look at how happy you are, you’re way too softhearted,” he admonished. Despite the criticism, his tone was affectionate. “You should visit the Wise Consort and your third cousin’s wife, they’ve both had a hard time lately. Especially your third cousin’s wife, I’ve sent her husband away for months and left her alone with a young son like this, it can’t be easy for her to bear. Bring her my regards as well.”

“I will, uncle! I’m sure she’d be elated to hear of your concern for her,” Kayla responded joyfully. If she brought the Emperor’s well-wishes, the weight of his words was tantamount to balancing out the scales once again, and further signaled to the Third Prince that the Emperor himself didn’t want there to be a misunderstanding about Wenyuan’s position. The Emperor nodded, back to his usual self.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Eat here with me, and then go home and rest. You’ve received quite a scare today, why did you even go back to work like this?” He said in a light tone. Kayla grinned at him.

“Thank you, uncle! I felt bad since I already took a sick day off the other day,” she replied. The Emperor let out a small sound of disbelief.

“It’s good to take your work seriously, but your health comes first,” he began to lecture her, waving for the eunuchs to bring in the food. Kayla nodded along dutifully as the Emperor chided her, the built-up fear inside slowly melting away. She had successfully overcome the current crisis, at the very least. Her next steps could wait a little longer.

26-Reinvestigation

Kayla groaned, burying her head in her hands. The luxurious carriage rolled smoothly towards the Grand Duke’s household. The Emperor had sent back Wenyuan’s carriage and guards, sending Kayla home in the Imperial Palace’s carriage with Imperial guards. None of them were under the command of General Yu, but rather seemed to be the ones under the Grand Commander. It comforted her that the Emperor’s favor for Wenyuan didn’t seem to have decreased, but she was still in hot water. One crisis had been solved, but there was a ticking bomb right at her feet.

Xianchun doesn’t know about the Grand Duke’s murder of his mother yet, so we shouldn’t be in immediate danger just yet. But he’s pissed about something else. Did it bother him that much that I went to meet the Fifth Prince? If so, then he’s about to be furious that I’m visiting the Third Prince’s wife.

He experienced such a quick rise because of your tip-offs, and you’ve repeatedly helped him out. It’s not strange he would subconsciously think that you’re siding with him, Wenyuan said patiently. Kayla frowned at that.

Why on earth would he-never mind, then what do I do?

He’s a prince after all, he’s got an ego. He’ll probably realize in hindsight that he’s never recruited you formally, nor have you declared your allegiance. If you give him some time to think it over, he’ll probably calm down.

Kayla felt a small wave of relief at Wenyuan’s assurance.

I did tell Yu Bianfu that I would’ve done so for the Third Prince had he been available, wasn’t that enough of a hint?

There was no way she could side with Xianchun. Not only was there the constant risk that he would suddenly be overcome with hatred for the Zhao clan and murder her on the spot, but she would also effectively be insulting both the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Those two were Kayla’s lifeline, there was no way she would let go of them.

There was also the matter of the bloody and tumultuous battle for succession in the following three years that Kayla needed to avoid at all costs. The fight had been brutal, enough so that Xianchun didn’t even hesitate to kill Kuang and force Yunqi to commit suicide at the end of it, even going so far as to force their mothers and wives to commit suicide as well. Kuang’s young son had been forced to become a monk and was kept under constant surveillance, to be killed at any sign of wanting revenge against Xianchun. The ailing Emperor had been helpless to stop it and died cursing Xianchun’s cruelty.

It made sense given the political situation. Xianchun wanted to reform the Empire, which had passed its golden age, but pushing it into its second golden age required strong political power. With Kuang and Yunqi alive, he would always have a thorn in his side and a shackle around his foot. The Third Prince’s faction was no joking matter, and with their leaders present, they would never fully cooperate with the new Emperor. It made sense from Xianchun’s position, but even readers who stanned Xianchun were a little thrown off by his harsh-handed methods.

Kayla wanted no part in any of that. Her priority was surviving the death flag and the Grand Duke’s fall, and then skedaddling out of the capital for good. There’s no telling if I’ll even survive until then, she thought gloomily.

The carriage stopped at the Zhao household, and Kayla wearily trundled back to Wenyuan’s quarters. She stopped with a start as Housekeeper Wang did a home-run sprint down the hall towards her, screeching to a stop with almost comical accuracy before her.

“Young lord,” Housekeeper Wang greeted Kayla, only slightly out of breath.

“What?” Kayla asked, taking a step back in alarm. Shit, the Grand Duke! She quickly reassured herself that even the Grand Duke couldn’t make any moves after knowing that the Emperor and Imperial Investigators were directly interfering, and straightened her back confidently. She raised her chin and nodded for Wang to speak.

“My lord, the Seventh Prince just got here,” Housekeeper Wang said in a panicked tone. Kayla glanced back towards the entrance in alarm, immediately deflating.

“He what?!” Kayla hissed. Housekeeper Wang bobbed his head furiously.

“He’s at the side door, my lord. He’s asked to speak with you,” he said nervously. Kayla let out an angry huff.

What the fuck, you crazy bastard! She shook her head in annoyance and gestured for Wang to lead the way. Her irritation quickly faded into nervousness as she headed over. Had the Imperial Investigators already shown up to arrest the assassins? Her footsteps unwittingly slowed as her mind flashed back to Xianchun’s rage at Governor Yue’s sentence. At Housekeeper Wang’s hesitant glance, Kayla sped up again.

Wang led her to the door, where several panicked doormen were kneeling before a familiar carriage. Kayla glanced at Wang sharply.

“Why didn’t you invite the Prince in to sit?” she asked.

“The Prince refused, my lord,” Housekeeper Wang said. He looked at the carriage nervously. Kayla sighed and slowly approached the carriage, waving for the doormen to leave. They did so with evident relief and Olympic-level speed. Kayla exchanged glances with one of Xianchun’s guards who she’d seen earlier. She gave him a questioning look and his eyes flitted towards the carriage and back with no small amount of sympathy.

Kayla reluctantly knocked on the window of the carriage, bowing as the curtain was pulled back to reveal Xianchun’s scowl.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince,” Kayla said. “I welcome your highness to our humble abode-”

“Shut up and get in the carriage,” Xianchun snapped. Kayla held back a sigh at the familiar procedure and reluctantly complied. She bowed her head slightly and settled into the farthest corner from Xianchun, watching nervously as he pulled the curtain fully shut and turned a cold glare at her. Kayla shrank back, but Xianchun didn’t immediately start yelling. He sharply knocked on the door of the carriage, and it began moving forward.

“Excuse me, my prince?” Kayla squeaked nervously. She looked around with mounting fear.

Holy shit, is he going to straight-up kidnap me from the Grand Duke’s household?!

“My prince?!” Kayla tried again, reaching out to pull at the window curtain. Xianchun knocked her hand away from the window and Kayla quickly retreated back into her corner.

“The Imperial Investigators came and had me hand over Governor Yue’s men,” Xianchun said. He glared at Kayla furiously. “I thought I had your word.”

Kayla nodded nervously. “You do.”

“Then why the hell were they arrested?! And by Imperial Investigators no less!” Xianchun snapped.

“I only just left the Imperial Investigation Bureau,” Kayla explained in a shaky voice. “I didn’t report it, but of course, they noticed anyways. What could you possibly expect me to do about that?”

Xianchun let out an angry huff, and Kayla quickly pushed on before he could start shouting.

“I told Uncle the situation,” Kayla said. Xianchun’s eyes widened.

“You what?!” He leaned forward and pointed a finger at Kayla angrily. “You-do you know what you’ve done?!”

Kayla edged away from him, feeling like she was about to get punched at any point in time. She tried to gently push away Xianchun’s hand but couldn’t manage to do so.

“Let me explain, my prince. Uncle already knew about it by the time I got to his study. He wanted to execute them right away, but I begged him for mercy. He’s agreed to re-investigate Governor Yue’s case. If the guards can provide useful information on the case, they’ll be exiled instead of executed,” Kayla explained, words spilling out in a rush as she leaned further back into her seat.

“He agreed to re-investigate?” Xianchun lowered his hand, looking slightly perplexed. “How on earth did you manage that?”

Kayla leveled Xianchun with a look. “My prince, the Emperor is not as blind to the dirty dealings of the court officials as you think. He told me it was easy enough to re-investigate if needed, which means he already wanted to reinvestigate.” She paused and let the information sink in.

“So he wanted to take down the Grand Duke from the start,” Xianchun said in realization. “But why did he always stop me whenever I tried to make a move?”

“Please pardon my rudeness, your highness, but it was because you weren’t doing it right. The Grand Duke’s faction is like a great fortress. Even if you keep throwing rocks at it, nothing will happen. What the Emperor needs is to strike at the critical parts of the structure until the building crumbles, but he can’t strike too many times, nor can he strike without a good excuse,” Kayla said patiently.

“That’s why Governor Yue’s case was allowed to proceed until Lady Yue’s identity was revealed. It was a great point from which to start digging up the Ministry of Justice. That’s also why Liu Hongyu’s under so much scrutiny right now. Even if he committed lese-majeste, it likely wouldn’t have been such a problem if it didn’t coincide with what the Emperor already wanted to do.”

Xianchun glanced at her sharply. “Wenyuan, you already knew this?”

Kayla hadn’t really known until her conversation with the Empress Dowager, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “How else would I have had the guts to act so boldly?” Kayla asked.

“But even now that he’s reinvestigating, he’s still exiling them to keep the balance,” Xianchun said in a tired voice. He shook his head disappointedly.

“Your highness, with your position, you could make sure that they live well and eat well no matter where they are, and the Emperor’s likely going to look the other way as long as you’re discreet enough,” Kayla reminded him.

Xianchun sighed. “I guess it’s the best we can get in the current situation,” he said heavily.

Kayla nodded in agreement and waited in silence for Xianchun to direct the conversation.

“There was another thing I wanted to speak to you about,” Xianchun finally said.

Kayla nodded, more warily this time. What the fuck does he want now?

“Zhao Wenyuan, I believe that our goals coincide, both for taking down the Grand Duke and for the future of this country. We’ve never spoken at length about it, but your actions speak loud enough,” Xianchun said. Kayla blinked in confusion at where this was going.

“I-thank you?” Kayla offered in reply.

“We have the same ambition and our paths overlap,” Xianchun continued, ignoring Kayla’s reaction. “Wenyuan, I want to invite you to join me.”

Kayla barely managed to keep her jaw from dropping in shock. Wait, he actually wants to recruit me?! She had kind of guessed it from his reaction to her meeting with the Fifth Prince but still couldn’t wrap her head around it fully.

“You don’t need to feel pressured to reply right away, seeing how troubled you seem to be,” Xianchun said. His words were gracious but his voice was tinged with annoyance. Kayla’s brain went into overdrive as she tried to think of what to do.

“My prince, I really appreciate your kind offer,” Kayla said. “The honor of recognition by someone like you is something I cannot repay. But-”

She breathed in deeply and decided to run with the excuse. “But Uncle agreed to reinvestigate on the condition that I stay neutral,” Kayla said, her voice remarkably steady for someone lying to the main character’s face.

“What? What kind of-” Xianchun’s face twisted with irritation.

“After this, I still have to send a gift to the Wise Consort and visit the Third Prince’s wife,” Kayla continued quickly. “It’s by Uncle’s will. He wants me to remain neutral, and he wants me to serve as an example as well. The last thing he wants right now is for court officials to be taking sides and messing up the political sphere while he’s trying to clean house. So as much as I meet with you, I have to replicate it for Third Cousin’s side as well.”

Xianchun breathed in deeply, barely managing to repress his rage. His hands clenched into fists on his knees and there was a dark glare on his face.

“My father’s purposefully making this difficult for me! You know my character well, I wouldn’t try to get in his way,” Xianchun said, his voice shaking with anger.

Yeah, I know your character just fine. You murdered like a whole bunch of people. Kayla carefully kept her expression neutral.

“That may be your intention, but would the court officials agree? Once the Grand Duke falls, their immediate reaction wouldn’t be to repent and do their jobs properly but to replicate their current situation with someone else. Whether you and the Third Prince want to or not, your factions will become the new resting-ground for most of these officials, and that’s honestly not a good thing given how most of them are,” Kayla said sympathetically.

In the novel, Xianchun had been bogged down by shitty officials grabbing onto his coattails until he became Crown Prince, and that had been in a situation where he had eroded the Grand Duke’s faction over several months. Given how fast things were progressing now, it was likely to be worse.

“So he wants both of us to stay still and reject everyone,” Xianchun concluded.

Kayla nodded in affirmation.

“But even if I stay still, Third Brother wouldn’t,” Xianchun shook his head again, looking extremely annoyed. “Father’s intention is good, but where does that leave me? Rather than the Grand Duke, I’m the one who’ll be taking a blow!”

“It’s not about who has more political power, my prince,” Kayla reminded him. “It’s about who Uncle and Grandmother think is the best fit for the position. In this situation, the one who stays still will benefit most.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed. “You want me to flatter him and hope he’ll show some favor towards me like a pitiful woman in the Inner Palace?”

Kayla’s heart dropped, sensing the dangerous shift in Xianchun’s mood.

“That’s not what I’m saying, my prince,” Kayla said nervously.

“Well, that’s exactly what it sounds like.” Xianchun glared at Kayla. “Do you think I’ll lap at his hand like a fucking dog? Is that what you want me to do?”

“No, my prince. But you are his son and also his subject, ultimately he is the one who has the deciding power,” Kayla hastily replied.

“His son? When has he ever treated me like his son? Ever since I was a child he’s watched me with doubtful eyes, as though I was a political rival rather than his son! And now you think he’ll hand the throne to me if I-what, if I sit at his knee and act like a dutiful son?” Xianchun snapped.

Kayla winced at Xianchun’s words, lowering her eyes to avoid his gaze.

“I mean no harm, my prince,” Kayla said softly. Xianchun let out a harsh laugh.

“No harm? I’d rather die than toss away my dignity before that man!” His glare intensified. “Do you think I want to live like you?”

Kayla froze.

Xianchun’s killing intent seemed to congeal the air inside the carriage, and Kayla could barely catch her breath. Her mind blurred with fear and she opened her mouth before she could formulate a complete thought.

“I want to go home now,” Kayla blurted out. “I want to leave. Can I leave?”

Xianchun scoffed, looking at her with a look mixed with disgust and disdain. He knocked sharply on the carriage door and it pulled to a stop.

“Get out,” Xianchun ordered. Kayla didn’t hesitate. She immediately clambered out of the carriage, stumbling away from it as it took off at full speed. She watched it leave with immense relief, her heart still hammering against her ribcage.

What the fuck was that? Just what’s up with today? Kayla shook her head despairingly as she glanced around. She was in a desolate alleyway. It was dusty and evidently not well-kept, being empty despite it still being early in the afternoon.

Xianchun must’ve been winding through the alleyways. Wenyuan, where the hell are we?

I don’t recognize this place, let’s find a way to a larger road first, Wenyuan suggested. Kayla sighed, looking around briefly before picking a direction. She moved quickly, knowing how out-of-place she must look to anyone watching in the shadows, with the expensive robes of a noble but no guards around her.

Her spine tensed as she heard hooves clopping against the pavement in the distance.

Shit! Kayla whirled around, hastily backing away as a rider approached her. She relaxed slightly upon seeing that it was Qu Boyong.

“Boyong,” Kayla said in surprise. She let out a short laugh of relief.

“My lord!” Boyong hurriedly dismounted, rushing forward and looking over Kayla for injuries. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Kayla said wearily. Boyong looked as though he had more questions, but he withheld them and bowed his head slightly.

“My lord, I’ll escort you to the carriage,” Boyong said politely. “Please get onto the horse.”

Kayla complied, accepting Boyong’s hand to get onto the horse. The guard glanced at her as he took the reins, walking the horse down the alleyway. Kayla blinked in surprise at the carriage around the corner.

“You followed us?” Kayla asked. Boyong hadn’t even been at the side door, just how fast had he moved to get the guards and the carriage together after hearing the news?

“One of the doormen followed the Prince’s carriage by foot until I caught up,” Boyong explained. Kayla raised her eyebrows slightly. Xianchun’s carriage hadn’t been moving slowly, the doorman must have had quite a hard time.

Boyong glanced at Kayla again. “My lord, it isn’t my place to ask, but is everything alright?”

Kayla let out a bitter laugh at that. Alright? Nothing had been alright since she’d arrived. She shook her head slightly but reined in her reaction at Boyong’s visible concern.

“Yes, thank you. I’m afraid I’ve made your jobs more difficult. I’ll tell the Housekeeper to give all of you rewards for your work today,” Kayla replied. “And the doorman as well, take him to see me at a later time, I’d like to thank him.”

“Thank you, my lord. I’ll surely do so,” Boyong said. They came to a stop before the carriage and Boyong held out a hand to help Kayla down. She glanced at the guards and a horseman she’d never seen before.

“You’ve gone through some trouble for my sake,” she said stiffly. It wasn’t as though she could explicitly acknowledge she had been in danger from the Seventh Prince, given the political implications of that. “Thank you. I’ll see to it you’re all rewarded.” She got into the carriage without hesitation and the carriage quickly began to move.

Kayla let out a deep sigh, feeling exhausted to her core. Goddamnit! Even after all that, things just keep getting more complicated.

27-Imperial Decree

Kayla sprawled on her bed, ignoring the whispers outside of Wenyuan’s room. As soon as she’d returned, the Housekeeper had immediately escorted her to Wenyuan’s quarters and put her under heavy guard, supposedly under the Grand Duke’s orders.

I guess we’re under house arrest now? Rather than being annoyed, Kayla couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Given how angry Xianchun was today, this might actually be for the best.

I don’t know what grandfather wants to do, this has never happened before! Wenyuan was far more anxious, but Kayla was too tired to emphasize.

You’ve never been grounded before?

He’s never placed guards before!

Kayla sighed deeply. The Grand Duke had trusted Wenyuan to be too weak-willed to leave his quarters when ordered not to, but evidently, that trust had faded with his grandson’s increasingly unpredictable behavior.

At least Xianchun won’t be able to make a move within this household for quite a while, she comforted Wenyuan. Like this, we’ve bought ourselves more time.

That’s true, Wenyuan admitted. Grandfather must be angrier at Xianchun than us at this point.

Even the Empress Dowager hesitated to directly criticize the Grand Duke, and here was Xianchun openly snatching the Zhao heir away in broad daylight. Kayla frowned slightly as she mulled it over.

Xianchun’s got a temper but he’s not stupid. He probably had a purpose in mind when doing that, especially at a time like this. He could’ve just waited.

But what is he trying to do?

I have no idea. Kayla let out another sigh. It wasn’t as though she could figure it out. Her thoughts slowed and blurred together, and the heavy weight of exhaustion soon pulled her into a dreamless sleep.

She was unceremoniously awakened by the Grand Duke kicking the door open. Kayla shot up, blinking blearily as light spilled into the room from the hallway. She rubbed her eyes as she got up from the bed.

“Zhao Wenyuan,” the Grand Duke said, a murderous tone in his voice.

“Grandfather,” Kayla bobbed her head in greeting. She squinted at him, any hint of sleepiness falling away at the angry look on his face. Kayla cleared her throat slightly and lowered her head. To her immense relief, the Grand Duke didn’t move any closer to her.

“Straighten your attire and follow me to the Outer Quarters,” the Grand Duke ordered. “There’s an Imperial Decree.”

Kayla froze. She gave the Grand Duke a look of befuddlement, but the man was already leaving the room, gesturing for the serving-girls to enter. Kayla held still as the girls straightened her robes and rearranged her mussed-up hair. Once they were done, Kayla anxiously stepped out into the hallway. She paused slightly upon seeing Matron Li. The older woman bowed slightly before leading Kayla to the Outer Quarters. They entered the most well-decorated courtyard, where several higher-ranking servants were anxiously watching from the shadows.

Kayla frowned slightly upon seeing several eunuchs from the Inner Palace speaking politely with the Grand Duke but quickly hid her reaction as she got closer. She nodded to them politely and stepped into her place slightly to the left and behind the Grand Duke.

Among the eunuchs, the one with the highest rank and the fanciest uniform stepped forward, holding a scroll with both hands. Kayla glanced between the eunuch and the Grand Duke nervously. Due to Wenyuan’s close relationship with the Emperor, he never so much as received an Imperial Decree before. Most things had been handled in private meetings, and even his position of Left Secretariat had been directly given to him in private by the Emperor.

Just what the hell is going on?

There was a wave of wariness from Wenyuan. Uncle’s going to stir up a big storm this time. He must be issuing an official decree to bind grandfather’s hands.

Kayla gulped. Thoughts raced through her mind like a flock of frightened geese, and she lowered her head slightly to avoid the eunuchs’ piercing stares.

This must have had to do with Xianchun’s actions earlier as well. I knew that guy was aiming for something!

“Grand Duke, Left Secretariat,” the eunuch said politely, “I come bearing the Emperor’s Imperial decree.”

“We humbly receive the decree,” the Grand Duke said. He knelt down, Kayla swiftly following suit. The eunuch cleared his throat slightly, unrolling the scroll and switching to an authoritative tone.

“Left Secretariat of Justice, Zhao Wenyuan is noble in character and righteous in bearing, His Majesty’s heart is much relieved by his boundless loyalty. By Imperial decree of his Majesty the Emperor, Left Secretariat of Justice, Zhao Wenyuan will henceforth be raised to a third rank official. The Left Secretariat will retain his current duties and be rewarded with two thousand silver. In light of his abilities, the Left Secretariat of Justice from here on forth will be made responsible for the re-investigation of the Yue Wuxuan treason case. Thus is decreed,” the eunuch read in a loud voice.

Kayla blinked at the eunuch in shock for a second before hastily reacting as the Grand Duke shot her a glare from the corner of his eye.

“This subject humbly receives the decree and gives thanks for His Majesty’s boundless benevolence,” Kayla replied, bowing her head to the ground. She lifted her head, glancing at the eunuch. The eunuch rolled up the scroll, bowing his head politely to Kayla as she followed the Grand Duke’s lead and stood up again.

“Congratulations, Left Secretariat,” he said cheerfully. “You have a bright future ahead of you, to become a third rank official at such a young age!”

Kayla shook her head and smiled politely. “Thank you, but I dare not lay claim to such merit, it’s all thanks to the Emperor’s boundless graciousness.”

“Grand Duke, your lordship certainly has a great hand at education to raise such an accomplished grandson,” the eunuch said, bowing his head slightly at the Grand Duke.

“Not at all, Sir Zheng. It’s all thanks to the Emperor’s kindness towards the Zhao clan,” the Grand Duke replied smoothly. Kayla carefully hid her surprise at the name.

Wasn’t Sir Zheng the eunuch that helped Xianchun after he became Crown Prince?

By the looks of it, he’s not someone who directly serves Uncle, but I think I’ve seen him once or twice before in the Inner Palace, Wenyuan added. Kayla quietly took another glance at the eunuch. He must have been in his fifties, but had the characteristic beardless face of a eunuch. She quickly smoothed over her expression as Zheng turned back towards Kayla, gesturing at his subordinates. Four of the eunuchs came forward, bearing two large chests between them. A fifth eunuch walked over while carefully holding a smaller box.

“Left Secretariat, these are the two thousand silver awarded to you by His Majesty,” Zheng said with a smile. “And these are your new official robes.”

Zheng opened the smaller box, revealing a set of deep purple robes. He leaned in closer, taking up a caricature of a conspiratorial tone, pretending to cover his mouth but speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “Though it’s not my place to say, it’s not just a normal set of robes, my lord. Her Highness the Empress Dowager commissioned these robes herself!” Kayla nodded politely.

“Please convey my deepest gratitude to Her Highness,” Kayla replied earnestly.

“Of course, my lord. By orders of the Emperor, the investigation will be conducted jointly by the Imperial Investigators and the Ministry of Justice. With this plaque, you will have free command over any officials involved in the investigation,” Zheng said, retrieving a golden plaque from the box and presenting it to Kayla.

She took it with both hands, complicated emotions welling up in her chest.

“I understand,” Kayla said. “I will make sure not to disappoint His Majesty’s expectations for me.”

“With your talent, it surely will not be a problem, my lord,” Zheng replied. The Grand Duke stepped forward to exchange a few more pleasantries and “thank” the eunuch for his trouble with a hefty gift of gold, before sending off the entourage. Kayla was left alone in the courtyard as the reward and robes were quickly moved away by the servants.

She stared blankly into the distance, holding the golden plaque close to her chest.

Wenyuan, this is a good sign, isn’t it?

I’m sure that it is. We’ve been struggling all this time, now we finally got this chance!

I’m grateful for that, this is the best protection against any of my enemies right now. Whether it’s Xianchun, the Third Prince, or the Grand Duke, no one can make a move at this point while there are so many eyes on me. But I can’t help but worry.

About what? Even if we fail, Uncle wouldn’t be too harsh.

Not about failing, but about succeeding. If I succeed, will I be able to leave the capital anymore?

Maybe we shouldn’t be aiming for that in the first place. The most dangerous place is often the safest place as well, so long as we hold our ground we’ll be able to stay in the eye of the storm.

Kayla let out a soft sigh, looking at the plaque again. I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.

She was startled out of her thoughts by the Grand Duke’s footsteps.

“Grandfather,” Kayla said warily. The Grand Duke gave her a venomous look.

“You unfilial little brat, do you know what this means for the Zhao clan?” He hissed at her.

“I know that those who can accurately understand the times will become great men,” Kayla replied. “This is for the future of the Zhao clan as well, grandfather. You can’t place all your eggs in one basket.”

The Grand Duke practically lunged forward, stopping barely a centimeter away from Kayla. She froze, forcing herself to breathe in and out slowly.

“You fool! You understand nothing! This isn’t placing your egg in a different basket, this is using the Zhao clan to destroy itself!” The Grand Duke snarled into Kayla’s face.

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand, grandfather,” Kayla said shakily. “If I were you, I’d take a good look at the current situation and take the appropriate measures so that you can still save some face rather than being disgraced in old age. If you refuse to see reason, you’ll get all of us killed!”

The Grand Duke lifted his hand, and Kayla subconsciously clutched the golden plaque closer. Seeing the glint of gold, the Grand Duke stopped and slowly lowered his hand, scoffing with disdain.

“You’re protected by that tiny piece of gold for now, Wenyuan. But don’t be mistaken and think you can be at ease. You’ll soon come to see how useless that plaque is,” the Grand Duke said threateningly. Kayla’s breath hitched and she quickly took a step away from the Grand Duke. He scoffed again before angrily walking away from her.

Kayla glanced around as the servants and serving-girls quickly scuttled away, avoiding her glances. Her heart fell a little as she glanced back down at the plaque.

I’ve fully gained the Emperor’s support, but now I’ve completely become isolated in this household. The only one I can rely on is the Emperor. The Grand Duke was the highest power in the Zhao household, and Kayla wouldn’t be surprised if Boyong also began keeping his distance.

This must be the Empress Dowager’s intention at work. If I can only rely on Imperial favor from now on, then I must remain neutral.

Would grandmother really do that to me? Wenyuan asked with a pang of hesitation and alarm.

It’s for our good in the long run. The more estranged I am from the Grand Duke, the smaller the hit I’ll take when he comes to ruin. Kayla let out a sigh and glanced up at the moon for a moment before walking back to Wenyuan’s quarters.

I can only hope that this is for the best.

//////////////////

Yunqi calmly sipped his tea, ignoring the panicked expression on his subordinate’s face. The man knelt before Yunqi's seat, anxiously waiting for a response.

“My prince!” The man finally lost his patience and shuffled forward on his knees to grab at Yunqi’s robes. “What on earth do we do?!”

“Calm yourself, Jinwei,” Yunqi replied in a steady tone. “We do nothing. Even if he flips the sky over, there’s nothing that directly implicates the Third Prince or me.”

“But your highness, your faction will take a huge blow,” Jinwei said insistently. Yunqi gave him a sharp glance.

“So it will.” Yunqi leaned down, setting down his teacup as he tilted his head at Jinwei. “Why are you so worried? Didn’t I explicitly warn you not to get involved with the dealings in Anling?”

“I wouldn’t dare disobey you, my prince! I’m really not involved, there’s nothing there to implicate me! What I’m worried about is your position in court, my prince,” Jinwei protested.

Yunqi sighed, refilling his teacup. “There’s no use even if we worry. This isn’t just Father’s will at hand, but Grandmother’s as well. If those two are in agreement on this, we can’t openly defy them.” He gestured lightly at the documents on his table. “Look at how many letters I’ve received. These men’s petty hopes will pull me into the dirt if I’m too softhearted towards them. Whoever makes a move at this point in time will be the first to come to ruin.”

“Then we’re really going to do nothing?” Jinwei asked doubtfully.

“This is also the Third Brother’s intention. Does that satisfy you?” Yunqi asked.

“That’s not it, your highness. I wouldn’t dare doubt your orders. It’s just that the whole thing feels strange,” Jinwei quickly replied. Yunqi gave him a questioning look.

“What do you mean by that?” Yunqi asked.

“It feels as though beneath the storm, there’s something more sinister in the undercurrents. I have a feeling that this is only the start, my prince. Will we really be able to weather the storm? Or will we become the only ones that are battered while someone else gains benefit?” Jinwei asked. The man’s eyes became distant as he spoke. Yunqi waited patiently as Jinwei remained kneeling wordlessly. His subordinate was incredibly clever despite having had little education, and Yunqi was willing to put up with any number of Jinwei’s oddities for the sake of the man’s talent.

Jinwei finally nodded after a long moment, his eyes coming into focus again.

“You’re right, my prince. We can’t openly defy this investigation, or we’ll be crushed completely. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything,” Jinwei said meaningfully. Yunqi smiled and waved for Jinwei to sit next to him.

“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear you say,” Yunqi said. “Now, tell me your plan.”

////////////////////

Liu Boyue finished his report, looking towards Xianchun with a smile.

“Congratulations, my prince. It is just as you wished,” Liu Boyue said pleasantly. Boyue’s smile faded at the frown creasing Xianchun’s brow.

“What’s the matter, my prince? Is this not what you had hoped for?” Boyue asked uneasily.

Xianchun sighed. “It is, but…I must admit that the events unfolding do not align with my wishes.”

He stood up and began slowly pacing the room.

“I would have been delighted with this result only a few weeks ago, but now I feel dissatisfied. Perhaps I’m the one who’s grown greedy,” Xianchun said heavily. Somewhere along the line, his disdain and distrust of the Zhao scion had transformed into something else entirely. The useless puppet of the Grand Duke had morphed into a promising talent right before Xianchun's eyes but remained beyond his grasp.

Boyue looked at him thoughtfully. “My prince, we can still gain other supporters of high birth. There’s no need to be too disappointed.”

Xianchun nodded. “I understand that much. I can also guess that Father’s move is to keep Wenyuan safely neutral so that he can remain a high-ranking official no matter who becomes the successor. But-” Xianchun let out a heavy sigh.

“The fact that my mother was of low birth has always been my greatest weak point. Even with Lord Liang’s backing now, few of the noble clans are willing to show me any respect, much less offer me their support. I hadn’t so much as considered the possibility before, but with the way Wenyuan had been acting, I had hoped-” Xianchun shook his head, comforting himself. “There’s no use if he himself is so resistant to it. Not to mention, I don’t think our ideas are compatible.”

Boyue gave Xianchun a sympathetic look. “My prince, not having the support of Imperial blood may be a loss of symbolic power, but at the very least the Third Prince will not gain that advantage over you.”

Xianchun nodded, his frown fading away. “That much is true. In either case, this investigation will surely be to our benefit. I’ll have to make sure that guy turns up as many leads as he can.”

“Understood, my prince,” Boyue bowed his head with a smile. “I’ll do everything within my power to push along the investigation.”

28-Head of Investigation

Early the next morning, Kayla was picked up by a carriage from the Imperial Investigation Bureau. She shifted uncomfortably in the unfamiliar carriage, pulling at the collar of the unfamiliar robes. The carriage pulled to a stop before the Imperial Investigation Bureau, where Li Que was waiting in greeting with his mask removed.

“Li Que humbly greets the Left Secretariat,” he said. “Congratulations on your promotion to third rank, my lord.”

“Thank you, Li Que. Are you going to be working on this case?” Kayla asked.

“I will be assisting the head of the investigation by orders of the Emperor,” Li Que replied. Kayla frowned in confusion.

“The head of the investigation? Is that…me?” She asked.

“That’s right, my lord. Tabuyir will continue the investigation of the Ministry of Justice, so please be assured that you need not turn your attention to that matter,” Li Que said.

Kayla nodded slowly. “Alright. Got it. Well, I guess we should get started then. Have Governor Yue’s guards testified yet?”

“Most of them have, we’re still waiting for the Head Guard to testify,” Li Que reported. “He’s the one who knows the most.”

“He wouldn’t cooperate?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, my lord. I wanted to hold off physical torture until I had your orders,” Li Que said.

“Good,” Kayla quickly replied. “I’ll speak to him myself.” If he’d been tortured Xianchun would really kill me.

“This way, my lord.” Li Que led her into the Bureau and down the halls to an interrogation room.

“I’ll go speak to him,” Kayla said. Li Que hastily stepped forward to block the door.

“My lord, please do not speak with the suspects alone. Even if they are chained, they still pose a great danger to your safety. With your permission, we would accompany you,” Li Que said, gesturing to himself and another investigator standing by the door.

“Good point, I’d appreciate that,” Kayla replied. The rooms each had surveillance magic to record what was done and spoken, so it probably really was for her benefit rather than for keeping an eye on Wenyuan.

Li Que bowed his head slightly before opening the door, stepping in before Kayla to menacingly glower at the man. The other investigator closed the door after himself. Kayla recognized the man chained to the table as the one Xianchun had unmasked.

“You,” the man growled as he caught sight of Kayla’s face. His fists clenched, rattling the chains that tightly wrapped around his wrists.

“I heard you refused to testify,” Kayla said in a casual tone.

“I won’t cooperate with a bastard like you!” The man shouted.

“Watch your tongue!” Li Que snapped at him.

“This doesn’t have to be difficult, you don’t even have to see my face if you’d kindly go along with this,” Kayla said. “You can even avoid execution.”

“I don’t care if I die! I’d rather be executed than help you!”

“It’s not me that you’re hurting by refusing to cooperate,” Kayla reminded him. “It’s your benefactor, the one who saved you last time.” It was as far as she could go without explicitly dragging in Xianchun. The man realized it as well, glowering at her for a long moment before finally spitting at the floor.

“I cooperate on the behest of my benefactor,” the man spat out. “If not for his words, I’d rip your heart out myself!”

Kayla raised an eyebrow at the bloody description.

“Watch your tongue, you ruffian!” Li Que snapped again before glancing at Kayla apologetically.

“It’s fine, I don’t care,” Kayla said. She leaned forward and met the man’s gaze. “You can curse me however you like, but I’m the only one who can give you justice. Give me names.” The man glared at her, but slowly lowered his gaze. Kayla let out a huff of air and straightened her back, looking at the man thoughtfully. After a moment, she nodded at the other investigator and turned to leave.

“If he doesn’t want to talk to me, that’s fine. Let me know once we have a list,” Kayla said over her shoulder before leaving the room. Li Que stepped out as well, closing the door softly behind them. The two silently made their way back to Kayla’s temporary office. Li Que closed the door behind him as he entered, before bowing his head slightly to Kayla.

“Judging from his attitude, I don’t think this will be an easy case to deal with,” Li Que said in a low voice. Kayla glanced at him.

“You think he won’t talk?” Kayla asked.

“I think it’ll become difficult because he will talk,” Li Que said meaningfully. Kayla sighed, looking down at the ground.

“Li Que, I understand your meaning. I’ll take responsibility for offending anyone, so please be at ease,” Kayla said. It was clear that the case was going to implicate powerful people at this point, but the Emperor had set her on this path and Kayla could hardly back down without taking on the fight.

“I apologize, my lord. That was not my intention,” Li Que said with a note of alarm in his voice. “I was simply concerned for your sake. Do you not want to bring in another official from the Ministry of Justice, perhaps?”

In other words, bring in an official of lower birth to take the brunt of the court’s wrath? As long as there was an easier target, no one would carelessly move on Wenyuan for the time being.

Kayla shook her head. “There’s no need. It would only make things more difficult. Do you believe that anyone would want to pursue this properly if they knew the potential consequences?”

“But my lord, His Majesty’s intention is also that this case should not become a roadblock for you,” Li Que said hesitantly.

Best that it does, actually. Kayla had a feeling that the Empress Dowager was playing the long game here, and she didn’t really want to know what the results were meant to be.

“I understand the Emperor’s benevolence, but I am determined not to disappoint his expectations of me. This case must be pursued to the end, may I count on support?” Kayla asked. She left the source of support open, waiting for Li Que’s reaction. It wasn’t the Imperial Investigation Bureau whose support she really needed but the Emperor’s. After all, she was planning to push ahead with methods that were barely even legal.

Li Que bowed his head. “His Majesty’s intention is that you will be fully supported regardless of the circumstances, my lord. The investigators of the Bureau will follow your lead.”

Kayla nodded. “Li Que, once we have the names, I want the Imperial Investigators to arrest them.”

Li Que furrowed his brow slightly. “My lord, do you not want to investigate first?”

Kayla breathed out slowly. “Yeah, well, that’s the thing, actually. I don’t think our investigation will actually turn up anything if we go by procedure, so once the names are out, I want the witnesses to identify the three, no, let’s make that four…The four people who will likely know the most. And then I want you to arrest them right away. Make sure they don’t get a chance to contact anyone else, and that no one sees the arrests.”

Li Que nodded. “As you wish, my lord. So you have a plan in mind?”

“More or less. Once you arrest them, I want you to put them separately into individual interrogation rooms right away, the small ones with no windows. I need to be certain that they can’t communicate with anyone other than the investigators who enter the room,” Kayla said. Li Que nodded dutifully.

“I will see to it, my lord.” He bowed and left the room, leaving Kayla alone in the office.

The Imperial Investigation Bureau mostly relies on cross-examining and physical torture for interrogation, I doubt the people from this era would have much experience with psychological methods, Kayla mused.

True enough, it's mostly just beating them into talking. Or starving them out. Are you going to intimidate them, then?

I’m like ninety percent sure this is illegal, but yeah, more or less.

What could be more intimidating than torture?

Have you ever heard of the Prisoner's Dilemma?

Wenyuan didn't get a chance to reply before there was a knock on the door.

“It’s Li Que, my lord.”

Kayla blinked in surprise. That was fast!

“Come in,” she called. The door opened, and Li Que entered with a scroll in his hands.

“The list, my lord. I’ve circled the names they said were most important,” Li Que said, handing her the scroll. Kayla looked over the list, scrunching up her face. Seven names were circled, all of them familiar to Wenyuan.

Would you look at this, Kayla marveled. There was a pang of exasperation from Wenyuan.

Seriously, why are three of them related to our clan?

I know, right? Your grandfather must be getting careless with how much power he has. You know what, I’m going to start in with them so no one can say I’m being unfair.

Wait, are you serious?!

Why? Were you fond of them?

No, I’ve only met them a few times before, but is that really alright?

It’s for the best, trust me. Kayla nodded determinedly and dipped her brush in red ink, marking the three names. Two of them were distant relatives from a side branch of the family but retained their Zhao surname, and one of them was the grand-nephew-in-law of the Grand Duke. Li Que stepped forward in surprise, but quickly controlled his reaction as Kayla continued to muse over the list.

Who else do we go for?

For biggest impact?

Yup. Pick a name, Kayla offered. Wenyuan hesitated for a moment before settling on the final name, the cousin-in-law of Dong Shiqing, the Minister of Revenue. Kayla marked the name and handed it over to Li Que, who took the paper with no small amount of trepidation.

“Is it too much?” Kayla asked apologetically. Li Que shook his head.

“No, my lord. I was merely surprised,” Li Que said. “It seems you are truly determined.”

Kayla nodded, not knowing what to say in response.

“Then, my lord, I will send out the order for the arrests,” Li Que said.

“Go ahead,” Kayla said. Li Que bowed his head and left with the scroll. Another investigator soon entered, unmasking and bowing slightly before presenting the scroll with the witnesses’ testimonies. Kayla unfurled the scroll and turned her attention to the transcript. She frowned slightly at the contents, setting to work at piecing together the bigger picture.

After a while, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Kayla called. The door opened and a young man removed his mask.

“Excuse me, Left Secretariat, a report. The arrests have been completed and the suspects have been isolated as you ordered,” the young man said. Kayla nodded.

“Great work. Lead me over, would you?” Kayla asked.

“Of course, my lord.” The young man bowed his head slightly before leading Kayla to the interrogation rooms. She nodded in satisfaction, noting the four cells with guards standing outside. They were far away enough from each other, and she could sense magic spells at work.

“Are there soundproofing spells?” Kayla asked.

“That’s right, my lord,” the young man replied. Kayla tilted her head thoughtfully as she looked around. It wouldn't do if they get too scared and try something stupid.

“Are there any spells that can prevent them from committing suicide?” Kayla asked. The young man lifted his head with a start.

“Not directly, but I can arrange for the appropriate precautions,” he said.

“Good, I’ll leave that to you,” Kayla said. “I’ll be back in about two hours.”

The young man hesitated as though he wanted to protest, but kept his mouth shut and bowed slightly. Kayla made her way back to the temporary office, stopping briefly at where Governor Yue’s guards were being kept to check they were still alive and unharmed. To her relief, they were just fine.

The last thing I need is for them to die on me, Xianchun will have my head for sure.

///////////////////

The young man who had reported to Kayla bowed his head in greeting as she arrived back in the holding rooms. She nodded at him. It had been a bit over two hours, and Kayla was more or less satisfied with the timing.

“So, which one’s which?” Kayla asked, gesturing broadly.

“My lord, in that room is Zhao Qi,” the young man said, pointing to the first room. He gestured at the next rooms in the counterclockwise direction. “That room is for Zhao Lufang, that one for Ning Gengyu, and that one for Wang Fulin.”

Kayla nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm, guess I’ll start with Zhao Lufang then.”

“As you wish, my lord. I will accompany you in,” the young man said politely.

“Alright, just make sure to keep your mouth shut and don’t say a thing,” Kayla said. She paused for a moment before glancing at the young man again. “I didn’t ask your name, did I?”

“This humble servant is named An Haoyang,” he replied.

That name rings a bell. Was he a character?

Kayla nodded slowly. “Well met. Shall we?”

Haoyang bowed his head and put on his mask again before he moved forward to open the door for Kayla. She entered and nodded at the vaguely familiar man before her. The door clicked shut behind her, Haoyang slipping into a corner silently. Zhao Lufang’s face lit up as he recognized Wenyuan.

“Oh good heavens, is it the young master?” Zhao Lufang cried out in relief. “Young master, I-”

“Cousin, please hear me out, we don’t have much time,” Kayla cut him off before Lufang could start pleading for help. Going off Wenyuan’s memories of the man from family reunions, Lufang could go off on a long spiel for just about anything.

“Young master?” Lufang’s voice cracked at the grave look on Kayla’s face. She sat down across from him and let out a deep sigh, shaking her head resignedly before reaching across the table to take hold of Lufang’s chained hands.

“Cousin, I’m afraid that I can’t save you,” Kayla said sadly.

“What are you talking about?” Lufang asked, looking increasingly nervous.

“You’re to be executed tomorrow, along with your immediate family,” Kayla said in a grave tone. She patted his hand comfortingly. “However, your wife is the descendant of an official with great merit, so she will likely be imprisoned instead.”

“What?! That’s not possible! I didn’t do anything!” Lufang cried pleadingly. He glanced between Kayla and Haoyang desperately. “Young master, I don’t even know what I was arrested for, I can’t just die cluelessly like this!”

“The Yue Wuxuan case.” Kayla watched coldly as Lufang’s face fell. “Cousin, do you really not know what you’re here for?”

“I wasn’t involved, I swear I had nothing to do with it! Please help me, young master! My family is a part of the Zhao clan as well, isn’t there anything you can do?” Lufang pleaded.

“Involved in what? What did you have nothing to do with?” Kayla asked. “Lufang, you’ve disgraced our clan to this extent and you still have the guts to play innocent?!”

“No! Young master, I-this-” Lufang stammered. Kayla’s eyes narrowed.

So he’s afraid to implicate the Grand Duke.

“Lufang, even your five-year-old son will not be exempt. The Emperor was furious to begin with, once he heard the testimonies, you were immediately sentenced. He would have exterminated your entire family if not for the fact you are of the Zhao clan,” Kayla said heavily.

“What testimonies?” Lufang asked tearfully, looking at her with complete befuddlement.

“We previously interrogated Wang Fulin and Ning Gengyu,” Kayla said, the lies rolling smoothly off her tongue. “They all chose to make up for their crimes with merit and pointed to you as the primary culprit. Unfortunately, their testimonies seem to match up with each other. Lufang, you’re about to die. Go forth with honor, and I will do everything within my power to protect your wife.”

“Those bastards, they framed me! Young master, please believe me! I didn’t do anything- I just passed along the orders! Of everyone, I’m of the lowest birth, they must have conspired to trap me as the scapegoat from the very start!” Lufang pleaded, grasping onto Kayla’s hands.

Kayla frowned slightly. “Passed along orders? What do you mean? That’s not what I heard.”

“What you heard wasn’t true! There’s so many people involved, they’re trying to cover it up! That must be why they’re pushing me to my death,” Lufang hastily replied. Kayla frowned slightly.

“Speak plainly, cousin. I swear to you, no matter what truth you reveal, I will relay it truthfully to the Emperor,” Kayla said. “You know full well my loyalty to the Emperor and the bond between us.“

Lufang’s eyes flickered with hope, but his expression became dull again as he hesitated to speak. Kayla leaned forward slightly.

“Lufang, listen to me. Do you really want to get your family killed? If you can testify and provide something useful, you can also make up for your crimes with merit. Surely, you will at least be able to avoid the extermination of your family,” Kayla urged him gently.

Seeing Lufang falter, Kayla quickly pressed on. “If you don’t testify against Wang Fulin and Ning Gengyu, you’ll be done for. They’ve already testified against you! At this point, that alone won’t be enough, you need to give us every name and detail you can think of if you want to protect yourself and your family,” Kayla said. “They won’t know who testified against them, I promise. Listen, if you’re exiled, I can still make sure you live well and eat well. You and yours will be taken care of. But there’s nothing I can do for you if you’re dead.”

Lufang lowered his eyes to the table, staying silent for a long moment before beginning to cry, clasping Kayla’s hand like it was a lifeline. After a few moments, he composed himself a little and lifted imploring eyes towards Kayla.

“I’ll testify,” Lufang said in a quivering voice. “I’ll testify, young master. So please…”

“See, there’s a good man,” Kayla said encouragingly. “I’ll definitely help you as long as you cooperate.” She nodded to Haoyang, who stepped forward and began recording the testimony. The list of names grew as Lufang began to babble out the details, but the man still carefully avoided implicating anyone directly tied to the Grand Duke, much less the Grand Duke himself. He was far less careful with Liu Hongyu on the other hand, seeing no issue with scapegoating a sinking ship. Kayla offered a few more reassurances after he finished, barely managing to keep a smile off her face.

"Good work, cousin. Leave the rest to me," she urged gently. Lufang nodded furiously, wiping at his dripping nose. Kayla gave him one last nod of encouragement before leaving with Haoyang in tow.

The door closed behind her as she left the room with Haoyang, and Kayla let out a short huff of air in relief. She had placed a great deal of hope on her simplified version of a prisoner’s dilemma. So glad that worked, I legit did not have a backup plan.

You did, they were just really bad, Wenyuan mercilessly reminded her. She ignored him in favor of nodding in Haoyang’s direction. The young man used a talisman to create a copy, which he handed to a lower-ranking investigator.

“What do you think?” Kayla asked lightly. If the investigators didn't approve, it was still going to be a problem. Haoyang bowed his head slightly.

“I’m deeply impressed by your methods, my lord. I must admit I had my doubts about arresting them without evidence, but it seems I had nothing to worry about in that regard.”

Kayla tilted her head, sensing the unspoken words behind the reply. “Then is there a regard you’re worried about?” The investigators and guards in the hallway seemed to stiffen slightly, but Haoyang ignored their reactions.

Haoyang hesitated briefly before speaking. “My lord, the suspect was clearly trying not to implicate anyone from the Zhao clan,” he said bluntly.

Even Kayla was a little taken aback by the open accusation.

“Sir, please watch your words!” The lower-ranking investigator hurriedly reminded him.

Kayla held up a hand. “No, I like straightforward people. That’s a great observation, Haoyang. And I did notice that. But look at the names on the list. A lot of them are under Liu Hongyu, aren't they? Once you question them, they'll be implicating no one but the Zhao clan. You already heard what I said, just rework it to suit their situations instead,” Kayla said airily.

Haoyang stared at her with a look of surprise and Kayla smiled back pleasantly. Did he expect me to throw a fit? I can't figure out what this guy's trying to do, but we'll have to keep an eye out.

Haoyang shifted nervously. “I apologize, my lord. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Not at all,” Kayla replied. “Send someone to arrest the ones Zhao Lufang labeled as most important, and repeat the same process for them.”

“As you wish, my lord. I will tell them that they were implicated by their fellow officials then?” Haoyang confirmed.

“Yes, don’t mention Zhao Lufang, and don’t mention my name. Just threaten them with execution and extermination of their families and go from there,” Kayla said. Haoyang bowed and quickly headed down the hallway to give the orders, and Kayla nodded as another investigator handed her a cup of tea. She downed it in one go and handed the cup back.

“I’d like to take a quick break and look at the transcript again,” Kayla said. The investigator bowed slightly.

“As you wish, my lord. There’s a room for investigators to take their breaks in this way,” he said, gesturing at a door at the end of the hall. “I’ll bring you a copy of the transcript in a moment.“

“Great, thank you. Tell the interrogators to take a look at the transcript and follow my lead with the others,” Kayla said. “Don’t tell them anything unnecessary and absolutely do not allow them to communicate with anyone outside their cell.”

The investigator bowed. “Please be assured, my lord. We will be very careful.” Kayla nodded before heading to the break room.

Li Wei used this method as well, and he was pretty successful. Here’s to hoping that it’ll work out for me as well.

29-Testimony and Evidence

Zhou Kuang scoffed, tossing the report aside. He turned his attention to Yunqi.

“Yunqi, I’m really determined to grab ahold of this guy now,” Kuang said, a dangerous edge in his voice. Yunqi gave him an uneasy look.

“Third Brother, I don’t believe that’ll be easy. From the looks of it, it’s Father’s will to keep him neutral,” Yunqi warned him. Kuang shook his head.

“On the surface, perhaps. But anyone can see the signs that a new center of power is about to rise in the court. Do you think Xianchun would let go of this chance? That kid doesn’t even have in-laws to rely on, if he doesn’t grab on to Wenyuan it’ll take him forever to amass enough support,” Kuang replied. “Right now, everyone’s probably calculating the odds to place their stakes. We can stay still for everything else, but not for this.”

“Jinwei also said something similar, but he said there were risks to making a move,” Yunqi said. “I’m inclined to agree.”

“Riches and power are won from danger,” Kuang said.

“Yes, but that guy’s arrested over two dozen officials in the past three days, half the court’s out for his blood. There are hundreds of complaints piling up against him already, there’s still the danger of him coming to ruin from all this,” Yunqi reminded him.

“That’s why I’m also inclined to make moves quietly, it leaves us some room to maneuver even if things go south,” Kuang said. “But my instincts tell me that won’t happen.”

Yunqi nodded slowly. “If that’s what you wish, then I’ll follow suit.”

“Did Jinwei propose a plan for you to deal with Wenyuan?” Kuang asked. “I was rather pleased with his other plan, I’d like to hear any other ideas he has.”

“Right now, everyone’s furious at Wenyuan’s methods. From what I’ve seen, I think Wenyuan isn’t going to slow down at all, so the situation will likely grow more volatile. Jinwei believes that Father’s intent to support Wenyuan will likely waver as the court’s anger increases, and Father will likely begin to withdraw his backing if he senses that the court is reaching a boiling point,” Yunqi explained.

Kuang nodded. “Jinwei means to accelerate it then?”

“That’s right. Rumors are the easiest to spread and the hardest to track the origin of, so no matter what it wouldn’t create potential pitfalls for us. But if you really are sure that Wenyuan will succeed in the end, then after Father begins to falter, we should throw all our backing behind Wenyuan,” Yunqi said. “Not only will he be indebted to us, we will also gain credit for our support in court and in public opinion.”

“Your man is really quite a strategist, but a bit of a gambler, I’d say,” Kuang laughed softly. Yunqi shook his head with a smile.

“Doesn’t that suit your tastes though?” Yunqi asked playfully. His tone became serious again as he continued. “But in case Wenyuan really fails and leaves a mess for Father to clean up, we’ll take quite a hit. Are you really sure you want to back him, Brother?”

Kuang tapped his chin thoughtfully before nodding resolutely.

“That’s right. I say we back him,” Kuang said.

“If he fails, Liu Hongyu may still be released from house arrest,” Yunqi reminded him. “But if we back him, it’s the same as completely switching out the core of our faction.”

“I understand your concern, Yunqi. But you’ll have to trust me on this. Liu Hongyu’s ship is as good as sunken now, and the Grand Duke’s walls are crumbling as we speak. Our faction has to be completely reshaped in either case, we might as well take advantage of the opportunity we were given. I don’t have proof or even a sound reason to believe this, but I’m absolutely certain that betting on Wenyuan is the right move,” Kuang said firmly.

“I trust you. If you’re sure, then I’ll take care of the rest,” Yunqi assured him.

Kuang nodded with a smile. “You’re the most reliable man alive, Yunqi. Keep an eye on the situation for me and keep me posted on any new changes.” He looked thoughtfully into the distance. “The storm in the capital has only just begun.”

///////////////////

The Emperor stared at Kayla incredulously.

“You want to search the households of all these people?” The Emperor asked, pointing at the list of names Kayla had given him.

“I humbly ask your permission to do so, Uncle,” Kayla said, bowing her head. “Since several of them are high-ranking officials, I dare not proceed without your permission.”

The Emperor opened his mouth and closed it again, letting out a sharp sigh before picking up the list of names again.

“Wenyuan, I know I told you to go for it, but isn’t this a bit much? I didn’t say anything even when you arrested all those people without evidence, but now you want to search their homes?” The Emperor asked in exasperation. Kayla quickly bowed her head.

“I’m very sorry for troubling you, Uncle. But if you look at the report, you’ll see that I have sufficient testimonies for due cause,” Kayla replied. “I know I’m toeing the line of legality by arresting officials without evidence, but that’s how civilian suspects have always been treated. If I had really investigated first and arrested them later, I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of them.”

It was shitty by modern standards, but Kayla didn’t have the luxury of worrying about it all. With how long investigations took, all the evidence would have disappeared by the time she’d gotten anything. Now, at the very least she had shortened the period of time for officials to hide their tracks as much as humanly possible. The Emperor let out another sigh, shaking his head.

“It’s not that I’m displeased with the results so far, Wenyuan. I was actually very impressed. Your methods are…unorthodox, to say the least, but given the significance of this case to the long-term stability of the dynasty, I’m willing to overlook that,” the Emperor said.

“But searching the homes of almost a dozen officials at once is going to make the situation more volatile,” he warned Kayla. “If you don’t find anything, you’re going to be barraged with complaints from the court. Even if you find something, you’ll still be criticized for acting without any consideration for the court’s stability and reputation.”

Kayla bowed her head. “I understand that, Uncle. But I’m sure you also understand how quickly they move. If the law is a foot high then the demons are three feet above, if I delay this, we risk losing a huge chance.” Knowing the Emperor, Kayla doubted he wanted to let go of a chance to hit the Grand Duke's faction either.

The Emperor patted Kayla’s shoulder. “Wenyuan, I never spoke my intention clearly but it seems you understand everything, I am very relieved to see how much you’ve grown.”

“Then the searches?” Kayla asked hopefully. The Emperor sighed and shook his head.

“I think you know why I can’t publicly give my support until there’s at least some solid evidence,” the Emperor said heavily.

“Of course I understand, Uncle. Please rest assured,” Kayla quickly replied.

The Emperor gave her a troubled look. “But I’m worried for your sake, Wenyuan. Not to doubt your abilities, but if even a small number of the officials you arrest turn out to be completely innocent, there’ll be an outrage.”

“I do not mind being punished if my actions turned out to be wrong,” Kayla said. She actually did mind, but Kayla had a feeling that she would mind the consequences of not doing her best a whole lot more. With the Imperial Decree, the Empress Dowager had moved the battlefield into the open. Even if Kayla couldn’t keep pace, she would likely be rewarded for at least trying.

“I do not wish to punish you even if things go south,” the Emperor replied in a slightly exasperated tone. “This is really why you should bring in someone else.”

Kayla bowed her head sheepishly. The Emperor heaved a deep sigh.

“Very well then, proceed as you see fit,” the Emperor finally said. Kayla lifted her head and smiled brightly at him.

“Thank you, uncle! I’ll continue giving it my best,” Kayla said cheerfully. The Emperor gave her a fond smile before nodding at Li Que, who was kneeling a few paces back. Li Que bowed his head slightly before leaving the room to send down the orders. The Emperor turned his attention back to Kayla.

“Wenyuan, I know you’ve been busy, but have you visited the Wise Consort and your cousin-in-law yet?” he asked. Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“I’m afraid not, uncle. I’ve sent them some health supplements and letters inquiring after their health, but I’ve been spending most of my time in the Bureau the last few days,” Kayla said. She didn’t really have any strengths in investigation, and the only advantage she had over officials experienced in covering their tracks was speed and surprise. The stifling atmosphere in the Grand Duke’s household was also enough of an incentive for her to work overtime if only to avoid the Grand Duke.

“I’ve heard as much,” the Emperor sighed. “I’m glad that you’re taking this so seriously, but it’s not good for your health to overwork yourself.”

“Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I’ll keep that in mind, and I’ll make my visits as soon as possible,” Kayla replied. The Emperor nodded.

“Your grandmother’s also quite concerned for your sake, you should go visit her before you return. I believe she’s also called over your cousin-in-law, and you can drop in at the Wise Consort’s place on your way back,” the Emperor said.

Kayla bowed her head gratefully. “I’m deeply touched by your thoughtful arrangements, uncle,” she said sincerely. That saved her a lot of time and trouble, especially with the Empress Dowager there to keep the situation under control.

“I can’t claim credit for that,” the Emperor said in an amused voice. “You’ll have to thank your grandmother. I won’t keep you then, you should head on over.”

“Then I’ll take my leave, Uncle,” Kayla replied. She bowed and left the room, a eunuch quickly stepping forward to escort her to the Empress Dowager’s palace. It had been a while since she’d last spoken directly with the Empress Dowager, though the old woman’s hand had been at play in almost all of the recent events around Kayla.

She bowed as she entered the Empress Dowager’s sitting room, greeted by the old woman’s delighted laugh.

“Wenyuan, you’re finally here! Your grandmother’s missed you,” the Empress Dowager called, waving Kayla over to sit next to her. Kayla joined her with a smile.

“Grandmother, Wenyuan’s here to see you,” Kayla said.

“Good grief, have you become thinner? It’s no wonder with how busy you’ve been,” the Empress Dowager said worriedly, patting down Kayla’s shoulders and arms.

Is that even possible with how much I’ve been eating?

“Not at all, grandmother. Rather, I’d say that I’ve gained weight,” Kayla replied. “And how is your health, grandmother?”

“Good, spry enough for someone my age,” the Empress Dowager chuckled. Kayla relaxed a little in the light mood and accepted the snacks the Empress Dowager pushed to her.

“How does it feel to be the head of investigation for such an important case?” The Empress Dowager asked. Kayla hastily sped up her chewing speed, having just taken a bite. She hurriedly choked down the pastry and cleared her throat.

“I’m deeply grateful for grandmother and Uncle’s trust in my abilities, though I’ll admit to being out of my depth,” Kayla said honestly.

“Nonsense. From what I’ve heard so far, you’re doing more than well enough,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Thank you, grandmother. I’m really lucky that things have worked out so far, but I’ve just ordered the households of almost a dozen officials to be searched. Uncle was worried I’m going too far, and I have my reservations as well, but I’m afraid that if I wait any longer the evidence will have been taken care of,” Kayla said. She glanced at the Empress Dowager. Of the seasoned politicians in this world, Wenyuan’s grandmother was the only one Kayla could actually trust.

“Even if there are complaints, the court officials won’t have much to say. After all, the Imperial Investigators will find the evidence,” the Empress Dowager said in a reassuring tone.

“For these officials, definitely. But I’m worried about the next batch, they’ll have had time to clean up,” Kayla said, she frowned as she tapped a finger on her chin. “But I can’t speed things up any faster than I already have.”

“There’s no need, Wenyuan.” The Empress Dowager smiled at her, patting Kayla’s hand fondly.

Kayla glanced at her quizzically. “Isn’t time of the essence for something like this?” Kayla asked.

The Empress Dowager let out a soft chuckle. “Didn’t you understand your grandmother’s meaning? Don’t worry and don’t rush. There will definitely be evidence.”

Kayla looked at the Empress Dowager in shock, the pieces finally clicking together.

Either she’s planted evidence or she has people in their households already. Just how long has she been planning this?

“Then Liu Hongyu’s case-” Kayla began.

“Will also find sufficient evidence from the testimonies of his closest attendants,” the Empress Dowager finished for Kayla.

Holy shit. I thought I knew how hard she could go but I was wrong.

I never knew Grandmother was this scary, Wenyuan said in awe.

Kayla cleared her throat, realizing she was still gaping at the Empress Dowager.

“Um, I, uh- that’s great to hear, grandmother. If the corrupt go unpunished, it is only a matter of time before it affects the stability of the dynasty,” Kayla said as calmly as she could. The Empress Dowager smiled affectionately, patting Kayla’s hand.

“That’s the right attitude, Wenyuan,” the Empress Dowager said affectionately. “Don’t worry about the backlash for now, even if your Uncle starts having second thoughts, I’ll make sure it all works out for you.”

“Thank you, grandmother,” Kayla said gratefully.

“Of course, my child. I won’t deny being a little concerned as to whether or not you could handle all this, but having my people directly come forward with the evidence seemed too blatant. I’m glad that your abilities are up to the test,” the Empress Dowager praised her.

“Not at all, grandmother. It’s all thanks to the abilities of the Imperial Investigators. My petty tricks are like carving small insects, they can’t withstand scrutiny,” Kayla hurriedly replied.

The Empress Dowager looked at her thoughtfully. “Wenyuan, you may still be inexperienced, but you are very suitable for this role.”

Kayla lowered her head sheepishly. The Empress Dowager let out a soft chuckle.

“In either case, you are better at holding your temper than Xianchun,” she said offhandedly. Kayla froze, an alarm bell going off in her mind.

“Now that things are progressing this way, I believe it is time that I transferred General Yu to the Southwest border,” the Empress Dowager continued. Kayla reeled back in shock.

In the novel, Yu Bianfu had later been transferred to the Southwest border months after Wenyuan’s murder, when Xianchun’s power was finally great enough that keeping Yu Bianfu in the palace began to become a threat. After that, Yu Bianfu had been kept away for three years and only returned to the capital when the Emperor had fallen ill.

Isn’t this too fast?

“Grandmother, but isn’t General Yu best suited for serving at your side? Not only is she talented, she’s also more thoughtful towards the needs of the women in the Inner Palace,” Kayla quickly asked. Her unease was mixed with excitement.

If Yu Bianfu leaves, we’ll be safe, Wenyuan rejoiced.

Yes, but Xianchun still has a number of other methods. I’m happy that she’s leaving but it also leaves open more possibilities I can’t foresee.

The Empress Dowager shook her head, elegantly sipping from her teacup before replying.

“It is because Xianchun is gaining ground in the court, and even if he’s told to stay put, he’s certainly going to make as much as he can out of the current investigation. On the other hand, Kuang’s political base will have taken too great a hit. You see, I need to balance things out.”

Kayla nervously picked up her teacup and gulped it down, sweat trickling down her neck.

Your grandmother is so scary...

Grandmother is so scary… Wenyuan echoed almost in unison with Kayla.

“So it’s no longer safe to let Xianchun’s person take military command within the capital,” Kayla said.

“Exactly. Kuang may have military merit, but his military support is all concentrated in the Northwest right now. If General Yu is in the Southwest, neither Kuang nor Xianchun can try something foolish,” the Empress Dowager replied. She glanced at the door, where a eunuch had arrived and was standing in wait.

“Well, it seems that your cousin-in-law is here,” the Empress Dowager said lightly, as though the previous conversation had never taken place. Kayla forced herself to calm down as the eunuch cleared his throat and announced the arrival of the Third Prince’s Consort.

Kayla had to force herself not to stare at the Third Prince’s wife. The woman looked to be about Kayla’s age and carried herself with a dignified elegance that accented her beauty.

“Cao Shuyi greets the Empress Dowager,” she bowed politely as she entered. She then turned towards Kayla and bowed her head a little. “Greetings, Left Secretariat Zhao.”

Kayla stood briefly and bowed her head. “Wenyuan greets the Third Prince’s Consort.”

The Empress Dowager gestured for Cao Shuyi to sit. The seat was close to the Empress Dowager, but noticeably further away than Kayla’s. The two women began to chat with each other, and the topic quickly turned to the Third Prince’s son.

“That’s right, I have yet to thank the Left Secretariat for the health supplements he sent to my household,” Cao Shuyi said. “My son looks so much healthier since he started using them.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. She wants me to know that she trusts me enough to use the supplements.

“I’m truly glad to hear that, my lady. And I don’t dare to accept your thanks, it is within my duty to care for the child of my cousin,” Kayla replied politely.

“Well said, Wenyuan. Speaking of gifting things, I also had a gift for my grandsons,” The Empress Dowager joined in. “I had thought of giving it to my great-grandson, but compared to him, Kuang needs it far more.”

“I’ll gladly thank you in his place, Empress Dowager. With your blessings, I would pass it on to him,” Shuyi replied.

“Of course, he’s lucky to have such a good wife,” the Empress Dowager said affectionately. She turned to Kayla. “Wenyuan, I also have one for Yunqi and Xianchun, and another one for you. I’ll give the task of passing those along to you.”

Kayla bowed her head and hid her surprise. I thought she meant for me to keep my distance as Uncle did. Does she mean for me to become closer instead?

“Thank you, grandmother. I’ll be sure to pass them along,” Kayla said.

“No need to rush, you can just give it to them when you run into them. It’s an important time for you now, but I’m hoping this will give you an excuse to relax a little as well,” the Empress Dowager said. She waved a hand and a serving girl came forward with an intricate golden tray with four scrolls on it. Just by a glance, Kayla could tell the scrolls were high-quality. Both Kayla and Shuyi looked at them in curiosity.

“These were not easy to come by, and I hope that you will use them with care,” the Empress Dowager cautioned. She took one off the tray and handed it to Shuyi, who got up and bowed deeply as she accepted it. She waved for Kayla to take the remaining three, and Kayla quickly bowed in thanks as well.

Kayla ran her fingers over the intricate scrolls, moving to slip two into her robes.

“Grandmother, what are these scrolls?” Kayla asked. The Empress Dowager smiled proudly.

“Take care of those well, Wenyuan,” she said with a note of pride in her voice. “Those are magic nullification talismans.”

30-Nullification Magic

Kayla glanced at the scrolls in surprise, and back up at the Empress Dowager.

“Nullification talismans?” Kayla asked. Damn, it’s the one thing I don’t need.

“Goodness, aren’t these very expensive to procure?” Cao Shuyi gasped.

“Of course, the high price is meant to be a deterrent. Not to mention that the ones on the market have heavy restrictions on their use, but these are different. These scrolls are exempt from restrictions,” the Empress Dowager replied. “Which is why I expect all of you to use them wisely. Wenyuan, be sure to tell that to Xianchun as well.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly.

She didn’t mention Yunqi.

Of course, the Fifth Prince is known to be very careful, she doesn’t need to remind him.

“Grandmother, what does it mean that they’re exempt from restriction?” Kayla asked.

How come you never mentioned that to me? She asked Wenyuan.

I like magic that I can actually encounter, nullification magic was too rare. There are barely a dozen talismans on the market at any given time, Wenyuan protested. Why would I bother paying more attention to them? Plus, the theorists didn’t write much about nullification magic either, they didn’t have enough to go off of.

That’s fair, Kayla admitted.

“The ones on the market right now can only nullify certain types of magic, and only nullify magic within a very small range,” the Empress Dowager explained. “But these do not have any limits, you can nullify any kind of magic within a hundred meters.”

I mean, I could also do that myself.

“Isn’t that dangerous though? Is it really alright for us to have these, Empress Dowager?” Cao Shuyi asked worriedly. Realizing that she was directly questioning the Empress Dowager, she quickly bowed her head. “Please pardon my rudeness, Empress Dowager, I’m still in awe of receiving such an item.”

“Indeed, they’re very dangerous. Whether in this palace or outside these walls, the capital is imbued with magic. It’s used by workers, guards, and even worked into weapons and buildings. That’s why the capital has always remained safe since the founding of the Dynasty. Even when rebels and invaders had started their onslaught on the city walls, we had the overwhelming advantage,” the Empress Dowager explained.

“That is why nullification magic has always been restricted, and any magicians were kept under close guard and surveillance,” she continued.

Kayla quickly glanced down, hiding her reaction.

Wait, what? Did you know that?!

No?!

Well shit, there goes Plan B, the second I bust that out I’m screwed, aren’t I?

“I didn’t know that,” Kayla said.

“It’s not written in the law, but it’s always been the practice,” the Empress Dowager replied. “Don’t worry, it’s not that you’d missed something in your studies.”

Kayla grinned sheepishly, pretending to be unbothered.

“Then Grandmother, is it really alright that we have these? I mean, when would we even use these?” Kayla asked. The Empress Dowager shook her head.

“If you’re prepared you won’t have worries. Even if the capital appears too secure to land a blow on from the outside, the situation inside fluctuates incessantly. These are to protect you boys from whatever may come your way. I trust that you will use these talismans wisely and with great restraint,” the Empress Dowager said.

Kayla nodded dutifully. So this is also a test. But isn’t that a bit risky?

Only the heavens may fully understand what Grandmother is thinking, Wenyuan replied resignedly.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there actually were restrictions on the talismans.

“Thank you, Grandmother, I’ll be sure not to use it unless absolutely necessary,” Kayla said.

“My deepest gratitude on behalf of my husband, Empress Dowager,” Shuyi chimed in. The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction before changing the topic.

“Wenyuan, you haven’t had many chances to meet your cousin-in-law before, but from now on you should pay your respects to her more often. She’s managing the household alone with such a young child, take care to look to her needs when you can,” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla bowed her head.

“Of course, Grandmother,” Kayla replied obediently.

“Left Secretariat Zhao is a busy man, I don’t dare to take up more of his time than necessary with the bits and pieces of my household affairs, but if the Left Secretariat is free, then I’m more than happy to welcome you at any time,” Shuyi said, smiling at Kayla. Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you, my lady.”

The Empress Dowager looked between them with a satisfied expression.

“Good, good. Now then, Wenyuan, I still wish to speak with your cousin-in-law a while longer. Go on and give your greetings to the Wise Consort,” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla stood up and bowed, first at the Empress Dowager and then Cao Shuyi.

“Then I’ll take my leave, grandmother, my lady,” Kayla bowed her head slightly towards each one in turn. The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile.

“Take care, Left Secretariat,” Cao Shuyi said politely. Kayla bowed one more time before leaving. She nervously patted the talisman in her sleeve.

Alright, so Plan B is going to have to be a one-time thing. If I can’t pass it off as using the talisman, I’m really not sure it’s a good idea to use my nullification magic at all.

Agreed. If the news was leaked, who knows how the Princes would react?

Kayla winced. She quickly smoothed her expression into a smile as she approached the Wise Consort’s quarters, nodding as a eunuch stepped forward and bowed.

“Greetings, young lord,” the eunuch said. “I’ll announce your arrival.”

Kayla nodded and waited for him to step into the main building, raising his voice to announce Wenyuan’s arrival. He bowed slightly towards Kayla through the doorway, indicating she could enter.

“Consort Zhao and Consort Liang are also here to visit her ladyship,” the eunuch said politely.

Your aunt’s here? No wait, the infamous beauty Consort Liang is here?

“Thank you,” Kayla said. She entered the room and swept her gaze over the three women.

Kayla bowed respectfully towards the oldest woman present. “Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets her ladyship the Wise Consort,” Kayla said, she lifted her head slightly and lowered it again towards the other two. “Consort Zhao, Consort Liang.”

“Please drop the formalities,” the Wise Consort said. Her voice came out soft and a little bit raspy. Despite her pallid complexion, it was clear that the Wise Consort must have been a stunning beauty in her youth. “It is a pleasure to see you, Left Secretariat. I must give you my thanks for all these supplements you sent.”

“Not at all, my lady. It is my honor to do so,” Kayla replied.

“The Left Secretariat’s good-natured,” Wise Consort praised her. “Your aunt is here as well, have a cup of tea with us.”

Kayla smiled at Consort Zhao, who readily smiled back. Next to her, Consort Liang gave the two of them a friendly look. The youngest concubine was indeed stunning, with a gentle and elegant air to her that seemed to pull people in. Even Wenyuan who grew up surrounded by beauties couldn’t help but react with awe. Kayla quickly averted her eyes and bowed to the Wise Consort.

“Thank you, my lady.”

She chatted briefly with the Wise Consort but quickly took her leave after the woman showed signs of tiring. Kayla left without getting a chance to speak with Consort Zhao since Consort Liang was also present. Even if Wenyuan was the Emperor’s nephew, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to interact too much with the Emperor’s younger concubines in a semi-private setting, and it would be even less appropriate to pull Consort Zhao aside in another Consort’s quarters.

Kayla settled for giving Consort Zhao a meaningful look on her way out, Consort Zhao giving her a reassuring nod in return.

What the hell was aunt doing there?

She probably came along with Consort Liang. Consort Liang’s known for being kind, it’s hardly a surprise that she came to visit a sick person.

I can’t believe my aunt actually came along though.

Kayla let out a soft sigh of relief. It’s good she’s taken my advice to heart. I can barely protect myself, much less protect her. But if she can stick to Consort Liang, she can still find a path to survival herself.

But would the Fifth Prince misunderstand? After all, he might not know Consort Liang’s personality.

Kayla scowled slightly. God forbid. But I can’t interfere in the Inner Palace’s affairs, I’ll just have to trust Grandmother’s hand to keep things under control.

Her hands were already full with the investigation, and she was barely keeping afloat. Governor Yue had mostly uncovered evidence of corruption through officials who had been messing with taxation, and once Kayla had sorted out who had done what to frame Governor Yue, it meant a whole lot of accounting and paperwork to go through to prove their motives and involvement. She didn't have to do that part herself, but she did have to know enough to wrap her head around the results that the investigators tirelessly produced.

Most of the corruption took place via the two-tax system, which involved plenty of paperwork even without the mess the officials made. The two-tax system implemented after the previous reforms looked good on paper, but it made corruption incredibly easy. Thanks to the Empress Dowager's spies and the speed at which the Imperial Investigators worked, they were gathering plenty of evidence, but it still left Kayla with the problem of managing a shit ton of audits to figure out just how much the officials had slipped into their own pockets. And it was a huge amount, to the point where Kayla felt disgusted by looking at the figures.

The original equal-fields system had concentrated land in the hands of the government and each individual had been entitled to a certain amount of farmland, but that became a problem after the population had grown. The government no longer had the resources to micro-manage fields the way it had at the beginning of the dynasty. As a result, farmland became concentrated in the hands of aristocrats, which completely messed up the taxation system based on land ownership.

To be fair, the former taxation system had wanted individual farmers to pay taxes with grain and cloth, which Kayla didn't think was too great of an idea. But even if the current system ran on coins, people had to pay twice a year. It worked at first, but within a few years, officials were increasing the number of times they collected tax without increasing the amount they handed to the court, and both the Imperial Treasury and the farmers were having a rough time of it.

It's disgusting how eager these bastards are to fatten themselves up, just like the pigs they are. The feudal elites here really aren't much better than the elites in my day, they're equally shitty, it's just the methods that changed.

Shitty people will be shitty in any time period unless they get a taste of their own medicine, Wenyuan offered in agreement.

Thank god you have some idea how to deal with the accounting, or I would be so screwed, Kayla shook her head.

Kayla's mood fell further as she thought back to the pile of scrolls burying her desk and quickened her footsteps, determined to get some more work done before the end of the day.

//////////////////

Li Que stood with his arms crossed, an intimidating frown on his face as he watched investigators hurry to and fro before him with their arms full of boxes of scrolls.

“Sir Li,” his subordinate walked over. “We’ve finished the inventory from the first batch.”

The younger man glanced over at the chaotic scene before them with amusement. “I’m guessing the second batch will take much longer, I expect the auditors are going to be working overtime for a while.”

Li Que glanced at him sharply. “Is this something to laugh at?”

“I apologize, sir.” The younger man swiftly bowed his head. “But may I ask why you’re in such low spirits, sir? This investigation’s been more successful than anything we’ve tried before.”

Li Que sighed and shook his head. “Chen Jian, you’re still too young, you don’t understand the implications of all this.”

“Please instruct me, sir.”

“I’m in low spirits precisely because we’re so successful. Do you know how much hatred the Left Secretariat is garnering right now?” Li Que said grimly. “The strength of the court’s resistance is proportional to how much they stand to lose, and as you can see…”

Chen Jian looked at the crates of evidence in the warehouse. “They stand to lose a lot,” he finished the sentence. Li Que nodded.

"But isn't it a good thing? The corruption just keeps getting worse these years, it's about time someone cleaned things up before the dynasty falls into decay," Chen Jian comforted him.

"You young folks are too hot-blooded, you only think about how much you detest corrupt officials, but have you ever considered what happens to the person who cleans things up?" Li Que snapped. Chen Jian's face fell.

“Sir, are you worried that the Left Secretariat will make us the scapegoat?” Chen Jian asked.

“No, he’s not that type of person. But that doesn’t mean those who want him to succeed won’t scapegoat us. Or even if he chooses to take on all the enmity from the court alone, that person won’t be pleased with me either,” Li Que sighed, shaking his head.

Chen Jian frowned in confusion. “You mean the Grand Duke?”

Li Que gave him a piercing glare. “You hopeless brat, do you really not understand, or are you playing dumb? Go home and ask your sister if you really can’t figure it out and keep your mouth shut!”

Chen Jian bowed his head sheepishly. “I apologize for my foolishness.”

Li Que waved him off. His expression turned blank as he noticed another investigator approach.

“Tabuyir,” Li Que greeted him. Chen Jian bowed his head towards the higher-ranking man.

Tabuyir nodded politely. “Good afternoon, Li Que. It seems your investigation’s progressing nicely.”

“It’s all thanks to the Left Secretariat’s brilliance,” Li Que said. “Did you just come from the Palace?”

“That’s right. I reported to the Emperor just now and he asked for you.”

Li Que stiffened. “He summoned me?”

Tabuyir shook his head in an almost imperceptible motion. “He asked for you,” he repeated meaningfully. Li Que drew in a deep breath.

“Understood. Chen Jian, I’m taking a break. You watch over things here,” Li Que said.

Chen Jian quickly bowed his head. “I understand, sir. If anyone asks for you, I’ll tell them you went for a walk.”

“Good.” Li Que nodded. He headed out of the Bureau, Tabuyir falling into step next to him.

“What’s this about?” Li Que asked once they were alone.

“It’s pretty much as you can imagine,” Tabuyir replied. “The Emperor’s growing uneasy with the pressure from the court.”

Li Que shook his head ruefully. “I won’t deny the Left Secretariat’s abilities, but he really is either too young or too straightforward,” Li Que said in exasperation. “What does the Emperor want me to do?”

Tabuyir gave Li Que a sympathetic look and Li Que’s shoulder slumped as he understood.

“I see,” he said heavily. “Then, what is the will of the Empress Dowager?’

Tabuyir’s look of sympathy melted into a subtle smile. “The Empress Dowager is of a different opinion. I’d expect that our time with the Left Secretariat will last quite a while longer.”

Li Que sucked in a deep breath. “Alright then. Guess I’ll be arguing for the investigation to continue then.”

“That’s a good plan,” Tabuyir agreed. “Best of luck, my friend.”

/////////////////////

An Haoyang scurried over the top of the wall, dropping into the alleyway with a soft thump. Glancing around carefully, he approached the lone figure at the end of the alleyway and removed his mask.

“Sir, Haoyang has arrived,” he said respectfully. The man turned towards him and nodded.

“I was waiting for you,” Qu Boyong said lightly. “It’s good that you came just now or I would have left.”

Haoyang hastily lowered his head. “I’m sorry sir, I was held up at the Bureau.”

Boyong shook his head. “No need to worry about it, doing your job at the Bureau properly’s the most important thing. How’s the investigation going?”

Haoyang hesitated. “It’s going unexpectedly well, my lord. But after we conducted the second round of searches, things have slowed down quite a bit.”

“Is the Left Secretariat hesitating then?”

“No, sir. The Emperor’s under a lot of pressure right now, so we haven’t been allowed to proceed with the next round of interrogations. We’re just working through what we already have at this point,” Haoyang explained.

Boyong nodded. “Good, I didn’t take the Zhao heir to be a coward.”

Haoyang stared morosely at the ground in silence. Seeing his reaction, Boyong let out a sigh.

“I know it’s not easy for you, but you have to hold your ground,” Boyong urged him.

“I understand sir, I apologize for increasing your worries.”

“How can I not worry? I heard you directly challenged him on the first day of investigations, how could you be this impulsive?” Boyong chided.

“I’m very sorry sir.”

“You have to be very careful right now. You’re still under scrutiny for withholding the communication talisman last time, how much more trouble are you planning to get into? Do you want to be kicked out from the Bureau?” Boyong demanded.

Haoyang gave him a wounded look. “I would never! I acted rashly in the moment, but it won’t happen again!”

“It better not,” Boyong said sharply. “I know it’s difficult to bow your head to him, but you’ve only had to deal with it for a short while. Do you know how much my cousin and I have endured?”

Haoyang bowed deeply. “I’m very sorry sir! I was in the wrong, I swear there won’t be another time!”

“No matter your personal feelings, the big picture comes first. Even if it means we have to swallow our pride for the moment, we can’t lose sight of our goal,” Boyong said, his tone softening at Haoyang’s admonished expression. “I’m planning to make a risky move, I’ll need your full support from now on. Can I count on you?”

Haoyang nodded. “Of course, sir. But please don’t put yourself in danger, if there’s a risk, then I can take it on.”

Boyong shook his head. “No one can take my place for this. But no matter how high the stakes, there’s no need to worry.” His smile sharpened. “I’m certain it’ll work.”

31-The Turbulent Court

Chen Jian shook his head as he sat down at the table across from his sister. The townhouse they rented was hardly big, but she had her own room with a desk upstairs that she was ignoring. Chen Jian's sister hadn't bothered going to the second story and had set to work right at the dining table. After Caichun had joined him in the capital, the girl had tossed aside most of the etiquette she followed in their parents' home back in Shandong, much to her older brother's chagrin. Seeing that his sister was still ignoring him, Chen Jian let out a loud sigh. Caichun continued to ignore him, focusing intently on her transcription work. He tried again with a louder sigh and she glanced up in annoyance.

“What?” she demanded.

“Is that how you speak to your older brother?” Chen Jian protested. Caichun rolled her eyes and turned back to the scroll.

“Caichun, help your brother out,” Chen Jian wheedled. She finally set down her brush and turned to face him.

“What do you want then, brother?”

“My boss is in a bad mood,” Chen Jian complained.

“It’s no wonder if he has to deal with you.”

“Hey! It’s not my problem, it’s the new Head Investigator they brought in from the Ministry of Justice!”

Caichun frowned. “The young lord of the Zhao family? Isn’t he said to be quite talented?”

Chen Jian scrunched his face up. “I don’t know about that.”

“Being able to anger the entire court is quite a talent, wouldn’t you say? Though that does leave the Bureau in a tight spot,” Caichun replied.

“You’ve hit the mark,” Chen Jian agreed. “He’s uncovered a lot for sure, but how are we going to deal with the aftermath?”

Caichun shook her head slightly. “It’s difficult. If you really let him shoulder all the responsibility, the Emperor won’t be pleased. That guy’s the Emperor’s only nephew. But if you don’t shove it to him, it’ll be difficult for the Bureau to deal with the court.”

“Isn’t there a way out of this?” Chen Jian groaned. "We don't get paid enough to deal with an angry court."

“Doesn’t that depend on what the Emperor chooses to do?”

“Even if the Emperor’s not mad we shoved the responsibility to him, the Grand Duke will be,” Chen Jian sighed. “No matter what, there isn’t a way out of this.”

“Are you daft? The Grand Duke’s the one who’s angriest at the young lord right now. He was the largest benefactor the last time the Imperial Court cleaned out its factions, but now his grandson's taking on the role of inquisitor and working against him. If that wouldn't anger him, he wouldn't have been targeted in the first place,” Caichun replied. “But even he can't do anything right away, not when the Emperor's directly supporting the young lord. So if the Emperor continues using the young lord, you’ll be fine. If the Emperor chooses to back down, you’ll be screwed."

“I don’t understand,” Chen Jian said.

Caichun sighed deeply. “You idiot. How on earth did you pass the Investigator’s exam? As long as the young lord continues to investigate, no matter how upset the court is, they can’t actually do anything to him if he’s acting under the Emperor’s orders. If he stops, and only when he stops, then will there be the problem of retaliation when the Emperor's protection is retracted.”

“But this case is already stirring up a mess, the court’s about to boil over!”

“I said he needs to continue investigating, not continue this investigation,” Caichun said patiently.

Chen Jian gave her a confused look. “You mean the only way out is if Emperor makes him join the Bureau? Is he going to become one of the Vice-Directors then? But my superior was supposed to be next up for that opening.”

“No. You-” Caichun took a deep breath. “He should be wrapping up this investigation before it reaches the boiling point. In fact, he should be trying to wrap it up in a reserved manner rather than trying to take out so many officials at once. But that doesn’t mean he has to drop what he has right now. More likely than not, the Emperor’s intention is to take out the Grand Duke, whatever the young lord has on hand now can be used in more than one place.”

“The Grand Duke is the young lord’s grandfather,” Chen Jian said in alarm. “Would the young lord really-”

“The fact that the Emperor handed this investigation despite this should tell you enough about the young lord’s position in His Majesty’s heart,” Caichun replied in an even tone. “If I were you, I’d think about how to prod the young lord into taking the more roundabout path that gets him to the final goal rather than the straight path that hits a dead end.”

Chen Jian nodded. “Got it. As expected from you, Caichun.”

“Don’t push too hard if you can’t do it, you could get yourself killed,” Caichun warned him. “And remember, be subtle.”

/////////////////////

Kayla breathed out slowly as she left the Emperor’s study. The Emperor was evidently faltering now that the investigation was implicating so many high-ranking officials. The pressure from the court was no joke either, and Kayla had avoided attending the last two convenings of the court, nervous at how to deal with not just one or two angry and powerful men but a whole gaggle of them. At this rate, Kayla doubted that the Emperor would even publicly accuse some of the people who were implicated, but given how large the sum of the appropriated taxes totaled, the Emperor could hardly just leave it alone either. The mood was tense in the Bureau and even more so at the Grand Duke’s household, where the servants now completely avoided Kayla. Matron Li was the only one who continued serving Kayla as usual, with the guards also replaced by a carriage from the Bureau. If it had been Wenyuan, who had never so much as gotten his own wardrobe ready, Kayla didn't doubt the situation would have been like the scene of a nightmare.

To her surprise, all three of the princes had spoken up in support of the investigation, even Yunqi who was technically taking a leave of absence. The Emperor had been shocked and pleased that anything could get his sons to show unanimous support, but it evidently wasn’t enough.

Do you think I maybe went too far with the investigation?

It followed Grandmother’s will, didn’t it? We wouldn’t have found so much if she hadn’t already been prepared for this.

But is that really enough? If the Emperor actually starts regretting it and stops, we won’t be in a good position.

Xianchun won’t be trying to kill you anytime soon, that’s for sure.

Kayla felt a small rush of relief at that. Xianchun had ended up sending her a letter of apology after the investigation began, and she had run outside to check if the sky had turned green in disbelief that the prince was actually capable of apologizing. But it was evident that the Seventh Prince was pleased with how hard Kayla had gone in for the investigation. His hatred of corrupt officials was one of his few redeeming traits, and the more she was disliked by the court, the less likely he was to lump her in with the Grand Duke.

Yes, but I’m starting to feel that I didn’t think this through enough. I mean, now everyone other than the Princes want to kill me. And if I really get put on the bench, the Princes will take a hit as well, and then they’ll also be pissed at me.

I’m sorry to say this but it’s a bit late to regret it now, isn’t it? I do wish I had thought of this earlier to warn you though.

Kayla shook her head in frustration.

“My lord.”

Kayla turned towards Li Que and smiled as the investigator approached. The investigator briefly bowed his head.

“What’s the matter, my lord? You seem troubled.” Li Que fell into pace with Kayla as they headed back towards the Bureau.

“Well, the investigation is…not proceeding as smoothly as I’d hoped,” Kayla replied, avoiding a direct complaint against the Emperor.

“His Majesty is deeply concerned for your sake, my lord. Please don’t be discouraged,” Li Que said. He nodded as his subordinate hurried over to join them.

“Left Secretariat, Sir Li,” Chen Jian bowed to them. “The carriage is this way.”

Li Que nodded and gave Kayla another sympathetic look, but didn’t speak further.

“Is something the matter? Both of you seem to be in low spirits,” Chen Jian asked. Li Que shot him a glare and the younger man quickly shrank back, lowering his head like a scolded child.

“It’s nothing much, just that the investigation may be wrapping up earlier than expected,” Kayla replied. Chen Jian’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed his mouth again.

“What?” Kayla asked him. Chen Jian glanced at Li Que, who gave him a disdainful look to shut up.

“Did you have something to say?” Kayla prodded again, ignoring Li Que.

“Um,” Chen Jian began.

“My lord,” Li Que protested at the same time. Kayla lifted a hand and Li Que shook his head with a sigh. Chen Jian glanced between them and bit the bullet.

“My sister said that you should wrap up this investigation before the court boils over,” Chen Jian said. “Your lordship could end this on a lighter note and then recycle the information for the next investigations, not only will the court be appeased, but you can also reap more benefits in the long run.”

Kayla blinked in surprise as she took in the words, but Li Que wasn’t quite so patient.

“You brat, how many times do I need to tell you to watch your tongue? Is this something you can talk about so carelessly with your rank?” Li Que snapped angrily. Chen Jian shrank back.

“And your sister-how could you divulge the details of the investigation to her?” Li Que continued.

“I didn’t! You know how smart she is, she could put everything together with just the rumors alone,” Chen Jian protested.

“And yet she didn’t warn you not to run your mouth?” Li Que demanded.

“Oh, actually, she did,” Chen Jian admitted, deflating even more.

Kayla let out a chuckle before she could help herself. Li Que turned to her and bowed his head.

“I apologize, my lord. It’s my fault for not educating my subordinate carefully,” he said.

“Not at all, that’s actually not a bad suggestion. It would resolve the predicament the Emperor’s facing and also avoid wasting the effort we’ve put in so far,” Kayla said. “Chen Jian, your sister’s quite talented. How old is she?”

Chen Jian faltered at that. “Um, she’s 19, my lord.”

Li Que glanced at Kayla uneasily as well. Kayla nodded thoughtfully.

She must be really smart then. What was I doing when I was 19?

I wasn’t doing much.

Me neither, I was bouncing between procrastination, watching Netflix, and scrounging up food in the dining hall. And this kid’s just popping off ideas like this. How come I can't think of something like this? I can just hold onto the evidence and the next investigation will be easier too. If it's in smaller increments, they would probably be forced to pay back the money and punished properly. The more people are implicated at once, the lighter the punishment will end up being to avoid a huge mess in court.

Do you really want to do more investigations? Are you a workaholic?

Kayla ignored Wenyuan’s incredulous protests and looked at Chen Jian.

“She’s that young? What work does she do?” Kayla asked.

“She works as a scribe sometimes and copies scrolls for merchants,” Chen Jian replied.

“That’s a waste of her talent,” Kayla said before she could stop herself. “Of course, I’m sure she’s putting her calligraphy talent to good use. But I mean she would make a great consultant or something of the sort, and given her age, she could go quite far in her career.”

Chen Jian and Li Que exchanged looks of surprise and relief. “That’s quite an interesting idea, my lord. I haven’t heard of many female consultants, much less an unmarried young woman becoming one,” Li Que said politely.

“General Yu is an unmarried young woman and she got promoted only a few days ago,” Kayla pointed out. “Does the Bureau not accept women?”

“We have a few who interrogate women and watch over female prisoners, but the Bureau doesn’t have any consultants since we answer directly to the Emperor,” Li Que said.

Kayla nodded and decided to hold on to the information for later. “Chen Jian, convey my thanks to your sister.” The young investigator nodded and bowed slightly.

“My lord, then how would you like to wrap this up?” Li Que asked.

Kayla opened her mouth to reply before hesitating. She reached into her sleeve, where the two nullification talismans still remained.

“Actually, let’s put that off just a little longer,” she said levelly. “We’ve got to make sure not to create a bigger mess.”

////////////////////

Kayla sat stiffly in the chair, clenching the talisman as she stared determinedly at a pillar. She looked up with a start as a familiar figure joined her in the pavilion.

Kayla hastily stood up. “Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince,” she said politely. Xianchun waved for her to sit down, sitting down across from her at the small table.

“You’ve been so busy that father’s even excused you from attending court, how did you have time to meet with me in the middle of the day?” Xianchun asked. Kayla relaxed a little at the light tone he spoke in.

Is he deliberately trying to be friendly?

I think so, since when did he speak so nicely?

“The Third Prince and I received a gift from Grandmother, and she asked me to pass on her gifts to you and the Fifth Prince as well. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten a chance to do so because of the investigation,” Kayla replied. Xianchun seemed to control his reaction to the mention of the Third and Fifth Prince with some effort and nodded. He had apologized for losing his temper at Wenyuan’s advice in his letter, but Xianchun evidently still wasn’t pleased that the Emperor was actively preventing him from recruiting Wenyuan.

“I see, what’s the gift?” Xianchun asked. Kayla pushed forward the ornate paper box on the table.

“It’s a nullification talisman, one without any restrictions,” Kayla replied. Xianchun glanced at her in surprise before opening the box. He looked it over intently before returning his attention to Kayla.

“Grandmother gifted me this? Why?” Xianchun asked.

“She gave one to each of her grandsons for self-defense within the capital,” Kayla said. “Grandmother intends for us to use them carefully, very carefully.” She placed emphasis on the last part, hoping that Xianchun understood the meaning behind her words. To her relief, he nodded.

“I see,” he said heavily. “So it’s officially begun. This must be why she transferred Bianfu as well.”

“Your highness’ observations are astute.”

Xianchun gave Kayla a thoughtful look. “And what about yours? Did she think you would be in danger too?”

Kayla held back from giving him an incredulous stare and flashed a strained smile. This coming from him?

“Grandmother’s simply being cautious,” Kayla replied. Xianchun gave a soft chuckle.

“Well, it’s true you don’t even hesitate before throwing yourself headfirst into trouble, it’s good for you to have one,” he said. Kayla nodded slowly.

“Thank you, my prince.”

“Last time with Governor Yue’s guards as well, your guards really weren’t up to the task. Except for that young man-” Xianchun began, but quickly stopped himself. “Do you still have guards now that you’re involved in the investigation?”

Kayla avoided Xianchun’s gaze. Wenyuan’s guards had been provided by the Grand Duke, and now that she was actively working against him, he had rescinded his protection as well. It was both the reason she was now escorted by guards from the Bureau and also why the court was having a field day with the investigation.

“Thanks to the Emperor’s benevolence, my safety is provided for,” Kayla replied.

Even he wouldn’t dare to act while we’re under Bureau protection, Wenyuan said in satisfaction. Xianchun only nodded, seeming more pleased than bothered. Kayla refrained from frowning as she fought to decipher his reaction.

“That’s good. Even if you can’t side with me, I still consider our goals aligned. If you ever need guards, I’d be happy to send you a few of mine,” Xianchun said.

“My prince,” Kayla said haltingly, not knowing how to reply.

“Don’t worry, if I lend you guards, Third Brother will do so too. And then Father will have to step in and assign you better security. Just accept the offer when you need it,” Xianchun urged.

Holy shit. He’s serious. He’s actually offering help. Am I dreaming right now?

Pinch yourself, Wenyuan offered unhelpfully, sounding as shocked as Kayla. Kayla nodded at Xianchun’s words in stunned silence before clearing her throat and collecting herself.

“Thank you, my prince. I am undeserving of your kindness,” she said. Xianchun waved off her gratitude.

“Don’t waste time on formalities. I’m sure you didn’t just come here to give me the talisman, was there anything else you needed to speak to me of?” Xianchun asked.

“Yes, my prince. I’m grateful for your support in this investigation, so I felt that I should discuss my next steps with you before acting,” Kayla said, clamping down on the relief blossoming in her chest. It wasn’t time to drop her guard just yet.

Xianchun frowned. “Is the situation that bad?”

Kayla lowered her head. “My prince, I wish to wrap up this investigation soon without creating much more of a mess.”

“Is that father’s will?” Xianchun demanded sharply.

“It is a solution I wish to propose to Uncle and Grandmother,” Kayla admitted. “I’ve actually gotten quite a bit of evidence, but it’s clear that the court will erupt if this current investigation continues much further. However, it’s not that I plan to let go of them so easily.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed. “Good, I didn’t take you for a coward. What do you plan to do?”

“Thanks to your gracious support, the Emperor has hesitated to stop the investigation yet, and doing so would also cause his authority to appear weak. But I also don’t wish to trouble Uncle incessantly when I can stretch it out into smaller, less annoying parcels,” Kayla said.

“You mean to recycle the information into a second investigation,” Xianchun said, a smile dawning on his face.

“Or also a third one, or a fourth one, or…well, your highness understands,” Kayla affirmed.

“You really do come up with some interesting ideas.”

Kayla hastily shook her head. “I don’t dare to take credit for this, the younger sister of an investigator came up with it.”

“She must be quite a talented woman then,” Xianchun said breezily. Kayla paused for a second.

Wait, I didn’t raise a romance flag for that girl, did I?

I don’t think so, from what I know, Xianchun’s not interested in girls too much younger.

Is 19 too young for him?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Xianchun’s amused chuckle.

“Well, if that’s the case, I’ll have to keep showing my support then, isn’t that what you’re saying?” Xianchun asked. Kayla relaxed at the joking tone.

“I’ll be relying on your infinite magnanimity, my prince,” Kayla replied, hiding her excitement. For the moment being, it seemed that her death flag really had been lowered. But how long could that last? Kayla didn’t trust Xianchun’s current attitude not to take a turnaround the second he learned about the Grand Duke’s crimes, but she also couldn’t deny that the current situation was progressing in the right direction in leaps and bounds.

Zhou Xianchun, I really hope that you can keep treating me as your ally. The day you view me as your enemy is likely the day I’ll lose my life.

32-The Resolution

Yunqi poured another cup of tea for himself in an elegant motion. Kayla was rather impressed at how calm the Fifth Prince was after receiving the talisman and her update on the investigation, he didn’t seem stressed or surprised in the slightest despite the Empress Dowager’s signal for the succession battle to officially begin.

“Things will become much more of a mess very soon,” Yunqi finally said. He smiled and gestured for Kayla to take another tea cake. She complied and took her third cake, wondering if Yunqi had inherited the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s instinct to stuff Wenyuan with food.

“It is as you say, my prince. As for the investigation,” Kayla prompted. Yunqi held up a hand to cut her off.

“Third Brother will be returning to the capital very soon, I expect it to be quite the spectacle,” Yunqi said.

Kayla nodded in response. It had been more or less glossed over in the original novel, which had been from Xianchun's point of view and therefore focused on the capital, but the Third Prince was set to return with no small amount of military merit.

The northwest border had been a site of turmoil with various nomadic tribes for much of the country's history, but with the tribes splintered and fragmented, it usually only amounted to raids whenever there was a drought or a really bad winter. After the tribes had been consolidated into a Khaganate, the two previous dynasties had given in and agreed to pay tribute in order to avoid a full-scale military conflict they didn't think they could win.

The current dynasty had actually gotten quite lucky, with the Khaganate splitting into two after a succession crisis right as the dynasty was establishing itself, and the Khaganate had remained a mess long enough for the Emperor's forefathers to fill the treasuries and strengthen the military. The current emperor's grandfather Emperor Gaozong had stopped paying tribute, and yet another succession crisis had further splintered the Eastern Khaganate before it could retaliate.

The previous Khagan had chosen his youngest son Chuluo as the successor, but his eldest son revolted almost immediately. Chuluo ended up fleeing south and sought asylum with the Imperial Court in Luoyang, where Emperor Gaozong gave him military support to reinstate him as a Khagan who was loyal to the Imperial Court. The reinstatement worked, but Chuluo also wasn't willing to be a puppet ruler. The resulting conflict had been brief but bloody and was also where the Grand Duke's eldest son had died at his post, leaving an open spot in the Ministry of War that was soon filled by Zhao Wei, Wenyuan's father still too young at the time. After several more border skirmishes, the Eastern Khaganate and the Imperial Court finally signed an alliance, but this extremely tense friendship was tested pretty much at least two or three times a decade despite the multiple political marriages that took place, and both sides kept their borders highly militarized as a result.

The current border crisis had been likely to erupt into a full-scale war after a Khaganate warrior was killed after drunkenly crossing the border, leading to escalating acts of violence on either side. Kuang had arrived just as the situation had reached a boiling point and his first day at the border was spent driving back the Khaganate's army, but it spoke to Kuang's military and diplomatic skill that the conflict had ended peacefully with an affirmation of the treaty. If not for the fact that Kayla knew Xianchun was the final victor, she would have thought that Kuang was the Main Character from that achievement alone.

“Indeed, I should offer my congratulations to the Third Prince for his impressive success at the border,” Kayla replied politely.

“I’m sure you’ll have plenty of chances to say it in person, Third Brother’s looking forward to speaking with you,” Yunqi said. Kayla nervously reached for her cup of tea. She’d expected as much, but in the original novel, Wenyuan hadn’t survived until Kuang’s return. Now that the plot had changed, Kayla felt even more uneasy dealing with Xianchun’s main competitor for the throne.

“I would be honored to speak with the Third Prince,” Kayla replied.

Shit, you didn’t get much interaction with him either, did you?

Nope, even at banquets, we sat several seats apart. He was always chatting with someone so I never approached him either.

Kayla hid her grimace by sipping at her tea again. Yunqi watched her with an amused smile.

“Wrap up the investigation however you see fit, we’ll continue supporting you for the next round,” Yunqi said. Kayla nearly spat out her tea in surprise. As much as she’d hoped for this outcome, she hadn’t expected it to be that easy.

“Wait-really? I mean-I’m deeply grateful for your support, your highness.”

“Did you think we would be reluctant because our men are implicated?” Yunqi asked lightly. Kayla lowered her head and nervously avoided his gaze.

“Please don’t misunderstand, Wenyuan. The central pillar is not any of our supporters, but Third Brother himself. Not to mention that he took your advice last time to heart, we’re hardly going to take a blow from this,” Yunqi said.

Kayla glanced at him cautiously.

“I…hadn’t expected that my prince,” she admitted.

“Third Brother assessed the situation and found your judgment to be correct, that’s all there is to it. There’s no need to overly complicate things,” Yunqi said mildly. “In either case, you’re someone we’re interested in.”

“My prince-” Kayla protested.

“No need to worry, we know your current situation demands neutrality. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for your concern for my mother. I heard that your aunt often visits her as well,” Yunqi said.

Kayla gulped. Shit, I should’ve known he would misunderstand.

“My aunt has a straightforward personality that is easily misunderstood, but she’s a good-natured person. She’s received much kindness and support from the Wise Consort, how could she not repay the Wise Consort’s benevolence?” Kayla replied.

That’s right, it’s strictly Inner Palace business, nothing to do with me. Not taking sides here, not at all, don’t drag me into this.

“Both the aunt and the nephew are people who acknowledge the kindness and seek to repay it then,” Yunqi said. He gave her a pleased smile. “I look forward to what you can do with this investigation.”

Kayla bowed her head. Shit, he totally misunderstood. Xianchun’s going to be so fucking pissed.

You can’t refuse him to his face a second time, Wenyuan said in alarm. Especially now that the Third Prince is about to return! Kayla hesitated but accepted the warning.

“I’ll be sure not to let you down, my prince.”

This is not good.

//////////////////

Kayla knelt and bowed her head to the floor as she entered the Empress Dowager’s quarters. It was the first time she or Wenyuan had ever used the full rites to greet the Empress Dowager outside of a formal event. Kayla tried her best to ignore the sweat beading on her forehead, her heart thumping nervously against her ribcage.

“Please get up, your majesty,” the Empress Dowager said. Her tone was regal and imposing, matching her image as the deeply respected master of the Inner Palace. Kayla held still, her forehead pressed to the floor until the Emperor had gotten up. The Emperor had knelt on only one knee and not bowed his head due to his high status. He got up, silk robes rustling softly.

“Thank you, mother,” the Emperor replied. The Empress Dowager nodded toward Kayla.

“Wenyuan, you get up as well,” she said. Kayla got up and bowed slightly.

“Thank you, grandmother.” She straightened, watching discreetly as the serving girls and eunuchs bowed before scurrying out of the room in two neat queues. It was possible for Wenyuan's coming and goings from the Inner Palace to go mostly unnoticed, or at least not taken much note of. Even when people did hear of it, it was only brushed off as Wenyuan being doted upon by the Empress Dowager. On the other hand, who the Emperor brought and where he brought them was certain to be information that spread like wildfire. The Emperor hadn't brought Kayla here on a whim, but rather to spread the news ahead of time that the investigation results were approved of by the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

“Please sit,” the Empress Dowager said, her tone softening somewhat. After the Emperor took a seat, the Empress Dowager gestured for Kayla to do the same. Rather than her usual seat right by the Empress Dowager’s knee, Kayla’s seat was both aside from and lower than the couch where the Emperor and Empress Dowager sat side by side.

The seating arrangement corresponding didn’t do anything for Kayla’s nerves, and she shifted uncomfortably as the two looked at her expectantly. After raising her proposal, she had been brought to the Empress Dowager’s quarters by the Emperor. Now for the first time, all three of them were sitting together.

Or rather, four if she counted Wenyuan.

Help, why is this so scary?

Calm down, this is a good sign, Wenyuan comforted her. Kayla took a deep breath.

It’s serious enough that they’re openly discussing this together. They’re usually so careful to keep their influences look as though they're separate, was this really such a big problem? Did I say something wrong?

I don’t know, please just stop overthinking it, I’m scared too.

“What a lovely surprise to see the both of you,” the Empress Dowager said lightly.

“I’m glad I brought the right guest, mother. Wenyuan was at my study earlier so I decided to bring him over as well,” the Emperor replied.

“How thoughtful of you, I was just thinking of Wenyuan when the two of you arrived,” the Empress Dowager said, turning towards Kayla. “It’s reassuring to see you still have time for your old grandmother in the midst of such a busy investigation.”

Kayla recognized the cue for her to start speaking, still feeling like a rabbit under the hungry eyes of a raptor. “Not at all, grandmother. It is my filial duty to visit you, and my pleasure as well. I had come into the palace to discuss a concern regarding the investigation with Uncle, but I would be immensely grateful for your wisdom.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and waved away the last lady-in-waiting standing a distance away, waiting until the three of them were completely alone in the room.

“So, what concerns do you have?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “It is my disgraceful incompetence. My hot-blooded actions have stirred up great discontent in the court and brought on difficulties for the investigation. Though I may be foolish and lacking, I hoped to find a solution to resolve this situation.”

“Oh? And did you find one?” The Empress Dowager’s smile grew wider.

“I would certainly say that he did,” the Emperor cut in. He nodded fondly at Kayla. “Go on and speak, Wenyuan.”

“Thank you, uncle. But I dare not claim sole credit, I received help from the experienced investigators of the Bureau as well,” Kayla said humbly. “I believe that the investigation at hand should be wrapped up in a manner that does not implicate everyone for whom we have evidence, as that would provoke the court’s rage. If we end this on a lighter note than what officials had expected, then let things die down a bit, the officials we have evidence against may let down their guards. The Third Prince’s return may help with this as well.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. “You mean to minimize the impact then?”

“That’s right, grandmother. However, I don’t mean to do so for long. I propose that after the Third Prince returns, more investigations can be launched. It won’t be necessary to stir up such a ruckus the next few times, as the evidence is already on hand. If a broad range of officials is implicated, they will scramble to cover for each other and grab onto their allies as lifelines. It would also make it difficult to administer the punishments they deserve if the implications are broad and wide-reaching. As such, playing the long game with a divide and conquer strategy may be more beneficial for the stability and prosperity of the dynasty,” Kayla said.

“Your reasoning is correct. This investigation has already reached its purpose, I approve of calling a stop to it. Even a cornered dog will attempt to jump the wall, much less these crafty officials,” the Empress Dowager said. “It’s not as though we can execute all of them. How do you want to wrap it up then?”

“Wenyuan means to wrap up two cases at once, mother,” the Emperor said. He gave her a broad grin. “The Yue Wuxuan case and the Liu Hongyu case. I am rather pleased with his plan.”

“Let me hear of it,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Xie Yunan and Ge Renqian should be found guilty as the main culprits, as well as the local investigators involved in this case as well. As for Liu Hongyu, of course he would be found guilty as well,” the Emperor said. “I’m fully in approval of this plan. I’ll be able to change out the Ministry of Justice with more suitable people and have them continue the investigation into the Ministry’s corruption with Tabuyir. Once the Ministry of Justice comes under control, any further investigations will become easier.”

“That’s a good plan. Most of the officials Wenyuan arrested were low-ranking, no one will kick up a fuss about them. But how will you appease the officials who had their homes searched if you don’t immediately punish them?” The Empress Dowager asked.

“That’s what I hoped to ask your help for, mother. Your son is also at a loss as to how to deal with this,” the Emperor said sheepishly.

“You say you’re at a loss, but you already have a plan, don’t you?” The Empress Dowager asked affectionately.

“Mother is astute as always,” the Emperor replied. “Given that Liu Hongyu’s case has been dragging on for a while now, I believe it’s time to end it on a satisfying note. As the Secretariat Director, if he is harshly punished, officials ranked lower than him won’t dare to say any more at this moment.”

“That’s right, grandmother. I believe that a display of Uncle’s wrath will quiet down the court, or at least make them less comfortable with continuing to stir up trouble,” Kayla chimed in.

“I like this idea. It would have been difficult for me to say this if you didn’t bring it up, but my anger towards that white-eyed wolf cannot be quenched with a tap on the wrist. As much as I wanted to call for him to be harshly punished, the Inner Palace cannot easily intervene in these matters,” the Empress Dowager said.

Jackpot. This was exactly what she wanted. Kayla softly drew in a deep breath as some of the tension eased from her shoulders.

“Of course, mother. How do you believe we should proceed then?”

“Yue Wuxuan faced the extermination of his family for treasonous statements, why should Liu Hongyu not face the same?” The Empress Dowager said frostily. Kayla flinched in shock before she could hide her reaction.

“But of course, he has served two Emperors and his family has been loyal for generations. Before him, at least, they were a loyal and virtuous line. It can’t be denied that Liu Hongyu’s son has climbed to his current rank through his father’s connections, and the same goes for the Minister of Rites as well. Of the whole family, the only one who can be said to have earned their keep is Consort Liu. Even if she’s only had a daughter who didn’t survive infancy, she’s still served you attentively for many years,” the Empress Dowager said, her tone easing up a little. She glanced at Kayla with a reassuring expression.

“It is unfortunate, but mother’s words are painfully accurate,” the Emperor admitted. “Then how about this? The members of Liu Hongyu’s family who currently serve in the capital should be demoted and stripped of their titles. Liu Xiu will be removed from the ranks of officials altogether, and the others should be transferred to the provinces. Consort Liu should remain as she is, I can’t bring myself to drag her into this because of her father. As for Liu Hongyu himself…” the Emperor trailed off, leaving it open to the Empress Dowager.

“The Emperor’s judgment is wise, if even a single member of his family remains in the capital, they will go around trying to pull connections or raise a ruckus to reverse your decision. Better to keep your eyes clean with them out of sight,” the Empress Dowager said. “As for Liu Hongyu, I suppose executing him outright may incur a backlash. Even if people wanted to see him come to ruin, the hearts of the populace are easily swayed to anger or sympathy.”

“Then what do you think is best, mother?”

“Keep him under house arrest in his Inner Quarters. Let him stay where he is, but shut his ears and mouth,” the Empress Dowager replied. “Without an Imperial Decree, no one should be permitted to make any contact with him, not even his wife or concubines, much less anyone else.”

Kayla felt a small rush of relief. Even if it wasn’t her decision to make, she still balked a bit at having a direct hand in the extermination of someone’s family.

Thanks to your grandmother’s restraint, looks like I won’t have to worry about that just yet.

I know, these types of cases usually can’t be wrapped up without some serious bloodshed, I’m almost surprised at how lightly they’re treading.

“That’s an excellent judgment, mother. It would be difficult to execute him outright, given that I do not wish to tarnish my sister’s reputation by fully disclosing his insults to her name,” the Emperor said. He glanced at Kayla.

“Wenyuan, what do you think? If possible, I want to minimize your involvement in this to the public,” he added.

“I am always in awe of Uncle and Grandmother’s foresight and thoughtful arrangements,” Kayla replied. “I have no objections.”

“Good, then let’s settle it like this,” the Empress Dowager said with finality. She turned towards the Emperor. “I’m very satisfied with Wenyuan’s performance thus far. As for the next few investigations, how about leaving them to him as well?”

“That’s exactly my plan, mother. I’m glad you also agree,” the Emperor said. “Kuang’er will be returning soon, so let’s hold off on it for a bit. We can continue after he’s back.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with a satisfied expression. “Yes, a good occasion will justify it as well. Wenyuan, you should return to the Ministry of Justice for the time being, and we will arrange the rest,” she said.

Arrange what? Something vaguely resembling an alarm bell went off in Kayla’s mind. She knew that the Empress Dowager was definitely aiming for another goal beyond implicating officials in the Grand Duke's faction, but not what the old woman actually wanted.

“Understood, grandmother,” Kayla said obediently. It wasn’t as though there was anything she could do about it. The conversation turned to the topic of the Third Prince’s return, with the Emperor bubbling with barely contained excitement. Kuang was still the Emperor’s favorite son at this point, and Kayla was hardly surprised when the Emperor decided to have the court welcome the Third Prince from outside the city gates.

She swallowed the last shreds of nervousness bubbling in her stomach. I’ll just have to trust that their arrangements are for the best.

33-Back to the Ministry

Kayla took a deep breath as she watched the investigators packing up her scrolls. She turned to Li Que with a small smile.

“Thank you for everything,” she said sincerely. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve put you through.”

“Not at all, my lord. It was a pleasure to assist you in this investigation,” Li Que replied warmly. “And if the Emperor’s decision remains the same, I have no doubt we’ll see each other quite often from now on.”

Kayla nodded a little less certainly at that. “I hope so. Are you sure the Bureau will be alright?”

“We will be, no one will dare to try anything with someone under the Emperor’s direct command at a time like this,” Li Que said confidently.

The Liu household had become completely isolated on the same day as the investigation had been wrapped up on a far milder note than the court had expected. Officials of the Liu family had been ordered to relocate to their new posts in remote provinces in the middle of the night, and Liu Hongyu’s household had been subject to thorough confiscations, leaving the former Secretariat Director under house arrest in a now desolate mansion. Unsurprisingly, the confiscations had rounded up a large sum of gold and silver far beyond what Liu Hongyu could’ve possibly gained through his salary alone. The fact that Governor Yue's case also directly implicated him certainly didn't help the former Secretariat Director's position either. The sharp contrast between the Emperor’s harsh punishment and the gentle handling of the investigation had stunned the court into silence, and Kayla highly doubted that anyone would dare to object at the convening of the court in two days.

“I’m sure you’re right,” Kayla said. She nodded as the investigators finished packing.

“My lord, the Bureau will continue providing your security for the time being,” Li Que said.

“Oh, that’s too much trouble,” Kayla protested entirely insincerely.

“Not at all, my lord. I believe it may be inconvenient for you to hire guards of your own at this time, but your safety can’t be left unattended. This was specially asked of us by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager as well,” Li Que insisted. Kayla nodded with false reluctance.

“If that’s the case, I gratefully accept,” Kayla said. She lingered in the room a little longer.

“Sir, now that Minister Xie and Right Secretariat Ge have been found guilty, you’re the highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice, and a third rank official to boot. Thanks to your performance in this investigation, your future will surely be as smooth as brocade,” Li Que encouraged her.

“It’s all thanks to the support of the Emperor and the Bureau, I hope that His Majesty finds a suitable official with sufficient experience to take hold of the steering wheel in the Ministry,” Kayla said. “In the meantime, I’ll try to keep the Ministry from becoming too much of a mess with my limited capabilities.”

“The Left Secretariat is too humble,” Li Que said warmly.

Kayla was walked to her carriage by what appeared to be pretty much the entire investigation team, Chen Jian waving with both arms as she got into the carriage. She watched as the Bureau became smaller and the familiar building of the Ministry of Justice came into sight. Kayla fought down the vague sense of nausea in her chest.

At this rate, Uncle will probably make you the next Minister of Justice. Wouldn’t that be great? Even if he someday changes his mind, Xianchun wouldn’t be able to act too recklessly towards you.

I don't want to be the Minister of Justice. Well, actually, no offense, but both of us aren’t qualified to be Minister, we’ll be constantly stressed and I’ll want to throw up all the time.

But you're pretty good at the whole investigation thing. And Uncle has to signal his continued support somehow, doesn’t he? People don’t know much about your involvement in the Liu Hongyu case, so that doesn’t count.

Kayla mulled over Wenyuan’s words. You make a good point. If we don’t get a promotion, people will take that as a sign to tear us apart. If that happens we’ll have to turn to the Princes for help and then we’ll be in their debt.

Leave it to Uncle, he loves promoting people he likes.

Kayla smiled ruefully. He really does. I sure hope he continues doing so this time as well. But without making me Minister, hopefully. I really can't manage a Ministry, and it's going to make it way more difficult to avoid the succession struggle. Is there another option?

We’ll see by the next convening of the court.

She got off the carriage and approached the Ministry of Justice. It hadn’t been that long since she had been there, but it somehow felt like it had been an eternity. Kayla drew in a deep breath and entered the building.

“Left Secretariat!”

Kayla frowned as the familiar face of Jia Fu appeared before her and quickly smoothed out her expression.

“Jia Fu,” Kayla greeted him in a neutral tone. He’s the Grand Duke’s man, there’s no way he has good intentions.

The same could be said of the other officials, Wenyuan reminded her. Kayla grimly accepted the warning.

“Welcome back, Left Secretariat!” Jia Fu said with an insincere smile. “We’ve been anticipating your return!”

Kayla nodded. “It’s good to be back,” she said just as insincerely.

“Since the Minister and the Right Secretariat are no longer present, the affairs of the Ministry have been handled by the Director of Ministry Affairs,” Jia Fu reported. “Now that you’re here, you’ll be in charge.”

“The convening of the court is in two days, I’m sure the Emperor will assign us a new Minister soon enough,” Kayla replied coolly. She was sure that if she agreed, Jia Fu would go everywhere spreading the rumor that Zhao Wenyuan had overstepped his status as a Left Secretariat and was rejoicing in his power over the Ministry.

“The Left Secretariat is too humble, who could possibly be a better choice for the position? You’re already dressed in purple robes, does it make sense that you remain in your current post?” Jia Fu asked. Kayla withheld a frown.

I trust the Empress Dowager knows what she’s doing, but this guy just doesn’t stop baiting does he?

He’s actually already holding back, Wenyuan admitted. I used to not say anything to him at all and pretend he wasn’t there.

Did that stop him?

No.

With that very reassuring information, Kayla shook her head at Jia Fu.

“How can we as subjects be so arrogant as to guess at the intentions of His Majesty the Emperor? Keep your tongue in check and stop wasting your time on affairs above our positions,” Kayla said sharply. Jia Fu bowed his head slightly.

“I apologize Left Secretariat. Thank you for the reminder, I will watch my conduct from now on,” he said. He led her into the main hall of the Ministry, where Director Ke was nervously shifting from foot to foot while carrying a tray with three seals on it, a gaggle of the Ministry’s officials shuffling behind him with just as much nervous energy. Kayla paused before approaching him.

“Director Ke, good to see you again. I heard you’ve taken on the heavy burden of the Ministry,” Kayla greeted him.

“Welcome back, Left Secretariat. I only took on the role for a short duration as an inferior product for the real thing, I’ll return the authority to your most capable hands now,” Director Ke said. Kayla noted the tension in his voice.

The court was well and truly undergoing a great shift, but few of the officials were sure of how big the shift really was, much less what would happen or who would come out on top. Even if the Ministry of Justice was full of the Grand Duke’s men, they were probably deliberating their choices and calculating what course of action would benefit them the most.

If the Emperor really makes me the Minister of Justice tomorrow, it’ll be the official signal of the shift of power away from the Grand Duke. It was an unavoidable event and a necessary one, but Kayla didn't want to be the herald of the upcoming storm. Kayla felt sweat beading under her collar at the thought. Things are about to become a mess and I’m caught in the thick of it.

Kayla took the tray from Director Ke, feeling that it was much heavier than just the sum of its contents. After a moment of silence, she looked Director Ke in the eye.

“Thank you for your service, Director Ke. I will keep the Minister and Right Secretariat’s seal in the safe until the Emperor fills the positions, I’ll ask you to help me keep it secure as you have done so far,” Kayla said.

I can’t afford to make a single mistake until the Emperor makes the necessary arrangements, if I so much as touch these seals they’ll have a field day with me, and God help me if I lose the seals.

Better to make it his problem, Wenyuan agreed.

“As you wish, Left Secretariat,” Director Ke said. He took the tray back, Kayla taking Wenyuan’s seal off it.

“Alright, thank you everyone, but let’s get back to work,” Kayla said, trying to get rid of the throng of officials before her.

“Sir, actually there’s something that requires your immediate attention,” Jia Fu hurriedly said. Kayla nodded for him to go ahead.

Director Jiang, the Director of Ministry Expenditures quickly stepped forward and bowed his head briefly. “Left Secretariat, the Imperial Investigator Bureau has been pressuring us the last few days, and they directly barged in yesterday!”

”That's right sir, you have to do something about this!” Director Ke chimed in.

“What’s this about? Did they say?” Kayla asked.

“They demanded access to all the archives and records, they said it was for an investigation but not which one,” Director Ke replied.

“Who was the lead Investigator? Surely they would have said,” Kayla prodded.

“It was Inspector Tabuyir, he came with a golden plaque so we couldn’t stop him, but he said he would be back. What do we do, Left Secretariat?” Director Jiang asked worriedly. Kayla gave him a blank look.

“There’s nothing we can do, is there? We cooperate,” Kayla said flatly.

“But sir!” There was a clamor as the officials began protesting.

“Left Secretariat, if I may, but giving them free access to the records is hardly beneficial to the Ministry,” Jia Fu said tentatively. “Not to mention that the difficulties from being involved in the investigation will become your problem once your promotion comes through.”

“Whether or not I’m promoted has nothing to do with the investigation,” Kayla replied.

“Sir, you’re also an official of this Ministry, are you really going to let this happen?!” Director Jiang protested loudly.

“The investigation is taking place with Imperial permission, and you want to ask whether or not I’m allowing this to happen? Forgive me, but I don’t see how I could possibly do anything about this situation. The best thing for everyone involved is to cooperate properly,” Kayla shot back.

“I highly doubt that is true, Left Secretariat. And please don’t forget, your signature is on many of those records too,” Director Kuang added. “Even if it didn’t have anything to do with you, will the investigators try to piece together a narrative that may get them the biggest chance of catching a big fish and advancing in the Bureau?”

Kayla sighed, looking at the gathered officials with exasperation. They stared back with expectant expressions and no small amount of desperation. The tension rose in the room as her silence dragged on.

“I see now why everyone is gathered,” Kayla sighed. “But unfortunately, I know of Inspector Tabuyir. He is highly skilled, and whether or not you cooperate, he will get his hands on the records. And once he does, you will also be guilty of intervening with an Imperial investigation.”

The animosity in the room was almost thick enough to be cut with a knife as Kayla spoke. The officials didn’t even bother concealing their ill will as they glared at her.

“Young lord, if I may,” Jia Fu cut in. Kayla frowned at him.

“If you wish to convince me otherwise, you would be better off keeping your silence,” Kayla replied.

“It’s not just about the investigation but also your future, young lord. Now that you’re on bad terms with the Grand Duke, you already face many difficulties in the court. If you cooperate with the investigation, the Emperor’s anger at the Ministry of Justice may extend to yourself. Even if he doesn’t, how long can a Minister incapable of running a Ministry remain in the Emperor’s favor? After all, a Minister manages not just the Ministry but its officials,” Jia Fu said. Kayla glared at him.

He’s signaling to the others that it’s alright to directly act against me even if I become the Minister. Fucking bastard!

“Jia Fu, I warned you earlier not to go around guessing the Emperor’s intentions for the choice of personnel,” Kayla said frostily. “It’s only been such a short time and you’ve forgotten, rather than worrying about my future, wouldn’t it be better to worry about your memory?”

Jia Fu opened and closed his mouth, his jaw clenching in anger. Kayla turned toward the other officials.

“Don’t expect me to act as a shield for the Ministry, the investigation will happen, and I will cooperate. In addition, if any records or archives disappear, I will punish everyone whose signature was on the documents for the crime of corruption and collusion,” Kayla said in as severe a tone as she could manage while keeping her voice steady.

“As you wish then, Left Secretariat. I hope you don’t come to regret this decision,” Director Ke said sarcastically. “However, there are so many records, how on earth do you expect us to keep track?”

Kayla glanced back towards where the boxes she brought back from the Bureau were and walked over to the box she had marked with red ink. She fumbled a bit before getting it open. Kayla took out the scroll on top, heading back to the officials and unfurling it before them.

“Do you see this? This is a comprehensive inventory of all the investigation records and documents handled by the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla announced. She turned so that everyone could get a look. “It contains a detailed list of everything, box by box, as well as the names of the officials who were responsible for the case. If anything goes missing, or if someone loses track of something, I’ll just go by the information I have. And if it so happens that the document we lost didn’t have everyone listed, then that’s just too bad. If I can’t verify it, I’ll just have to extend it to everyone involved in that case.”

Jia Fu stared at her in shock. “That was why you were always in the archives-Left Secretariat, do you understand what you’re doing right now?”

“Left Secretariat, I heard you recklessly arrested officials and searched their homes during the investigation, but I had thought it was the actions of Investigators involved in the case! To think you would treat your own colleagues in this manner!” Director Jiang shouted angrily. Kayla rolled up the scroll, shooting him a glare.

“It is what it is, you all should make your peace with that,” Kayla snapped. “Whatever the next Minister decides to do has nothing to do with me, but let me warn you all that the Bureau has a copy of this inventory as well.”

The library science and archives courses she had taken when her history classes had been canceled due to low attendance had really paid off. As incomplete as the inventory actually was, the print was small enough and the list impressive-looking enough that it would likely have some preventive effect.

Unable to stand the stress of dealing with a mob of angry men whose only restraint was that they couldn’t outright beat her to death, Kayla decided to book it.

“I believe I’ve spent enough time on this issue, I’ll return to my desk now. Director Ke, I’ve left the seals in your care, so if anything happens to them, you’ll be held fully responsible,” Kayla announced. She tucked the scroll into her robes and began moving the boxes back to her desk one by one. To her relief, none of the officials came over to “help” and probably destroy a bunch of scrolls in the process. The angry officials eventually dispersed by the time she was almost done, and Kayla grabbed the last box, heaving it with a bit more effort.

Chen Jian was very good at packing and seemed to like the work very much, but his ability to cram an ungodly amount of scrolls into one box tended to make things err more on the heavy side. Though Kayla had left all the evidence in the Bureau except for the inventory, her English notes had been brought back since no one could read them. Even if someone brought in a guy from England by some miraculous means, Kayla was pretty sure they didn’t use modern English yet, much less her abbreviation and internet slang-laden vocabulary. Kayla shifted the weight and yelped as the box was abruptly lifted from her arms.

Shit! Why this box? I have a shit ton of notes in this one!

“How dare you!” Kayla snapped.

“Apologies, Left Secretariat. That looked rather heavy,” a familiar voice said as the box shifted aside to reveal the man's face. Kayla blinked.

“Tabuyir, it's good to see you. Sorry, I didn’t see who it was,” Kayla greeted him sheepishly.

“Not at all. How come you’re moving these yourself, sir?” Tabuyir asked.

“I needed the exercise,” Kayla replied, not wanting to go into the details.

“Understood, sir. This one’s a bit heavy, I’ll take it to your desk for you,” Tabuyir said, heading off before Kayla could protest. Kayla hurried to catch up with him.

“I’ve arranged what I could with the Ministry, but in the absence of a Minister, there’s only so much I can do,” Kayla warned him. “Please go by the inventory if you need the records, and let me know if you see something missing.”

“Please rest assured, young lord. I will certainly let you know. I apologize for doing this at such an inopportune time when you’ve just returned,” Tabuyir said.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m happy to help out however I can,” Kayla replied. Tabuyir set down the box by Kayla’s desk and quickly glanced around.

“My lord, the mood in the Ministry is…” Tabuyir inquired cautiously.

“Please don’t let it bother you, just continue as you were,” Kayla assured him. Tabuyir hesitated for a moment but bowed his head.

“Then I’ll take my leave of you, my lord. I’ll report back shortly,” he said. Kayla nodded, watching as the tall man walked away to where his subordinates were waiting. Whatever the Emperor decided, it would be a rough road ahead.

34-The New Minister

Kayla shifted uncomfortably in her spot. She stood in the same place as usual in the convening of the court, but the spots belonging to Liu Hongyu, Minister Xie, and Ge Renqian were conspicuously empty. It was her first time attending in quite a while, and even if people were at least trying to be subtle, Kayla could sense officials glancing between herself and the Grand Duke, who stood in his spot at the front.

This is so uncomfortable. Kayla was almost anticipating Xianchun’s arrival at this point since the Emperor still had a while before arriving. To her relief, the Seventh Prince arrived soon after the thought crossed her mind. Xianchun gave her a friendly glance from across the hall as he headed to his spot, seeming to have sensed Kayla’s hopefulness at his appearance.

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Kayla’s relief turned into dismay as the glances simply incorporated Xianchun to glance between the three of them in a lopsided triangle. She gave up and chose to endure the uncomfortable atmosphere until the Emperor finally arrived.

“Announcing the arrival of the Emperor!”

Kayla knelt and lowered her head, genuinely grateful at his arrival. “We humbly greet His Majesty, may the Emperor live ten thousand years,” she said in unison with the other officials.

“You may rise,” the Emperor said. Kayla got up, once again meeting eyes with Xianchun as he glanced in her direction. He turned back towards the throne, pulling his gaze away after a slight pause.

Does he know what the decision is?

The court proceeded normally, but anticipation hung thick in the air. Even as officials deliberately avoided both Liu Hongyu and Kayla’s recently finished investigation, the empty spots drew the discreet glances of officials in the dozens.

“Your Majesty, due to their crimes, both Xie Yunan and Ge Renqian have been removed from their posts. The Ministry of Justice now has two empty seats in its upper ranks, I’m concerned that it will affect the operation of the Ministry,” Minister Hu said. The seat of Secretariat Director and Grand Chancellor had each been filled by the second-highest ranking officials in each department, and while Kayla sensed it was temporary, it had been enough to silence the court. The question was if the Ministry of Justice would follow a similar procedure, which would make Kayla the next Minister. Even though there were procedures in place, the nature of the investigation placed the decision squarely in the Emperor’s hands.

Kayla nervously shifted, discreetly trying to wipe her sweaty palms.

“Minister Hu’s concerns are correct, I have also been thinking of what would be the best arrangement,” the Emperor said. “After careful deliberation, I have come to a decision.”

Kayla froze in place, her heartbeat quickening.

“I have decided to move Lord Liang from the Hanlin Academy to the position of Minister of Justice,” the Emperor announced. Kayla’s heart skipped a beat in surprise, followed by a brief wave of relief and anxiety. Lord Liang was Xianchun’s man, so he likely wouldn’t be trying to corner Kayla right away, but should Xianchun ever change his mind about her, Lord Liang would be in an excellent position to make a move.

“As for the Right Secretariat, Zhang Dingyong would be suitable,” the Emperor continued. Kayla slowly took a deep breath. Zhang Dingyong was in the Third Prince’s faction and a relative of the Fifth Prince. It seemed that the Emperor was really trying to balance the stakes. The Ministry’s top three officials now had one in Xianchun’s faction, one in the Third Prince’s, and one neutral. Even if it didn’t appear so at first, Kayla understood that it was the neutral official who was in the stickiest spot.

She could sense the barely restrained glances between the officials throughout the court, as well as Director Ke and Director Jiang’s triumphant smirks in her direction. Kayla glanced at Xianchun to see him exchanging reassuring smiles with Lord Liang, but the prince’s smile froze and fell away as he caught sight of Kayla. Kayla stood still for the rest of the court session, relieved that she could keep her silence.

Almost the second the court was dismissed, the officials broke out in hushed murmurs. Kayla made her way over to Lord Liang with a smile.

“Congratulations, Minister Liang,” Kayla said, bowing her head slightly. Lord Liang hurriedly grabbed her hands.

“Left Secretariat Zhao, I must admit that this has come as a surprise. I am unfamiliar with the Ministry’s affairs, I’ll be relying on you to guide me through this,” Lord Liang replied. Kayla gave him a polite smile. Like hell you are, you’re supposed to be one of the most capable characters.

“Of course, Minister. It is my duty to do so,” Kayla said. She stepped aside as the other officials came forward to give their congratulations, making her way over to Zhang Dingyong.

“Right Secretariat Zhang, congratulations and welcome to the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla said, offering him a smile. Zhang Dingyong returned the smile.

“Thank you, Left Secretariat. I look forward to working with you from now on, may I ask for your advice? Unfortunately, I’m not very familiar with the Ministry and will be in need of your advice,” Zhang Dingyong said. Kayla nodded. Here he goes, he’s been lying in wait for a while, but he’s also one of the most capable characters on Kuang’s side. The last person he needs advice from is me.

“Of course, Right Secretariat. Please feel free to ask me anything,” Kayla replied. She moved aside for the other well-wishers and stepped back to wait for her new colleagues. Even if they wouldn’t be going to the Ministry right away, it would be rude to leave before them.

“So it wasn’t the Left Secretariat…”

“Of course not, he's a treacherous person who screwed over his own superior and colleague, the Emperor wouldn’t place a Ministry into the hands of such a person.”

“He’s working against his own grandfather too, why use someone unfilial when there are other choices?”

“Serves him right, this will be fun to watch.”

Kayla ignored the not-so-quiet whispers behind her. Given how many people there were, she wouldn’t be able to pick out the gossipers, but people were looking forward to a show from her. She patiently waited for the crowd of congratulators to thin, but Xianchun made his way over before that could happen. The whispers quickly died down as he approached.

“My prince,” Kayla greeted him.

“Wenyuan, you wrapped up the cases nicely,” Xianchun said. Kayla blinked at the compliment. Is he trying to comfort me?

“Thank you, my prince. I’m glad that the Ministry is also arranged for now,” Kayla replied cheerfully, trying to signal that she didn’t mind.

“I also expected it to be you until I got the news,” Xianchun said softly enough that others wouldn’t be able to hear clearly. Kayla nodded slowly.

“This is for the best, the Ministry is in good hands with Lord Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang,” Kayla said. “I would never be able to handle it even if I were appointed.”

“Stop trying to act humble,” Xianchun replied. “Lord Liang won’t give you a hard time.”

Kayla hesitated at the guarantee. “I’m glad to hear that he’s a kindhearted person, my prince.” Even if they kept the volume down, they were still in public. It wouldn’t do for someone meant to be neutral to be acknowledging the princes’ factions. She could only hope Xianchun understood her meaning instead of thinking her ungrateful.

“He is,” Xianchun replied reassuringly. Kayla felt a rush of relief. Xianchun stepped away again as the crowd thinned, swiftly leaving the hall.

Back inside Wenyuan’s quarters, Kayla sprawled on the bed while mulling over the events.

Would the officials then think the Emperor was dissatisfied with the investigation? That might be good for getting their guards down.

In either case, Kayla didn’t doubt that 25 was a bit too young to be managing a Ministry full of old snakes. It also changed the mood inside the Grand Duke’s household to a more gloating one rather than the stony anger before. Kayla wouldn’t argue that it was an improvement given how much the Grand Duke had been gloating, but at least it wasn’t a downgrade.

“Young lord, I’ve brought your dinner,” a voice said at the door. Kayla sat up to reply but hesitated. After she had received the Imperial Decree the only person who would bring her meals was Matron Li, but the voice belonged to someone else.

It’s Chujiao, Wenyuan instinctively identified. Hurry up and let her in before someone sees her!

“Come in,” Kayla hastily called. The door swung open, and Chujiao entered with a tray of food and a worried expression.

“Chujiao, what are you doing here?” Kayla asked gently, walking over to close the door behind her. Chujiao set it down and turned to Kayla with a look of genuine concern.

“Young lord, I couldn’t help but come here. I was so worried when I heard about the court session,” Chujiao said softly. Kayla frowned slightly.

“What did you hear?”

“About the new Minister of Justice, my lord.”

“News sure spreads quickly,” Kayla sighed.

“It’s known throughout the city by now, all the officials’ servants are gossiping about it,” Chujiao said in a small voice. She took a step forward to grab onto Kayla’s sleeve. “Young lord, will you be alright?”

“I’ll be fine, you don’t need to worry. Rather than myself, you should worry about your own situation,” Kayla reassured her. “Will you be alright? You were my personal servant for so long, is anyone giving you trouble?” In hindsight, sending Chujiao away regardless of the young woman's protests would probably have been a good idea even if Chujiao wasn’t potentially a spy, given how much shit Kayla was stirring up.

“No, my lord. The old man in charge of my division is a very kind person,” Chujiao replied.

Kayla sighed. Even if her superior was a good person and Matron Li had her back, Chujiao was still likely to become isolated.

“I’m sorry about this, Chujiao. Listen, how about I find a job for you in another place?” Kayla offered. If Kayla asked Xianchun for this favor, she doubted he wouldn’t agree. As much as she didn’t want to be indebted to any of the princes, it would at least help balance out Yunqi’s current misunderstanding about Consort Zhao's actions while keeping Chujiao safe. If nothing else, Xianchun wasn’t too bad of a master to his servants.

“Please don’t, my lord! I wish to remain here,” Chujiao hastily replied. Seeing the resolute look in Chujiao’s eyes, Kayla decided to drop it for now.

“Alright then, but let me or Matron Li know if you ever want to change your mind,” Kayla said. She gestured at the tray. “Do you need to get back now?”

“No, my lord. Matron Li ordered me to do this,” Chujiao said happily. Kayla shook her head slightly, knowing that Chujiao had definitely begged the older woman again. There was an overwhelming rush of gratitude and affection in her chest, and Kayla couldn’t tell how much of it was Wenyuan’s emotions and how much of it was her own.

“Then sit down and eat with me,” Kayla offered. “There’s no one else here anyway.”

Chujiao hesitated, but Kayla gently tugged on her sleeve. “There’s enough food,” Kayla coaxed her. Chujiao smiled and gave a nod.

“As you wish, young master.”

Kayla nodded to Tabuyir from where she stood slightly behind Lord Liang as the Investigator finished for the day. Lord Liang took to the Ministry like a fish to water, and already had a practiced air by his third day, and Right Secretariat Zhang wasn’t much behind him. Kayla had to admit she was impressed with the average intelligence level of the men in each faction, though it left her walking on eggshells.

“Left Secretariat, you were formerly acquainted with the Inspector, weren’t you?” Right Secretariat Zhang asked as the Inspector left.

“I met him through my investigation at the Bureau,” Kayla replied. It was technically the truth.

“I believe we should also call it a day, gentlemen,” Lord Liang cut in before the Right Secretariat could inquire further. Kayla bowed her head and took her leave, heading out without stopping to chat with anyone. The Ministry of Justice had settled down into an orderly routine again, with Lord Liang smoothly proceeding with the Bureau’s investigation now that Kayla had already accepted it. The animosity of the Ministry's officials was largely directed towards her rather than the two newcomers, though it might have to do with the fact that she had threatened the Ministry’s officials with an inventory list.

Kayla squinted as she approached her carriage. The guards seemed to be arguing with someone, their faces twisted in annoyance. Kayla quickened her footsteps to get a better look. She came to a full stop before them.

“Good evening,” Kayla said, cutting into the ongoing argument. The guards quickly turned towards her and bowed their heads in greeting.

“Left Secretariat, I apologize for the disturbance,” one of the guards said. “This man insisted on speaking to you and wouldn’t leave, we’ll get rid of him right away.”

Kayla did a double-take as she finally got a good look at the person in question.

“Qu Boyong?” Kayla said in surprise. The young man was dressed in normal clothes rather than his guard uniform and she barely recognized him without a helmet.

“Young lord!” Qu Boyong hastily bowed.

“It’s alright, I know this man,” Kayla told the guards.

“I apologize, Left Secretariat, I thought-”

“It’s alright, I appreciate it,” Kayla assured the guard. “This isn’t a great place to speak, I’d like to talk with him on the carriage.”

“As you wish, Left Secretariat. Please let us know if you need anything,” the guard replied politely. Kayla nodded and turned back to Boyong.

“Let’s speak in the carriage, I can let you off before we get back,” Kayla said. Boyong nodded, holding out a hand to help her onto the carriage and climbing in after her. He sat down across from her a little stiffly.

“Was there something you wanted to speak to me about?” Kayla asked.

“I apologize for the trouble, young lord. It’s just that I can’t ever get a chance to speak with you these days,” Boyong said apologetically. Kayla gave him a thoughtful look. She found Boyong reliable, but she doubted that he would have come if there wasn’t something he wanted.

“Boyong, please go ahead and speak plainly. I don’t wish to go in circles,” Kayla said.

“Then I will do so. Young lord, I wish to offer my services to you,” Boyong said.

Kayla blinked. He what?

“You what?” Kayla asked, unable to think of something more intelligent. Her first instinct was to reject him, but some part of her felt elated. Boyong was capable enough to warrant Xianchun’s praise, and Kayla rather liked how efficient he had been as her guard.

“Young lord, with your permission, I would renounce my position in the Grand Duke’s household and serve you as my master,” Boyong said eagerly.

“I understood as much, but why would you do that? Even if the work isn’t the easiest, the position is prestigious. You get the status of being one of the Grand Duke’s men, without having to get your hands dirty in the court. I, on the other hand, can’t offer you anything but a salary,” Kayla explained. “Not to mention that you would have a hard time changing jobs in the future now if you get mixed into this mess. A smart man like you should have a good grasp on the current situation, so why are you doing this?”

Boyong hesitated for a moment at Kayla’s suspicions.

“Young lord, I would be honest if you would be gracious enough to withhold your disdain,” Boyong said. Kayla nodded for him to go ahead.

“There’s a limit to how far I can go in the Grand Duke’s household. No matter how hard I work, all the promotions will go to those with connections or the relatives of the Grand Duke’s allies. The prestige doesn’t matter as much to me as pursuing my own achievements, and there’s not much I can achieve in this household. On the other hand, the young lord’s path is only just beginning. If I work for you, I’m sure that I will find more opportunities,” Boyong admitted. “Perhaps it is crass and opportunistic of me to disregard the loyalty I should hold for my master, but that’s the truth of it.”

Kayla nodded slowly, watching Boyong carefully as he spoke. He seems to be telling the truth, but not the full truth. It’s just like last time when he talked about learning surprising things about his identity.

It’s not safe to put a guy like him by your side, is it?

Yes, the investigators can’t act against me because they’re kept in check by the Emperor. But for him? What could keep him in check?

Kayla felt a pang of regret at having to reject him. She had reached out to him before to increase her chances, but now she genuinely needed a capable person to help her get things done when she couldn't do it herself.

“I appreciate your honesty,” Kayla said. “But I can’t accept that offer.”

Boyong lowered his head with a look of disappointment. After a moment, in which Kayla began feeling a little sorry at the kicked puppy look on his face, Boyong lifted his head.

“Young lord, I’ll come clean to you. My father was once implicated in a crime he had nothing to do with, but he was scapegoated by the politicians in court. Our family has lived in shame with our heads down this whole time, and I had to be adopted by my distant relative in order to make a living in the capital. I just want to regain our family honor through my accomplishments,” Boyong said pleadingly. “Please give me a chance, I’m willing to take a magic oath if needed!”

Kayla balked a little. Magic oaths were pretty serious business, and she wanted no part in binding contracts that were only marginally ethical at the best of times.

That seemed to be the truth.

Agreed. What should I do? It’s true I need someone to help me, there’s only so much I can do alone and a lot of things I can’t ask the Emperor’s men for help with. I’ve sent away Chujiao, and now I’m no longer in the Bureau. Both at work and at home, there’s no one I can turn to.

Kayla heaved a sigh and gave Boyong another long and careful look. At least I'll know what to watch out for with this guy.

“I’m glad you told me that,” Kayla finally said. “If that’s the case, then I’ll agree to it. However, if you stir up anything, it has nothing to do with me. And I would watch myself if I were you, the Bureau will still be responsible for my safety for quite a while.”

Boyong nodded at the warning.

“I understand, my lord. I will definitely not let you down!”

“Also, please don’t expect this employment to be permanent. If it is through no fault of yours, I will definitely find another post for you though,” Kayla added, thinking of Xianchun.

You’ve been thinking of shoving a lot of people to Xianchun lately, Wenyuan noted.

I can’t help it, he’s a good place to put them when he’s not trying to murder me.

“Thank you, my lord!” Boyong bowed, looking as though he was about to kneel on the floor of the carriage.

“I doubt you’ll be able to continue your work at the Grand Duke’s household. Do you have a residence outside or do you live in the guards’ quarters?“ Kayla asked.

“I live in my own residence, I didn’t want colleagues to pry into my family background too much,” Boyong replied. “I will hand in my resignation right away and escort you tomorrow morning.”

Kayla nodded. “Alright, I’ll continue your current salary and give you a sign-on bonus. If you last over three months, I’ll give you a raise then, but there’ll be severance pay even if I terminate your employment.”

“That’s incredibly generous, my lord. Thank you very much!”

“Let me know if you run into any issues,” Kayla said. “Is there a way for me to contact you?”

“I’ll procure communication talismans,” Boyong replied. Kayla gave a smile of satisfaction. Boyong was good at things like that, so she decided to just leave it to him.

“Alright then, Boyong. I look forward to your cooperation.”

35-The Third Prince Returns

Boyong glanced up as a shadow flitted over the wall in the corner of his eye. He calmly strolled over to the window and pulled it open.

“You’re here,” Boyong greeted him. In any other part of the city, an Imperial investigator somersaulting over a wall in full uniform wouldn't have gone unnoticed, which was also why the investigators tended to move through the trees instead. Boyong didn't have that problem, with his residence being located in one of the quieter, more rundown areas. It actually was still in the center of the capital, but it was right next to the household of the Xiang family, which had been exterminated after General Xiang's failed rebellion. The place was still treated like cursed ground on account of how many people had been killed there.

Boyong hardly minded. It made for cheap rent, and also made it easy for him to act discretely. An Haoyang bowed slightly as he took off his mask.

“Sir, did everything go alright?” Haoyang asked urgently. Boyong nodded.

“I got hired, but I have to say that this young master is far more cautious than most of his peers,” Boyong said.

“Did he trouble you?” Haoyang asked, an edge in his voice. Boyong shook his head.

“I knew he was insecure and suspicious of the guards, so I had planned to approach him as a materialistic person aiming to move upwards in life. He seems the type to trust someone he can depend on to be opportunistic rather than a loyal person who might surprise him later on,” Boyong said. “I just didn’t expect that he wouldn’t buy it.”

“He’s craftier than he looks,” Haoyang admitted. “Even the men we arrested were shocked when hearing it was his doing, even though they've known him for years. Will you really be alright working for someone who can lie low for this long? Not to mention he’s already suspicious of you.”

“I quelled his suspicions for now. I told him an abbreviated version of the truth that he seemed to buy, but he said that he might fire me at any time. In either case, he’s not unpleasant to serve, but it’s difficult to tell what he’s thinking. We’ve had to lie low and move in the shadows, so we know how much it takes to do it,” Boyong said thoughtfully. “If this guy can rein himself in and live like a puppet for twenty-five years, then there must be a reason for his sudden surge to action. I don’t know what he knows yet, but I’m determined to find out.”

“It could be a chance, but it can also be a crisis,” Haoyang warned him. “Please prioritize your safety, everyone is relying on you. Especially the young lady, what would she do if anything happens to you?”

Boyong shook his head. “I’ll be fine, believe me. You just carry on with what you’re doing, and I’ll give you the signal once things are ready.”

Haoyang bowed his head slightly. “I understand. The Third Prince will return in three days, and the power dynamics in court are likely to change again. I’m sure that an opportunity will arise very soon.”

“I hope so. Go in peace, Haoyang. I’ll keep you posted,” Boyong urged. Haoyang nodded and quickly disappeared again, a shadow flitting over the wall as the Investigator lightly sprang over the rooftop.

Kayla stood next to Lord Liang outside the city gates, edging away from Zhang Dingyong who was veritably buzzing with excitement. Since he was already known to be one of the Third Prince's men, the Right Secretariat wasn't even bothering to control his reaction to the Third Prince's return. She glanced at where Xianchun and Yunqi stood on either side of the Emperor, who was seated in a stately chair with dragon carvings beneath a silk canopy. Xianchun and Yunqi both had polite smiles of anticipation on their faces, but underneath the surface, things were a lot more complicated.

Kayla averted her eyes again, thinking of Kuang’s return to the capital in the novel. Wenyuan had been dead by then, but the Grand Duke wasn’t yet completely out of the playing field, and the old man had stood a short distance away from the Emperor and his accompanying guard, including Yu Bianfu, who hadn't been transferred yet. It was a sadistic twist on the author’s behalf to have the Grand Duke so close to the person who had killed his heir and not even realize it, but now Kayla seriously doubted that the Grand Duke had been too sad over losing his grandson. If anything, he was probably furious at having the Zhao name humiliated instead. The Grand Duke still stood in the same spot, but Yu Bianfu wasn't among the guards at the Emperor's side.

Kuang’s return signaled the true beginning of the successor battle, and in the novel, Yunqi had waited in anticipation for his older brother’s return to absolve the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of the Emperor and the court. In contrast to Yunqi’s genuine relief and joy, Xianchun had been filled with complicated emotions, both joyful at his brother’s return and anxious about what it meant from now on. Looking at them now, Kayla had no idea what each was thinking. Were their mindsets still the same now that the plot was different? The only thing that was clear was that the Emperor was very happy.

“It seems the Third Prince will be a while yet,” Lord Liang said softly to Kayla. She dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.

“Perhaps he’ll be here soon,” Kayla replied. She was both excited and nervous, not knowing whether Kuang’s return would help her or make her situation worse. Xianchun seemed to have developed a better impression of Wenyuan over the course of the previous events, but Kayla could recognize that it was fragile enough to fall apart at any moment. The fact that she hadn’t even seen Kuang in person before didn’t help. It felt like the edge of a knife was pushing against her skin but not making a cut.

I want to hurry up and see the guy already.

He’s good-looking, like the other Princes, Wenyuan offered. And to be honest, he’s the most charismatic one out of my cousins.

There was a small commotion and Kayla looked in its direction, Lord Liang and Zhang Dingyong following suit. A eunuch scurried past them to the Emperor, leaning forward to say something.

“Excellent!”

Kayla craned her neck slightly at the Emperor’s voice.

“I guess the Third Prince will be here soon,” Kayla murmured.

“Announcing the arrival of the Third Prince!”

Yup, there it is. Kayla squinted slightly as a small procession came into sight. In line with the Third Prince’s sharp political instincts, he strictly followed the etiquette for returning to the capital and had the majority of the troops wait a certain distance away. Despite his success and his father's exuberance, the Third Prince had managed not to get carried away. The man in the front of the procession came into clearer view as he got closer. Kayla’s heart nearly stopped in surprise.

The Third Prince was still in armor, but his well-proportioned frame was sturdy enough that the armor seemed almost weightless. He wore a jubilant smile on his face and his eyes were practically sparkling. Just like Xianchun and Yunqi, Kuang was extraordinarily handsome, but he had a spark that set him apart from his younger brothers.

Kuang radiated with self-assurance, and Kayla could barely take her eyes off of him as the Third Prince dismounted from his horse and approached the Emperor, passing by her with a confident stride. He knelt before the Emperor, bowing his head.

“Father, Kuang has returned!”

“Kuang’er, it’s so good to have you back! Get up,” the Emperor grabbed Kuang’s arms and pulled the prince to his feet. Kuang beamed at his father, matching the happiness on the Emperor’s face.

Holy shit, he’s like the amalgamation of every ideal prince in a period drama, how the hell was he not the main character?! Kayla exclaimed silently, still stunned at her first glance of the Third Prince.

If not for grandmother, Xianchun would never be considered a potential rival.

I can see why. Who would look at him and not think he’s the heir?

In terms of aura and bearing, he really fits, Wenyuan agreed. I still don’t understand how he lost in the novel.

Lack of plot armor and a burning desire for revenge?

Not necessarily. Is it even a given that Xianchun will win? You warned both of them ahead of time, and now the court’s situation is completely different from how it was when the Third Prince returned in the original timeline, Wenyuan said thoughtfully. Kayla felt a sharp twinge of fear in her chest.

I don’t know, she admitted. I’m not sure I want to know. What would that even mean for us?

We have no idea when Xianchun will learn about grandfather’s crimes, or what he will do to us then. On the other hand, the Third Prince probably wouldn’t kill us so long as we’re useful.

He didn’t hesitate to abandon Liu Hongyu. Kayla watched as the Third Prince bowed, accepting the wine from the Emperor. Kuang raised the cup above his brow with solemn respect before downing it in one go, giving the Emperor a bright smile as he passed the cup to a eunuch. Kayla had to admit that she’d faltered for a moment at the thought. It wasn't as though she had never considered the Third Prince's faction. Between Kuang’s unfaltering confidence and Yunqi’s unshakeable calmness, they almost felt somewhat reliable.

But that’s bullshit. Before the temptation of the throne, anyone and anything is just a pawn for them, and it's the same for Xianchun as well. The less I'm involved, the less trouble I'll face.

Kayla quickly followed suit with the other officials as they bowed to congratulate the Third Prince, keeping her eyes averted even as she straightened. A strange feeling of unease thrummed in her chest. She briefly glanced at Xianchun and Yunqi, both of them still restraining their reactions, and found she wasn’t the only one watching. The aura of jubilance in the air couldn’t fully mask the subtle glances between the officials as they watched the Imperial family with sharp eyes, some with hunger, some with fear. The anticipation was over, and there was only the mounting pressure left before the first move was made. Not only the capital, but the fate of the country in the coming decades was now hanging in the balance.

The storm in the capital had finally begun.

Kayla nodded politely as a serving girl refilled her cup, her gaze sliding back to the front of the hall where the Emperor and the three princes were sitting together. The banquet held in honor of the Third Prince’s return was going strong. Most of the high-ranking officials were present, and Cao Shuyi and the Empress Dowager were also there, though Kuang’s young son hadn’t made an appearance. After all, it wasn’t as though a toddler could drink. Given the lack of an Empress, none of the Imperial Consorts were present save for Kuang’s mother, the Noble Consort.

Given that it was a formal occasion and not a holiday get-together, Kayla was seated with the officials rather than with the Emperor’s family. It was mildly awkward sitting next to Lord Liang, as their robes were the same color despite Wenyuan being his subordinate.

Kayla shifted her eyes away from the Imperial family and instead caught the disdainful look in her direction from the Grand Duke. She quickly avoided his gaze and turned her attention to the dancers instead, strategically taking a sip of wine to hide her flustered reaction. The Imperial Palace entertainers were among the best in the country, with dancers from throughout the country, as well as Southeast Asia and the nomadic tribes. Each of the dancers was strikingly beautiful and tended to enter rather decent marriages after leaving the palace despite their lower social status as entertainers.

Kayla couldn't help but glance over at the Grand Duke again, watching as he smiled and respectfully toasted the Emperor. After Lord Liang’s promotion, the mood inside the Grand Duke’s household had become more venomous with an “I-told-you-so” atmosphere, though the Grand Duke was still restraining himself and not skinning Kayla alive. She was putting in an incredible effort to avoid him as well, hoping that it would be enough to get her through this safely.

“What does the Left Secretariat think?”

Kayla blinked and set down her cup, turning to Zhang Dingyong in confusion.

“Pardon?” Did he ask something just now?

Zhang Dingyong smiled. “I was saying that the dancers are highly skilled. What does the Left Secretariat think?”

Kayla nodded. “I agree, they’re very good at their craft.”

“I heard that the dancers from Liu Hongyu’s household were rather good as well, though unlike the Left Secretariat, I’ve never had a chance to see them in person,” Dingyong said lightly. Kayla hesitated and took another sip of wine rather than replying.

He’s trying to fish for something here. If I say you’ve never seen them, he’ll know you were drinking alone with Liu Hongyu.

Is he trying to get information for the Third Prince?

He sure acts fast, the second his master returns he immediately takes action. Kayla bit down a flash of annoyance.

“The dancers in the capital are the cream of the crop,” Kayla replied.

“They are indeed,” Dingyong said. “I have to say though, Liu Hongyu must be one of the few men in the capital who employed so many Hu maidens and Jiangnan dancers. After the Liu household was subject to search and confiscation, many of their dancers also came back onto the market. I happened to chance upon a lovely dancer who’s worked in the Liu household for many years and hired her. Would the Left Secretariat care to join me for a performance and a drink sometime? Perhaps you may even recognize her.”

Kayla set her cup down. “Perhaps sometime in the future, though I doubt I would remember her even if I saw her. I’m not good at remembering faces when I’ve had something to drink.”

“Oh, of course. But surely she would recognize you, Left Secretariat.”

He is fishing. He is blatantly fishing. What the hell does he want? If he already hired one, then he should know we drank alone by now.

Kayla gave a polite smile in response and kept silent.

“Though I am a little worried that it might be a bit awkward, she is a professional. I’m sure she wouldn’t let her emotions affect her performance,” Dingyong continued.

Was Liu Hongyu his patron? What is he playing at here? What a large circle to go in, Wenyuan snapped impatiently.

“Perhaps it’s best for us not to meet then,” Kayla said.

“You’re right, at least for the time being. After all, her old master only passed away last night, she was rather upset over that,” Dingyong said. Kayla stiffened, hurriedly taking another sip to hide her shock.

Liu Hongyu died? Was it a silencing or a revenge killing? Suicide? She hadn't so much as heard a whisper about it, likely due to the Third Prince's return overshadowing any of the other news.

“My condolences. I hadn’t heard. Did he fall ill?” Kayla asked, keeping her voice as even as she could. Lowering his voice even further, Dingyong leaned in closer to speak into Kayla’s ear.

“Rumor has it that he wasn’t ill,” Dingyong said softly. “They say he starved to death.”

Kayla kept her expression blank with great effort even as her heart skipped a beat in surprise. “Starved? His household may have faced confiscation, but he wasn’t exactly left destitute,” she said quietly.

“They say that the Emperor decreed that no one should make contact with him without an Imperial decree, so even his wife and concubines didn’t dare to bring him food. He ended up starving to death in his own quarters,” Dingyong explained.

Holy shit. Kayla’s hands clenched into her robes as she fought to contain her reaction. The Empress Dowager’s words flashed into her head.

'Without an Imperial Decree, no one should be permitted to make any contact with him, not even his wife or concubines, much less anyone else.'

Kayla gulped, her throat suddenly feeling extremely dry. That was meant to be a death sentence! I didn’t fucking realize!

“I see,” Kayla said. If she chose to express sympathy now, it was the same as criticizing the Emperor’s decree, and she didn’t trust Dingyong not to make use of that. If she didn’t show sympathy, it would make her appear heartless and cruel. Given how much Wenyuan's reputation in the court had deteriorated, from the heir of an esteemed family to an unfilial and crass young man actively working against his family’s interests, Kayla also didn’t trust Dingyong not to make use of this either.

But Wenyuan’s only real support was the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The bottom line was not pissing them off, or the consequences would be far worse than whatever the court could do to her. She turned and faced Dingyong. Their eyes met, and Dingyong gave a small smirk of recognition at the calculating look reflected in both of their eyes.

“I see,” Dingyong echoed back, smiling as he straightened.

Kayla swallowed, her throat still feeling dry. She nodded at the serving girl, who refilled her cup. Kayla emptied it, being careful not to down it too quickly, wary of the watchful eyes of the officials around her. She turned her gaze back to the dancers, trying to quell the flurry of emotions in her chest.

Liu Hongyu’s dead. That hadn’t happened in the novel until three years later and under very different circumstances. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as the Princes clinked their cups with smiles on their faces. I really hadn't expected that, I seriously thought she let him off the hook. Did the Emperor also realize? He must have!

Xianchun leaned forward to say something to Kuang, who tilted his head back and laughed. Kayla could barely keep her hands from trembling as she tried to process the information. The plot’s really changed beyond just speeding things up. But what happens now?

What will happen to us if the timeline’s changed this much?

Kayla didn’t have an answer.

36-Court of Judicial Review

Kayla sat silently in Wenyuan’s room, staring blankly at the wall before her.

Liu Hongyu really starved to death. I still can’t believe it, I didn’t even think that was a possibility!

There was a rush of discomfort from Wenyuan. Kayla closed her eyes briefly and breathed in, trying to calm down.

What happens to his wife and concubines then?

I have no idea, in this case, they would probably go join their kids.

Only three of them have kids, what happens to the rest of them?

Kayla’s mind flashed to Consort Zhao’s ending in the original novel, and she grimaced slightly. Wenyuan's aunt had died alone and friendless as a sacrificed piece in the game. Do you think they could go home?

After marrying as a concubine? If he had just died naturally and as the Secretariat Director, probably yes, but in these circumstances, they wouldn’t be accepted back.

Kayla sighed. How would it look if I sent them some money? She still had the silver gifted to her by the Emperor sitting somewhere in one of the storage rooms. Kayla felt oddly guilty towards Liu Hongyu's concubines for getting screwed over by an unfortunate marriage that they had little say in. It wasn't so different from her own circumstances, but she at least was an official with very powerful backing. As shitty as things had been at times, if she had been any less lucky and ended up in the body of a concubine instead of the Emperor's nephew, it would have been much worse.

Bad. Terrible. Don’t do it, Wenyuan hastily warned, quashing that train of thought in its tracks. Kayla jolted a bit, realizing belatedly that she had been considering a seriously dangerous course of action.

That would still be the same as criticizing uncle and grandmother. Why are you even considering this? It’s not like you.

Kayla frowned but accepted the warning. I guess that’s true. I don’t care about Liu Hongyu, but I do feel bad for his concubines. It wasn’t as though they had any say in what he did.

You really do have a soft spot for women.

Kayla couldn’t help but roll her eyes. It just bothers me that they don’t have a way out. But I won’t be doing anything. It’s just as you said, I can’t move carelessly with the situation I’m in. Liu Hongyu’s dead but the Grand Duke still hasn’t made a move. Just what on earth is that old man waiting for?

There isn’t much Grandfather could do without revealing his role in the matter, Wenyuan offered. Kayla shook her head.

That’s not it, the Grand Duke’s faction has been completely on the defensive for this long. During and after the investigation they were preoccupied with covering their own asses and cleaning things up, but that doesn’t seem right either.

Her impression of the Grand Duke was that he was the type to take offense as the best defense, but he hadn’t so much as done a single thing against Wenyuan. His hands were hardly tied the way they had been in the original novel when both his heir and his niece in the palace were already dead, and the Grand Duke's current inaction left Kayla with a strong sense of unease.

Things had been rough, but now an important official was dead. Kayla couldn’t begin to imagine the turn things would take from here. She tugged at her collar, which seemed to tighten with every second.

Maybe Grandfather is planning to step down before he’s disgraced?

Kayla hesitated. The Grand Duke had managed to do so in the original timeline, but that was with his heir and niece already off the board. Would he really do so now?

It’s a possibility, she admitted. Also, we still don’t know what Grandmother’s planning, or what happens now that the Third Prince is back. Maybe he’s also waiting to see how things unfold.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Kayla asked.

“It’s your servant Wang.” Kayla frowned at the familiar voice of Housekeeper Wang.

“Do you need something?” Kayla asked, not budging from her spot.

“Sir, the Emperor summoned you,” Housekeeper Wang replied. Kayla shot to her feet instinctively before forcing herself to calm down.

The banquet only ended an hour ago, why is he calling me in the middle of the night?

“I see, I’ll be ready in a moment,” Kayla said.

“Understood, sir.”

Kayla sighed and straightened her robes, glad that she hadn’t changed out of them yet. She opened the door and nodded towards Housekeeper Wang, who avoided eye contact and bowed slightly, stepping aside so Kayla could head towards the entrance.

Could it be about Liu Hongyu?

He’s known since last night, and I doubt he was ignorant of what the Empress Dowager wanted. It can’t be about that.

Then what?

Kayla didn’t have an answer, choosing to get onto the carriage sent by the Imperial Palace instead. Qu Boyong had already retired for the night, and Kayla didn’t bother using the communication talisman the young man had bought to call him over. She was with palace guards that she vaguely recognized from previous trips; there was no need for added security.

Kuang smiled affectionately at the sight of his son, gently stroking the child’s hair to avoid waking him from his sleep.

“He’s grown so much in just a few months,” Kuang said softly. Shuyi laid a hand on his shoulder.

“He’s missed you,” Shuyi replied. “As have I.” Kuang turned from his child to smile at Shuyi, placing a hand over hers.

“I’ve missed you both,” Kuang said, pulling Shuyi into his lap. Shuyi stifled a laugh and put her arms around his neck, watching him as Kuang continued looking at their son.

“So much has happened since you were gone. I couldn’t do much directly, especially with Yunqi still on leave. But what are we going to do now?” Shuyi asked. Kuang let out a soft sigh and stood up, pulling Shuyi to her feet as well.

“Let’s talk in the study,” Kuang replied. Shuyi nodded, giving her son a light kiss on the forehead before following Kuang out of the room.

Kuang let out a chuckle as he entered the study.

“You put my scrolls away the second I left, didn’t you?” Kuang laughed as he looked around. Shuyi shook her head in exasperation.

“Was I supposed to leave them in their piles to gather dust?” Shuyi asked. “I couldn’t just leave them so disorganized.”

“They weren’t disorganized, I have my own system,” Kuang protested.

“Alright, alright. Whatever you say,” Shuyi replied affectionately, pushing Kuang into a seat. She sat down next to him and pulled an intricate wooden box from her sleeve.

“Shall we call Yunqi in as well?” Shuyi asked.

“Of course.” Kuang sat back as Shuyi set up the communication magic device. Despite the extremely expensive costs of the devices, Kuang had managed to set up one for Yunqi and Shuyi before he had been sent to the border.

“Sister-in-law!” Yunqi greeted as the device connected. “Third Brother’s there as well, isn’t he?”

“Here I am,” Kuang said as Shuyi adjusted the angle to show Kuang’s face as well.

“It’s good to see the two of you back together,” Yunqi said warmly.

“It’s good to be back. The two of you have had a hard time in the capital, but now it’s time to get busy,” Kuang replied. Yunqi and Shuyi exchanged a grin.

“It’s just as you say, brother. I just heard from Qiu Jinwei that Zhao Wenyuan was summoned back to the palace, father and grandmother probably don’t want to wait any longer to make their next move,” Yunqi said.

Kuang nodded. “I’m interested in what they’ll do next. Are our people ready to make their move?”

“As soon as the positions open up, they’ll be ready to step into place,” Shuyi replied. “I warned them to keep their heads down and move carefully already.”

“Good. Power isn’t really power unless you build it up yourself. The more the current power structure crumbles, the more we’ll actually be able to grasp in our own hands,” Kuang said. “Is there any news on how the Emperor reacted to Liu Hongyu’s death?”

Yunqi shook his head. “Nothing. He permitted Liu Hongyu’s sons to take leaves of absence for mourning, though I doubt that they’ll be returning to their posts even after three years.”

“Liu Hongyu was careful in his dealings, but I guess he couldn’t keep his mouth shut when he was drunk if he managed to anger the Emperor this much,” Shuyi added. “It’s a good thing you told him as little as possible.”

“At this point, I'm genuinely curious what Wenyuan's aiming for. He hasn't shown much enthusiasm towards either Xianchun or our faction, but that might be on Father's account. Father has always been capricious, once you’ve angered him it’s all over. He didn’t even care when Second Brother fell sick last year. If not for Grandmother’s intervention, he wouldn’t have even been allowed to relocate for recuperation,” Yunqi said, his tone darkening.

“All the more important to stay on his good side then,” Kuang said. “Don’t worry, Yunqi. The situation will improve shortly, just tell your mother to focus on recovering for now.”

Yunqi nodded gratefully. “Thank you, brother.”

“Liu Hongyu’s wife and concubines are also going to leave the capital soon, but several of them don’t have a place to return to,” Shuyi prompted Kuang.

“I’ll leave it to you,” Kuang said.

“Understood, I’ll see to it that they’re provided for,” Shuyi replied. Kuang gave her a smile.

“Excellent, I trust you’ll take care of it well as always. Yunqi, call your strategist over. I’d like to hear what he thinks father will do next.”

Kayla bowed her head to the floor, feeling just as nervous the second time as she did the first. She straightened as the Empress Dowager told her to get up and bowed her head politely towards the Emperor and then the Empress Dowager. Kayla watched with no small amount of apprehension as the Emperor took his seat next to his mother, motioning for Kayla to sit as well. The two of them smiled pleasantly as they looked at Kayla. She held still, forcing herself not to shift nervously in her seat.

Just what the hell is going on now?

“Wenyuan, the last time we spoke, you had proposed quite an interesting idea,” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“Grandmother speaks of the investigations?”

“That’s right, your uncle and I had thought it best to have you retain your current position in the ministry until the reinvestigations began,” the Empress Dowager said. “You must have been disappointed when you were passed over for the promotion to Minister.”

“Not at all! With Uncle’s wisdom, I was sure he would pick the most suitable candidate. I am inexperienced and do not have the skills needed to head a Ministry in the first place,” Kayla hastily replied.

“You’re being a bit too harsh on yourself, don’t you think?” The Emperor chuckled. “No one would have experience being a Minister unless they become one, and you certainly have more experience as the Left Secretariat than Lord Liang and Zhang Dingyong have as scholars of the Hanlin Academy.”

“Lord Liang is renowned for his talent and virtue, as well as the revitalization of the Liang clan under his leadership and Uncle’s benevolence,” Kayla replied carefully, making sure not to forget Kuang’s man as well. “Zhang Dingyong is skilled in management and administration, completing his duties with admirable dedication and caution. Uncle’s choice of personnel is impeccable.”

“It’s true they’re both very talented individuals. They’re also the most suitable for these roles. But Wenyuan, you’re not the most suitable for your current role.”

Kayla gave the Emperor a dumbfounded look that she quickly smoothed into an expression of polite regretfulness.

“Please forgive my incompetence.”

“Stop teasing the boy already,” the Empress Dowager cut in. “Wenyuan, your uncle means to say that your abilities should not be limited to your current position. Rather than the Left Secretariat, we believe there is a better position for you to make use of your talents.”

Kayla looked between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor with mounting confusion.

“I’m not sure I understand,” Kayla said.

“Currently, the Imperial Investigators Bureau works to monitor the court and the Ministry of Justice deals with penal cases, but the two bodies are inherently incompatible. Over time, the Ministry has grown in power and autonomy, and it’s no longer enough to just rely on these two institutions for oversight and investigation,” the Empress Dowager explained patiently. “After careful consideration, your uncle has decided to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review.”

Kayla’s eyes widened. Holy shit, the Court of Judicial Review?! I thought that didn’t exist in this world! Was it just made defunct? She nodded wordlessly, excitement bubbling in her chest. The Court of Judicial Review had been the subject of several dramas she had watched as a child with her grandparents, starring various heroic investigators who uncovered fantastical conspiracies.

Oh my god, this never happened in the novel! I didn’t think that was even a thing?! Was there a Di Renjie-esque character in the novel?

She didn’t remember there being such a person, but someone like that could have appeared in the chapters after Xianchun’s coronation that she hadn’t gotten around to yet. With how much the plot had changed, she wouldn't be surprised even if they showed up early.

“That’s amazing news, I’m sure that the Court will be an excellent and timely addition,” Kayla offered.

The Empress Dowager smiled. “I’m certainly glad you think so, since you’re about to become its Minister.”

“I beg your pardon?” Kayla blurted out in shock. She internally winced at her outward reaction and forced herself to calm down, but she couldn't hold back on her instinctive urge to refuse. “I-I mean, I’m deeply grateful and honored by Uncle’s benevolence, but I’m not sure if I’m the best choice for this position.”

“Didn’t you just say your uncle’s choice of personnel was impeccable? Or are you regretting your words now?” The Empress Dowager asked.

“No, I-I-” Kayla stammered. “I just don’t think I’m qualified enough to head the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Wenyuan. Your Grandmother and I had actually decided to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review a few months back, but we had kept putting it off because of how much trouble would ensue. You can certainly imagine how much the court would struggle to use it to their benefit, so we had decided to wait until the situation at court was easier to manage. After the Chancellor and the Secretariat Director positions were changed out, we decided to go through with it, but we were still lacking a reliable person to fill that position. We’ve given it careful thought, and you’re the most suitable person for this role,” the Emperor said warmly. He gave Kayla an encouraging smile as she stared back in shock.

No wonder it didn’t happen in the novel, once Xianchun had killed Wenyaun the situation at court had become too unstable for the Emperor to create a whole new institution on his own terms, Kayla realized.

To think they’d planned all this in advance- there’s no way you’re getting out of this, Wenyuan said, sounding just as shocked as Kayla felt.

This must be what the Empress Dowager was planning for since the beginning. Does she want it to serve as a moderating force in the succession struggle?

“Aren’t you going to give your thanks?” The Empress Dowager prompted mirthfully, amusement bubbling up in her voice at the stunned look on Kayla’s face. Realizing her breach of etiquette, Kayla hurriedly got out of her seat and kneeled, bowing her head to the floor.

“I apologize for my rudeness! I humbly accept and give thanks to the Emperor for his boundless benevolence. I will strive within an inch of my life to fulfill your expectations!”

Kayla’s heart hammered in her chest even as the Emperor laughed cheerfully.

“Good, good! Now that’s enough of that, get up,” the Emperor said affectionately. Kayla complied.

“Wenyuan, the Court of Judicial Review will require its own personnel. I’ll have the Ministry of Personnel put things together, but you should also take the helm in all of this, especially for the core staff,” the Emperor said. Kayla bowed her head.

“Understood, I will do my best,” Kayla replied.

“Wenyuan, I hope you understand the importance of this role,” the Empress Dowager added. “Do not shrink back at the heavy expectations we place upon you, this role was given to you because we are sure you can shoulder it.”

“I understand, I am not afraid of any hardships ahead as long as I can fulfill your expectations,” Kayla replied, being in fact very much afraid.

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.

“Good, we’re looking forward to your achievements.”

Kayla internally winced some more and bowed her head.

37-Path of the Forefathers

Kayla kept a polite smile on her face as the Empress Dowager reached out to take Kayla’s hand.

The Court of Judicial Review…just setting it up will be difficult enough, much less acting as Minister.

It wasn’t just a sign of trust to make her the Minister. Without a second thought, she could sense it doubled as a test, likely to check how ambitious Wenyuan was. Creating a new institution was the best chance to form a clique or sell favors, especially when it came to positions among the core staff, and the ball was in Kayla’s court to see if she was really going to let up a chance like this.

“Wenyuan, I’ll be counting on you,” the Emperor said. Kayla bowed her head.

Even if she went completely by the book, Kayla doubted the Empress Dowager would be satisfied. After all, someone foolish enough to completely take their hands off a chance like this would be too stiff and morally inflexible to survive the position, but if Kayla went too far and tried to create her own faction, she doubted she would enjoy the consequences. The Empress Dowager was unlikely to give a harsh punishment to her only maternal grandson, but losing the old lady’s favor when the capital was about to become a mess was the same thing as letting go of a lifeline.

Goddamnit, things just keep getting harder and harder.

“I will strive to fulfill my duties without reservation,” Kayla said respectfully, bowing her head further.

“Good, I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” the Emperor said warmly. "Don't worry too much about organizing the Court of Judicial Review, I'll order the Ministry of Personnel and the Imperial Investigators to help you out as needed. If needed, I'll send a few capable people from the palace as well."

Uncle's completely leaving out the Department of State Affairs, Wenyuan noted with surprise. He really means business.

He isn't even allowing the Imperial Court to debate the decision first. They really are pulling all the stops to prevent the Grand Duke from intervening.

The Empress Dowager smiled affectionately at Kayla. “Wenyuan, this is not an easy task, you’ll require many capable people to help you. If there are any talented individuals you can think of, you should bring them in.”

Kayla's mind briefly flashed to the scowls and malicious uncooperativeness she'd faced in the Ministry of Justice.

I really need some of my own people, or at least someone whose fate is directly tied to my success.

“Thank you, grandmother. There actually was someone I had taken an interest in due to their talents, but they currently do not hold any position with the court,” Kayla said, the gears turning in her head as fast as they could.

“Who is it?” The Empress Dowager asked.

“Chen Caichun, the younger sister of Chen Jian. She gave a few suggestions regarding the handling of the investigation last time, and I was very impressed with her. Though she is a civilian and rather young, I would like to recruit her,” Kayla said.

“A girl? How old is she?” The Emperor gave Kayla a flabbergasted look.

“She’s nineteen,” Kayla replied. “She’s younger than I was when I first started out but much more talented than I was at that age. With your permission, I would make her a Ministerial Case Reviewer. Though she may be lacking in experience, she would be starting as an Eighth Rank Official so there’s a limit to the consequences of any missteps she may make, and having some fresh blood would be good as well.”

“Interesting, I remember your mother was sharp as a blade and full of energy at that age as well,” the Empress Dowager remarked. “It’s rare to hear you mention any young woman, she must be rather talented if even you have heard of her.”

Even me? What does that mean?! Wenyuan sounded rather offended.

“Since you seem to be rather invested in the idea, I’ll allow it,” the Emperor said casually. “It’s just an eighth-rank position, you should do as you wish.”

“Thank you very much!” Kayla bowed her head.

“Do you have anyone else in mind for the core staff?” the Emperor waved off her thanks.

Kayla hesitated for a moment, Chujiao and Boyong flashing into her mind. She quickly quashed that thought in its tracks. There was a limit to how many non-officials she could raise to the ranks of the core staff without calling the legitimacy of the Court of Judicial Review into question, but Kayla needed people whose only political backing came from her or the Emperor, or she would never be able to get anything done.

“Uncle, I was hoping to draw from the ranks of the Hanlin Academy. I also thought of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, but I’m worried about a personnel shortage. I want to make sure that the institution’s personnel won’t be easily distracted from their duties,” Kayla replied carefully.

The Hanlin Academy was where the Third Prince stationed a lot of his people due to a lack of openings in the court, but also where Lord Liang maintained strong influence and a robust network. In contrast, the Imperial Investigation Bureau was staunchly neutral and answered solely to the Emperor. Even if Kayla couldn’t think of any safe choices, offering up these two was enough to show her determination to balance out the forces in the Court of Judicial Review to remain a neutral force.

Speaking of neutral…Kayla’s mind flashed to another minor character who had briefly appeared in the novel.

“And there is also another official I would like to recommend as a member of the core staff,” Kayla quickly added. “His name is Sun Ruhui, he currently serves as a county magistrate in Rongchen county of Hunan Province. I’ve heard that he’s extremely skilled in investigations and an honest, hardworking man. They say that only a month after he started his job as a magistrate, the county became so devoid of crime that the only folks who report crimes to the county are for civil disputes.”

Ruhui had briefly appeared much later in the novel, long after Wenyuan's murder, to overturn charges of treason against a minor figure called General Xiang, who had been married to the Emperor’s half-sister. Despite how little Ruhui appeared, Kayla remembered him due to the key role Ruhui had played in saving General Xiang’s only son.

“I believe I’ve heard of him,” the Emperor said thoughtfully. “I have a vague recollection of one of his essays on Taoism, isn’t his teacher a famous Taoist?”

“That’s right, uncle. He’s the student of Du Wanfu,” Kayla replied.

"Very well, he’ll also be included,” the Emperor easily replied. Kayla bowed her head.

“Thank you, uncle.”

Two is a good number, right? The last thing Kayla wanted to do was to make them think she was trying to build a power base, but Caichun barely counted beyond the nominal ties she had to the Imperial Investigation Bureau. She glanced at the Empress Dowager and was relieved to see that the old woman didn’t seem displeased in the slightest.

“Good, then it’s settled,” the Empress Dowager said with finality. “Go back and get some rest, it’s been a busy day.”

“Indeed, it’s late now. Mother, you should rest early,” the Emperor said. “The official decree will be announced at the next convening of the court. Wenyuan, you should take the time in-between to prepare as well.”

“Understood, uncle.” Kayla bowed her head.

“Alright, go on then,” the Emperor said. Kayla took her leave from the Emperor and Empress Dowager, her steps quickening as she left the Inner Palace.

Okay, I think there’s no way I can get out of the capital anytime soon. To be honest, I’m not sure I had a chance to begin with. Kayla fought to keep her expression calm as she tried to process what had just happened. But if I just work with what I have, it’s only a matter of time until the Grand Duke’s crimes are exposed, especially with this investigation, the fuck do I do then?

Is that really a problem though given our current position? Wenyuan asked cautiously. I mean, if uncle and grandmother are putting you in charge of the investigations, couldn’t you just keep Consort Liu’s murder under wrap?

You’re forgetting that Xianchun’s going to do his own investigation, Kayla warned him. If he infiltrates the Grand Duke’s household again, we won’t be so lucky.

Isn’t there some way we can make the evidence disappear?

Kayla shook her head. That case is related to a whole bunch of other cases, there’s no way I can just make it disappear with the way things are going. I really didn’t think things through with the investigation, I was just trying to distance myself from the Grand Duke, but now it’s more likely that my investigations will end up bringing the evidence into the spotlight at some point.

But grandmother and uncle didn’t even publicize anything about Liu Hongyu’s case, Wenyuan said. That means they prioritize protecting us over settling things with the court, do you think they would help us with this?

Kayla nodded to the eunuch in thanks as they approached her carriage. She got into the carriage, mulling over her options.

I don’t know. That’s the problem. It’s not like I can’t bring the evidence to the Emperor myself and hope he’ll cover it up for me, but there’s a huge risk in all this. Your uncle’s pretty committed to bringing down the Grand Duke’s faction, and the Empress Dowager has been steering things forward, so there’s not much room for impulsiveness or emotional decisions there. But once it becomes more personal, it’s hard to say how things will go.

No matter how far she was distanced from the Grand Duke politically, he was still Wenyuan's paternal grandfather, and Wenyuan was the official heir of the Zhao clan. It was common for punishments in the Wu Dynasty to implicate at least the nuclear family, especially if the Emperor was upset. That applied even to the Emperor's own sons, and Kayla wasn't willing to bet on being an exception.

The more it came to his familial relations, the more capricious the Emperor tended to be. Both his first and second sons had been exiled due to personal disputes with the Emperor after the deposal and subsequent suicide of their mother, Empress Gongsun. The actual reason for her deposal had been unclear, but it was likely due to the Emperor’s disputes with his in-laws, coupled with the Empress’ feuds with his various concubines. The exile and demotion of the first prince, who had been assumed to be the heir apparent, had been the start of the turbulence in which the Grand Duke had drastically increased his already significant political power.

The fourth prince, Zhou Zhen, had also been demoted to the ranks of nobility and was forcibly “adopted” into the family of the Archduke of Qi after provoking the Emperor’s rage. The Archduke of Qi had resided in the capital city where he served as a teacher of the Princes, but after the death of the Sixth Prince in a horse-riding accident, the Emperor had been overwhelmed with grief and blamed the incident on the Archduke. The Sixth Prince, Zhou Shu, had been the only child of the Emperor’s most favored concubine from when he was still the Crown Prince, but she had passed away from disease soon after giving birth to a son. His mother’s early death also made the Sixth Prince one of the only sons that the Emperor consistently doted on, so no one dared to speak up for the Archduke except for the righteous but politically obtuse Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince’s defense of his uncle and teacher infuriated the Emperor, who had the fourth prince removed from the Imperial Family’s family tree and had him listed as a son of the Archduke instead, banishing the Archduke’s entire family from the capital. Even after the Emperor’s fury abated, the fourth prince had completely lost his father’s favor, and the decision was never revoked. All the way until the fourth prince had died of illness after a long period of depression, the Emperor had refused all of his son’s letters. The process was unclear in the novel, and Wenyuan also knew little about it due to his mother’s incredible overprotectiveness.

It was an incredible feat for the Imperial Princess and Wenyuan to have avoided incurring any animosity from the Emperor at all after all the commotion that had gone down in the Imperial family. Looking back now, it was clear that the Imperial Princess had incredible political acumen and the wisdom to keep her son out of any of the familial disputes, and had correctly chosen not to engage with the court and focus on her magic research instead. The Imperial Princess evidently hadn’t expected to pass away so suddenly in her mid-thirties, or she likely would have made more preparations for her son.

With all of the late Imperial Princess’ efforts, Wenyuan had ended up the greatest beneficiary of the Emperor’s family drama, but Kayla had no idea if she could maintain that. The Emperor had been deeply in love with Consort Chen and had raised her rank multiple times after Xianchun’s birth, and Kayla couldn’t tell if the Emperor’s feelings had faded over time, or if he would value his late concubine over his only remaining nephew.

Kayla was jolted out of her thoughts by the carriage coming to a stop.

“How dare you?! This is a carriage from the Imperial Palace! Get out of the way before you lose your head!”

Kayla frowned at the sound of the guard’s angry shouts and opened the carriage window. Her frown deepened at the sight of Qu Boyong.

“Hold on, that’s my servant,” Kayla called to the guard. He turned towards her apologetically.

“I’m terribly sorry, my lord,” he hastily said.

“Don’t worry about it, you’re just doing your job. He’s the one who’s out of line. I’ll be sure to reprimand him properly later,” Kayla replied. “Can you let him onto the carriage for now?”

“Of course, my lord.” The guard waved gruffly for Qu Boyong to pass, who bowed his head towards Kayla before getting onto the carriage.

“Apologies for the trouble, my lord,” Qu Boyong said sheepishly. Kayla gave him a long look.

“What are you doing here?”

I never told this guy where I was going, does he have a GPS locator or something?

“I’m very sorry, my lord. I heard you left the Zhao household in the middle of the night, but I didn’t know where you had gone,” Boyong said.

“Am I obliged to tell you where I go?” Kayla asked, her tone coming out sharper than she had intended.

Qu Boyong gave her a wounded look. “My lord, you once ordered me not to leave my post while guarding you, even if the Imperial Guards ordered it."

That's true.

You gave him a bag of money too, Wenyuan chimed in.

"I didn’t know where you had gone or if you had left of your own will, so I asked the doormen. They said you left in a carriage from the Imperial Palace, but I thought it was better to be safe and headed over to check,” Boyong explained.

Kayla sighed and hastily softened her tone. “I appreciate that,” Kayla said. “I don’t mean to reprimand you, but also, I didn’t call you because it was the middle of the night and it’s a carriage from the Emperor. How did you know I left the Zhao household? I wasn’t in the palace for that long, you would have had to hear of this pretty soon after I left.”

“I live quite close to the Grand Duke’s household,” Boyong replied. “Actually, I live right next to the household of the former General Xiang. It’s a very quiet neighborhood, and most carriages coming to and fro from the Grand Duke’s household pass through the street behind it. The more escorts there are, the more noise there tends to be. I heard several horseback escorts and thought it was strange since it was the middle of the night, so I went to check with the doormen.”

Is this guy a rabbit to have such good hearing?

It’s true that the neighborhood is super quiet though, when I was a teenager I used to go hide out there to skip lessons and it was so quiet that I could hear footsteps coming down the road.

“I see,” Kayla said. “Well, that explains it. Don’t take it to heart, I’m just on edge these days with how much is going on.”

“Of course, my lord. If I may be so rude as to ask, but did something happen for you to be called into the palace at midnight?” Qu Boyong looked genuinely worried.

“The Emperor has decided to re-institute the Court of Judicial Review with me as Minister,” Kayla replied, keeping her tone even. She felt a slight rush of confusion as Qu Boyong’s look of concern deepened.

“Young lord, won’t things become more difficult in the household then?” Boyong asked.

“Interesting you should say that,” Kayla replied coolly, pressing down a pang of worry as she pretended to know what he was talking about. She raised an eyebrow at Boyong instead, secretly hoping that he would elaborate.

“I know I’m speaking out of line, but the Grand Duke had been responsible for dismantling the Court of Judicial Review at the beginning of his career. Even if that was a long time ago, now that the Emperor’s making you the new Minister, won’t the Grand Duke take it as a slap in the face? I’m worried about how he will react,” Boyong said.

Shit, I didn’t know that.

I also didn’t know that?! I never heard anything about that!

You didn’t know? He’s your grandfather!

Mother was always very careful against grandfather, and she told me not to ask about things that he didn’t tell me himself. Even father and uncle never brought this up before, and no one at court ever mentioned it.

Kayla hesitated slightly at Wenyuan’s reaction. That’s strange. There’s definitely something fishy there, especially if it wasn't even listed in the records that there was a Court of Judicial Review within this dynasty. But what reason could there be for even the Imperial Princess and the Emperor to keep their heads down?

“I didn’t think that was so well-known, I had thought that not many people knew of it,” Kayla said, doing her best to hide her surprise.

“My grandfather often told me stories about his time as an official at court when I was a child,” Boyong replied quickly. “He only mentioned it in passing, but I still remember it clearly.”

“It seems that having a good memory runs in your family. Thank you for your concern, but I have some grasp on how to deal with this,” Kayla said, not actually having any. “But if you have any suggestions, I’d be happy to hear them as well.”

“I’m afraid not, my lord,” Boyong said apologetically.

“Well, don’t worry about it, I’ll handle anything that happens,” Kayla replied. “In either case, we’ll be busy from tomorrow on. I’ll be needing your support.”

38-Path of the Forefathers (II)

Kayla had only just arrived back in Wenyuan’s quarters when there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s your servant Li.”

“Matron Li? Come on in,” Kayla called towards the door. The door opened, and Matron Li entered with an apprehensive expression.

“Welcome back, young lord. I came to help you change,” Matron Li said. Kayla nodded gratefully, knowing the older woman was probably here to check on her.

“Just in time, Matron Li,” Kayla replied. Matron Li closed the door behind her and approached to help Kayla undo the outer layers of the official robes.

“My lord, may I ask if everything’s alright?” Matron Li asked tentatively.

“I actually do have some news, though whether it’s good or bad is hard to tell,” Kayla replied. “In either case, please feel free to adjust your schedule accordingly after you hear it. The Emperor has decided to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review, and make me its Minister.”

Matron Li froze in place for a moment before continuing her work, but her actions were noticeably more rigid than before. The older woman had watched Wenyuan grow up and continued serving him despite his current ostracization within the household out of fondness and loyalty. Knowing this, Kayla also wouldn't have suggested for Matron Li to stop unless the situation was really serious.

“I see, my lord. Congratulations on your new post,” Matron Li said, a slight tremor in her voice.

“Grandfather’s not going to be pleased with this, is he? Given that he dismantled it before,” Kayla prodded.

“I…young master, I don’t dare to guess at the Grand Duke’s thoughts,” Matron Li replied haltingly, hurriedly moving behind Kayla to help her out of the outer robes.

“You dared to guess at the Fifth Prince’s thoughts, I was able to safely get through a crisis with your help,” Kayla insisted. She turned around to face the older woman.

“Matron Li, I’m at a loss. You’ve always been someone I’ve relied on, won’t you please spare a word of advice?” Kayla asked earnestly. Matron Li wavered and quickly broke off eye contact. She stepped back and bowed her head.

“Young lord, the late Princess had a reason for keeping certain things from you,” Matron Li said cautiously. “It doesn’t do anyone good to have some things said out loud. But I fear that continuing down this path will certainly bring you to harm.”

Kayla gave her a long look. “Grandfather’s actions must have had something to do with the Imperial family, or there would at least be records of his involvement in the Ministry of Justice.”

“Young lord, I beg you not to speak further of this,” Matron Li hastily hushed her.

“Then what should I do? I can’t refuse the Emperor, can I?”

“His Majesty’s benevolence protects all within this realm, but does his protection extend within these walls? Young lord, as long as the green mountain remains, there will be no lack of firewood. Please believe this humble servant when I say that this position will do you no good,” Matron Li said. Kayla felt a surge of panic in her chest.

It’s that bad? But Wenyuan’s the only heir, he wouldn’t go as far as to kill his own grandson, would he?

“If you believe grandfather would go that far, then you must know something,” Kayla pressed. Matron Li avoided Kayla’s eyes nervously.

"My lord, it's...more complicated than you think. The late princess also had a reason to keep many things from you," Matron Li emphasized with an uneasy note in her voice. "Whether it's the Zhao clan or the Imperial family, there are things that it's best not to know about, and even if you somehow came to know, you should pretend not to."

Kayla's heart sank at Matron Li's heavy tone. She sighed deeply, sensing that the older woman wouldn’t elaborate on the topic.

“I understand. Very well, I won’t make things difficult for you. Thank you for your advice, you can go now. I have a lot to think about,” Kayla said.

“Young lord, you haven’t finished changing yet,” Matron Li protested.

“I’ll do it myself, thank you. I want to be alone right now.”

Matron Li bowed and left the room, gently closing the door behind her. Kayla sighed deeply, pulling out the jade pin that kept her hair in its bun.

Matron Li wants us to side with grandfather then?

I guess so.

Is that a viable option?

Kayla reeled back, feeling inexplicably shocked at the question. Was it? From the very start she had viewed the Grand Duke as her enemy, given the way he had treated her and the crimes he'd committed, but given how things were going, the only person she could trust to help her to hide the truth of Consort Chen’s death was the Grand Duke himself. Even if not with the Grand Duke, then perhaps at least the Third Prince’s faction would be more willing to extend protection. She jolted herself away from the dangerous train of thought.

No. Absolutely not. Putting aside how much I detest the Grand Duke personally, we are certain to lose if we side with him. There's only so much he can do anyways. With the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, we at least have a chance of success.

But if Matron Li is that worried, our chances of survival must be pretty low.

He can’t kill you, his pride won’t allow him to adopt from a side branch and he’s too old to produce an heir. No matter what, siding with him signs our execution order. The Emperor, the Third Prince, and Xianchun all want him dead regardless of whether or not we uncover Consort Chen, siding with such a man is the worst option possible.

Do you not understand how dangerous grandfather is, even after all this?

I’m scared of him too. But I’m more afraid of what happens if we side with him. If the Emperor is reinstating the Court of Judicial Review even though the Grand Duke dismantled it, then there’s something going on beyond just the investigations.

Xianchun had wasted no time in disgracing the Grand Duke in the novel, but even with all the dirt he’d uncovered, the prince never so much as mentioned the Court of Judicial Review. There was only one possible explanation that Kayla could think of, that it threatened the prince’s own legitimacy. The Zhao clan had always been famous as scholars, but they’d only truly gained influence after the Grand Duke’s sister was raised from a concubine to the formal wife of the then-Crown Prince, Emperor Gaozong. As the adopted son of the previous head of the Zhao clan, the Grand Duke had benefited as well.

The inexplicable increase in the Zhao consort's status coincided with the deposal of the previous Crown Prince, allowing for Gaozong to become the heir. If both Wenyuan and Kayla had never so much as run into records of a Court of Judicial Review in the Wu Dynasty, the only reason would be that someone had ordered the records to be completely wiped.

The only person who would have the power to do that is an Emperor. It would have to be either Gaozong or his son, but definitely way before your uncle’s time. I’ll have to look into it.

That reeks of danger, Wenyuan warned.

Kayla sighed. I need to figure out what I’m dealing with.

“The Emperor called Zhao Wenyuan to the palace last night,” Liu Boyue said urgently as he burst into Xianchun’s study, hastily dropping to one knee and bowing his head. The prince was jolted out of his contemplation and looked up in surprise at Liu Boyue's uncharacteristic breach of etiquette.

“Last night? You mean he was called back after the banquet?” Xianchun asked in confusion as he waved for Boyue to get up.

“Yes, my prince. He brought Wenyuan to meet the Empress Dowager, they must have come to a decision,” Boyue said.

“Any idea what it might be?” Xianchun asked sharply.

“I have some ideas, my prince. There haven’t been any whispers about the investigations since the last one ended, they must be putting him into a position to restart the investigations,” Boyue replied.

“The Minister of Justice is already filled,” Xianchun said thoughtfully. “A position in the Imperial Investigation Bureau? Perhaps one of the Vice-Director seats is to be his.”

“I’ll confirm it as soon as I can, my prince. But we must take more precautions. Most of the eyes we had in the Zhao household are useless against Wenyuan now, no one dares to serve him except for Matron Li, and she barely sees him either. We need to get someone to watch his every move. The more powerful he becomes, the more difficult he’ll be to deal with,” Boyue warned him.

“Deal with? You spoke of recruiting him before,” Xianchun protested immediately. Boyue hesitated slightly at the prince’s reaction.

“My prince, that was before he was declared neutral, and before the Third Prince’s return. Things are different now, with his actions we could stand to suffer great losses or make great gains, especially if he is to gain actual power. We need to gain the advantage of knowing his moves.”

Xianchun shook his head. “The Imperial Investigators cannot be bought.”

“But perhaps his servant could. Qu Boyong, his former guard. It seems he resigned from his post in the Zhao household to follow Wenyuan instead,” Boyue prompted.

Xianchun mulled it over. “I believe I’ve seen that young man before, he was quite talented. Doesn’t seem like the type who could be swayed though.”

“Perhaps not with money,” Boyue conceded.

After a long moment of consideration, Xianchun shook his head. “No, don’t bother. Wenyuan can be pretty vindictive when he feels insulted, or did you forget about what happened with Bianfu? If something goes wrong, things will only become more complicated.”

“My prince,” Boyue protested. Xianchun held up a hand.

“Take it easy, Boyue. I don’t mean to take my hands off completely, but there are plenty of other ways to do it.”

“I don’t believe we have that many options, my prince. Wenyuan’s case is rather peculiar, and only seems to become more so as time progresses.”

Xianchun sighed. “I know, if he remained in the Ministry of Justice, we at least have eyes on him. If he’s transferred to the Imperial Investigation Bureau, things become a lot more complicated. But I don’t want to burn any bridges at this point in time. That’s his only personal servant at the moment, if I try to recruit him and Wenyuan finds out, it will be as though I’m threatening what little control he has. It’s different than bribing his grandfather’s men. Not to mention that if I make a move and Third Brother doesn’t, then who will Wenyuan lean towards?”

Boyue hesitated at the rhetorical question but opened his mouth to protest again. Xianchun quickly hushed him.

“That’s final, Boyue. Find some other way.”

Boyue deflated slightly, letting out a sigh. “As you wish, my prince.”

Qu Boyong bowed his head as Wenyuan approached the carriage, stepping forward to help him on. The guards from the Imperial Investigation Bureau ignored him as Wenyuan waved for Boyong to get into the carriage as well, already used to the Zhao scion’s oddities. They had questions about why a noble would ride in a carriage with his servant but had professionally kept their conjectures about their relationship to themselves.

“You look tired, my lord,” Boyong commented. Wenyuan looked at him with bleary eyes, with none of the excitement one would expect from a man who had just been promoted.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night,” Wenyuan replied.

“I’ll go and fetch some tea for you, there’s a vendor who sells rather potent stuff, if a bit crude for your tastes,” Boyong offered.

“Forget it, I have something more important,” Wenyuan said. “I need you to run an errand for me. You can stop if it becomes difficult, just let me know right away. The important thing is that you act discreetly.”

Boyong nodded dutifully. “Anything you ask of me, my lord.”

“It’s well-known that my grandfather rose to power by rooting out the corruption within the eunuchs and the court, but less is known about his investigation of the Court of Judicial Review. I’ve heard bits and pieces about it from my parents, but I want to know more now that I’m taking on the seat of Minister. I need you to find out what you can about the last Court of Judicial Affairs and what went wrong with it for me,” Wenyuan said, glancing out the window as though it was a casual errand. Boyong didn’t mind, his new master’s interest aligned perfectly with his own.

“I will do my best,” Boyong promised, bowing his head. He straightened as Wenyuan extended his hand to drop a purse in Boyong’s hand.

“My lord,” Boyong said in surprise. The purse was heavy with silver.

“Do what you can and don’t overreach. Remember that discretion is of the first priority, use the money however you see fit, I know I’m not giving you an easy task.”

Boyong bit down the words on his tongue and settled for a polite expression of gratitude. “But my lord, it might take some time. I surely wouldn’t be able to finish before the edict is announced.”

“I know. You don’t need to guard me for the time being, just take care of this matter first.”

“Forgive me, but I can’t agree to that, my lord,” Boyong protested. “Your safety is my first priority, and I had sworn it to you as well. Right now, more people will target you than ever.”

“Yes, and my uncle’s men know it as well. So many eyes are on me at the moment that no one would dare to make a move. It’s when the attention fades somewhat that I’ll truly require your services as a guard. For now, I need information.”

Boyong once again noted Wenyuan’s strange sense of casualness with his servants. There was something about the interactions that he couldn’t put his finger on, that went beyond the simple lenience or carelessness displayed by some nobles.

“I apologize, I didn’t think that far,” Boyong said, lowering his head.

“No, I appreciate it,” Wenyuan said, waving away Boyong’s apology. The carriage pulled to a stop, and Boyong quickly pulled the curtain open and got out, holding out a hand to help Wenyuan down as well. Wenyuan glanced up at the Ministry of Personnel’s building, letting out a soft huff before nodding to the guards and then Boyong. They bowed slightly as the soon-to-be Minister turned and entered the building, his purple robes garnering attention from the lower-ranking officials heading in for work.

“Good work, gentlemen,” Boyong said in a friendly voice to the guards. They exchanged a few words of small talk before heading off again, Boyong peeling off into the side alleys as he meandered away from the palace. Taking twists and turns, he arrived by a crumbling wall. It was close to the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, separated by several quiet streets.

The safest place was often the closest to where the danger lies. Boyong pulled out a communication talisman and activated it. The talisman became warm to the touch, and Boyong sat down to wait patiently. Within moments, a familiar figure appeared.

“Haoyang, you didn’t need to come in such a hurry for a non-emergency signal,” Boyong chided him, noting the sweat on the young man’s forehead. “People will wonder where you were.”

“I just got off a night shift anyway,” Haoyang replied. “Sir, what has happened?”

Boyong retrieved the purse of money from his robes, tossing it between his hands.

“Zhao Wenyuan wants me to find out information about the previous Court of Judicial Review, I will need your help.”

“The Court of- why?” Haoyang gave him a look of confusion.

“The Emperor’s reinstating it with him as Minister.”

“The Emperor’s doing what?!” Haoyang squeaked in a high voice. “But that-”

Boyong cut him off impatiently. “Haoyang, the goal is within sight. Our ancestors are protecting us yet, with every move the Zhao heir brings us closer to victory. I have to take this chance, nothing can go wrong with him before we’ve succeeded.”

Haoyang deflated at Boyong’s tone of certainty. “What do you need me to do?”

“I have to give him enough, but not too much. It may as well be a trap,” Boyong admitted.

“You think he’s that cunning?”

“I find him increasingly difficult to read the more I spend time with him. I acted too hastily last night and nearly incurred his suspicion,” Boyong said.

“Is he still suspicious?” Haoyang asked with alarm in his voice. “Sir, if needed, I’ll do anything to ensure your safety.”

“There’s no need, I dealt with it. I want him to remain safe and sound until all this is over. In any case, it’s not like I want him dead, he's decent enough. But we need to be extremely careful, there's only so much I can do right now, and my cousin isn’t in a position to act either. I begin to feel that she wouldn’t act even if I called upon her to,” Boyong said the last part in a mutter, shaking his head sharply.

“I’ll find out everything I can,” Haoyang promised. Boyong nodded.

“Thank you. Be careful as you proceed, no need to risk your position in the Investigation Bureau. I need to earn his trust if we are to proceed, and this seems the best way to do it.”

Haoyang bowed his head slightly and vaulted back over the wall, lightly jumping over the wall and disappearing into a tree. Boyong slowly made his way back towards the busy streets. He’d made it half a mile away from the meeting spot when he suddenly sensed someone start to follow him.

Boyong’s eyes narrowed, and he reached for the knife concealed in his robes, maintaining a casual pace as he headed into more desolate alleys.

Title Change Announcement

Hello readers, thank you for your continued support of this story! This is an announcement that the title of this story will be changing from Transmigrating Into the Main Character's Political Rival into Surviving the Succession with the next update.

There will be a two-update adjustment period in which the title will be briefly listed as:

Surviving the Succession (Formerly Transmigrating Into the Main Character's Political Rival)

A bit of a mouthful, but I want to make sure that the title change doesn't come as too sudden. After two updates, the title will be officially changed to Surviving the Succession, though the former title of Transmigrating Into the Main Character's Political Rival will continue to be listed in the story description.

Again, thank you to all the readers who participated in suggesting titles, as well as in the two rounds of polling. I'm very satisfied with the new title, which better reflects the overall plot and the upcoming story arcs I have planned.

39-The Offers

Kayla took in a deep breath, trying not to jiggle her leg as she glanced at Minister Jun. The two of them sat alone in a small, slightly dusty room, glancing between each other and the piles of unfurled scrolls on the desk. The Emperor had ordered the Ministry of Personnel to get busy with the Court of Judicial Review, but also to keep things quiet until the decree was released. This left both Kayla and the Minister of Personnel in a rather awkward position.

Kayla had been instructed to report to the Ministry of Personnel rather than her own workplace, at least until the core staff had been settled. Minister Jun had evidently considered it for the best to avoid involving anyone else until that was taken care of, and Kayla reluctantly had to agree with his assessment. Even so, she had barely interacted with him before, and he was not only Xianchun’s man but also his future father-in-law.

I would bet fifty silver that Xianchun already knows about the Court of Judicial Review by now. The question is how fast Kuang finds out.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Third Cousin already guessed it.

Minister Jun sighed, pushing the scroll away from himself and back towards Kayla.

“Left Secretariat, I don’t object to you hiring a woman as a personal secretary or a scribe. She can work in the Court of Judicial Review and receive a salary, but given her age and gender, incorporating her into the core staff is…” He trailed off awkwardly.

“His Majesty the Emperor approves of it,” Kayla replied politely. Minister Jun let out a sigh.

“Well, that’s good and fine, but are you sure you also want Sun Ruhui as a member of the core staff? There are only so many positions available, it’s best to act strategically. Right now, he’s only a ninth-rank official, it wouldn’t do to give him too much of a promotion. Why not give him one of the openings for Ministerial Case Reviewer? Eighth rank wouldn’t be too much of a stretch,” Minister Jun said. Kayla shook her head. She had no plans to concede on the only two positions she had spoken for.

“I was actually thinking of making him one of the Chamberlains,” Kayla replied. “He’s from the provinces and known for his sense of justice, so his character is suitable for the role.”

“That’s a fifth-rank position! He’s only a county magistrate, isn’t that too much of a jump? It’s easy for quick progression through the ranks to cloud the mind of a youngster with arrogance,” Minister Jun replied. Kayla ignored the subtle dig aimed at Wenyuan.

“For others, perhaps. But he’s the student of Zhang Wanfu, who’s known to have a discerning eye. If Sun Ruhui did not abide by Taoist principles, he would have been disowned as a pupil. Surely he is not someone who prioritizes personal gain and pride,” Kayla said.

“That’s a bit of a conjecture,” Minister Jun protested. “My lord, have you ever met the man? I don’t believe he’s been in the capital much.”

“I have not. But his lack of ties to the capital is exactly what I want in a candidate. I need someone unafraid to insult the powerful and unembedded in the ties of gratuity, this also aligns with the Emperor’s intentions,” Kayla said.

Minister Jun sighed. “Very well, if you say it is His Majesty’s wishes, what more can I say in protest?”

“I didn’t say that, please do refrain from misquoting me,” Kayla quickly said. “I wouldn’t want anyone to misunderstand.”

“Of course, Left Secretariat, I’ll be careful. Now, the other positions,” Minister Jun said, pulling another scroll out from the pile. The two launched back into the discussion, lowering their voices as someone passed by the door.

Qu Boyong lightly leaped back, landing soundlessly on the ground. He glanced with interest and annoyance at the man who had parried his knife. The stranger who followed him down the alleys was clad in rough and dirty linen and looked like a beggar, except for the expensive sword in his bandage-wrapped hands and the sharp eyes that glinted dangerously. He was about the same height as Boyong, taller by only an inch or so.

Boyong tilted his head slightly, trying to assess the situation. The man didn’t seem to be sent by Boyong’s enemies, but who else would target an unassuming guard?

“You’re too skilled for a mere robber, who are you? Show your face!” Boyong shouted. To his surprise, the stranger complied without hesitation. The man pulled down the scarf that covered his nose and mouth, revealing the strikingly handsome face of a young man in his twenties.

“And you’re quite skilled for a servant,” the man replied. “You don’t need to know my name, Qu Boyong. But I would recommend you hear out my offer.” Boyong drew in a sharp breath, his eyes narrowing. At least he could confirm now that the man’s business was not with Boyong, but with Wenyuan.

Boyong shook his head. “You may have the advantage of my name, but I have no reason to hear out someone who sneaks about in the shadows.”

“Am I truly the only one who does that? I can tell just by looking at you that your background isn’t simple,” the man replied. Boyong felt more confident at the vague words. It was no more than the tricks of a fortuneteller who said vague, self-fulfilling prophecies to those foolish enough to pay for them, a petty trick to fish for information. If the stranger really knew anything, he surely would have sought to immobilize Boyong before blabbering on like this.

“An interesting conjecture.” Boyong kept his face a blank mask.

“I have a good sense for these things," the man said flippantly. "I bring you an open-ended offer.”

“I don’t want to hear it. You bring nothing but trouble,” Boyong shot back. The man shifted his grasp on the short sword in his hand.

“I only ask for a few minutes,” the man said, a dangerous edge in his voice. Boyong mulled it over briefly. The strange man was quite skilled, and Boyong doubted he could walk away unharmed unless the other man was seriously injured or dead. But the last thing he needed now was to attract attention to himself in this manner.

“Fine, speak quickly.” Boyong lowered his knife and nodded at the man.

“My master can give you whatever you request. It can be money, though that doesn’t seem to be your true desire. A position, a title, or perhaps the hand in marriage of a young lady, whatever it is that you are seeking will be granted.”

“That sounds like it comes with a high price,” Boyong replied suspiciously.

“A price, but not a high one. We simply wish to know the moves of your master. Nothing that would harm him, of course, just the simple things. Who he meets with, where he goes, what he orders you to carry out. Nothing that we can’t find out about ourselves, but you would save us quite some time and effort.”

Boyong gave him a confused look. “Your offer is more generous than it should be. Why such a high reward?”

“That’s not something you need to worry about. Just know that neither you nor your master will come to harm from this. In fact, you both stand to gain quite a lot.”

“I refuse,” Boyong shot back.

“Your loyalty is admirable but foolish. I did just mention that-”

“It’s not loyalty but pragmatism. What on earth makes you think I’d trust in the words of some lurker like you? You don’t speak the name of your master, but there are only so many people within this country who can freely offer positions and titles. I’m not interested in learning anything more than that, I already know that it’ll bring me far more trouble than I’m willing to take on. Leave now and I’ll pretend I never saw you,” Boyong snapped.

“You’re making a mistake,” the man warned him. "Taking this offer will make things much easier for you. Whatever it is that you want, do you think that guy can give it to you? He'll have his hands full keeping himself afloat from now on."

"Enough, I don't want to hear any more from you! If you think you can kill me, you’re free to try. If not, take your sword and get out,” Boyong said in a dark tone.

The man took a step backward, shaking his head.

“Fine. If you're going to be like that, then I'll take my leave for now. But we'll see each other soon, it won’t be long before you change your mind.”

The man then vaulted onto the rooftop, giving a carefree wave to Boyong before disappearing into the alleyways, leaving Boyong alone again. Boyong sighed deeply, wiping at the sweat that had beaded on his forehead. For a moment there, he had actually been worried. To his relief, it was just the lackey of one of the princes or perhaps one of the Archdukes seeking to stir things up in the capital.

“That bastard…but I guess I have to thank him as well,” Boyong said absently.

As annoying as the encounter was, it presented him with an excellent opportunity. It was also the best proof that he had made the right decision by becoming Wenyuan’s servant. Boyong hid his smile and made his way back towards the main street.

Chen Jian lit up as he opened the door to see Li Que.

“Sir! What a welcome sight, please come on in,” he said cheerfully. Li Que stepped in with a small smile, glancing at his subordinate's unruly hair.

“Look at this brat, you just got up, didn’t you? It’s almost midday,” Li Que scolded.

“But it’s my day off,” Chen Jian whined. Li Que shook his head in exasperation before his expression became more serious.

“Alright, I came because there was something I needed to talk to you about. Where is your sister?” Li Que asked.

“Right here, sir. I brought some tea,” Caichun called as she entered the room, stepping forward briskly with a teapot in one hand and a stack of cups in the other. She bowed her head slightly as she set them down.

“Hello, Caichun. Have you grown taller again?” Li Que glanced quizzically at Caichun, who proudly straightened her back.

“That’s right, sir. I’ve grown some more in the last month, I hope I’ll be taller than my brother soon.”

“You wish,” Chen Jian shot back. “Even if you have a growth spurt at 23, you’ll still end up half a head shorter than me.”

“You don’t know that,” Caichun shot back.

“Indeed,” Li Que chuckled fondly as he settled down at the table, Chen Jian and Caichun sitting down as well. “Let’s not go in circles, I bring important news. You two should think very carefully about what you want to do in response.”

Caichun and Chen Jian both straightened their postures, nodding seriously in response.

“The Emperor has decided to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review with the Left Secretariat of Justice as its Minister,” Li Que announced. There was a soft gasp from Chen Jian.

“I believe both of you understand how important this is. There are still a few days until the official edict will come down, but preparations are already underway. The building is also being prepared, it’s been used as a storehouse for decades now so there’s quite a lot to do,” Li Que said.

“But that doesn’t have much to do with us, all we'll have to do is ensure its security until everything's settled down. The problem is staffing. This is meant to become an institution that answers directly to the Emperor but can also intervene directly in court politics, far beyond the extent of what we are able to do in the Bureau, so the personnel is of utmost importance. The Left Secretariat’s working with the Ministry of Personnel to fill the positions, but they’ll be recruiting quite a few people from the Bureau.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Chen Jian asked worriedly.

“A good thing,” Caichun hissed at him, nodding apologetically at Li Que.

“Caichun’s right, it’s a good thing. The thing is, these changes affect your family as well,” Li Que said. The siblings glanced at each other uneasily.

“Caichun, the Left Secretariat requested for you to join the core staff as a Ministerial Case Reviewer,” Li Que said. “This is an excellent opportunity and a highly unusual one, and you would be in an excellent position to pursue high-paying work should you ever leave the position. But it doesn’t come without its problems. You’re one of the only two staff members that the Left Secretariat personally requested, and you’re the only woman among the core staff. Since your rank would only be eighth rank, there’s no telling how you’ll be treated by your colleagues.”

Caichun looked at Li Que, expression frozen in shock.

“The young lord requested me? As-as an official?” Caichun asked, sounding a little dazed. She evidently hadn’t taken in anything after that. Li Que nodded. Caichun blinked, still looking taken aback, but quickly collected herself.

“An eighth-rank official,” Caichun said in amazement. “I haven’t heard of a woman becoming a court official within the last eighty years!”

“That’s amazing! As expected, my little sister is the best!“ Chen Jian cheered. “The young lord’s a nice person, I’m sure that Caichun will be fine, won’t she?”

Caichun seemed to come to her senses at that. “I doubt he would have much time to spare for me,” she said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Even if the core staff is mostly made up of neutral officials, he would still have his hands full with a newly reinstated institution and the investigations. I’ll be fending for myself for the most part, won’t I?”

“That’s what I wanted to point out,” Li Que admitted. “Not to mention that you’re of marriable age but have no betrothed yet, this may affect your prospects for marriage, depending on what rumors circulate.”

Chen Jian leaned forward with a look of concern. “That’s right, look how people talked about General Yu behind her back. I was so happy that I forgot all about that part!”

“That being said, it depends on your choice, Caichun. If you want to refuse it, I will do anything I can to help you,” Li Que said. He had known the girl since she was sixteen when Chen Jian had first joined the Bureau. It didn’t sit well with him to see her prospects for marrying into a good family dashed by the cruelty of the court officials.

“Sir, you said that I was one of the only two that the young lord requested?” Caichun asked. Li Que nodded.

“The other one is Sun Ruhui, a county magistrate from Rongcheng County. He’s to be a Chamberlain,” Li Que replied.

“Then I don’t think I have anything to worry about,” Caichun said with finality. “The young lord must have chosen us with the intention of curbing the power of any other faction that may try to intervene. There’s no way his recommendations for a civilian woman to enter into the core staff and a ninth-rank local official to jump to fifth-rank could have possibly gone through unless the Emperor approved. Even if my reputation were to be besmirched, I have no doubt I would still be offered a good match. Also, I’m in no rush whatsoever.”

“Are you certain that will be the case? This is a serious life decision you’re making,” Li Que cautioned her. Caichun nodded.

“I’m certain. The Emperor won’t let the Court of Judicial Review or his nephew be besmirched, or his own pride will get dragged through the mud. By extension, I’ll be fine as well. I’ve always wanted to work in the court, but I’ve never had a chance. How can I just let this chance slip by? I’ll do it,” Caichun said firmly. Li Que nodded.

“I’ll support your decision. Chen Jian, do you have any objections?”

“No, Caichun knows what she’s doing,” Chen Jian said. “If she says it’s fine, then it’s fine.”

Li Que nodded. “Good, it’s settled then. The official notice will come down within the next few days, I’ll be rooting for you. If things get too tough and you want to stop, let the Left Secretariat know, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“Understood, sir. Thank you very much!” Caichun bowed her head, beaming from ear to ear.

Kayla stretched her arms in the privacy of her carriage, stiff from a long day hunched over a desk with Minister Jun. The core staff had been settled rather quickly once Minister Jun realized Kayla wasn’t going to give in on Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun, but there were still plenty of other personnel choices in question. Despite Minister Jun's own preference for the Seventh Prince, he limited the candidate pool to neutral officials who weren't involved with any of the Princes or the Grand Duke. As a result, most of the core staff came from lower-ranking officials or the Imperial Investigator Bureau.

Kayla quickly pulled herself into a more poised sitting position as Boyong got into the carriage as well, bowing slightly at her.

“My lord,” Boyong said. Kayla waved and he settled into the seat across from her as usual.

“How did your day go?” Kayla asked. She doubted he would have uncovered something already, but she would be happy for any little detail.

“I began to ask around with some of the older folks in town,” Boyong replied. “Beggars, drunks, retired courtesans, and the like. They’re most likely to both remember what happened and be willing to loosen their tongues for a bit of silver. I’ve yet to uncover anything useful, most of them only knew some rumors or tall tales.”

“You only just started today, it’s to be expected,” Kayla assured him. “Even if it’s just rumors and tall tales, I’d rather have something than nothing at all before the Court of Judicial Review is reinstated. Once you find some common themes, let me know.”

“Of course, my lord. I’ll also look into some other possibilities for gathering information,” Boyong said. The young man hesitated slightly as he seemed to consider his words. Kayla pretended not to notice.

“My lord, actually, there is something important that I need to talk to you about,” Boyong said. Kayla nodded for him to go ahead, creasing her brow at his serious tone.

“This morning, I was followed by a strange man in beggar’s clothes. I tried to throw him off my trail, and when that failed, I tried to strike first. But he was a highly trained swordsman,” Boyong said. Kayla frowned at that.

“Are you alright?” Kayla asked. She glanced him over. The young man seemed unharmed, but Kayla couldn't tell for sure.

“Yes, my lord. But the man, he made me an offer…” Boyong trailed off, glancing down at the carriage floor.

“Go on,” Kayla urged him.

“He offered me anything I wanted in exchange for reporting your actions to him,” Boyong said. Kayla raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise.

“Of course, I refused him!” Boyong hastily added.

“I believe you. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be telling me this,” Kayla assured him. “But do you have any idea who he might’ve been?”

“He had an expensive sword, he must be from a wealthy household,” Boyong replied. “And I saw his face. He was rather young, in his twenties, I believe. And he was rather handsome.”

Kayla opened her mouth and then closed it again. That description matched almost a quarter of the named cast in the original story.

“Did he have anything else that stood out?” Kayla asked after a moment.

“He said he would approach me again,” Boyong replied. “I can try to capture him at that time.”

“Don’t bother doing something dangerous,” Kayla said with a sigh. “I feel like there will be more men like him in the future as well, there’s no point in trying to stop them from offering.”

“I’ll soundly reject anyone who approaches me,” Boyong said earnestly.

“I’m glad, thank you.”

“Not at all, my lord. It’s my duty as your servant.”

Kayla gave Boyong a smile before turning her thoughts to the mysterious man.

Who would send a guy like that?

She didn’t wait for Wenyuan to answer. A good half of the higher-ranking officials could have a motive for doing so, but most of the people she could think of that fit Boyong’s description worked for either the Third Prince or Xianchun.

Hey, Liu Boyue is one of the guys who fit that description. But I don't think he uses swords.

You're not thinking of confronting Xianchun are you? What good does it do you to take the risk of angering him? For a guy that doesn’t even use swords?

Well, since he doesn't use swords, there really is no point. But if it's not Liu Boyue, that's a good thing.

Kayla, Wenyuan began in a nervous tone. Kayla continued without letting Wenyuan go on.

“Actually, on second thought, if that guy approaches you again, tell him I’d like to speak with him.”

A brief look of confusion flashed over Boyong’s face before he bowed his head slightly.

“As you wish, my lord.”

40-Action and Reaction

Two men quivered in fear, glancing at each other nervously as they were shoved to their knees in an unfamiliar room. The younger man, who looked to be scarcely twenty, let out a whimper that was muffled by the gag in his mouth, futilely trying to wiggle loose from the tight ropes that wound around his neck, torso, and arms. The more he struggled, the tighter the robes constrained his limbs. The armed men in the room ignored him, staring stoically forward.

The room had all its windows closed and curtains drawn shut, and it was as dark as night despite being the middle of the day. There was a soft noise at the door and all the guards straightened to stand at attention. The two men looked up in terror as a man dressed in simple but expensive robes opened the door and stepped into the room, their fear intensifying as the man stepped aside to bow slightly as another figure emerged in the doorway.

A well-built man with white hair and a neatly-kept beard stepped into the room. He was dressed in luxurious robes and carried himself with an imposing air, glancing at the two bound captives disdainfully. The old man made his way to an elaborately carved chair and sat down. Rather than turn his attention to the captives, he took up the cup of tea that his servant handed to him, sipping at it slowly before finally nodding in the direction of the captives.

“Remove their gags,” the old man said. The guards moved forward to do so but stopped their movements as their master raised a hand.

“If you so much as say a single word without my permission, I will break your leg,” he said. He waved for the guards to continue. The gags were removed, but both men remained silent out of fear.

“Speak your names,” the servant in expensive robes ordered.

The two captives glanced at each other nervously before the older one spoke.

“My name is Li Sanjin, my lord,” he said hoarsely. The younger man quickly spoke as well.

“M-my name is Li Da, my lord.”

The servant bowed slightly and nodded to the old man, who merely waved carelessly for him to continue.

“The two of you served Liu Hongyu as servants, haven’t you? Nod or shake your heads.” The servant asked.

The two hastily nodded.

“Li Sanjin, you provided a false testimony to the Imperial Investigators, did you not?” the servant hissed menacingly. Li Sanjin hastily shook his head.

“Of course not, good sir! I-I only told the truth! I had no choice, they were the Imperial Investigators, and I-”

“Enough,” the servant cut him off. “My master doesn't have the time to dally with you. I’ll only give you one more chance. You provided false testimony, did you not?”

Li Sanjin looked at him with an imploring look and shook his head again. “No, I swear, my lord!”

The servant nodded and a guard stepped forward. Li Sanjin flinched as the guard raised a large wooden staff, bracing himself for the blow. He gasped in shock as the staff swung down and struck Li Da instead. The younger man screamed in pain as the staff hit his back, doubling over in pain.

“Da'er!” Li Sanjin shouted. He looked at the old man in horror. “My lord, please! I-I really didn’t provide false testimony, please take mercy on us! We’re just mere servants, we-”

The guard struck Li Da again, hitting the young man’s ankle with a sickening crunch.

“No!” Li Sanjin tried to get up and lunge forward but was shoved back down onto his knees by the other guards.

“I advise you to rethink your answer carefully,” the servant said menacingly. "Our patience is very limited."

“Please, I beg you! Hit me instead, don’t harm him!” Li Sanjin pleaded.

“You'll talk if you know what's good for you. If you don’t want him to come to further harm, answer us truthfully. Who ordered you to give false testimony?” The servant asked.

“I-I didn’t give a false testimony! I told them what I heard the master say, I didn’t want to, but-but they would have imprisoned me if I didn’t cooperate. I wouldn’t have risked execution to lie to the Imperial Investigators, of all people!”

“Break his other leg,” the servant ordered. Li Da let out an agonized scream as the guard complied, Li Sanjin crying quietly as he watched helplessly.

“I swear it! I shouldn’t have said it, perhaps, but I really did tell the truth!”

“That’s impossible.”

Li Sanjin flinched as the old man finally spoke again.

“M-my lord, I-”

“Do you know who you speak to?” The old man demanded.

Li Sanjin lowered his head. “I don’t dare to know,” he meekly replied.

“You would be a fool to continue this pretense. Do you think I don’t know the ongoings of the Liu household?”

Li Sanjin winced at the old man’s question, shrinking away as much as he could.

“I-I wouldn’t dare, my lord.”

“Then you should know better,” the old man said. He glanced at the young man whimpering in pain.

“I take it you favor your nephew,” the old man said. Li Sanjin looked up to meet the man’s eyes with a look of mounting horror.

“You have one last chance. If you do not speak, he dies. I’ve wasted enough time on this already.”

Li Sanjin looked at Li Da, who stared back at him with terror in his eyes. The silence drew out as Li Sanjin slowly broke eye contact with his nephew, turning back to the nobleman. Tears dripped down Li Sanjin’s face as he shook his head.

“My lord, please believe me! I wouldn’t dare lie to you! I really didn’t give a false testimony,” Li Sanjin pleaded. The old man shook his head imperceptibly.

“Fool,” he said. The guard lifted the staff again, the two captives letting out an intermingled scream of horror. The staff made a sickening sound as it connected with the back of Li Da’s head, driving the young man’s face into the ground.

“No!” Li Sanjin screamed. Other than the men holding him in place, the rest of the room was content to ignore Sanjin's screams as the guard continued. The guard stopped abruptly, squatting down to ascertain whether Li Da was dead or not before giving the servant a quick nod of confirmation.

“What a waste of time,” the old man said, getting up from his chair.

“You lunatic! Do you think this will go unnoticed? The heavens will punish you for this! Sooner or later, the Zhao clan will receive divine punishment!” Li Sanjin shouted, his voice cracking. The old man stilled, glancing at him coldly.

“Liu Hongyu always had the servants wait outside while drinking with my grandson. Did you think I didn’t know that? You brought this upon yourself.”

Li Sanjin stared at the old man in shock and horror before slumping to the floor, his strength drained from him.

“Leave him here, he’ll talk soon enough,” the Grand Duke ordered. Housekeeper Wang opened the door for him and bowed slightly as the Grand Duke exited. The guards filed out, ignoring Li Sanjin’s sobs as they left him alone with the body. The door locked shut behind them, and the anguished screams were abruptly muted.

Housekeeper Wang walked quickly behind the Grand Duke.

“My lord, shall we use torture?”

“No need, from his reaction alone I’ve already narrowed down the possible masterminds. Now all I need is for him to break. I want a signed testimony within three days.”

“Then perhaps I should call over the professionals,” Wang offered.

“Unnecessary. He’ll break by himself. Now that he knows that his nephew died for nothing, the guilt will consume him soon enough,” the Grand Duke replied. “Let me know when it’s ready.”

“Of course, my lord.” Housekeeper Wang bowed before turning to give commands to the guards.

The carriage moved swiftly, perhaps faster than should’ve been possible for a horse-drawn carriage. Upon a closer look, passersby could tell that it was a magic carriage, specifically designed to align with the magic used to maintain the government-owned roads. The other travelers wisely made way, knowing that it was probably someone or something too important to provoke if they warranted the use of such an expensive service.

Sun Ruhui sat inside the carriage with a calm look on his face. He was mildly confused, but altogether not too bothered by the sudden change in circumstances foisted upon him. He had received a summons to the capital only three days before and had been given half a day to put things in order before ending his term as the county magistrate. The messenger had declared that he was being raised to the position of Chamberlain while keeping the specific department and rank vague. It sounded shady, and Ruhui had been hesitant. Thankfully, his wife was decisive enough to force him to accept on the spot, and also efficient enough to get everything together within two hours, allowing him to be rushed into a carriage long before half a day was up.

He mulled over the various reasons why a ninth-rank county magistrate would be rushed to the capital in a magic carriage, mentally running through a list of the various people who would have access to one. After hours of deliberation, he decided to simply let things follow their natural flow. When he had protested the sudden summons on account of his mother’s ailing health, a healer had been immediately sent to his house. Even if it was only for that, Ruhui was willing to comply with the mysterious summons.

Outside the capital, healers could rarely be found outside of provincial capitals where they served the elite. Some doctors knew a little bit of healing magic and could charge higher prices, but for the most part, the vast majority of the population could never encounter healing magic in their entire lives. The only exception was medicine hags, generally single women who worked as informal, unlicensed doctors. Many of them knew bits and pieces of healing magic from their experience serving healers as maids, but they were looked down upon by the more affluent sectors of society. Sun Ruhui didn’t care about that. He never said a word when his mother and wife hired medicine hags for their ailments, it wasn’t as though he could afford a healer on the salary of a county magistrate.

As they neared the capital, the number of carriages and travelers increased. Many merchants had set up stalls along the road, peddling various foods, drinks, and items of every sort. The carriage passed through the city gates without stopping for verification. Ruhui calmly looked out the window as they passed through the gates, the range of potential summoners continuing to narrow. At this point, there was no longer any reason to consider anyone below a fourth rank to be responsible.

Sun Ruhui was jolted out of his thoughts by the horseman shooing away a middle-aged woman loudly peddling beauty talismans by the book, shaking his head in fascination as the carriage passed her by.

“Sorry about that, sir. Those vendors are relentless, I’ll tell you that.” the horseman called over his shoulder.

“Not at all,” Ruhui replied good-naturedly. “I’m always a little surprised when I enter the capital. The talismans here are so cheap and plentiful, it’s no wonder they call it the Magic Capital.”

“That’s certainly true! Every time I visit my hometown, I have to bring back a whole sackful or my family will never let me hear the end of it,” the horseman replied. “Especially my sisters!”

“Ha! I suspect I’ll be on the same boat!” Ruhui laughed. He continued watching the vendors as the carriage trundled down the street. The horseman cheerfully pointed out a few vendors to Ruhui as they passed, naming them as selling cheap but reliable talismans.

“It’s a pity there are so few spells for growing crops, it'd make everyone's life easier,” Ruhui remarked.

“That would be messing with the heavens,” the horseman immediately shot back in a scolding tone. “Better a famine than divine punishment, surely. The last thing we want is for the freezing years to come back.”

Ruhui didn’t reply, keeping his thoughts on that to himself. He turned his attention back to the streets of the capital. Outside of the capital Luoyang and the West Capital of Changan, the only places with such a high concentration of magic were the northern and northwest borders, and Ruhui hoped to never venture to those places. The nomads had their own magic systems for combat that sparked tales of death and destruction, which he was more than happy to never bear witness to.

"Speaking of, spirits seem high in the capital. Last time I came, the streets weren't quite so vibrant," Ruhui said, quickly changing the subject.

"Of course, the Third Prince came back from the border a few days ago."

"It's because of his return? The people must love him then."

The horseman chuckled at that. "They'll love him all the more now that there won't be a war."

Ruhui smiled. "Indeed, it's a blessing."

“Here we are, sir,” the horseman said as the carriage pulled to a stop. Ruhui frowned slightly, his wonder fading into unease at the building before him. It was one of the more expensive inns, with freshly painted walls and green-tiled roofs.

“I’m not sure this is the right place,” Ruhui said carefully. He couldn’t afford to stay here until he found a place to rent even if he emptied his wallet.

“It’s paid for, good sir,” the horseman said jovially. “Don’t worry and enjoy the stay, I heard their serving girls are rather pretty. A carriage will come to pick you up tomorrow, I reckon in the afternoon. The court will have finished convening by then.”

“I appreciate it, but I wouldn’t be able to pay for all this,” Ruhui said, a little more insistently.

“I’m not sure you’re meant to,” the horseman replied. “Now, let me help you get the luggage in.”

Ruhui got out of the carriage, still a little uncomfortable. He ignored the curious glances from the other patrons as he stepped into the building, following the horseman as he spoke a few words to the inn’s owner. Ruhui was dressed in simple cotton robes with no designs and narrow sleeves. If not for the length of his robes, he looked almost like the horseman’s fellow worker.

“Alright, it’s taken care of. Have a good time in the capital, sir,” the horseman said in a friendly voice as he turned to Ruhui. Ruhui reached into his robe to retrieve his purse.

“Thank you, good man. The payment-”

“Was already taken care of,” the horseman said, gently patting Ruhui’s upper arm. Ruhui frowned and fumbled to take out a silver coin instead.

“Then, a token of my thanks,” Ruhui said.

“That was already taken care of too,” the horseman replied. “Don’t worry about it in the slightest. Then, I’ll be heading home to check on my wife.”

“Of course,” Ruhui said, shaking himself out of his surprise. “I wish you and yours the best.”

“You as well!”

The horseman disappeared back into the street, and a worker came over to guide Ruhui to his rooms, another carrying Ruhui’s luggage. Ruhui shook his head in befuddlement and apprehension. There weren’t many reasons that a ninth-rank official from the counties would be rushed into the capital like this and given such preferential treatment, and not many of them were good. Ruhui withheld a sigh and followed the workers to his quarters.

Shuyi briskly stepped into the courtyard, where Kuang was holding his son up to a tree so the child could touch the leaves.

“This is a camellia tree, do you remember the characters for camellia?” Kuang asked the child. The toddler shook his head, pulling at the leaves with his small hands.

“Perhaps he would’ve remembered if you taught him the basics first,” Shuyi said as she came closer, gesturing for the servants to step away. Kuang shifted his son’s weight and handed him over to his nanny, who took the boy into her arms before following the servants out of the courtyard.

“Shuyi,” Kuang greeted her warmly. He held out an arm as she approached, pulling his wife into a one-armed embrace.

“You should be getting ready instead of doting on your son all the time, the court convenes tomorrow!” Shuyi scolded him, but her smile gave her away.

“Father will be stirring up the winds and waves tomorrow, that’s for sure,” Kuang said breezily. “Might as well relax before then, we certainly won’t get to do so afterward.”

“What use does an ambitious man have for leisure?” Shuyi asked. Kuang chuckled, shaking his head.

“Is there any word from Yunqi?”

“He’ll be by in the afternoon, a servant from his house came by earlier,” Shuyi replied. “But I wanted to speak to you about something else. My cousin received word that several of our people were assigned by the Ministry of Personnel to new positions. It was just as we expected, father-in-law wishes to restore the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Due to his painstaking organization, we’ve collected droplets into a river. You must thank your cousin for me, let him know that I appreciate his services and will see he receives his reward in due time,” Kuang said, pulling Shuyi closer to his chest.

“It’s what he should do. We’re family, after all, if the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll be unwavering in his service,” Shuyi assured him.

“People need to be reminded of their value from time to time,” Kuang replied. “Pass on my thanks. And for the positions, do we have the names?”

“Of course, here it is.” Shuyi pulled a rolled-up piece of paper from her robes and handed it to her husband. Kuang unfurled it and nodded approvingly as he read it through.

“Shen Liangjun as the Vice-Minister, good. Do we know who the other Vice-Minister is?”

“Not yet,” Shuyi admitted. “But it’s definitely not Xianchun’s man.”

Kuang nodded, continuing down the list. “Gong Kai will be perfect for the role of Chamberlain,” he muttered. He glanced over the names for positions in the secretarial staff and guards before nodding again in satisfaction.

“Good, I’m very pleased with the results,” Kuang said, handing the list back to Shuyi.

“I’m glad,” Shuyi replied, giving him a pleased smile.

“I couldn’t have done this without you and your family,” Kuang said gently. “You and Yunqi will always be my greatest benefactors.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Shuyi protested. “My family will serve as doctors regardless of how politics play out, if they can help you build your support base, why should they not?”

Kuang smiled at that. The Cao family produced scholars and doctors, but very few politicians and military officials. Kuang had proceeded with a marriage regardless, choosing to lean on the clan’s illustrious reputation instead. Yunqi had protested Kuang’s choice of in-laws, but the Third Prince knew exactly what he was doing. In the seven years since his marriage, the Cao family built ties and recruited for Kuang in the places where no one would think to suspect, buying untraceable favors through medical services and recruiting from promising scholars who were far from well-connected.

No matter which official fell from his perch, Kuang had plenty of options for replacing him. Unlike his youngest brother’s hastily formed alliances, this was something he’d meticulously built up over the course of years. If anything, Xianchun and Wenyuan’s actions benefited Kuang more than anything the Third Prince could arrange by his own hand, all while shielding him from the court’s animosity. He almost felt an urge to thank his headstrong younger brother for kickstarting this chain of events.

So long as he could keep the situation under control, Kuang’s faction would remain the most powerful and the most difficult to pin down. Kuang was also the only prince with military merit, as well as the only prince who had a son already giving his position further leverage. Yunqi had married years ago, but his wife died of illness months after the wedding without bearing a child, and the Fifth Prince had remained single since. Xianchun’s strong resistance to marriage, on the other hand, was something that only the Seventh Prince himself could possibly understand. It served Kuang’s purposes well enough, especially given the most recent developments at the border.

In the eyes of the court and the people, Kuang was the best choice. The problem was what the one on the throne thought. Kuang glanced in the direction of the palace, his smile twisting into a determined grimace.

41-Uncovered Truths

The dark alleyway was completely empty save for the two men who stood next to each other, the taller man keeping a watchful eye out for the rooftops as his companion read through a scroll. Boyong glanced sharply at Haoyang as he finished reading.

“Are you sure it’s true?” Boyong asked. Haoyang nodded. Boyong let out a sharp sigh, tucking the scroll away.

“I knew the Grand Duke’s secure position in court came from his role in Emperor Gaozong’s rise, but I didn’t expect this,” Boyong admitted. “It seems that the Zhao clan’s internal affairs are much more complicated than they appear.”

“Complicated? This is a complete mess! I knew the Grand Duke was adopted by his uncle, but the waters are far murkier than I expected. Are you really going to be alright getting involved with this?” Haoyang complained.

“Who said I intend to get involved?” Boyong said lightly.

“Do you not plan to tell Zhao Wenyuan?” Haoyang asked with a note of surprise in his voice. Boyong shook his head.

“He’ll either be furious or suspicious of how I found it out. Neither reaction is ideal. No, I’ll just give him enough to satiate his curiosity on the matter,” Boyong said. “As for his family tree, I suppose we can save that information for later. It certainly explains the Grand Duke’s attitude towards him, I was curious why that old man was so deadset on tormenting his own grandson.”

Haoyang nodded. “That may be for the best, sir. To be honest, their family affairs are way too complicated, to the point I don’t even know where to start from.”

“Don’t say that, Haoyang. We can still make use of this,” Boyong said. “Isn’t it interesting? Both the Grand Duke and his heir have similar circumstances, but they’re at each other’s throats to this extent. I certainly don’t mind though.”

Haoyang smiled at that. “Of course, sir.”

“Where there is misfortune, fortune also follows. These family secrets may just save Wenyuan’s life at some point,” Boyong muttered thoughtfully.

“Sir, I know you don’t want him harmed, but are you seriously going to help him afterward?” Haoyang asked dubiously.

“Why shouldn’t I? Better to have him owe me than I owe him. But it’s time we made our move. Send word to Ji Yantao and tell him to head towards the capital,” Boyong ordered.

“This early?” Haoyang asked in surprise. At Boyong’s stony stare, Haoyang quickly bowed his head. “As you wish, sir.”

Kayla winced a little as she stood next to Zhang Dingyong. She just had to get a crick in her neck the morning of the convening of the court, at the most inopportune time when she couldn’t roll her neck. Minister Liang had been notified of Kayla’s new post last night and had graciously accepted Kayla’s apologies when they’d met in the morning. Zhang Dingyong had offered his congratulations with a saccharine smile, which Kayla returned.

She gently patted at her robes, ensuring that the talismans and the Emperor’s golden plaque were there. It was slowly becoming a habit to reassure herself by doing so. For one, it wasn’t so strange for a man to pat his own chest in public, and second, the increasing number of items gave her some degree of confidence to face whatever happened next.

“Announcing the arrival of the Emperor and the Third Prince!”

Kayla knelt and lowered her head, following the usual routine of giving her greetings. She bit down on her surprise at Kuang’s appearance. As surprised as she had been that the Third Prince hadn’t arrived yet, the fact that he entered with the Emperor was just as unexpected. The only explanation was that Kuang had been discussing something with the Emperor in the Internal Palace prior to the court session, but the implications of his entrance were much more complex than that.

In previous generations, only the Crown Prince who also resided within the Imperial Palace would arrive together with the Emperor. Kuang’s arrival in this manner left the air extremely tense. Kayla glanced at Xianchun, who admirably kept his expression stoic. Kuang bowed slightly to the Emperor before stepping into his position at the front of the court, exchanging friendly nods with Xianchun.

The court proceeded normally, masking the tension among the officials. Other than Kuang’s return, everyone knew that the Ministry of Personnel had been busy, but few of them knew exactly what for. Kayla could barely keep her nervousness in check as she waited for the Emperor to announce his decree. After allowing the Three Departments to give their reports, the Emperor finally spoke up.

“My beloved subjects, I have an important decision to announce,” the Emperor said.

Ok, here we go. Oh boy.

Kayla breathed in deeply, trying to ease her nerves. The sound of officials sharply drawing in their breath echoed around her as everyone tried to act normal with varying degrees of success.

“After careful deliberation, it is my will that the Court of Judicial Review is reinstated as an institution to serve in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Investigator Bureau to uphold the laws of this dynasty,” the Emperor announced. A murmur rippled through the court, officials glancing at each other in shock. The Emperor nodded for the eunuch to announce the edict, glancing over the court to observe the reactions.

The eunuch stepped forward and unfurled a scroll.

“By decree of His Majesty, the Son of Heaven, aligning with the will of the Heavens and the wishes of the people, the Court of Judicial Review is to be reinstated as an institute of the Imperial Court, to protect the sanctity of the law and uphold the upright nature of the dynasty. Inheriting the foundations of his forefathers' ceaseless toil, His Majesty the Emperor has worked tirelessly to ensure the country's future, worrying without differentiation between day and night. Son of the late Imperial Princess and Zhao Kangyu, Left Secretariat of Justice Zhao Wenyuan, will henceforth be named the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and is ordered to serve his duty with vigilance and honor. Thus is decreed, to be executed immediately,” the eunuch read.

Ignoring the shocked murmurs from the court, Kayla stepped forward and knelt, bowing her head to the floor. “This subject humbly receives the decree and gives thanks for His Majesty’s boundless benevolence.”

“You may rise. I have high expectations for you and fully believe in your abilities. Zhao Wenyuan, I look forward to your accomplishments,” the Emperor said warmly. Kayla hastily bowed again.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, I will do my best to meet your expectations!”

The Emperor smiled and waved his hand, Kayla quickly stepping back into position.

None of the three princes looked surprised. Kayla quickly glanced at the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke clenched his jaw but didn’t make any objections. Kayla’s heart dropped as she took in his reaction. It was clear now that the Grand Duke’s hands were tied on this matter, but she still didn’t know exactly why. The only explanation was that it didn’t just threaten the current Emperor’s standing, but also his own.

Holy shit, he didn’t even mention your grandfather, and the Grand Duke’s just taking it. That really can’t mean anything good.

The court session ended soon after that. A few officials tried to object but quickly gave up upon realizing that the Grand Duke’s and the princes’ factions were holding their tongues. Still mulling over the implications of the Grand Duke’s complete silence, Kayla was startled by Minister Liang grabbing her shoulders.

“Congratulations, Minister Zhao,” Minister Liang said. Kayla blinked, shocked at the genuine sincerity he was showing.

Was I that bad of a secretariat that he’s so happy to get rid of me?

“Thank you, Minister Liang. I’m deeply grateful to you,” Kayla replied modestly. Minister Liang stepped aside to make way for the other officials who swarmed forward to offer congratulations and shoot questions at Kayla. She put on a polite smile, trying to bite back her annoyance as officials who had been mocking her only days before now came forward to give their congratulations.

The three princes left without saying anything, though Yunqi and Xianchun both gave her nods of approval from a distance. Once she was finally free of the well-wishers who prodded at the Emperor’s intentions none too subtly, Kayla made her way back to her carriage. She let out a sigh of relief as Boyong stepped into sight.

“Boyong, please tell me you have good news or at least some news,” Kayla said in a hushed voice as Boyong hastily approached her to fall in step. Boyong had failed to uncover much in the past few days, though not for lack of trying.

“Rest assured, my lord. I have news. I uncovered something important from a reliable source. The previous Court of Judicial Review was dismantled because of its involvement in a case regarding the then-Crown Prince,” Boyong whispered. Kayla glanced at him sharply.

“It’s just as I expected,” Kayla muttered darkly. “Any details?”

“Emperor Gaozong often drank with the Grand Duke after marrying his sister,” Boyong continued, still keeping his voice low. Kayla slowed down her steps as the carriage came into sight.

Just how much does the Grand Duke like to form ties through drinking? Kayla nodded for Boyong to go on.

“I heard that the Grand Duke's investigation turned up a bunch of evidence against the deposed Crown Prince, who was found guilty of colluding with the Court of Judicial Review to crush his political rivals and cover the crimes of his faction. He was Emperor Taizong’s favorite son, so it was ordered that the Court of Judicial Review would be dismantled and all evidence removed from the books, or the Crown Prince would’ve been publicly disgraced and could only face execution,” Boyong quickly continued.

“So he still wanted to save his son,” Kayla said thoughtfully.

“But the deposed prince killed himself after being demoted to a commoner, and Emperor Gaozong was named the successor, even though he had several older brothers who had stronger maternal familial support,” Boyong said. "After his brother-in-law became the Crown Prince, the Grand Duke's position in court was greatly elevated.”

Kayla breathed in sharply. It was clear that the waters of the court were even deeper than she expected. But it wasn’t as though the Emperor expected to overturn the previous condemnation of the Court of Judicial Review, given how it had been introduced as though it were being reinstated for the first time within this dynasty. After all, it didn’t do the Emperor any good to dig up whatever the Grand Duke did, and the Grand Duke’s hands were tied as well, now that the Grand Duke's connection to the Imperial family had drastically decreased from when his adopted sister was the Empress and was now only maintained through Wenyuan's bloodline.

Kayla gave Boyong a look of curiosity. Information like this couldn’t have been easy to come by, especially with the thoroughness by which Emperor Gaozong seemed to have wiped the records. Even Wenyuan’s own mother was hesitant to bring it up throughout Wenyuan’s childhood, but that evidently didn’t stop Boyong.

“Where did you learn all this?” Kayla asked.

“From someone who was friends with a guard in the Court of Judicial Review,” Boyong replied immediately. “Everyone from the Court of Judicial Review was exiled from the capital but he wasn’t directly related so he remained.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “Good work,” she said after a moment. “I’ll reward you later.”

“Thank you, my lord. I’m happy to be of service.”

“Keep looking though, I need more to work with than that,” Kayla ordered.

“My lord, may I recommend slowing the pace a little? People take notice when unusual questions appear too often,” Boyong suggested. Kayla hesitated for a moment before nodding. They approached the carriage, Kayla nodding her greetings to the guards.

“As you say. Good thinking,” she patted him on the arm. “If that’s the case, then pace it as you deem fit. Do you have the documents for me?”

“Here they are, my lord.” Boyong handed her two slim scrolls. “Are you sure about this my lord?”

“Yes, I need this,” Kayla replied simply. Her experience at the Ministry of Justice had taught her the importance of gaining the trust and support of her subordinates or at least enough control that they couldn’t openly work against her. She wasn't skilled in buying people's hearts or the like, but hopefully, a demonstration of her sincerity would be enough to achieve some degree of support. Kayla tucked the scrolls into her robes, accepting Boyong’s hand as he helped her onto the carriage.

“To the Court of Judicial Review,” Boyong said to the horseman.

Caichun anxiously clenched her robes into her fists, still unused to the light blue-green official robes she now wore. She was certain that the young lord of the Zhao clan wasn’t a bad person, or her brother would have noticed right away. Chen Jian wasn’t the most politically astute and far from being a smooth talker, but he had unusually sharp instincts when it came to distinguishing a person’s character.

But now that she actually sat in the makeshift office that had been set up on the first floor of the new Court of Judicial Review, Caichun felt uncharacteristically nervous. She shot to her feet as someone else entered, faltering slightly to see a middle-aged man in the light-red robes of a fifth-rank official.

“Greetings, sir.” Caichun politely bowed in the presence of the higher-ranking official. The middle-aged man waved his hand.

“No need for formalities,” he said. The man had an unassuming appearance, with average looks, average height, and average weight. The only thing that stood out to him was the relaxed air he gave off, which reminded Caichun of the Taoist priests and nuns she’d seen before. He didn’t seem at all surprised to see a young woman in official robes and took in the room with mild curiosity.

“What is your name, young colleague?” The man asked.

“My name is Chen Caichun, sir. I’m a Ministerial Case Reviewer.”

“Well met, my name is Sun Ruhui, I’m to be a Chamberlain,” he explained. Caichun bowed her head slightly, recognizing the man from Li Que’s words.

“I look forward to your guidance,” Caichun said politely.

“No, not at all. If anything, it’ll be I who needs your guidance,” Ruhui replied. “I was a county magistrate in Hunan until a few days ago, I’m afraid I’ll need the help of someone much more familiar with the capital city.”

“I’m happy to be of service,” Caichun replied.

Their small talk was cut short as a man dressed in the uniform of the city guard opened the door to the office, stepping aside and bowing slightly. A young man in purple official robes stepped through, nodding his thanks to the guard.

“I humbly greet the Minister,” Caichun and Ruhui said in unison, bowing slightly. She had never seen Zhao Wenyuan before, but there were only so many officials under forty who made it above the third rank, and most of them weren’t stationed in the capital.

“At ease,” Wenyuan said. He approached them with a small smile. Caichun discreetly glanced the young man over as he came closer, careful not to get caught staring. Zhao Wenyuan was handsome, not to the extent that the Princes were, but the blood of the late Imperial Princess renowned for her beauty evidently ran strong.

“You two must be Chamberlain Sun and Reviewer Chen,” Wenyuan said in a surprisingly polite tone. “Thank you for coming here today even though you’re not on duty.”

“It’s our pleasure, Minister.” Sun Ruhui and Caichun spoke almost in unison again. Wenyuan gestured for them to sit down, settling into a chair himself.

“I would like to thank the two of you for accepting my invitation to join the core staff. I would have liked to invite the two of you to dinner instead of meeting in the office, but I have some things I wish to speak of in private, and I don’t want any unsavory rumors to spread about the two of you,” Wenyuan said, Caichun and Ruhui hastily bowing their heads in response. It was evidently out of consideration for Caichun, who would be the most at risk for malicious rumors if she was seen to dine privately with two men unrelated to her by blood, and Caichun felt a small rush of gratitude at Wenyuan’s thoughtfulness.

“As the two of you may know, His Majesty the Emperor has decided to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review at a very important moment. The court is in need of cleansing, and despite my lackings, I have been assigned to the position of Minister in order to assist in this process,” Wenyuan said.

Caichun noted with an ounce of curiosity the care that Wenyuan took to show his humbleness. Even if it were someone much older, it wouldn’t be surprising to feel at least some measure of pride after being promoted to such an important position at a crucial time, but Wenyuan seemed cautious to the degree of paranoia.

“I requested to add the two of you to the core staff because I am in need of talented individuals who can assist me wholeheartedly without being swayed or intimidated,” Wenyuan said. Caichun and Ruhui quickly murmured their thanks.

“Chamberlain Sun, the journey must have been quite rushed, I apologize for the short notice,” Wenyuan turned his attention to Sun Ruhui, who bowed his head slightly.

“Not at all, Minister. I’m grateful for the care you’ve shown,” Sun Ruhui replied.

“Thank the Empress Dowager, she arranged for your journey,” Wenyuan said. He turned his attention to Caichun next. “Reviewer Chen, how is your brother doing?”

“Excellent, sir. Thank you for your concern,” Caichun replied. Wenyuan nodded with satisfaction.

“Now, as much as I would like to chat more with the two of you, we’re running on a tight timeline,” Wenyuan continued. “Before everything starts picking up pace, I wanted to make sure I took care of this.” He pulled out two scrolls from his robes, handing one to each of them. Caichun took hers with both hands, only opening it after Wenyuan waved for her to do so.

She furled her brows in confusion, reading the document over three times and still finding herself in disbelief.

“Minister, may I ask what this is?” Ruhui asked with a slight note of surprise in his voice.

“It is exactly what it appears to be. Each of you has a notarized guarantee that no matter the issue, you may report directly to me, and that you will not be punished for your words regardless of what you say. If I go against the guarantee issued in my name, you may publicize this document and denounce me for breach of contract. You will also be entitled to a compensation fee of 200 silver,” Wenyuan said calmly.

Caichun and Ruhui discreetly glanced at each other with thinly veiled looks of shock. Their fates were already tied to Zhao Wenyuan when the Emperor agreed to give them their posts, it wasn’t as though they could ever betray him without incurring the wrath of the Emperor. It wouldn’t have been surprising if they had been made to sign a one-sided contract, but why on earth would Wenyuan issue one that worked against his favor? It wasn't necessary for a man in his position to buy the hearts of his own recruits. Wenyuan glanced at their confused expressions before sighing softly.

“I'll be frank with you both. I am in sore need of assistance and I searched for talented officials with the urgency of a parched man seeking water. But it is useless unless the talents I recruit feel safe enough to speak honestly,” Wenyuan admitted in a heavy tone. “The two of you surely know that this will be no easier than moving mountains and flipping the sea, and I respect you for stepping up to the task regardless. If I would have your support in this endeavor, I’m sure much more can be accomplished. That is why I drew up these documents to prove my sincerity.”

Caichun quickly glanced at the document and hesitated, before rolling it back up and tucking it into her robes. If Zhao Wenyuan was willing to go this far, two things were clear. The first was that he was isolated from his fellow officials to the degree of being desperate, and the second was that Caichun could trust him not to abandon her to the wolves should things take a turn for the worse. Of course, her own future also relied on Wenyuan's success.

“You have my full support, Minister. I will treasure this guarantee,” Caichun replied determinedly.

“As will I,” Sun Ruhui replied. “I will do my utmost to support you, Minister Zhao.”

“Thank you,” Wenyuan replied with evident relief. “I’ll be relying on you both.”

Ji Yantao winced, scratching his head as he reread the message.

“What a mess,” he muttered, letting out a deep sigh.

“What is it, father?”

Ji Yantao hastily hid the letter as his daughter Ji Fangluo opened the door.

“Nothing,” he quickly replied. Fangluo gave him a suspicious stare.

“The letter said…nothing?” Fangluo asked.

“Er, um,” Yantao fumbled for words. “It-it wasn’t anything important.”

“Father, you’re acting strangely,” Fangluo said. She approached Yantao, who furtively glanced away. “Who was it from?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Yantao said. “In any case, you should be resting instead of coming over so often. You’re already six months pregnant, just stay at your husband’s house, I can handle the housework alone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m more hardy than you think. In any case, there’s no one else to take care of you. So who sent the letter?”

Yantao scrunched his face up. “You’re so stubborn, can’t you just go along with me and change the topic?”

“No,” Fangluo shot back. “Father, if you don’t want to tell me, just let me read the letter.”

Yantao vehemently shook his head. Fangluo’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“It's that brat again, isn’t it?” Fangluo asked.

“You can’t call him that,” Yantao protested, before hastily realizing his mistake. “No, I mean, no, it’s not him.”

“Then it must be that servant of his,” Fangluo said, closing the distance between them to pull the letter from where it was badly hidden in her father’s sleeve.

“Fangluo!” Yantao let out a yelp as his daughter quickly stepped away, reading the letter with a displeased look on her face. “Wait, Fangluo, don’t get too angry, it’s not good for the child, he’ll come out with a temper worse than yours!”

“I knew it, it’s from An Haoyang and his master. That brat doesn’t intend to let you live peacefully even though you’re almost sixty!” Fangluo snapped. “The capital’s such a mess right now, even those powerful officials are getting dragged off their perches and he wants you to go at this kind of time?”

“I don’t want to go, but I feel bad,” Yantao said feebly. “He is my master’s son, and he’s so young. It doesn’t feel right to let that kid fight the battle alone.”

“This is ridiculous,” Fangluo muttered. “How can they ask this of my poor and delicate father who’s too weak to even withstand a gust of wind?”

“That’s too exaggerated,” Yantao protested. “But I won’t pretend that I’m prepared for this. I’m worried that I’ll leave without being able to return.”

Fangluo breathed in deeply, before patting her father on the shoulder. “You can’t refuse, father. If we help them, we likely won’t be rewarded even if they succeed. But if we don’t help them, we’re sure to face retribution. You know how these nobles are, if they’ve so much as shown a single bit of decency towards you, they think you should be obligated to throw your life away for their sake. They never cared about how their mess got my mother killed, but the second you don’t immediately answer their beck and call, they’ll suddenly start talking about honor and loyalty.”

“You’re right, but you shouldn’t speak so bitterly,” Yantao said, wrapping his fingers around his daughter’s hand. “Your kids are going to be poison-tongued at this rate. But you’re right, I can’t refuse this.”

“I know you’re scared, father. But you shouldn’t be. Didn’t the fortuneteller say that I’m more capable than ten men put together? I’ll go with you.”

“Absolutely not!” Yantao gave her an outraged look. “What about your husband and children? And you’re pregnant! What kind of father would I be if I let you go with me?”

“Mother always said that you were gentle and kindhearted like a piece of jade that needed to be cherished,” Fangluo objected. “I promised her I would protect you!”

“I-who uses that proverb to describe a man?” Yantao said indigantly. “Your father isn’t particularly strong or brave, but he’s not cowardly enough to have his pregnant daughter follow him into certain danger. You’re not going, and that’s final!”

Fangluo let out a sharp sigh. “Fine, you stubborn old man. But listen-I’ll get my husband to procure us some communication talismans, so bring them with you. The second you’re in trouble, let us know immediately. I’ll send my husband to help you or get his friends near the capital to come to your aid. I won’t go anywhere, happy?”

Yantao smiled. “That’s much better! As long as I know you’re safe, I’ll be able to put my heart at ease.”

Fangluo gave him a forced smile in return. “That’s great, father. I'll go and prepare.”

42-Knives in the Shadow

Kuang traced the border on the map with his finger, lifting his head as Yunqi entered the room.

“There you are,” Kuang said affectionately, waving for his younger brother to join him.

“Brother,” Yunqi said mildly, nodding at the scrolls piled haphazardly in the study. “Sister-in-law’s going to nag at you again if you mess up the study like this.”

“Let her, I like it when she nags,” Kuang replied. Yunqi shook his head slightly.

“I won’t pretend to understand. How did things go with Father?” Yunqi asked.

Kuang let out a soft sigh.

“It went pretty well, but you might need to postpone your return to court a little longer,” Kuang said regretfully. “I’m sorry to have you make concessions to achieve another’s purpose, but I promise to make it up to you tenfold.”

“Don’t worry about it, brother. It might be for the best at the moment. Things are messy enough even if I don’t partake in politics,” Yunqi replied.

Kuang shook his head, reaching out to pat Yunqi on the shoulder.

“You’ve always been someone who looks at the bigger picture, so I feel especially bad for always relying on you to do so,” Kuang said.

“I’m happy to be relied on,” Yunqi patted Kuang’s hand. “Stop worrying and tell me how things went already.”

Kuang chuckled at Yunqi’s reaction, sitting down at his desk and gesturing at the map spread out before them.

”We’ve reached an agreement with the Eastern Turkish Khaganate again, but the peace is still unstable. Father also agrees that we need to make a decision at this point, whether to cement our relations with the Eastern Turkish Khaganate or to form an alliance with the Toquz-Oghuz Khaganate,” Kuang said. “He was receptive to the idea of a political marriage, but there’s still the problem of who should enter the marriage.”

“But with which one?” Yunqi asked.

“Father’s leaning towards the Eastern Turkish Khaganate, I think it’s a good idea. Our strengths are more-or-less matched right now. If we enter a full-on war with them, both sides will lose and suffer. A chance at victory isn’t worth reducing our people’s lives to ashes,” Kuang said thoughtfully.

“Since the Toquz-Oghuz isn’t on good terms with the Eastern Turkish Khaganate, they would probably take a political marriage as a provocation then,” Yunqi murmured. “Well then, would one of our cousins suffice or will they be sending a princess?”

Kuang let out a short sigh. His three older sisters were already married with children, residing in the provinces with their husbands, and of his four younger sisters, the Fourth and Fifth Princesses didn’t make it to adulthood and the Sixth Princess suffered from chronic illness, while the Seventh Princess was still far too young to marry. Luckily, several of the Archdukes had daughters of marriageable age, though a few of them were already married or engaged.

“One is too weak and one is too young, no one can fault us for not sending one of our own. I recommended Archduke Wei’s daughter, she’s well-learned and has a resilient personality. She’s the type to do well even if she marries into a foreign land alone,” Kuang said.

“Chengxia’s not easy to push around,” Yunqi commented mildly. “She kicked Xianchun into the pond once when we were kids, may the heavens help us if she does the same with her new husband.”

“I’m sure he’ll be a better man for it. In either case, our father also agrees on sending Chengxia. The problem is who among us should take a wife. Since they’re also willing to send over a princess or the daughter of an Archduke, I recommended Xianchun and Wenyuan,” Kuang continued. “Of course, Father immediately rejected Xianchun. He brought up your name as well.”

“Probably a test,” Yunqi said, frowning with annoyance.

“Of course, I refused it on your behalf,” Kuang said lightly.

If it was a political marriage, there was no way the Khaganate’s princess would marry as a concubine. Kuang already had a wife, and that still left two unmarried princes. But a political marriage with the Khaganate wasn't just a matter of matrimony and domestic life, but it also represented military and political ties with the Khagan, a potent tool that couldn’t be carelessly coveted.

Kuang already had support in the military from his mother’s family, and his popularity among the soldiers and officers had further grown after his most recent success at the border. If Yunqi were to enter the political marriage, the Third Prince’s faction would have grown too strong for the Emperor to rest easy at night. Though Kuang had recommended Xianchun, he also knew the Emperor wouldn’t be willing to place such a tool into the hands of his youngest son. After all, Xianchun’s ambitions were just as strong as Kuang’s, and came with a much sharper edge.

That only left Wenyuan, the only one of the Emperor’s nephews who survived to adulthood. Even if he was related to the Emperor from his mother’s side, his status and bloodline were more than good enough to grant him eligibility. If he were further given a title of his own in addition to the position of Grand Duke he was set to inherit, he would be a perfect fit even in the eyes of those with more stringent standards.

“I have my doubts about leaving it to Wenyuan, but I suppose there isn’t a better choice,” Yunqi sighed. “At least it’ll be in neutral hands.”

“Father hasn’t made a final decision yet. But if this ends up going through, we’ll have at least a decade or two of peace,” Kuang said. “We can only properly reorganize the military if the northwest is stable.”

Yunqi nodded. “Let’s hope for the best then.”

Kayla winced slightly, staring at the pile of paperwork on her desk with a small amount of despair. Wenyuan hadn’t actually done much paperwork himself while serving as Left Secretariat, and the amount of paperwork Kayla had to deal with in the Investigation Bureau seemed like a drop in the ocean compared to what she was responsible for now.

Why the hell do people want to be Ministers? To deal with all this?!

There’ll be much less once you get through the first few days, Wenyuan hastily comforted her. Once the secretaries are also familiarized with the forms, you’ll be more or less off the hook.

The Emperor had only announced the reinstatement of the Court of Judicial Review in the morning, but there was literally a wall of paperwork on Kayla’s desk almost immediately. Most of it was just signing off on staffing choices, but also no small amount of work to request the sharing of evidence from the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau.

Kayla barely glanced up as someone approached her desk.

“Excuse me, Minister.”

Kayla glanced up at Ma Kaijie, one of her two Vice-Ministers. She was still trying to match names to faces but had settled for remembering the core staff for now.

“What is it, Vice-Minister Ma?” Kayla asked with a polite smile. Her smile fell away at the stack of scrolls in Ma Kaijie’s arms.

“I apologize for disturbing you while you’re busy, but these are the documents for the cooperation between the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau and the Court of Judicial Review,” Ma Kaijie said, sounding a little apologetic as he glanced at the scrolls already piled on her desk.

“Thank you, please set them down here,” Kayla gestured at her desk, sighing after realizing there wasn’t any empty space. She awkwardly pushed some of the scrolls into a pile, trying to ignore the dangerous teetering of the larger pile next to it.

“I’ll call over one of the secretaries to process the documents,” Ma Kaijie said sympathetically, glancing at the piles with a small amount of apprehension.

“Please do so, thank you. Oh, and Vice-Minister? From your experience, how long do you reckon it’ll take us to be ready to take on the first case? I’m aiming for us to start within three days,” Kayla asked. Ma Kaijie hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“I’m sure we can do that if everyone picks up the pace. I’ll let the others know,” he replied.

“I hope it won’t be too much of a burden?” Kayla said hesitantly, glancing out of her open office door at the hectic scene outside.

“Please don’t say it like that, Minister. If the leader is enthusiastic, the people beneath will be affected as well. I’ll make sure that everything will be in order for us to start the first investigation soon,” Ma Kaijie replied.

“Thank you, Vice-Minister. It’s alright if our own guard forces aren’t completely in order yet, since we’ll be cooperating with the Imperial Investigation Bureau. I believe they already have some evidence,” Kayla said. In fact, they already had all the evidence and most of the core staff likely understood that as well, but it remained a tacit understanding.

“As you wish, Minister.” Ma Kaijie bowed his head slightly and left the room. Kayla sighed deeply, turning her attention back to the scrolls. Engrossed in the paperwork, Kayla barely noticed as someone stepped into the room.

“Excuse me, Minister,” Caichun called to her. Kayla smiled at the young woman.

“Case Reviewer Chen,” Kayla greeted her.

“Please pardon my interruption at a busy time, but the Third Prince has sent a congratulatory gift over to the Ministry and extended an invitation to share a drink with you tonight,” Caichun said.

“I’ll send a thank you gift in return, but I doubt I’ll be able to make it tonight. I suppose I should draft a letter,” Kayla replied after a moment of thought. Her priority at the moment was kicking off the investigations for the Emperor and Empress Dowager, she could always go pay her respects to the Third Prince after things slowed down a bit. Zhou Kuang hadn’t been a petty person in the novel, and Kayla doubted he would mind her declining an invitation at such a busy time. Caichun hesitated for a second before stepping closer and lowering her voice.

“Apologies for my rudeness, Minister. But I believe you should go,” Caichun said in a soft voice.

Kayla glanced at her in surprise. “May I ask why?”

Caichun bowed her head slightly, stepping back to close the office door before approaching Kayla again. “Because the military merit the Third Prince achieved is more than it seems on the surface, and your goals are currently aligned, so it’s best not to refuse to give him face at a time like this.”

At Kayla’s look of incomprehension, Caichun continued. “Minister, do you know why the Emperor sent the Third Prince instead of allowing one of the Generals to take care of it?”

“I think so. Most of the generals stationed in the Northwest have already accumulated a lot of military merit and popularity among their men. If they solved this crisis as well, they would pose a threat to the Emperor. But if a general was sent from another region, the soldiers would be furious. Since the Third Prince comes from a military family and has high popularity, he could be sent to resolve the issue without giving anyone reasons to complain,” Kayla said. She glanced at Caichun. “But since you asked, I’m guessing it’s not that simple.”

“That’s right, sir. I’ll speak plainly, but the thing is, the Emperor was using this as a chance to start reducing the power of the clans. Both the current attack on the Grand Duke’s faction and the Third Prince being sent to the border are only extensions of this,” Caichun explained. “The more that prominent clans continuously produce high-ranking civil and military officials, the more power and resources become concentrated in their hands. This then enables them to continue investing resources into clan members, and the current situation today is the result.”

Kayla frowned slightly. “I get what you’re saying, but reducing the power of the clans nationwide? Central administration isn’t strong enough to prosper without them.”

The limitations to communication and transportation made it so that relying on familial structures was the most reasonable form of social organization, especially when it came to developing trade and various industries. Powerful clans provided a highly-efficient way for families to amass and pool resources, but civil law had nominal control over a clan’s internal affairs and officials had a vested interest in benefiting their own clans. The Zhao clan was one of the most prominent in the court and the military, but they were really only a tree in the forest, albeit a taller one.

Reducing their power, isn’t that just asking for a fight? Wenyuan, did you ever hear anything about this?

No? Where would I hear about any of this from?

Right. Kayla turned her attention back to Caichun.

“The government is strong enough to prosper without them if we could properly utilize magic,” Caichun replied. “If magic resources were effectively distributed, the state could expand the bureaucracy far beyond what we have now. But the problem right now is that powerful clans monopolize magic resources at every level of government.”

“And thus they’re more capable of producing officials,” Kayla finished the sentence. “So it’s a deadlocked cycle.”

“That’s right, Minister. Most officials don’t think of this as a problem, since they themselves benefit greatly. But as the clans continue to amass both military and political power, we’ve reached the point where the Emperor feels threatened,” Caichun said.

Kayla nodded slowly. “I see. So more than rooting out corruption, the investigations are about seizing the resources that the clans have amassed. The Emperor’s trimming the fat off the clans and I’m meant to be the knife." She paused for a moment, furrowing her brow. "I can’t believe I never knew any of this before.”

“Please don’t take it to heart, sir. Forgive my impudence, but most people in the court or in the military don’t realize where this is going, or both your appointment and the Third Prince’s involvement with the border crisis wouldn’t have been accepted with so little opposition by the court,” Caichun said.

The young woman gestured around Kayla’s new office. “Most people view your appointment as the Emperor having a spat with the Grand Duke, and while that may affect them negatively to some degree, it also clears a spot at the top. People all the way down the chain are expectant for a chance to move upwards and take the power the Grand Duke currently holds. Similarly, with the Third Prince, most people only think of it as preventing the Northwestern generals from gaining more power and overlook the fact that the Imperial family is taking back military command from the clans.”

“So the Third Prince and I serve as means to the same end. But what does that make the Seventh Prince?” Kayla asked.

“The Seventh Prince is a vocal advocate against the concentration of power and resources in the hands of the clans, but also the person who can do the least about it. He’s the obvious target for the clans, but he’s really just the distraction,” Caichun said. “Though I definitely don’t recommend saying that to his face.”

Kayla shook her head. Does that even make sense? Xianchun won in the end, or at least he did in the novel. Did things change this much?

“But then the succession…” Kayla trailed off questioningly.

“Being the distraction isn’t an impediment, neither is being the knife. For you as well, Minister, this is a thorny path but the shortest one to an illustrious title and position,” Caichun said.

Kayla couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “I really dug out a treasure with you, you’re amazing,” Kayla complimented Caichun. The young woman blushed slightly and bowed her head.

“Not at all, Minister. It’s just that people like us have a lot to worry about and little to assuage us, I can’t help but keep an eye out for these things,” Caichun said modestly. “After all, my brother and I are in the capital without our family. If we don’t know what might happen, we can’t prepare to protect ourselves.”

“That’s true enough, the less you have to fall back on, the more you have to worry about. But still, plenty of people worry about the country’s future, but few of them can match up to your level,” Kayla said, genuinely impressed. When Kayla was nineteen, she could barely pass her midterms, and here was Caichun, blowing her out of the water. “You’re going to go far.”

“Thank you, Minister. That’s very kind of you,” Caichun replied.

Kayla hesitated for a moment before finalizing her decision.

“Please tell the Third Prince’s messenger I’ll join him after work hours.”

“Understood, I’ll do that right away.” Caichun bowed her head slightly before leaving the room, keeping the office door open behind her.

Alone in the office again, Kayla scooted lower in her seat so that she was blocked from sight by the pile of scrolls on her desk and let out a sigh.

The waters are even deeper than I expected at first…but how can the Grand Duke not notice something that a nineteen-year-old can?

A nineteen-year-old genius, Wenyaun reminded her. Grandfather has plenty of clever and crafty people in his service, but he didn’t exactly light upon any prodigies like Caichun.

Liu Boyue’s also supposed to be a genius strategist. Even if he doesn’t realize it right away, surely he’ll realize it shortly. Do you think he would risk jeopardizing things for Xianchun’s sake?

Heavens help us if he does, but even if he wants to, what can he do in the face of Uncle’s authority?

Kayla mulled it over for a moment. Remember that eunuch who came to give us a decree before? Sir Zheng, was it? Isn’t he on Xianchun’s side?

He’s not particularly special among the eunuchs who serve Uncle, what can he do?

Not having an answer to that, Kayla shook her head and sighed again. After a moment of staring blankly into the distance, she turned her attention back to her paperwork.

Housekeeper Wang scurried down the hallway, pausing to knock on the door of the Grand Duke’s study.

“What is it?”

“It’s your humble servant,” Housekeeper Wang called out. “It’s about the one in the storage room.”

“Come in.”

Housekeeper Wang stepped into the room and bowed slightly, closing the door firmly shut behind him. “My lord, Li Sanjin caved in,” he said gleefully, passing a scroll to the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke unscrolled it expressionlessly. “About time. It’s been two days, get rid of the body before it rots in there.”

“As you wish, my lord,” Housekeeper Wang said, bowing before he turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Housekeeper Wang quickly turned back, flinching at the annoyance in his master’s voice.

“What is the matter, my lord?”

The Grand Duke furrowed his brow, angrily tossing the scroll aside.

“This is not what we need,” the Grand Duke snarled. “Take me to him.”

Housekeeper Wang gulped nervously, instantly realizing his mistake. “As you wish, my lord.”

The two made their way down the hallways, Housekeeper Wang opening the passageway leading to the underground cellar where Li Sanjin and the corpse of Li Da were being kept.

He opened the door to the room where Li Sanjin was kept, nodding to the guards as they opened the door for him. Housekeeper Wang immediately wrinkled his nose at the stench inside the room, but the Grand Duke stepped inside, looking completely unbothered.

“You,” Li Sanjin said hoarsely, shrinking back at the sight of the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke tossed the testimony at Li Sanjin with a condescending flick of his hand.

“What is this meant to be?” The Grand Duke asked coldly.

“I provided false testimony, isn’t this what you wanted to hear?” Li Sanjin asked with a note of anger in his voice.

“So you admit it,” the Grand Duke said.

“I’ll admit it,” Li Sanjin replied in a quivering voice. “So please spare the rest of my family.”

“That depends on what you have to say,” the Grand Duke replied. Li Sanjin’s head snapped up as he looked at the Grand Duke in fear.

“What? But I-”

“At whose behest did you provide a false testimony?” The Grand Duke asked.

“It's just as I said in the statement, on the orders of the Empress Do-” Li Sanjin was cut off as Housekeeper Wang slapped him in the face. Li Sanjin whimpered, shrinking back away from them.

“Wrong answer,” the Grand Duke said. “Try again. At whose behest did you provide false testimony?”

Li Sanjin stared at the Grand Duke with a look of pure confusion before hastily trying again.

“The Seventh Prince?” Li Sanjin flinched as Housekeeper Wang raised his hand again.

“The Third Prince!” Li Sanjin changed his answer. He was rewarded with another slap, which only deepened his confusion.

“The-the Imperial Investigators?” Li Sanjin tried again.

“Think again,” the Grand Duke said. Li Sanjin glanced at him fearfully before a look of realization flashed across his face.

“At-at the behest of the Left Secretariat of Justice,” Li Sanjin said shakily. “On the orders of Zhao Wenyuan.”

He glanced between the Grand Duke and Housekeeper Wang nervously, evidently unsure of his answer. To his relief, the Grand Duke gave an approving nod.

“Good,” the Grand Duke said. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

43-The Three Princes

Kayla entered the front door of the Third Prince’s household, trying to glance around inconspicuously as the Third Prince’s servant led her through the Outer Quarters.

Seriously, I could’ve been finishing up that batch of paperwork, Kayla lamented.

You workaholic, Wenyuan said accusingly.

“Your Highnesses, Minister Zhao has arrived,” the servant announced as he opened the door to a spacious sitting room. It was well-furnished and decorated in a stately manner without being overly luxurious. Kuang and Yunqi were already inside.

“Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince,” Kayla said, politely bowing her head.

“No need to be so formal, we’re all family here,” Kuang said, waving her over to sit. “I’m so glad that you accepted my invitation! I know it was on rather short notice.”

“Not at all,” Kayla said. “It’s an honor.”

“Don’t be so stiff, I heard that you’ve shown great care to my wife and Yunqi while I was away. I’m grateful,” Kuang reached over to pour her a drink. Kayla bowed her head, accepting it with both hands.

“I didn’t do much,” Kayla replied. Before Kuang could say anything in response, there was another voice at the door.

“Your Highnesses, Minister Zhao, His Highness the Seventh Prince has arrived,” the servant announced. Kayla breathed in sharply, watching with surprise as Xianchun entered the room.

Did Kuang call him over or did he just barge in himself? Just what is this guy trying to do? Kayla glanced at Kuang out of the corner of her eyes, but the Third Prince continued to smile in a relaxed manner.

“Third Brother, Fifth Brother,” Xianchun greeted them. “Wenyuan.” Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“Come and join us, Xianchun. It’s been a while since we’ve gathered, just the four of us,” Kuang said.

It’s the first time since I was ten, Wenyuan remarked dryly.

“Indeed,” Xianchun said. He sat down next to Kayla, his characteristic stiffness immediately elevating the tension in the room.

“I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you properly yet,” Kayla said to Kuang. “The country’s avoided another war thanks to you.”

“Thank you, but I can’t take undue credit. The Khaganate also didn’t want a full-out war, they were having enough trouble with the last few winters being especially harsh and the constant hassling from their neighbors to the West. If not for that, I doubt my interference would have mattered much,” Kuang replied.

“Hopefully the peace treaty will last for at least a few years longer than last time,” Xianchun said. Kuang ignored the jab at his maternal grandfather, who had been responsible for handling the last border crisis.

“Indeed, which is why Father’s considering a marriage alliance with the Eastern Turkish Khaganate,” Kuang said. “It’s yet to be announced for the court to debate, but if it goes through, Chengxia will be sent to marry into the Khaganate.”

“So we’re sending a princess,” Xianchun said thoughtfully. “Didn’t we already try that two decades ago? It didn’t seem to work too well.”

“The Khaganate is also willing to send a princess this time,” Yunqi told him. He glanced at Kayla with a smile. “As for who she’d be marrying, our cousin Wenyuan has been decided to be the best fit.”

Kayla reeled back as though she had been physically struck before she could stop herself.

Married?! They want me to get married?!

They want us to marry a Turkish princess?! But what-I mean- It remained unspoken, but Wenyuan's mind flashed to Chujiao.

I-I’m not even into women, how do they want me to get married to one?!

Externally and internally withholding an urge to scream, Kayla gave the princes a stiff but polite smile, trying to keep her reaction under control despite the internal ranting session she was holding with Wenyuan.

There’s no way, I’m not comfortable doing that in a guy’s body!

But if it’s an Imperial decree for marriage then we can’t even avoid it.

I’m telling you it’s impossible!

Holy shit, Kayla, if I become known throughout the capital as impotent, I swear-

What do you even want me to do?! Oh man. This is such bullshit! Thoughts and complaints continued to race through her mind until it felt like her head would explode, reaching a crescendo before coming to an abrupt stop.

Kayla had no choice in the matter of marriage. It was just as Wenyuan couldn't marry Chujiao except to take her as a concubine of low status, and had refrained from acting on his feelings for Chujiao out of a desire to spare her from such a fate. But there was no one who could spare Wenyuan or Kayla from whatever match was made, and certainly no one who cared to.

Hold on…if I become the son-in-law of the Khagan, doesn’t that mean Xianchun can’t execute me so easily?

What are you-wait, you have a point, Wenyuan said reluctantly as he came to the same conclusion as Kayla. So even if Consort Chen’s murder comes to light, you’d still be certain to emerge safely...But you don’t like women.

And you don’t like men. I can’t imagine trying to do something with a guy in this body anyways, we’re at an impasse here even without the political marriage. The more desperately she wanted to survive, the more concessions she was forced to make. Kayla tugged at the collar of her robes as they seemed to constrict around her throat.

“By the looks of it, you’re not too pleased with the idea,” Kuang said, breaking Kayla out of her thoughts. Kayla quickly smoothed out her expression.

“Not at all, I’m just…surprised,” Kayla said awkwardly.

“I heard that the Turkish princesses are charming and beautiful,” Yunqi offered comfortingly. “It may not be what you had in mind, but I’m sure you’ll have a fruitful relationship should it come to pass.”

Kayla flushed in response. “Th-that’s good to hear.”

“We all have to get married at some point. In either case, you’ll still retain your current lifestyle here in the capital,” Kuang chimed in. “It’s only in the talks. There’s no need to be too nervous about it.”

That’s true, I can’t wiggle out of marrying eventually.

Kayla forced a smile in response, ignoring the heavy feeling in her stomach.

“Third Cousin, how likely do you think it is that the marriage alliance will happen?” Kayla asked.

“Depends, but more likely than not, Chengxia will be sent to marry one of the Khagan’s sons. As for whether you’ll be getting married, that depends on what else father and grandmother have planned for you,” Kuang said.

“Well, I guess it’s out of my hands then,” Kayla replied, hoping they would move on from the topic. It was something she wanted to process in private rather than in their presence.

“Indeed,” Yunqi said gently. “No point in worrying about it, one never knows how these things turn out. More importantly, our cousin has achieved the title of Minister at such a young age, and under unprecedented circumstances at that. I propose a toast to congratulate Wenyuan for stepping into a new stage of his career.”

Kayla felt a burst of gratitude towards Yunqi for steering the topic away.

“Thank you very much,” Kayla said, raising her cup respectfully before downing the wine.

“Unprecedented indeed. Xianchun, I heard you’ve been quite vocal in your support of the investigations. What are your thoughts on the reinstatement?” Kuang asked, flashing Kayla a warm smile.

Are they declaring their political stances now? Kayla realized as she watched Xianchun’s expression shift into a serious one. Right in front of my wine? Really? Why do I have to be here for this? No, rather than that…are they reaffirming their positions in front of me on purpose?

It was most likely the latter, given that the princes already knew each other’s political beliefs. Each of the princes likely understood the significance of the Court of Judicial Review as the cornerstone for a neutral faction. The more power the neutral faction had in court, the less each Prince’s faction could command. It was both a containment strategy to keep the Princes in check and insurance against civil war, and neither faction could attempt to block its growth at risk of incurring suspicions of plotting against the throne.

“Of course, it’s a good thing. But it bothers me that the corruption has been allowed to get to the point where even the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau and the Ministry of Justice aren’t enough,” Xianchun said.

“That much is true, though to a certain extent, the developments are understandable. We couldn’t fully utilize magic resources until less than two decades ago, and then with the double-tax system reforms, the continuous famines and droughts throughout the country, and the precarious situation at the northwestern border, it was necessary to allocate more power to the court. If the officials weren’t given some privileges beyond the ideal, they wouldn’t have been motivated to keep things running properly,” Kuang said. “But handing things out is always easy while taking it back is much harder.”

“That’s only because the throne hasn’t taken a hard stance before this,” Xianchun shot back.

“The question is, how far are we going to go, and how should we pace ourselves?” Yunqi chimed in, smiling in Kayla’s direction. “Wenyuan, you should feel free to voice your thoughts as well.”

“Oh, sure, thank you,” Kayla said, quickly reaching for her cup again to avoid being asked a question.

“Isn’t it obvious? We need to cut the grass and remove the roots, and do so as soon as possible.” To Kayla’s relief, Xianchun jumped in immediately. “The court and the clans have been allowed to run amok for too long already, not only does their greed render the improvements in magic useless for the populace, but they also sponge up national resources. They’re scraping from both ends to fatten themselves, what will the future of this dynasty look like if we leave them unchecked?”

Kayla quietly observed the passionate look in Xianchun’s eyes and Kuang's knowing smile.

Kuang nodded. “I knew you’d say something like that. Our youngest has always had such a burning sense of justice,” he said. Despite his mild tone, Xianchun tensed at Kuang’s words.

“But Xianchun, it’s not as easy as you think to root out corruption. We can arrest all the officials and clan leaders as we want, but would that necessarily solve the problem? The problem can’t be solved from the root without the implementation of structural changes, a harsh attack on them would only backfire on us. The Imperial family is the furthest removed from the people by the layers of rites and status that are meant to elevate our dignity, while the officials and the clans are much better positioned to sway popular opinion.”

“It sounds to me that you’re just not willing to take on a fight. What does your reputation matter in the face of the country’s future? We’re members of the Imperial Family, we have a responsibility to shoulder the misunderstandings and animosity of the people,” Xianchun argued.

Kayla hastily refilled her own cup, seeing that none of the Princes had emptied theirs, lifting her cup again before Xianchun could demand her stance.

“Xianchun’s not wrong in that regard, we have a responsibility to carry out our duties no matter what. But you know, Third Brother’s not wrong either,” Yunqi said. The tension crackling in the air seemed to immediately dispel as the Fifth Prince spoke in his usual calm manner.

The Fifth Prince is amazing, I never realized how important his presence was until now. I’d only seen him at major events where he didn’t really stand out much, but he really balances out his brothers.

“Ultimately, the answer lies in slower, steady changes, coupled with a few hard cracks now and then,” Yunqi said. “As to how long it takes, I suppose that depends on the skill of the person taking charge of it. You need to be astute enough to make speedy responses to the political situation, have the leadership skills to implement these responses without delays or errors, enough charisma to sway the court, and enough strength that they don't doubt your commands.” At the last sentence, he glanced at Kuang with a small smile.

Xianchun breathed in deeply, evidently displeased with the answer.

“The longer it takes, the more the people suffer. While the ruler paces himself, the situation continues to worsen for the people on the lowest rungs of society. Are you willing to overlook all that?” Xianchun asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. Throwing the country into political turmoil will be much harder on the populace than anything else,” Yunqi replied. “After all, the administration system that handles everything from the maintenance of the dams to the security of the borders is made up of officials. If the administration were to collapse or enter a deadlock, do you think the neighboring nations will sit still and wait for us to sort things out?”

“Of course not. But you’re wrong in assuming that the administration would enter such a predicament,” Xianchun said. “If leadership is strong enough, that will not come to pass. What do you think, Wenyuan?”

Kayla nearly choked on her wine at the abrupt cue.

“Well,” she started awkwardly. Xianchun’s political stance had served him well in amassing loyal supporters in the succession battle in the novel, but she’d never got to the chapters after his succession. Now that she actually lived in the same world as him, it left her uneasy.

Just what did the country look like under Xianchun’s rule?

“I think you all have great points,” Kayla finally managed to say. Luckily, the princes let her off the hook.

“Xianchun, you seem to think that a strong ruler can do anything,” Kuang said. “Aren’t you being a little naive?”

“I’m not naive enough to think that, but I do believe there are things you must do if you occupy such a role,” Xianchun replied. “If you’re asked to carry a mountain and jump over the northern sea and you refuse, it is not that you won’t do it but that you can’t. But if an elder asks you to fetch a branch and you refuse, it’s not that you can’t but that you won’t. For a ruler to not act like a ruler, it’s not being unable to do something like carrying a mountain, but rather, not wanting to do something like fetching a branch. To treat other people’s elders and children as one’s own is the way to grasp all under heaven in your palm.”

Kayla vaguely recognized the quote from Mencius and refrained from shaking her head. Even if the education system back then relied heavily on memorization, it was ridiculous that they were able to remember hundreds of pages’ worth of quotes by heart.

Kuang chuckled lightly. “It’s good that you’re familiar with Mencius’ words, Xianchun. But you’re forgetting what he says right after that part. ‘If you show generosity to the people, you will be able to protect everything within the four seas, if not, you can’t even protect your wife and children. That the ancient greats are unsurmountable is not for any other reason, but that they were capable of extending their generosity broadly.’ But how do you think the rulers are able to carry out acts of generosity to the population? Do you think that silk and grain distribute themselves?”

“Acts of generosity also rely on the officials and the administration system,” Yunqi added. “And for them to be reliable, first they have to be treated well. Let me remind you that Mencius also said, ‘If a ruler sees his retainers as his arms and legs, they will see him as their heart. If a ruler sees his retainers as dogs and horses, they will see him as an unrelated stranger. If a ruler sees his retainers as weeds in the mud, they will see him as a hated enemy.’ A ruler who can’t command the hearts of his subjects will be unable to do much for them.”

Xianchun let out an angry huff, before whirling to look at Kayla. She glanced at him in alarm, realizing belatedly that her cup was already empty and she didn’t have an excuse not to speak.

“What do you think, Wenyuan?” Xianchun demanded. Kayla reluctantly set down her cup.

“In thinking about the relationship with the officials, it reminds me of what I read before. I heard that there was a large country to the far west that was known as the Great Qin, or Rome,” Kayla said. One of the three before her would one day be sitting on the throne, so the less concrete her words were, the safer she would be in the future if that she could survive that long.

“I’ve heard of it, but I didn’t know it was also called Rome,” Yunqi said curiously.

“I believe that’s what they called themselves,” Kayla explained. “I heard that for a good chunk of their history, they weren’t ruled by an Emperor, but rather a council elected by landowning citizens. Even though their society and culture are so different than ours, they also faced issues of corruption and internal fighting. I'd say that these problems are universal, regardless of the form of leadership or social organization, and every generation has to act in accordance with their specific circumstances.”

"Then what about our generation?" Xianchun prodded her gently with his elbow.

"I'd say it's still too early to tell," Kayla hastily replied. "The situation's so volatile right now, we still don't know what kind of court and society will emerge from the changes taking place, but it's important that we can sense the changes and act appropriately in response. After all, those who can't change with the times are certain to be left behind."

"Wenyuan's certainly very cautious, that's a good trait in an official," Yunqi said kindly. "Being well-read is also important, I've barely even chanced upon records of the Great Qin before."

Kayla bowed her head slightly. "Not at all, I just happen to like reading about foreign lands."

“Then do you know about any other countries west of Persia?” Kuang asked. Kayla felt a slight rush of relief. With the Third Prince’s genuine curiosity and some degree of interest from Yunqi and Xianchun, the rest of the conversation was redirected towards comparative world governance rather than current politics. By the time the conversation died down, it was almost midnight.

“I’m sorry for keeping you so long,” Kuang said regretfully. “I got carried away.”

Kayla shook her head. “Not at all, it was very enjoyable.” She actually meant it. Kuang’s charisma and Yunqi’s serenity made it easy to enjoy a conversation, and Xianchun was also in a good mood.

“Wenyuan, I’ll send you back en route,” Xianchun offered. Being tipsy enough to find it too bothersome to argue, Kayla accepted politely. She got into Xianchun’s carriage, dryly thinking back to the last time she had gotten into a carriage with him and had gotten tossed off in an alleyway. Thankfully, the Seventh Prince was in a good mood this time around rather than on the verge of an explosion.

“I didn’t get to say it earlier, but let me know if you run into any difficulties at the Court of Judicial Review,” Xianchun said. “If there’s anything I can do, then I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, I appreciate your concern.”

“People will target you more once they realize the importance of the Court of Judicial Review. You’ll have to be more careful,” Xianchun warned her.

“Thank you, my prince. You're right, just a few days ago, someone tried to recruit my servant to keep an eye on me. Apparently, he was quite handsome too,” Kayla said without thinking.

“What?”

Oh shit. Kayla immediately sobered up. “Um, well, he refused, of course. But these things happen,” she fumbled for words. Shit, I didn’t piss him off, did I? If it was really Liu Boyue he’ll definitely be furious and think I’m testing him!

“That’s good, but you really should take more cautions with your security,” Xianchun admonished her. To her relief, he didn’t seem to take offense. Good, so it wasn’t Liu Boyue.

“It’s as you say, my prince,” Kayla said meekly.

The rest of the ride went without incident, and Kayla quickly took her leave once she was dropped off at the Grand Duke’s household, her heart still pounding loudly against her ribcage.

Liu Boyue stepped forward and knelt on one knee to greet Xianchun as the prince returned. Xianchun waved for him to get up. Two serving girls carefully removed Xianchun’s outer robes, bowing as he dismissed them.

“You’re back, my prince,” Boyue said, pleased to see that Xianchun wasn’t in a bad mood. “I’m guessing that the Third Prince’s Hongmen banquet wasn’t too bad?”

Xianchun smiled a little. “It’s not as exaggerated as that, but I did learn some interesting things. It seemed that Third Brother called me over to let me know about the potential marriage alliance and also to make a display of our political stances for Wenyuan’s sake.”

“A marriage alliance? With the Eastern Turkic Khaganate?” Boyue asked.

“That’s right. Most likely, my cousin Chengxia will marry a Turkic prince, and one of their princesses will come over,” Xianchun explained.

“If it's one of the Turkish princesses, then I’m guessing the marriage partner would be Zhao Wenyuan,” Boyue said, furrowing his brow slightly. “That’s a lot of influence that he’d be gaining.”

“It’s not like Father would choose me or Yunqi,” Xianchun replied. “In either case, I told Wenyuan about my vision for the future, since my brothers were doing so already. I tried to get an opinion from him during the conversation, but that guy changed the topic faster than I could blink."

"I suppose it's natural he would try to avoid answering," Boyue said mildly.

"True enough, Third Brother was also helping him get away with it so I couldn't press him for a response," Xianchun said, shaking his head. "But there’s something else that bothered me. Wenyuan mentioned earlier that a good-looking man tried to recruit that servant of his to keep an eye on him. That’s not your doing, is it?”

Boyue gave him a look of confusion. “Of course not, my prince. You already told me not to do that, I wouldn’t go behind your back.”

Xianchun let out a small sigh of relief. “Great, I didn’t think so either. But I couldn’t help but check, forgive me for doubting you,” he said. Boyue smiled.

“Not at all, my prince. I don’t mind. But please rest assured, I would never ignore your orders like that.”

Xianchun nodded. “I know. It’s late already, you should go get some rest, I’m also calling it a night.”

“As you wish, my prince. Please have a good rest,” Boyue bowed his head slightly, sharing a smile with Xianchun before he left the room. With a leap, he vaulted over the walls and onto the rooftops, heading back to his own residence. After ascertaining he was alone, Boyue pulled out a small communication device, waiting for it to connect.

“Mister Liu,” the man on the other end greeted him.

“Minister Liang,” Boyue said pleasantly. “About that favor I asked you the other day…we have a problem.”

The door to the disorganized room flew open, slamming against the wall loudly as Minister Liang entered. A handsome young man glanced up from where he lounged on his couch, propping himself up at an elbow to wave at the fuming official.

“Hey there, uncle, what are you doing here so late at night?” the young man asked cheerfully, ignoring the older man’s evident rage.

“Hu Qing, you goddamn brat! Just what did you do?!” Minister Liang snapped angrily.

“What are you talking about?” Hu Qing asked with a note of annoyance. “I haven’t done anything…recently. That I can think of. Why?“

“That man you went to speak to, why did you show him your face?!” Minister Liang asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“You mean the servant of that Zhao something-that, uh, Qu Boyong or what was his name,” Hu Qing said. “I mean, he did ask me to, what’s wrong? Wait, how did you know?”

“Even the Prince knows about it now! Even if you couldn’t recruit him, how could you just let him waddle up to his master to tell him everything?! What do we do if the Prince really decides to look into this?!” Minister Liang groaned.

“He was my type, so I felt compelled to show him my face when he asked. Just tell the Prince that and blame it all on me,” Hu Qing said, casually waving off Minister Liang as the man’s face turned red.

“You-you shameless brat-you’re unbelievable!” Minister Liang sputtered.

“Calm down, uncle. Excess anger is bad for the health, plus, what will your colleagues think if they see you act like this when you pretend to be so refined around them every day?” Hu Qing asked teasingly. “That bastard, he really tattled to his employer? What a bootlicker. What kind of person doesn’t get along with money? But don’t worry, uncle. The prince won’t blame us, I’m sure of it.”

“For heaven’s sake, Hu Qing. I turn a blind eye to your indiscretions against my better judgment, but to think you’d create a mess like this for something so important!” Minister Liang shook his head. Hu Qing let out a short laugh.

“Uncle, wouldn’t you be the one who’s the most troubled if I messed around with women instead? What are you going to do if I end up having a son? The only grandson of the Liang clan’s former heir…wouldn’t that put you in quite an awkward position?” Hu Qing asked with a smile. “Don’t pretend to be troubled when you’re clearly benefitting, uncle. It’s not a good look on you.” Minister Liang flinched a little at the edge in the young man’s voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous, I have no reason to feel troubled about that,” Minister Liang gritted out. “As I said, I ignore what you do in your free time, but you’ve gone too far this time. Do you know how important this is? Or do you just not care?”

“Should I care?” Hu Qing shot back. At the aggrieved look on Minister Liang’s face, he relented with a sigh. “Fine, fine. I’ll make sure this doesn’t affect you, happy? I'll fix this.”

“Forget it,” Minister Liang heaved a deep sigh, his anger having sapped out of him. “Just don’t make things worse and I’ll be thanking the heavens.”

Hu Qing shrugged. “Fine, if you say so.” Minister Liang opened his mouth to snap at him but gave up with yet another sigh.

“Reflect on your mistakes properly,” Minister Liang said, sounding worn out. The older man left the room, letting the doors swing in the wind behind him. Hu Qing got off the couch, trundling over to the doors to close them.

“Ugh, this old man, can’t he close the doors behind him properly?” Hu Qing grumbled. “Well, whatever. But to think that guy went straight to his employer...what an interesting guy. I wouldn’t mind meeting him again.”

44-The Accusation

The Grand Duke stared down coldly at the man kneeling on the floor.

“Secretary Han, you were Liu Hongyu’s subordinate in the Secretariat,” Housekeeper Wang said, stepping forward to tower menacingly over the official. “You were the one who recommended those servants to his housekeeper…why did you do that? Liu Hongyu has so many servants, gifting him another two would hardly help you suck up to him, you would’ve had better luck if you’d given him dancers instead. Did you send them to his household under the orders of someone else?”

“My lord, that’s not it, please believe me!” Secretary Han glanced at the Grand Duke nervously before quickly lowering his gaze again.

“Who were you taking orders from?” The Grand Duke asked. “Spit it out or I definitely won’t let you off easily.”

“I swear, it’s nothing like that! I-this-I have an explanation for all this, it’s just…” Secretary Han trailed off.

“If it wasn’t on someone’s orders, it must’ve been a favor for Li Sanjin. He was from the same hometown as you, wasn’t he?” Housekeeper Wang demanded.

“It’s true, my lord. It’s shameful to air my family’s dirty laundry like this, but I suppose I have no other choice. The thing is, Li Sanjin’s niece seduced my younger brother back in our hometown, and he shamelessly came to me trying to get her into the household as a concubine-he came all the way to the capital and threatened to make a ruckus in the Central Market every day, so I gave him some gold to shut him up. But he came back a few months later with his nephew, saying that his niece was pregnant and demanded that I get them a job so they could support her and the child,” Secretary Han admitted.

“Seduced your younger brother? Fingers would have been pointed at her instead of you if that were the case, you wouldn’t have had any reason to fear a ruckus. He forced himself on her, didn’t he?” The Grand Duke asked.

Secretary Han guiltily lowered his head. The Grand Duke shook his head.

“This seems like a well-laid trap to me, someone put in a lot of effort to get that man in,” the Grand Duke remarked. “But you’re the fool for walking into it. Li Sanjin has admitted to false testimony, I have his statement right here. As the one who recommended him, how are you going to take responsibility?”

Secretary Han’s head snapped up as he looked at the Grand Duke with a mix of shock and horror.

“How can that be? I swear I don’t know anything!”

“Do you think anyone would believe it should I bring this to the attention of the court?” The Grand Duke asked coldly.

“Please have mercy, my lord!” Secretary Han hastily bowed his head to the ground.

“Publicize this statement yourself,” the Grand Duke ordered. Secretary Han couldn’t help but glance up with a wince.

“My lord-”

“The Grand Duke is graciously pointing a way out for you, are you going to be so ungrateful as to interrupt him?” Housekeeper Wang demanded.

Secretary Han bowed his head again. “No, definitely not! My lord, I humbly await your instructions.”

“Tell the court you were swindled by this man who threatened your family’s honor by trapping your younger brother, and that he came to you in fear of being discovered after giving false testimony. If you do this, you won’t be implicated in this matter,” the Grand Duke said. “You will have my protection and be rewarded properly should this go well.”

He gestured for Housekeeper Wang to give the statement to Secretary Han. The man read the statement with growing bewilderment.

“My lord, I don’t understand. Isn’t Minister Zhao your grandson?” Secretary Han asked.

“And what of it?” The Grand Duke asked coldly. Secretary Han gulped nervously, tucking the statement into his robes.

“Nothing, my lord. I will do as you command. When should I reveal this?”

“Bring it to the attention of the Secretariat and Ministry of Justice immediately,” the Grand Duke said. “By the next convening of the court, I want everyone to know of this.”

Outside of the room, Matron Li silently moved away from where she had been listening at the door, quickly disappearing down a different corridor before the guards on patrol circled over.

Matron Li placed a hand over her chest, trying to regain her composure. She glanced around before quickly walking out of the Inner Quarters and heading over to the office of household purchases.

Matron Li entered the small, dusty office without knocking, sweeping her gaze around to ascertain if they were alone.

“Matron Li,” Chujiao said in surprise, hastily standing up to greet the older woman. “How can I help you?”

Matron Li hesitated for a long moment before closing the distance between them to take Chujiao’s hands in her own.

“Chujiao, do you care about the young lord?” Matron Li asked.

“Of course I care about him,” Chujiao replied, flushing slightly.

Matron Li took a deep breath. “Are you willing to risk putting yourself in danger to help him?”

Chujiao frowned slightly. “Yes, Matron Li. What is this about?”

“The Grand Duke is planning to raise an accusation against the young lord of having Liu Hongyu’s servant provide false testimony. This is a serious crime. Even with his bloodline and status, he’ll be in deep trouble,” Matron Li said in a hushed whisper.

“What?! He would go that far? But the young lord is his grandson!”

“You’re too young to know the story behind this,” Matron Li said with a note of desperation. “But this is urgent, the accusation will be made within the day. I can’t leave the house, and that guard of his no longer works here. There’s no way for me to warn him.”

“I’ll go,” Chujiao said without hesitation. “The young lord’s at the Court of Judicial Review, isn’t he? I’ll go right now.”

“You have to be careful, if the Grand Duke finds out, heads will roll,” Matron Li warned her.

“Don’t worry, Matron Li. I’m the secretary in charge of household purchases, I enter and leave the household often these days. No one will suspect me,” Chujiao assured her.

“Bring an extra cloak with you, the Grand Duke likely has eyes on the Court of Judicial Review, your secretary robes will be instantly recognized,” Matron Li said.

“I will, Matron Li. Thank you for telling me,” Chujiao replied earnestly.

Qu Boyong headed down the alleyway towards the Court of Judicial Review. After returning from the Third Prince’s household, Wenyuan had started a new line of inquiry about the princesses of the Eastern Turkish Khaganate, seeming unusually agitated about the issue.

Though Boyong wanted to avoid going to Wenyuan’s office, it seemed that his employer was intent on working overtime every day in order to start investigations, and Boyong doubted that the new Minister would have the energy to absorb the information by the end of the day.

He was startled out of his thoughts as a familiar figure appeared before him. A young woman was standing alone in the shadows of the empty alleyway, fastening a plain cotton robe over what was unmistakably the uniform of a secretary from the Grand Duke’s household.

“Shuyou?” Boyong called out in disbelief. Chujiao turned towards him with a startled look before smiling in relief.

“Daozong!” Chujiao greeted him. Boyong stepped closer and pulled her into a hug.

“Shuyou,” Boyong said softly. “I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Chujiao replied, gently stroking his hair. After a moment, they let go of each other. Boyong looked at her outfit with curiosity.

“What’s with the outfit? And what are you doing here?” Boyong asked. “It’s dangerous to take this path to the market.”

“I’m not going to the market, but thank the heavens and earth that I ran into you! It’s urgent, I need to meet with the young lord,” Chujiao said. Boyong’s expression darkened.

“With Zhao Wenyuan? What for?”

“The Grand Duke’s preparing to entrap the young lord, within the day he’ll be accused of ordering Liu Hongyu’s servant to provide false testimony!” Chujiao said with a note of urgency in her voice.

“What? How did you learn of this?!”

“Matron Li told me, she asked me to come and warn him,” Chujiao replied. “Daozong, surely you know how dangerous this situation is! Right after the Emperor reinstated the Court of Judicial Review, its Minister is defamed- do you think the young lord would emerge unscathed after invoking His Majesty’s anger?”

“You can’t go,” Boyong said harshly. “What do you think happens once you warn him? How long before the Grand Duke checks to see who left the household today and roots you out? I won’t be able to save you!”

“Then pass on the message for me,” Chujiao pleaded.

Boyong hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

Chujiao gave him a look of disbelief. “What? But why? You said you were betting on him!”

“If this plan is already in motion, then it's over for him. He doesn’t have enough people in the court. Zhao Wenyuan won’t have the strength to turn back the skies, if he’s run out of luck, then that’s simply his fate,” Boyong said.

“How can you say that?” Chujiao demanded.

“If I go and pass on the message, he won’t be able to respond in time, but the Grand Duke will definitely find out that the information was leaked!” Boyong hissed.

“You're underestimating the young lord, he’ll know what to do! Daozong, we’re running out of time!” Chujiao tried to step around him, but Boyong easily blocked her path.

“Go back, Shuyou,” he said firmly. Chujiao glared at him furiously.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Chujiao demanded. “This is important! Just what don’t you understand? Something terrible could happen to the young master at this rate!”

“And what of it?” Boyong snapped. “Go back while you can still cover for your absence!”

“If worst comes to worst, I’ll leave the Zhao household. If you refuse to pass on the message, then step aside and let me through!” Chujiao swatted angrily at Boyong’s outstretched arm.

Boyong stepped forward and closed the distance between them, grabbing Chujiao by the shoulders. She flinched at the strength of his grip as he glared down at her.

“Leave the Zhao household? Even if you could manage to leave that place alive, how can you consider that option? You would throw aside everything we’ve worked for, just for that young master of yours?” Boyong shook her by her shoulders, his eyes taking on a frantic look.

Chujiao averted her eyes, deflating a little. “That’s not it,” she said in a trembling voice. “Even if you accuse me of betraying our family, I can’t convince you otherwise.”

“I’m not saying that,” Boyong snarled in frustration. “I just can’t understand you! He’s already tossed you aside and you’re still covering for him!”

“You don’t understand! For all these years that you left me in that place all alone, I had no one except the young master! Do you know what it’s like to be an orphan girl in a household like that? Not just the housekeeper, but the higher-ranking servants as well, they’d take advantage of the serving girls without family to turn to-everyone knew, but no one did anything! The only reason no one touched me was because I had his protection. You think you can just saunter in and ask me to throw away everything we had for the last ten years?!” Chujiao tried to shake off Boyong’s grip again.

“It’s true he suddenly sent me away-but I trust that he had a good reason for it. He was determined to head onto a blood-soaked path alone, without dragging in anyone else! Why on earth would I resent him for that-no, why would you resent him for that? Or is it that anything that obstructs my role as your eyes and ears can’t be tolerated, even if it keeps me from danger?” Chujiao asked accusingly.

Boyong sucked in a deep breath, loosening his grip with a guilty expression.

“I-I’m sorry, Shuyou. I know it was hard for you,” he said quietly.

“If you know then you should step aside.”

Boyong looked at her with a pained expression and shook his head.

“I can’t do that. It’ll be the death of you.”

“Then tell him,” Chujiao replied. “Can’t you do that at least? I’m determined to warn him no matter what the cost, if you really want to protect me, then pass on the message!”

Boyong hesitated before letting out a sigh.

“If you insist, then I’ll do so. But know this, Chujiao. We risk everything by telling him something that we shouldn’t be able to know. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Boyong asked heavily.

“Yes.”

Boyong blinked, taken aback by Chujiao’s determined answer.

“You probably don’t realize it yet, but I know what kind of person the young master is. I trust him to treat those who helped him with gratitude and kindness. If he really grows suspicious, then you can tell him that I came to find you,” Chujiao explained.

“You must be crazy!”

“You’re the one who’s being paranoid. I was his personal maid of ten years, he wouldn’t be suspicious that I tried to warn him-just tell him you stopped me and sent me back to keep me out of danger. Not only will it erase his suspicions, but he will also be sure to reward you,” Chujiao said. At Boyong’s look of disbelief, she shook her head.

“If you can’t trust my understanding of the Zhao household, why did you send me there in the first place?” Chujiao asked icily.

Boyong pinched the bridge of his nose. “Shuyou, that’s not what I meant. If you say it to that extent, then what choice do I have but to comply? Rest assured, I’ll deliver him the message, so hurry and go back.”

“A great man’s word is heavier than nine cauldrons. I expect you to follow through on,” Chujiao said.

“Since I said it, I’ll uphold my promise,” Boyong assured her. Chujiao let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you,” she said. Boyong winced at the raw gratitude in her voice.

“Go back,” he said hoarsely. “Be careful not to be seen.”

Chujiao nodded, stepping forward to throw her arms around his neck and tightly squeeze him in a hug before briskly turning and disappearing into the alleyways. Boyong tilted his head up, staring up into the clouds as emotions swirled uncomfortably in his stomach.

He had known that Shuyou had been in the most dangerous position out of everyone, but somehow he hadn’t expected such a strong bond to form between her and Zhao Wenyuan.

“It can’t be helped,” he muttered to himself. He took in a deep breath and headed toward the Court of Judicial Review.

“It’s all thanks to the Imperial Investigator Bureau that our first investigation is going so smoothly, so we have to do our part and process the evidence properly,” Kayla announced. “Make sure you have the required signatures on all the records before filing the documents. It’s true we have a schedule to keep to, but don’t let that distract you from completing your tasks diligently. As a new institution, our first case is extremely important in setting the path from now on, so please give it your best.”

“Understood, Minister!” The officials of the core staff said in near-unison. Kayla nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright then, let’s get to it,” Kayla said, waving her hand to dismiss them. The officials quickly filed away to their own stations, except for Sun Ruhui who approached her with a scroll in his hands.

“Chamberlain Sun,” Kayla greeted him amiably. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

“Yes, Minister. If possible, could we speak in your office?” Sun Ruhui asked. Kayla nodded and lead him in. Sun Ruhui passed her the scroll in his hands, turning to close the door behind him.

“What is this?” Kayla asked as she unscrolled it, slowly heading over to her desk. Her eyes widened as she saw the words on the scroll.

Shen Liangjun is the Third Prince's man. She whirled around to face him.

“Chamberlain, what-”

“Minister,” Sun Ruhui cut in, gesturing for her to lower her voice. He stepped forward and bowed his head slightly.

“Minister, I just wanted to make sure you knew my suspicions,” Sun Ruhui said softly. “I don’t have any evidence, so please forgive my impudence.”

Kayla wordlessly handed the scroll back to him. “How did you know?”

Sun Ruhui shook his head slightly. “I’m ashamed to say that it’s mostly instinct and speculation, but I’m sure that I’ve reached the right conclusion. May I?” He gestured to the cup of tea on Kayla’s desk. Confused, she nodded slightly. Sun Ruhui tipped the teacup slightly, pouring a few drops onto the desk before writing out a character.

Cai.

“The Third Prince Consort's clan,” Kayla said in almost a whisper.

“Healers,” Sun Ruhui said softly, before gesturing to the scroll before Kayla. “Who he's sought treatment from.”

“I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but that’s a bit of a conjecture,” Kayla said. “Are you sure?”

“I understand that saying this without providing any evidence makes it hard to believe, but my instinct about these things has never been wrong throughout my entire career,” Sun Ruhui said, bowing his head slightly. Kayla nodded slowly. That much was true, it was one of the reasons she’d hired him in the first place.

“Better to believe it’s true than to mistakenly believe it’s false,” Kayla murmured. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Do you know if there’s anyone else?”

“No, but I’ll be on the lookout. What do you plan to do, Minister?” Sun Ruhui asked.

Kayla heaved a sigh. “Nothing, for the time being. I’ll just have to be careful and keep an eye out for them.”

“Understood. I’ll do my best to help you in that regard,” Ruhui said dutifully.

“Thank you, I’ll appreciate that. But…” Kayla leaned in to speak in a whisper. “What about the Seventh Prince? Does he have any men among the core staff?”

Ruhui shook his head. “Not that I’ve noticed.”

The two of them looked up with a start as there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Kayla called out.

“Minister, it’s Shen Liangjun,” the Vice-Minister replied. Kayla and Ruhui shared a glance before she handed the scroll back to Ruhui, who bowed and stepped back, tucking it safely away.

“Come on in,” Kayla said.

“Pardon me, Minister. We’ve just finished up the collaboration charter for the Ministry of Justice, all we need is your signature and Minister Liang’s signature,” Shen Liangjun said. He glanced in Ruhui’s direction curiously.

“Then I’ll take my leave,” Ruhui quickly said, bowing to each of them in turn before leaving the room.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt him?” Shen Liangjun said. Kayla forced a smile.

“Not at all, we were just finishing anyways. Now let me take a look at the charter, did you include that part about access to the archives?”

“Of course, Minister, please look here…”

Outside the Court of Judicial Review, Qu Boyong ran as fast as he could without revealing his skills to the men the Grand Duke had planted around the building. He slowed down to even out his breathing before calmly approaching the entrance in an assured manner. The guards at the entrance recognized him and let him in. Crossing through the busy main office of the Court of Judicial Review, Qu Boyong was stopped by one of the secretaries.

“Hey, civilians aren’t allowed in here, how did you get in?” The man asked in annoyance. Qu Boyong quickly retrieved the plaque that Zhao Wenyuan had given him.

“I’m the Minister’s personal servant, there’s something urgent I need to speak to him about,” Boyong explained.

“The Minister’s servant? Well, he’s in a meeting with the Vice-Minister right now, you’ll have to wait,” the secretary said.

“You don’t understand, this is an extremely urgent matter,” Boyong emphasized. The secretary faltered, sensing that Qu Boyong was serious.

“Alright, I’ll go and let the Minister know. But keep in mind that if they get angry, I’m blaming everything on you,” the secretary grumbled reluctantly before heading over to knock on the office door.

“Excuse me, sir. It’s the Minister’s personal servant, he says he has an urgent matter,” the secretary announced. After pausing a beat, he nodded at Qu Boyong.

“Go on in,” the secretary said.

“Thank you.” Boyong entered the office, bowing at Wenyuan and then the man next to him.

“My lord, Vice-Minister, I apologize for disturbing you,” Boyong said. He glanced at the Vice-Minister, who watched him curiously without showing any sign of leaving. Wenyuan also shot a glance at the Vice-Minister, but the man didn’t seem to notice.

Sensing that Wenyuan was hard-pressed to dismiss the Vice-Minister without any pretense, Boyong quickly went around the desk to whisper in Wenyuan’s ear, covering his mouth with a hand.

“My lord, the Grand Duke’s making a move,” Boyong whispered. Wenyuan’s gaze sharpened immediately. Wenyuan kept his composure, nodding slightly at Boyong before giving the Vice-Minister a smile.

“I apologize, Vice-Minister, it seems that there’s a pressing issue. Could I trouble you to give us a moment?” Wenyuan said levelly.

The Vice-Minister bowed his head slightly. “Of course, sir. Please pardon me, I’ll wait outside.”

“Thank you,” Wenyuan replied. The two young men watched as the Vice-Minister left, waiting until the door clicked shut before Wenyuan whirled around to face Boyong.

“What’s going on?” Wenyuan asked, a slight hitch in his voice.

“It seems that the Grand Duke is trying to entrap you,” Boyong said quickly, keeping his voice low. “He wants to accuse you of-”

He was interrupted by loud knocking on the door.

“Minister! Minister, may I enter?” A young woman’s voice called out frantically. “It’s urgent!”

“Come on in,” Wenyuan said. The door swung open immediately, revealing a young woman in officials’ robes with a frightened look on her face.

“Case Reviewer Chen, what on earth happened?” Wenyuan asked, standing up in surprise.

The young woman quickly crossed the room, handing a scroll to Wenyuan.

“The Secretariat Department just released this to the entire court,” she said in a trembling voice. Boyong felt his heart drop into his stomach, realizing that he was too late.

Wenyuan looked over the document several times in confusion at its contents. Boyong and the female official watched him carefully, identifying the exact moment when a look of realization flashed over his face, followed by what seemed to be despair.

“What is it, my lord?” Boyong asked. Wenyuan let the scroll drop to the desk, not seeming to have heard Boyong at all.

“The Ministry of Justice is opening an investigation against the Minister,” the young woman explained in a small voice. She hesitated, glancing at Wenyuan to discern his reaction before continuing. “On the charges of coercing and bribing Liu Hongyu’s servant into testifying falsely."

45-Coercion and Bribery

Kayla stared at the scroll she’d dropped onto her desk. There was a sharp ringing in her head that drowned out what Caichun and Boyong were saying. The false testimony against Liu Hongyu wasn’t her doing, but she had a feeling that it was the Empress Dowager’s.

We’re fucked. We’re done for.

Calm down, Grandmother definitely had backup plans when she planted her eyes and ears!

No, the Grand Duke definitely knows it was the Empress Dowager, he’s targeting me so that she can’t make a move! If he had targeted her, she definitely would've been prepared to deal with it-but if it's me, then there's no reason for her to block an investigation. If this matter gains widespread attention, then she likely wouldn't be able to sweep everything under the rug with just a scapegoat either-the court will jump on this chance to attack me and pursue the investigation all the way through. That's why he made it so it reached the court first and not the Palace, so the Emperor can’t push this under the table.

Then what do we do?

If it was one of the Empress Dowager’s men, then that meant Kayla’s hands were tied. By proving her own innocence, she could accidentally reveal the Empress Dowager’s hand in the investigations, and that would not only besmirch the Imperial Family but also completely discredit everything they’d uncovered so far in the investigations.

A feeling of despair overwhelmed her. Nothing. We can’t do anything.

She instinctively sensed that the Grand Duke had pushed her into a deadlock that not even the Emperor could get her out of, one that would invalidate the investigations altogether.

“Shit,” she cursed in English. It was the first time she’d spoken English out loud in Wenyuan’s world, the words sounding almost foreign to her ears. Her knees gave in, and Kayla sank back into her chair.

“I’m fucked,” she groaned, burying her face into her hands. “Why the fuck is this happening? That sack of shit completely screwed me over!”

“What?” Boyong said in alarm, turning to Caichun. “He’s speaking in tongues!”

“Call a healer, he might be having a stroke,” Caichun ordered. Kayla hastily raised her hand to stop them, reverting back to Chinese.

“Stop! I’m fine!” Kayla snapped.

“My lord, are you sure?” Boyong stepped forward to take a closer look. “Maybe we should get a healer just in case.”

“Forget the healer, I have a charge of coercion and bribery on my hands right now,” Kayla said dryly. “I was just expressing my frustration in a foreign language.”

“Minister, I’ll go fetch Chamberlain Sun,” Caichun said.

Kayla breathed in deeply, nodding. “Sounds good.” Caichun quickly left the room.

“My lord,” Boyong said, a look of concern on his face. Kayla stood up slowly and made her way to the office door. Vice-Ministers Shen Liangjun and Ma Kaijie were both standing there, along with several other members of the core staff who had evidently run over from their desks.

“Minister, what’s happening?” Ma Kaijie demanded.

“The Secretariat Department is launching an attack against us by accusing me of coercion and bribery,” Kayla announced. “I ask that everyone stay calm and lend me your assistance. From now on, this building will be under max security. See to it that not a single document goes missing.”

“Understood, Minister,” the gathered officials voiced in unison.

“Also, as long as the charges against me are open, there will be grounds to openly contest any investigations conducted by the Court of Judicial Review. I have no idea how long they’ll take, so as a countermeasure, I am authorizing the two Vice-Ministers to use the Halved Seals of the Minister’s office,” Kayla said. The officials let out shocked exclamations, Shen Liangjun and Ma Kaijie turning to look at each other in disbelief. Kayla waved for them to follow her into the office, the other officials hastily scurrying off. Once the door was closed, Kayla unlocked one of the drawers on her desk and took out the Halved Seals.

Similar to the military seal, which required two matching parts to authorize someone to command the army, the Halved Seals for each government institution allowed the two second-highest ranking officials to act in place of the highest-ranking official together. The Halved Seals could only be released with the signature of the highest-ranking official as well as notarized written guarantees from the two second-highest ranking officials to bear joint responsibility for their actions while in possession of the two seals. The only other way the seals could be released was under orders from the Emperor. Though each institution had a set of Halved Seals, it was merely a formality and almost never used, since most officials couldn’t bear relinquishing power to their subordinates.

Kayla filled out the authorization form and signed her name, stamping it with the Minister’s seal before gesturing for Ma Kaijie and Shen Liangjun to write their statements. After a moment of hesitation, Ma Kaijie began to write, Shen Liangjun following his lead. Satisfied with their guarantees, Kayla stamped each one with the Minister’s seal, which had the power of notarization for internal documents.

“The two of you surely understand how important the Court of Judicial Review is, as well as how important it is meant to become. I trust that you will complete your duties to the utmost of your ability,” Kayla said. “Gentlemen, I leave the Court of Judicial Review in your hands.”

“But Minister, don’t you have any method of countering them? You can’t sit and wait to be killed!” Ma Kaijie protested.

“I will prove my innocence, but I won’t drag in the Court of Judicial Review or its resources unless I can do so in a legitimate way,” Kayla replied. She understood the weight the Emperor had placed in the growth of a neutral faction to fill the power vacuum the Grand Duke would leave behind. If she messed that up, she would be left with no support whatsoever, which meant almost certain death.

“Understood, Minister. Please be assured that I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability,” Shen Liangjun said, Ma Kaijie nodding in agreement.

Kayla nodded. “For the duration of your cooperation, I will ask Chamberlain Sun to assist you closely. The two of you should also keep detailed notes of all your decisions, supervising both yourself and your fellow Vice-Minister throughout this process. At the end of every workday, both you and Chamberlain Sun will submit your notes to me for review,” Kayla said. “This is not an act of distrust, but of necessity. Our institution has only been around for less than a week, most of its staff comes from various other departments. If communication breaks down at the top of the chain of command, everything will fall apart. Using this method, not only can we avoid such a scenario, we can also prevent external intervention from seeking to sow discord.”

Neither of the two Vice-Minister outwardly expressed any displeasure at the additional restrictions. It was a relatively crude method of surveillance, but Sun Ruhui’s presence ensured that the two Vice-Ministers couldn’t get away with collusion, and submitting the records every day also left less space for revision or excuses.

“Understood, Minister. I think it’s a good idea,” Ma Kaijie said, Shen Liangjun nodding his agreement.

“Very well, then it’s decided,” Kayla said. “Please go make the necessary arrangements.”

The two bowed and left. Kayla turned back to Boyong, who was still standing in the corner of the room.

“Let Chamberlain Sun and Case Reviewer Chen know of the new developments,” Kayla said.

Boyong nodded. “Understood, my lord. May I ask if you have any way to deal with the accusation?”

“I’m working on it,” Kayla replied, waving for him to go.

“I’ll be right back, my lord,” Boyong bowed his head and left her alone. Kayla sank back down into her chair, her head spinning. She’d done what she could to preserve the Court of Judicial Review, but she had no idea how to preserve herself.

Kayla had barely gotten a moment to herself before there was another knock at the door.

“My lord,” Boyong called.

“Come in,” Kayla replied. Boyong came in quickly, a worried look on his face.

“My lord, Minister Liang is here with officials from the Ministry of Justice,” Boyong said urgently.

Kayla slowly got up from her chair, the stiff fear in her mind seeming to extend into her limbs as well.

“I see,” Kayla said heavily. “I’ll go greet them.”

She made her way to the entrance, Boyong following behind her. Officials from the Court of Judicial Review hovered nearby, watching anxiously as Kayla greeted Minister Liang.

“Minister Liang, it’s good to see you,” Kayla said, not meaning it in the slightest. Minister Liang was followed by Zhang Dingyong, as well as the familiar faces of several officials in the Ministry of Justice who were decidedly not on good terms with Kayla, including one who had become the new Left Secretariat.

The Minister and the Left and Right Secretariats are all here, they mean business, Kayla noted. On a scale of one to ten of how screwed I am, I’m probably up in the nineties.

“Minister Zhao, I apologize for disturbing you in the middle of the workday like this,” Minister Liang said regretfully. “I’m here on official business, but I’d like to briefly discuss it with you first.”

If it’s the Grand Duke, then Minister Liang’s probably not involved. At the very least, he shouldn’t have a reason to intentionally make things difficult for me. Though the accusations had been publicly released, she doubted Minister Liang was involved. After all, he gained no particular benefit from discrediting her.

“Not at all,” Kayla replied. “Would you care to join me in my office?”

“Certainly,” Minister Liang said. He motioned for his subordinates to wait in the office area, following Kayla into her office. Kayla closed the door firmly behind them, gesturing to Minister Liang to sit in one of the chairs.

“Minister Liang, I suppose this is about the accusation from the Secretariat Department?” Kayla asked. He nodded.

“That’s right. First of all, I’d like to apologize for the leak about the investigation, we had no intention of publicizing any accusations before even starting a formal inquiry, and I can assure you that the leak was not from the Ministry of Justice,” Minister Liang explained.

“I thought so as well. Was it from the Secretariat Department then?” Kayla asked.

Minister Liang hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes. That’s what I wanted to tell you, Secretary Han of the Secretariat Department presented a written statement from one of Liu Hongyu’s servants, Li Sanjin. He claimed to have given false testimony against Liu Hongyu after you coerced and bribed him. The Secretariat Director filed an accusation with us, and since there was a signed statement, we had no choice but to open an investigation.”

“Of course, it’s part of your job,” Kayla said. She had never heard of Li Sanjin before, and she also hadn’t viewed any of the testimonies from the Liu Hongyu case. Most details hadn’t been disclosed to the court, and records of the investigation were also kept under tight security for which she hadn’t had clearance. “May I ask how Secretary Han came upon such a statement?”

“Apparently, he recommended Li Sanjin to Liu Hongyu’s household as a servant since they were from the same hometown, and Li Sanjin came to him for help after testifying,” Minister Liang replied. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. “Minister Zhao, I believe in your innocence, of course, but is there anything that I should know before we officially start investigating?”

“Not that I can think of. Whatever Li Sanjin claims I did, I had no part in whatsoever. The accusations are likely an attempt to discredit the Court of Judicial Review and the investigations into the corruption of court officials,” Kayla replied.

“I agree,” Minister Liang said. “If that’s the case, I’ll do my best to prove your innocence. Lower-ranking officials would usually be held in custody during the investigation process, but as a third-rank official, you’ll be able to continue your work and life as normal so long as you cooperate with us. You’ll be called in for questioning tomorrow, and we’ll have to ask for access to your documents starting from three months ago to the present.”

Three months? That’s around when I first got here.

“I understand,” Kayla said after a slight pause. “You won’t have too much to look through from the Court of Judicial Review. I’ve authorized the use of the Halved Seals for the Vice-Ministers, so I will leave the governance of the Court in their capable hands for this period of time.”

“The Halved Seals? Well, that’s certainly very prudent of you. If that’s the case, we won’t be here for long, once we’ve got everything you’ve worked on so far, any new documents will be exempt from the investigation. We’ll be mostly focusing on your work during the time of the Liu Hongyu case, while you were still serving as the Left Secretariat of Justice. We have limited access to records from the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau from when you headed the investigation on Yue Wuxuan, but given that something like this happened, they will also have to launch an internal investigation. We’ll request for the documents from that case and the Liu Hongyu case to be released to us, and I’ll let you know when that comes through,” Minister Liang said.

So the Imperial Investigation Bureau also have their hands tied, Kayla noted with an ounce of dread. And I don’t even know what the testimonies look like, there’s nothing I can do at this point except to reach an understanding with the Empress Dowager about whether or not I take responsibility.

At the very least, she’d make sure we get through this safely, right?

Kayla didn’t have an answer for him. Wenyuan’s grandmother doted on him, but first and foremost, she was the Empress Dowager and a member of the Imperial family. Who knew what she would choose?

“Sounds good,” Kayla said, forcing a smile at Minister Liang. “Will I be able to view Li Sanjin’s statement?”

“I’m afraid not,” Minister Liang said apologetically.

“That’s understandable,” Kayla replied insincerely.

“One last question, Minister Zhao. Have you ever met Li Sanjin before this? If you have, please tell us in as much detail as possible,” Minister Liang said.

Kayla hesitated. She’d always learned not to speak to police unless she had a lawyer present, but it wasn’t as though there were any lawyers in this place. She didn’t even think there was such an occupation.

I can’t give him anything concrete unless I know what Li Sanjin said in his statement against me and in the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau.

“I don’t recall that name. To be honest, I’m not much in the habit of remembering the names of servants unless I see them every day,” Kayla replied. “But if he was from Liu Hongyu’s household, then I’ve probably met him before at some point.”

“I see,” Minister Liang replied after a slight pause. “If that’s the case, then please try to remember any details you may have forgotten before tomorrow.”

“Of course.”

Kayla stood up to send him off, leaving the office door open as Minister Liang left.

“Minister, the officials from the Ministry of Justice want copies of all the documents with your signature on them,” Ma Kaijie called out to her. Kayla nodded for them to proceed from the doorway, watching as the officials from the Ministry of Justice fanned out and set to work.

This feels like getting raided by the FBI or the IRS for tax fraud, she dazedly thought to herself. It was her first time on the other end of the investigation process. What the fuck do I do now?

Boyong made his way over, Caichun and Sun Ruhui behind him. Kayla let them into her office, closing the door halfway.

“My lord,” Boyong said in a low voice. “Is there anything I need to take care of right now?”

Kayla understood Boyong’s implicit request about if there was any evidence to destroy.

“I need information from the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, but I can’t get in contact with anyone without arousing suspicion right now,” Kayla muttered. “Just stay still for now, I’ll try to think of something.”

“Minister, if you’re being framed like this, they’ve probably already planted evidence,” Sun Ruhui warned her. “Can you think of anything that might be used against you?”

Kayla hesitated before shaking her head. “Nothing that can be tied to this case. I don’t have access to Li Sanjin’s statement, and I also haven’t seen his testimony from the Liu Hongyu case. Do you have any ideas?”

“Depends on if this is directed at you personally or at the Court of Judicial Review,” Sun Ruhui said thoughtfully. “If it’s at the Court of Judicial Review, it’s likely that the Secretariat Department hasn’t had time to hide their tracks for an investigation, so they’d probably be satisfied by immobilizing the Court of Judicial Review. If you take a leave of absence, the case will probably be allowed to die down after a while. But if it’s personal, then you’ll have to actively prove your innocence.”

“It’s personal, that’s for sure,” Kayla said grimly. At his questioning look, she sighed. “It’s most likely the doing of my grandfather.”

Speaking of, how did Boyong find out? Did one of his former co-workers give him a heads up?

“That’s…do you think he would have you convicted?” Sun Ruhui asked after a slight pause.

“I don’t know,” Kayla replied honestly. She couldn’t tell if he would be willing to disgrace the Zhao clan by doing so, or if he thought her past actions a greater affront to his pride.

“Minister, if I may, I believe he wishes to either see the Court of Judicial Review dismantled or have you convicted. More likely than not, he’s aiming for one of those two goals, if not both,” Caichun cut in. “Sir, if he’s had the Secretariat Department announce it to the entire court, then he definitely has confidence that it won’t backfire. That means Li Sanjin probably was ordered to provide a false testimony. If we can figure out who was really behind it, we can escape this predicament. Minister, do you have any idea who it is?”

Kayla’s heart skipped a beat. Figure out who it is? We’re all screwed if that comes to light!i

“No,” she said in as level a voice as she could manage. “I’m afraid not.”

“Are you sure, Minister? Earlier when you read the Secretariat Department’s accusation, you seemed to have thought of something,” Caichun pressed on.

Damn it, this kid’s too attentive, Kayla tugged at her collar, sweat beading on her forehead.

“I thought of my grandfather, but I doubt he would be the one who ordered Li Sanjin’s testimony,” Kayla said. Caichun frowned slightly, but Sun Ruhui gave her a sharp glance before the young woman could ask any further.

“I agree, I doubt the Grand Duke would be careless enough to use one of his own crimes,” he said calmly. “Minister, please try to think carefully if there’s anyone who might be behind this.”

“I will. The two of you should head back to your stations for now, it’s not good to spend too long speaking privately with me given the situation. I’ll let you know if I think of anything,” Kayla said.

“Understood, Minister,” Sun Ruhui and Caichun said in unison. The two of them bowed and left, Kayla also standing up. She nodded at Boyong.

“Come on, they’ll need to search my office,” Kayla said before stepping outside. Zhang Dingyong quickly approached her.

“Minister Zhao, apologies, but may I ask for your permission to check your office?”

”Of course, please go ahead,” Kayla gestured at the open door. Zhang Dingyong bowed his head slightly before waving for two of his subordinates to enter. Kayla headed over to a quiet corner to wait for them to finish, Boyong trailing along behind her.

“Sir,” Boyong whispered into her ear. “Was it someone from the palace?”

Kayla managed to catch herself before she could stiffen, forcing herself to keep her reaction under wraps before glancing at Boyong.

Damn it, why are you so perceptive? It was one of the reasons why she’d wanted to hire him, but still.

“What are you talking about? Don’t bring this up again, the situation’s enough of a mess already,” Kayla replied. Boyong bowed his head slightly.

“Apologies, my lord.”

“Boyong, how did you learn of this before the accusations came out?” Kayla asked, unable to push aside the strange feeling nagging at her inside.

“I was warned by a servant from the Grand Duke’s household, I ran into her near the Court of Judicial Review,” Boyong replied. “It seemed that she was on her way to warn you, but I was worried she would be in danger so I sent her back.”

Kayla’s heart skipped a beat in fear. “Her?”

“A secretary from the Outer Quarters, though I believe she’s served you before. I’m not sure what her name is,” Boyong replied.

Kayla sucked in a deep breath. “Chujiao,” she said softly, her hands starting to tremble.

Shit. That girl-

She turned to Boyong and discreetly passed him a purse of silver from her sleeve.

“Boyong, forget about anything else. Take this and go give this to Chujiao right now, you can find her in the office for household purchases in the Outer Quarters. Get her out of the capital to somewhere safe,” she ordered him. “If there’s any chance the Grand Duke might find out, she’ll die without leaving a complete corpse. Even if the girl refuses to leave, just grab her and go. I’ll take full responsibility.”

Chujiao being Wenyuan’s childhood friend and crush notwithstanding, Kayla had a pretty clear idea of how brutal the Grand Duke was, even to those of his own flesh and blood. She wouldn’t wish his wrath on her enemies, much less on a girl she was fond of.

“No, my lord. Forgive me, but I can’t do that,” Boyong said firmly, hastily pushing the purse back to Kayla. “What happens once she’s out of the capital? I can’t stay by her side to protect her while my master’s in danger, and then she’ll be in much worse of a situation alone in an unfamiliar place. Not to mention that it would confirm to the Grand Duke that she tried to warn you.”

Kayla blinked, the fear clouding her mind clearing somewhat. “You have a point. But-”

“My lord, please think about this carefully. How would she have known about this, as a low-ranking secretary in the Outer Quarters? Someone senior on the staff must have warned her. Their fates are tied together now, so that girl will definitely be safe. After all, whoever told her definitely wouldn’t want the Grand Duke to question Chujiao,” Boyong convinced her.

“Right,” Kayla breathed in deeply, tucking the purse back into her sleeve. “You’re right.”

It must have been Matron Li. Chujiao’s too smart to trust the words of anyone else.

“Not to mention that I failed to warn you in time. Since no countermeasures were taken, there’s no proof you were ever warned,” Boyong gently pointed out.

Kayla nodded. “I really hope that’s the case.”

From her desk, Caichun glanced at the officials from the Ministry of Justice who seemed to enjoy making a mess of Zhao Wenyuan’s office, even though it was already enough of a mess with haphazardly piled documents everywhere. Sun Ruhui hovered close by her, evidently worried that one of the officials would harass her.

She felt a little touched by his kindness, but it was mostly buried underneath the confusion and discomfort in her chest. Zhao Wenyuan didn’t seem the type of man who would force someone to make a false testimony, she had never doubted that. But she had seen it with startling clarity earlier, the look on his face as he’d read the Secretariat Department’s accusation.

I’m certain that he knows who’s behind it.

Whoever it was, they were either important to Wenyuan personally or extremely powerful. She didn’t know enough about the Minister’s personal life to draw any conclusions there, but Caichun had a gut feeling that it was someone very powerful. It definitely wasn’t the Grand Duke, which left a much more troubling possibility.

It’s probably a member of the Imperial Family. Sun Ruhui had likely come to the same conclusion as well, which was probably why he had stopped her from asking any further. Caichun anxiously clasped her fingers on her lap, watching the chaotic scene before her.

If Zhao Wenyuan was protecting a member of the Imperial Family, then the situation would be much more difficult to resolve.

“Chamberlain Sun,” she called out softly. Sun Ruhui turned to look at her.

“Are you alright, Case Reviewer Chen?” He asked as he took in her nervous expression.

“Yes, but about the Minister’s situation,” Caichun explained. He nodded.

“A solution definitely exists,” he assured her. Caichun nodded.

“If you say that, I feel much more assured. The Minister's deeply entangled in all of this, but we don't know enough to help him," she pointed out. Sun Ruhui nodded.

"We need to figure out why Liu Hongyu was punished,” she said. “We need to find someone who worked for him in the past.”

46-Scapegoat

Kayla glanced up as Zhang Dingyong approached her, stepping through the doorway into the office, which was now a complete mess.

“Right Secretariat,” Kayla greeted him.

“Minister, please pardon our interruption. We’re just about finished now, sorry for keeping you so long,” Zhang Dingyong apologized.

“Not at all, please send my regards to Minister Liang when you return,” Kayla replied.

It was late into the night now. The officials from the Ministry of Justice had been limited to high-ranking officials who stood to lose a great deal if they were caught messing with any of the documents from the Court of Judicial Review, a thoughtful choice on the part of Minister Liang that Kayla greatly appreciated. At the same time, it made the process much longer. Minister Liang had headed back with the first batch of evidence, leaving a small number of officials behind to finish procuring documents.

Kayla had also sent back most of the staff, with only a few members of the core staff remaining.

“I’ll be certain to do so,” Zhang Dingyong said. “Please rest assured that we will do our best to clear your name. After all, you used to be our Left Secretariat, you count as one of our own.”

So he’s saying that he won’t let the officials who hate me muddle with the process. That’s good.

“I appreciate it,” Kayla said. “Please have a safe trip.”

“You as well,” Zhang Dingyong bowed and left. Kayla glanced at where Boyong was standing by the doorway and decided to call it a night as well. There weren’t enough people left to clean up the mess the Ministry of Justice officials had made, so they might as well all go and get some sleep. She stepped outside of her office, nodding at Boyong.

“Alright everyone,” Kayla called to the remaining officials. The two Vice-Ministers, along with Sun Ruhui and Caichun were among them. “It’s been a long day, thank you for bearing it out with me. Go home and get some rest, it’ll be another long day tomorrow.”

There was a chorus of relieved yeses and the officials quickly shuffled off, Caichun and Sun Ruhui sharing a glance with Kayla before they left. Kayla headed out of the building to where her carriage was waiting, stepping back with a start as Boyong moved in front of her in a flash.

“Who are you?” Boyong demanded. Peeking around the young man’s sturdy frame, Kayla recognized the elderly man. Though he wore civilian clothes, Kayla could make him out as the eunuch who served at the Empress Dowager’s side.

“Boyong, he’s from the palace,” Kayla said softly. Boyong glanced at her in surprise before stepping aside.

“Minister Zhao, this old man apologizes for bothering you so late at night, but may I trouble you to join me on a short excursion?” The eunuch asked.

“Of course, please lead the way,” Kayla said. She waved for her carriage to leave, ignoring the guards’ curious looks as she followed the eunuch around the side of the building, Boyong keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings as he went with her.

“This way, my lord,” the eunuch gestured as a plain, undecorated carriage silently pulled into view. At Kayla’s hesitant glance in Boyong’s direction, the eunuch bowed. “Your servant may join you if you so wish.”

“Thank you,” Kayla said. She gestured for Boyong to join her, the young man quickly extending a hand to help her onto the carriage before joining the horseman in front. The eunuch spryly leaped onto a horse, evidently not weighed down by his age in the slightest. The carriage sped towards the Imperial Palace.

Inside the carriage, Kayla was left alone with her thoughts. Her mind had been in shambles ever since Kuang had broken the news about a potential marriage with a princess from the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and then the accusation had been publicized without so much as giving her a moment of respite. She felt exhausted to the bone, but also too nervous to get any rest.

The carriage rolled to a stop. Kayla got off and followed the eunuch into the Inner Palace, Boyong trailing behind them.

“Please go ahead, Minister,” the eunuch gestured at the entrance to the Empress Dowager’s quarters. Kayla nodded her thanks and entered, gesturing for Boyong to wait outside.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Empress Dowager,” Kayla said, bowing as she entered.

“Wenyuan, my grandson! Hurry up and come over here,” the Empress Dowager gestured for her to come over. Kayla sat down next to the Empress Dowager nervously. Despite the Empress Dowager acting the same as usual, Kayla was getting a bad feeling. If she was right about the Grand Duke's ploy, then the Empress Dowager was also at risk if it came to a full investigation.

“Grandmother, how have you been?” Kayla asked. The Empress Dowager’s expression faltered.

“I’ve been worried about you,” the Empress Dowager said heavily, dropping her facade. “I fear that I’ve dropped you into a pit of fire. Not to mention the accusations against you, they’re smearing your name with my actions. Who would’ve thought this could happen?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly, her stomach twisting as the bad feeling intensified. The Grand Duke was launching a direct attack against Kayla, but it was really just a front for an attack on the Imperial Family itself. Either the Empress Dowager risked running her reputation into the ground, or the Imperial Family was forced to relinquish someone under their protection-by proxy, it would also quash the neutral faction's development at the starting line.

“Do you have any advice for me, grandmother?” Kayla asked, still holding onto one last shred of hope. Surely the Empress Dowager would have some sort of backup plan.

“I cannot forcefully quell the voices of the court,” the Empress Dowager said with quiet finality. “And I cannot step forward to clear your name. I had thought that my actions were like a heavenly robe without seams, but evidently, I wasn't careful enough. I was prepared for an attack that wielded the eyes and ears I planted against myself or against the Emperor, but I was certain that no one would tie them to you, especially while you're at the height of the Emperor's favor. It seems that I've miscalculated."

“I understand,” Kayla forced out the words in a choked voice. It was what she had expected deep inside, but actually hearing it felt completely different.

“You will be protected, the punishment will be a mere formality,” the Empress Dowager said. She suddenly looked much older and frailer than she usually did. “I’m very sorry, Wenyuan. If I had known it would be like this earlier...”

Kayla breathed in deeply, closing her eyes as she tried to quell the wounded feeling in her chest.

“That’s alright, grandmother. Even if you can predict as accurately as a god, plans can’t catch up to changes. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me,” Kayla said, managing a smile.

“Oh, Wenyuan. What would your mother say if she knew of this?” The Empress Dowager said sadly. She shook her head before gaining her composure, once more the powerful and cunning Empress Dowager of the country. “I assure you, there will be opportunities for you to rise from the east mountain in the future. It’ll just take a little longer to get there.”

“Thank you, grandmother.” Kayla bowed her head. She wasn’t sure whether the Empress Dowager was just saying this to comfort her or if the old woman actually meant it.

“Here, take a look at this, it’s a summary of the results from the Liu Hongyu investigation. Hopefully, you can still find a path out of this,” the Empress Dowager handed her a thick scroll. “I’ve also included Li Sanjin’s testimony, though it may be best for you to leave this here with me. They’ll likely search your belongings. I will also keep searching for a solution for this, so please bear with it in the meantime.”

“Understood, grandmother. I’ll remember what I can,” Kayla replied. She hastily read through the scroll, slowing down as she got to Li Sanjin’s testimony. The man claimed to have served Liu Hongyu while he drank with Wenyuan, and to have heard Liu Hongyu insult the late Imperial Princess. Just looking at it, Kayla could tell where things had gone wrong.

How could he possibly have been there? If someone who clearly knows that he wasn’t there got his hands on this, they would realize it’s a false statement. But I guess it's my fault for excluding too many details when telling the Empress Dowager.

To her surprise, the investigation barely mentioned Wenyuan at all. More likely than not, it was a thoughtful gesture meant to protect Wenyuan from facing public humiliation as a coward who let Liu Hongyu run his mouth. Kayla felt a pang in her heart at the care Wenyuan was evidently shown, in contrast to what he’d actually gone through and what she faced now.

As she finished, she set the scroll down with a heavy heart.

“Thank you, grandmother. This was very helpful,” Kayla said.

“Alright then, go and get some rest. Don’t take this to heart,” the Empress Dowager said.

“I understand, I’ll take my leave now. Please rest early as well, grandmother,” Kayla bowed before leaving the Empress Dowager’s quarters. The cool night air hit her face and Kayla came to a halt, standing in stunned silence to absorb the conversation before forcing her legs to move again. Boyong glanced up from where he stood by a pillar, hurrying forward to join her.

“Let’s go,” Kayla said. Boyong faltered at the tired tone in her voice, seeming to have understood the situation. The eunuch from before led them back to the carriage, not commenting as Boyong joined Kayla inside the carriage.

Kayla leaned against the window, thoroughly sapped of energy. It reminded her of the night she had discovered the red jade necklace on Chujiao.

That feels like ages ago.

Was it only three months ago? It feels like it’s been forever.

I know, that was back when the serving girls still dared to come to our quarters.

That’s right, it’s rare to see one near our rooms these days.

That Chujiao, you really didn’t dote on her for nothing. She’s a good person.

Don’t start on that again, Wenyuan warned her. But yes, Chujiao really is a good person.

From Wenyuan’s memories, Kayla had a clear recollection of Chujiao’s progression from a lower-ranking serving girl in dark blue robes to Wenyuan’s designated personal serving girl, with a corresponding upgrade to green robes.

She jolted straight in her seat, Boyong snapping to attention as well.

“My lord?” Boyong said quizzically. Kayla held up a hand for him to be quiet as she tried to recall the night she’d gone to apologize to Liu Hongyu, arguably the beginning of the man’s demise.

A lower-ranking serving girl in blue robes-that reminds me! There was a girl like that in the room!

“That girl was there,” Kayla muttered. “But only five serving girls testified-I know their names. Damn it, I don’t know hers!”

“My lord, did you think of something?” Boyong asked.

“Boyong, there’s something I urgently need you to do for me,” Kayla said. “I need to know the names and faces of the lower-ranking serving girls who worked for Liu Hongyu, the ones who were still using dark blue robes at the time of the case.”

“I know some servants from Liu Hongyu’s household,” Boyong replied. “But for faces, that’ll be a bit difficult since none of them are particularly artistic. Is there something specific I can ask for?”

“Do you remember the night I came back from Liu Hongyu’s household soaked in wine?” Kayla asked. Boyong’s face twitched.

“How could I forget? That was a very…memorable night,” Boyong replied. Kayla broke into a smile.

“There was a serving girl who was in the room that night, she was pretty young, probably around fifteen or sixteen years old. There usually wasn’t anyone else, so she shouldn’t be hard for them to recall,” Kayla said. “I need you to find her.”

“Understood, my lord. I’ll ask around first thing tomorrow,” Boyong promised.

“That’s right, there’s no need to guard me for the time being,” Kayla said. Boyong opened his mouth to protest and she hastily cut him off. “I won’t confess unless I’ve completely exhausted all my other options, so once I enter the Ministry of Justice tomorrow, I’ll be there until either they release me or if new evidence turns up. If you can find that girl, then I'll be able to find a way out of this.”

“Alright then, my lord. I’ll do as you say.”

Kayla’s smile widened. It seemed there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon after all.

Since the Grand Duke’s binding my hands with the Empress Dowager’s actions, I’ll bind his with Liu Hongyu’s.

Liu Boyue handed the announcement to Xianchun, who was frowning before he’d even read it. The prince scanned the words with an outraged expression before he tossed the scroll aside in anger.

“That bastard! He’s old but does not die, what a knave!” Xianchun snarled. Liu Boyue cautiously picked up the scroll from the floor, tucking it back into his sleeve.

“My prince, you also think it’s the doing of the Grand Duke?” Liu Boyue asked.

“Who else could it be? That old mongrel, he’s still got the Secretariat Department under his thumb even though Liu Hongyu’s dead,” Xianchun said in a low voice.

“Of course, but doesn’t this seem strange to you, my prince?” Liu Boyue asked. At Xianchun’s confused frown, Liu Boyue quirked his lips into a tight smile.

“I’m saying that it wouldn’t make sense for the Grand Duke to make such a move unless he feels certain to grasp victory, or it would be the same as picking up a rock to smash his own foot. There are two potential situations I can think of, one is that Wenyuan really is guilty, and the other is that Wenyuan can’t allow an investigation for someone else's sake,” Boyue explained. A look of realization flashed over Xianchun’s face.

“Can’t allow an investigation? That would mean that there’s someone whose role can’t be uncovered,” Xianchun murmured. “He doesn’t have any friends, so more likely than not it must be someone in the Imperial Investigator Bureau.”

“Or the Empress Dowager,” Boyue pointed out. “I had my doubts when Zhao Wenyuan began the investigations. Even if he’s shown unexpected talents in plots and politics, those attributes are much less useful when it comes to investigations and the like. Those require actual skills that need to be built from the ground up, but Wenyuan was able to exceed everyone’s expectations. I suspect that the Empress Dowager must have helped him.”

“Even if she wanted to help him, she couldn’t have planted evidence on such short notice,” Xianchun protested before his face scrunched into a frown. “You mean she’s planned this for a while now.”

“I believe so, my prince. And it’s difficult to say, but Wenyuan may have been in on it as well. It would explain why the Grand Duke’s confident enough to make such a public move if he thinks the ties between them are enough to bind both of them down. After all, Wenyuan played a central role in each of the events that led up to the investigation,” Boyue explained. “Think about what’s happened the last few months, starting with Wenyuan telling you about Lady Yue’s relationship to the Liang clan and about He Shirang, and then there was the internal investigation of the Ministry of Justice, and then the Liu Hongyu case. Each of them built up to the investigations and the reinstatement of the Court of Judicial Review. This couldn’t have just come together on short notice. I believe we need to be more careful in dealing with Wenyuan, my prince. We can’t stumble on the same rock twice by underestimating him.”

“If you’re right, then that guy’s sure hidden it pretty deep,” Xianchun muttered. “But then how could the Grand Duke grab hold of their weakness so easily?”

“The Grand Duke dares to go where no one else would,” Boyue replied. “Who else would dare to directly implicate the Empress Dowager?”

Xianchun let out a sigh. “Well, that’s true. In either case, I’ve benefited so much from Wenyuan’s actions that I can’t just leave him to fend for himself at this kind of time. Regardless of whether he was dragged into this by grandmother or had been plotting this as a conspirator, my stance remains the same. Contact Minister Liang and let him know my intentions on this.”

Boyue hesitated for a moment before bowing his head. “As you wish, my prince.”

Yunqi and Cao Shuyi hovered behind Kuang, who tossed a handful of feed into the pond for his koi fish, watching as they splashed about below. The courtyard was illuminated by warm, flickering lamps, as well as the soft glow of moonlight. Kuang's face was hidden in shadows.

“If the Ministry of Justice has already taken him in for questioning, then that means they already have strongly implicative evidence,” Kuang mused.

“From the looks of it, grandmother must be involved somehow, or the Grand Duke wouldn’t have made this move. Even if Wenyuan had ordered such a thing, grandmother and father would cover for him. The fact that he’s getting hounded to this extent and they still haven’t done anything speaks to this,” Yunqi sighed. “My strategist Qiu Jinwei suggested that grandmother may have been involved in more than just this case as well, so it’d be impossible for Wenyuan to allow an investigation into this. His only options are to deal with the Grand Duke, or to confess.”

“That’s too harsh, how could the Grand Duke do that to his own grandson?” Shuyi exclaimed.

Kuang shook his head slowly.

“It’s not that simple. I heard this from my grandfather, but our cousin’s family situation is much more complicated than it appears to be. The mess goes back three generations at that, I could definitely see the Grand Duke making such a move against his heir,” Kuang said. Cao Shuyi frowned, exchanging a glance with Yunqi.

“Brother, then what do you think? Should we take action?” Yunqi asked. Kuang let out a sigh.

“Well, having a neutral faction is a bit of an annoyance, but having the Grand Duke’s faction maintain its hegemony is much worse. If anything, Wenyuan’s at least a good-natured kid, but that’s also why he’s more likely than not to take a great hit from this,” Kuang said heavily. “It’s not his fault, but it’s grandmother and father’s fault for pitting that kid against someone like the Grand Duke. If they didn’t plan to take complete responsibility, then it’s no different than striking a rock with an egg.”

“That’s true,” Yunqi lamented. “Wenyuan’s talented, but he operates within basic morality. On the other hand, the Grand Duke’s someone who best understands that the crude and basest methods are the most useful. Violence and bribes, he wields one in each hand like a butcher’s meat cleavers. I don’t believe for a second that Li Sanjin confessed out of guilt or anything of the sort, and I doubt anyone else believes that either. The Grand Duke’s methods are poisonous to the bone, without any pity or mercy to speak of, but people willingly side with him because he knows how to buy a man’s soul with fear, luxury, and power. Someone trying to oppose him through political ploys and the like would only find themselves faced with the unsurmountable evil of human desires.”

“All the more reason to protect him,” Shuyi interjected. “What kind of country would we be leaving for our child if all the good officials are crushed before they can do anything?”

“That’s why I’m keeping my good men off the battleground until everything’s settled,” Kuang replied. “I wouldn’t drag them in to be ground into the dust like this.” At Shuyi’s pointed silence, Kuang let out a short huff.

“I don’t mean that I won’t help him,” Kuang coaxed her. “I want that kid to serve in my court as well, it’s a waste to let Wenyuan get crushed by the mistakes of others.”

Shuyi and Yunqi both smiled at that.

“Then I’ll tell Zhang Dingyong,” Yunqi said. Kuang nodded.

“And ask that Qiu Jinwei what else we can do,” Kuang added. “I just don’t believe the Grand Duke’s move can’t be effectively countered.”

“Of course, brother,” Yunqi said warmly. “I’ll do that right away.”

Boyong pushed back the stray hairs on his forehead in frustration. Even with the help of An Haoyang, he was having a great deal of trouble locating the girl Wenyuan spoke of. Wenyuan didn’t know her name, nor could he recall any specifics about her appearance-Boyong didn’t even fully understand what the girl was needed for.

Wenyuan had been even less forthcoming with his motivations than usual, and Boyong couldn’t help but doubt if Wenyuan really knew what he was doing. He was pulled out of his thoughts as he sensed someone approach.

Boyong discreetly reached for his knife, backing into the shadows. A familiar cloaked figure appeared before him, expensive sword in hand.

“Hello there, Qu Boyong. Do you still remember me?” The man asked. Qu Boyong glared at him.

“What do you want? I thought I made myself clear last time!”

“Just wanted to offer again, in case you’d changed your mind,” the man replied.

“My answer remains the same!” Boyong snapped.

“Hey, don’t be so foolish, you’re more stubborn than a mule,” the man complained.

Boyong glared at the cloaked man before him. “Say no more. I’m in a bad enough mood without you bothering me, if you continue to anger me, I won’t hold back anymore!”

“Oh, so you were holding back? I had thought you were just weak,” the man said in realization. “Well, if you really don’t want to hear it, that’s too bad. But your master’s in a pretty bad spot right now, isn’t he? Getting questioned by the Ministry of Justice like a common criminal, even though he’d only just been promoted.”

Boyong glared at the man. For some reason, the situation with Wenyuan left Boyong on edge. The Grand Duke’s cruelty towards his heir and Wenyuan’s rebellious attitude had softened Boyong’s hatred of the Zhao clan’s young lord to a neutral indifference, and the possibility for that to change any further was enough to make Boyong stew in silent rage.

“Perhaps not, but maybe your master could benefit,” the man argued. Boyong’s anger cleared away somewhat. Wenyuan had asked him to bring the stranger should Boyong ever run into him again, hadn’t he? Unusual circumstances called for unusual measures, and perhaps this man could at least provide a new possibility. In either case, it didn't hurt to keep a potential threat in check at such a critical time.

“You’re right, perhaps he can. The thing is, he seems to think so as well,” Boyong said. The man tilted his head in a show of curiosity. Boyong smiled grimly. “When I told him about your offer, he told me to bring you the next time you approached me.”

“Speaking of, you told your employer I showed my face, didn’t you?” The man asked in annoyance. “After showing my sincerity, you turn around and rat me out?”

“You were recruiting me to be a rat,” Boyong replied in exasperation.

“Well, that’s fair. Fine, I’ll agree to it, I’m bored anyway,” the man said in a magnanimous tone that had Boyong’s temper flaring up again.

“What’s your name? I can’t let a stranger meet with my master,” Boyong demanded.

“The name’s Hu Qing,” the man replied without hesitation. “How long is he going to take in the Ministry of Justice?”

Boyong deflated slightly. Wenyuan had gone in almost five hours ago, but if Wenyuan really refused to say anything, then it was likely that the Ministry of Justice would simply keep him in holding until the pressure from the palace grew too strong. All things considered, that could take days. The only way to speed up the process was by finding the serving girl who’d been there the night of Wenyuan’s argument with Liu Hongyu.

“Well, I don’t mind waiting,” Hu Qing said with a shrug. “But what are you doing, chatting up servant girls?”

“For strictly professional purposes,” Boyong protested. Hu Qing smiled.

“Well, I could certainly help you with that, I don’t mind chatting up the guys either,” Hu Qing said breezily. “Consider it a belated greeting gift. What are we asking about?”

Boyong hesitated for a moment before telling Hu Qing. It wasn’t as though he expected Liu Hongyu’s former servants to keep their mouths shut about what Boyong was asking about, if Hu Qing really wanted to know, it wouldn’t take him long to find out.

“I’m looking for a low-ranking serving girl about fifteen or sixteen years of age,” Boyong explained. “She was present on the night where Liu Hongyu had an argument with my master.”

“I’m guessing that confrontation escalated?” Hu Qing asked.

Boyong kept his face blank. Hu Qing shrugged.

“Alright, I’ve drank with some of Liu Hongyu’s servants before, I can go ask them,” Hu Qing said, turning to leave.

“Let’s go together,” Boyong said firmly, determined not to let Hu Qing slip out of sight. Hu Qing shrugged, gesturing for him to follow.

“Your employer, is it the Seventh Prince or the Third Prince?” Boyong asked.

“Neither,” Hu Qing said. “And in either case, I actually wasn’t authorized to meet you today.”

Boyong’s face scrunched up in confusion and disbelief. “You-then why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you,” Hu Qing replied carelessly. “And like I said, I was bored.”

Boyong shook his head in disbelief. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

47-Shame and Honor

Officials from the Secretariat Department and the Ministry of Justice milled around the wall where the interrogation room was projected. A real-time projection magic device was in use. The officials were chattering amongst themselves while the Minister of Justice was gone, sharing their theories with each other as they watched the recording.

The subject of their attention was one of the most controversial figures in court, the former Left Secretariat of Justice who was now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Zhao Wenyuan had remained completely silent through the last six hours, refusing to speak even when faced with the Secretariat Director and the Minister of Justice.

“It’s too bad we can’t use torture, we’d wrap this up much faster,” Secretary Han muttered, not noticing Minister Liang until the man was looming over him.

“Torture? Even if he wasn’t related to the Imperial Family, he’s the Minister of an institute and a third-rank official. A mere sixth-rank dares to open his mouth on these matters?” Minister Liang asked, raising his voice. Secretary Han hastily shrank back, mumbling his apologies. The new Secretariat Director shot a glare at him, stepping forward to apologize for his subordinate’s blunder.

Zhang Dingyong watched with a calculating look in his eye. He thought back to the brief exchange he’d had with Zhao Wenyuan at the Third Prince’s victory banquet. Zhang Dingyong hadn’t gotten much information to go off of, even after gritting his teeth and paying an exorbitant price to hire a dancer from Liu Hongyu’s household. Zhao Wenyuan’s relationship with the former Secretariat Director remained a mystery. All he knew was that Wenyuan drank alone with a man older than his father on a regular basis, only returning after Liu Hongyu had passed out drunk.

That alone wasn’t normal. Zhang Dingyong had his fair share of experience drinking with his superiors, teachers, and family elders, but Liu Hongyu was none of the above to Wenyuan. What reason could the Emperor’s nephew possibly have for drinking with Liu Hongyu so often when he had so little to gain from it?

The only other information Zhang Dingyong had was that there had been a falling out at some point that left Liu Hongyu furious. Zhao Wenyuan had gone to apologize, and left with wine all over his robes. Soon after that, Liu Hongyu was placed under house arrest. The Third Prince had been keenly interested in the case, but his interest eventually shifted towards recruiting Wenyuan as a rising powerhouse, leaving Dingyong more curious than before. But until now, there had never been a reason to look into it any further.

There was definitely something in the case that Wenyuan and the Imperial Investigator Bureau were hiding-and that meant they had the Emperor’s tacit permission. It was troublesome for the Ministry of Justice to pursue the hidden factor, but the only way they could avoid it was if Zhao Wenyuan would confess. Instead, the man had simply stayed silent for the entire duration of the six hours he’d been here.

He’s waiting for something to happen. If that was the case, Dingyong would guess that Wenyuan was waiting on the palace to make a move.

“Sir, we can’t keep him overnight, can we?” Zhang Dingyong asked Minister Liang. It didn’t hurt him to incur favor with Zhao Wenyuan. Even if it didn’t amount to anything, at least the Third Prince would be satisfied that Dingyong had treated Wenyuan properly.

“Well, we either have to keep him here or place him under house arrest until he makes a statement,” Minister Liang said with a heavy sigh. Depending on the statement, it would then be detainment or restricted freedom until the investigation was complete. Keeping Wenyuan at the Ministry wasn't a good option, but house arrest wasn’t much better, given the conflicting political stances of Wenyuan and the Grand Duke.

“What about releasing him for now under medical concerns? Does it make sense that he’s stayed silent for this long? There might be something wrong with him and we just haven't realized it yet. What on earth would we do if he suddenly keels over? Surely no one can fault us for releasing him into the care of a healer,” Zhang Dingyong suggested. He didn’t even believe that himself, but both of them had to answer to their princes. Such a solution benefited them both.

Minister Liang hesitated for a moment, but slowly nodded his assent. The Seventh Prince also expressed his support for Zhao Wenyuan despite the accusation. Even though the Minister couldn't just drop the investigation with the Secretariat Department breathing down his neck, he would be in a tough position if anything happened to Wenyuan during the process.

“Alright, let’s do that,” Minister Liang said. “Get into contact with his subordinates-no, there’s no telling if they’ll refuse to get involved or mess things up. Just get into contact with his servant Qu Boyong.”

Caichun and Sun Ruhui peeked over Chen Jian’s shoulder from their position in the tree. As bad as Chen Jian was at navigating politics, he more than made up for it with his sharp instincts as well as his inhuman strength. He’d somehow managed to jump through the trees with ease, despite carrying Sun Ruhui on his back and Caichun in his arms.

“Investigator Chen, you really are amazing,” Sun Ruhui said, patting Chen Jian’s sturdy shoulder.

“Not at all, Chamberlain, you two barely weigh anything at all!” Chen Jian said cheerfully. He swiveled his head, unperturbed by Caichun’s arms locked tightly around his neck.

“Oh, there she is!” Chen Jian said. The three of them watched as a young girl in simple cotton robes turned the corner and came into view.

“You sure that’s the right person?” Caichun asked.

“Yup, that's Zhu Ling’er. She’s one of Liu Hongyu’s servants who we took in for questioning, but since she’s only fifteen and didn’t seem to know anything, we released her. She was so scared she could barely walk, so I took her back to her house,” Chen Jian pointed to one of the tiled roofs below.

“It’s too bad that she’s the only one we can find on such short notice,” Sun Ruhui sighed. “But hopefully she can help us find someone who knows more.”

“Sorry, she’s the only one that I can remember the address of. Alright, I’m going now, you two wait here,” Chen Jian said, shaking off Caichun and Sun Ruhui. Caichun grabbed his collar to stop him.

“No! You can’t show your face for this, the Imperial Investigators can’t be involved!” Caichun hissed. Chen Jian blinked.

“Alright, I’ll just let you at it then,” Chen Jian said, moving to leave.

“Get us down first!” Sun Ruhui hastily stopped him.

“Right,” Chen Jian said. He swiftly grabbed the two of them and leaped down from the tree, lightly landing behind the young girl. Before Zhu Ling’er could turn around at the soft thump, Chen Jian vaulted back into the trees.

“Excuse me, young miss,” Sun Ruhui called. The girl turned towards them. Sun Ruhui smiled amiably at her as he approached. Seeing the harmless-looking man in the presence of a young woman, Ling’er greeted him with a relaxed air.

“What is it, uncle?”

Caichun hastily approached as well, preparing to intercept the girl if she ran.

“I’m an official from the Court of Judicial Review,” Sun Ruhui took out his plaque to show her. “Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?”

The girl paled, backing away a few steps. “What is this about?”

“The Liu Hongyu case, he was your former employer, wasn’t he?” Caichun asked.

“Yes, but I've already been questioned about this,” Ling’er said nervously.

“We know, but new evidence has come up, so we need to ask a few more questions,” Sun Ruhui said gently. “Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble or anything, it’s only a couple of questions. We just need to go through the list of employees so we can deal with our superiors.”

“Alright then,” the girl said reluctantly after a moment of hesitation. “Can we talk here?”

“Sure, is there somewhere we can speak privately?” Caichun asked.

“Yes, my house is right here.” Ling’er gave Caichun a curious look. “Are you also an official?”

“That’s right, my name is Chen Caichun, I’m a Ministerial Case Reviewer with the Court of Judicial Review,” Caichun replied.

“I’ve never met a female official before,” Ling’er said as she led them into the small townhouse. The young girl opened the door to a small table, politely gesturing for them to sit down.

“Would you like some tea?” Ling’er asked nervously.

“That’s alright, thank you. Please sit down, Miss Zhu,” Sun Ruhui said amiably. The girl complied.

“So what do you need to know?” Ling’er asked.

“We want to know about Liu Hongyu’s relationship with a man named Zhao Wenyuan,” Caichun said. There was no point going in circles when they were so short on time. “Do you know anything about that?”

“I don’t think so, I usually tuned out the conversations between the guests because I was worried I’d mess up and get hit,” the girl replied. Sun Ruhui nodded.

“Alright then, do you know anyone who might know something?” He asked. The girl hesitantly shook her head.

“I only started working there about three months before the household was placed under investigation, I’m not closer with most of the other servants, except a few girls my age who worked in the kitchen,” Ling’er said.

“I see.” Sun Ruhui exchanged a glance with Caichun before continuing. His experience as a County Magistrate told him that the girl really didn’t know anything based on her body language and microexpressions, but his gut instinct told him otherwise.

“Then, have you ever served Liu Hongyu while he was drinking?” Sun Ruhui asked. Ling’er made a face, nodding her head.

“Yes, no one else wanted to serve him while he was drinking so they made me do it,” Ling’er replied.

“That’s certainly unkind of them,” Caichun said sympathetically, seeming to have caught on to Sun Ruhui’s train of thought. “Did you ever have to serve him while he drank with someone else? Or only when he drank alone?”

“Only when he drank alone. I didn’t serve him when he hosted guests, they were worried my etiquette wasn’t up to par,” Ling’er explained. “But there was one time when I was told to serve him even though there was a guest over.”

“A single guest?” Sun Ruhui asked.

“Yes, a young man, he was quite good-looking,” Ling’er said. “I don’t know who he was though, but he also seemed to be rich. His robes were really nice.”

“Interesting,” Caichun said as she transcribed the conversation without even looking at the scroll, her experience as a scribe allowing her to write perfectly regardless. “And do you recall what his interaction with Liu Hongyu was like?”

“Yeah, they had a huge fight,” Ling’er said with the excitement of someone with juicy gossip to share. “I usually don’t have the energy to listen because I have to keep watching the master’s cup, since he’d throw a fit if I let it sit empty, but that time it was such a big mess! The guest came to apologize, and he even knelt down and all, but the master dumped wine all over him and started saying some pretty nasty things. I was so shocked!”

“That must’ve been pretty frightening,” Caichun said. “Do you remember if the guest did anything in return?”

Underneath the table, Sun Ruhui discreetly activated the communication talisman that Wenyuan had given him and Caichun to contact Boyong with. They had been given two sets of talismans, one to reach Wenyuan and one to reach Boyong in case Wenyuan wasn’t available.

If the person the girl was talking about really was Wenyuan, then they needed to loop Boyong in. None of this had been mentioned in the previous investigation of Liu Hongyu, which meant the Imperial Investigators either didn't know or had forcibly kept the information quiet. But if it were the latter, there was no reason why they wouldn't have warned Ling'er to keep quiet as well.

“Yes, the guest had me pour him some wine so he could give a toast in apology, but for some reason, the master got really angry and threw a bottle at the guest,” Ling’er said.

“And then what happened?” Caichun asked.

“Nothing, the guest just left like that,” Ling’er replied. “The master was so angry that I got scared and slipped away while the other servants came to help clean up.”

“Do you happen to remember what they said to each other? It’s fine if it’s only bits and pieces,” Sun Ruhui prodded.

"The master said he'd forgive the guest because of his looks, and something about the guest's mother. After that, the guest started saying something about his bloodline, but I was so scared that I couldn't remember what he said. I’d never seen the master that angry before,” Ling’er said apologetically.

“That’s understandable,” Caichun said sympathetically, pushing down the growing apprehension inside at the picture being pieced together. “Can you recall exactly what Liu Hongyu said about the guest and his mother? The more you can remember the better.”

Ling’er shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Well, the master said that he would let the guest off for his face. And the master said he’d forgive the guest because he’d gotten lots of eye candy from the guest’s mother. That’s about all, I think. The guest didn’t throw a fit, but I could tell he was really angry.”

Sun Ruhui and Caichun gave a start in surprise. Not a single word of this had been mentioned in the rumors about Liu Hongyu’s demise, but the fact that Liu Hongyu dared to pour wine over the Emperor’s nephew and speak in such a manner about the Imperial Princess said a great deal about the power imbalance in their relationship.

Sun Ruhui nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think you would recognize the guest if you saw him again?”

Ling’er nodded. “Yes, definitely. But why? Is he related to the case?”

Caichun and Sun Ruhui exchanged a glance. “That’s the man we asked you about in the beginning,” Sun Ruhui explained. “He’s Zhao Wenyuan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

The young girl’s jaw dropped and she hastily clapped her hand over her mouth. “What? That man? But he was so young-wait, if he’s so important, then why would he have to kneel in front of the master?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out as well,” Caichun replied. “Was there anyone else who could have seen this interaction, or who might’ve served that guest before?”

“I don’t know, but my aunt worked in the kitchen for a while. If it’s gossip, then she might know. But I’ve never heard her mention that name, I don’t think it was something I’d ever heard the servants talk about,” Ling’er replied.

“Would you tell us her name and address?” Sun Ruhui asked. Ling’er nodded.

“Sure, her name is Zhu Shaohua, she lives right down the street, I can bring you over if you like,” Ling’er said.

“She’s not working anymore?” Caichun asked.

“She’s pregnant, so she’s not working right now,” Ling’er replied. “Would I be free to go after that?”

“I’m afraid not. As it stands, you’re currently the only eyewitness to the last interaction that took place between Liu Hongyu and Zhao Wenyuan, we might need you to make an official testimony about what you saw,” Sun Ruhui said apologetically.

“But that’s all I know!” Ling’er protested.

“And you’re the only one who knows this,” Caichun said gently. “Currently, the Minister has been accused of something he didn’t do, and with your testimony, we might be able to open a new line of inquiry.”

Ling’er sighed, her shoulder slumping in defeat. “I guess I don’t have a choice then.”

“I’m sorry,” Caichun said sincerely.

“That’s alright, it’s your job, isn’t it? I’ll take you to my aunt,” Ling’er said.

“Much obliged,” Sun Ruhui bowed his head slightly. They followed the young girl down the street to her aunt’s house, where the woman greeted them with wary politeness. The four of them sat down around a worn-down table, Zhu Shaohua shifting uncomfortably in their presence.

“Zhu Shaohua, did you ever hear any rumors about your master drinking alone with a young man?” Sun Ruhui asked. The woman nodded reluctantly.

“Well, yes, I suppose. He usually drank with some of the dancers or his guests, but several times a month he would send everyone away and drink alone with one of the guests. We wouldn’t prepare much food for those occasions, but they always drank a copious amount of alcohol,” Zhu Shaohua said.

“So it was only the two of them, but they always drank a lot,” Caichun summarized. Zhu Shaohua nodded. Caichun kept herself from frowning. The more she heard, the shadier the situation sounded. Just what on earth had Zhao Wenyuan been dealing with before?

“Did anyone ever mention the identity of the guest?” Sun Ruhui asked.

“Some of the servants knew, but they kept real quiet about it. I think they were trying to keep it under wraps. I didn’t ask either, I thought it was better not to know,” Zhu Shaohua replied.

“Were there any rumors about the nature of his relationship with your master?” Caichun asked. Zhu Shaohua shifted uncomfortably.

“Well, I don’t know about that. Some people said he was the go-between for the Grand Duke and the master, and some said he was a pretty boy the master had taken interest in. There was also a rumor that the master had a thing for the guest’s mother,” Shaohua said. “Don’t tell me that was someone important? Is that why the master was punished for insulting the Imperial Family?”

“Don’t worry about that for now,” Caichun said, cutting off Ling’er before the girl could say anything. “Tell me more about the last rumor you mentioned.”

“I heard that the master was enamored with that guy’s mother, but apparently she was a married woman,” Shaohua explained. “It seemed that guest was the woman’s son from another man, but the master liked drinking with him since he looked a lot like his mother. But all of this is just gossip, don’t hold me to it.”

“Of course,” Sun Ruhui said calmly. “Who might know more about this rumor?”

“It started from the daughter of one of the master’s old servants who had been around a while, she was hired after her mother died. Seemed that it was something she’d heard from her parents,” Shaohua replied. “But that girl passed away last year, she got pregnant but the man wouldn’t marry her, so she killed herself. As for the rest of us, we only know what we heard. Do you think there’s truth to it?”

“Just covering all the possibilities,” Sun Ruhui said. He glanced at the door as someone knocked on it.

“Who could that be?” Shaohua muttered. “I’ll go get the door.”

“No need, it’s one of my coworkers,” Sun Ruhui said. He opened the door and greeted Boyong. His smile faded at the sight of a young man he didn’t recognize.

“Mister Qu,” Sun Ruhui said amiably. “And this is?”

“Hey mister, I’m Hu Qing,” the stranger said.

“Please just ignore him,” Boyong said apologetically. “My master wanted to meet with him.”

“Is the Minister still being questioned?” Sun Ruhui asked. Boyong nodded.

“He’s keeping silent until I find new evidence,” Boyong explained. He glanced past Sun Ruhui to nod at Caichun.

“Well, I believe we may have located a missing piece,” Sun Ruhui said, shooting Hu Qing one more doubtful look. He let them in, introducing them to Zhu Ling’er and her aunt. Boyong and Hu Qing bowed politely before Sun Ruhui pulled them aside.

“Zhu Ling’er here is the only eyewitness to the Minister’s last interaction with Liu Hongyu,” Sun Ruhui explained in a whisper. “I believe there’s something that the Imperial Investigators intentionally covered up in their investigation of Liu Hongyu that might be the missing piece.”

Boyong’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Sun Ruhui lowered his voice even further, taking care not to let Hu Qing hear. “About the nature of the Minister’s relationship to Liu Hongyu, I have reason to believe there’s more than appears to the eye. Do you know how long the Minister’s been drinking with Liu Hongyu?”

Boyong nodded, piecing together what he remembered from his time as a guard in the Zhao household. “From what I know, the young lord has been drinking with Liu Hongyu for a few years now.”

“A few years?” Sun Ruhui creased his brow, an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

“From what I know, he started soon after the Imperial Princess’ mourning period was over, so it should’ve been about five years by now,” Boyong elaborated.

Sun Ruhui took in a deep breath. If their suspicions were correct, then the situation was worse than he’d suspected. If Liu Hongyu’s behavior that night had been characteristic of his usual interactions with Wenyuan, he could understand why the Emperor had handed out such a harsh punishment to a senior official.

“And did the Minister ever mention Liu Hongyu acting…inappropriately? Or perhaps saying anything untoward?”

Disbelief and confusion flashed over Boyong’s face before it was replaced by a solemn expression, the young man piecing together what he’d heard and seen while serving as a guard in the Grand Duke’s household.

“No,” Boyong said after a moment of silence. “But that reminds me-before their last meeting, the young lord had gone to drink with Liu Hongyu, but he left much earlier than usual. The young lord was furious, and it seemed that the Grand Duke was also enraged by whatever he did at Liu Hongyu’s household.”

“And he’s choosing not to say anything about it even when faced with this predicament. Doesn't that speak for itself?” Sun Ruhui pointed out.

Boyong stiffened and hastily glanced around to make sure Hu Qing wasn’t listening. To his relief, the man was engrossed in a conversation with Zhu Ling'er and Caichun.

“You’re not serious! If it’s true, what do you want to do, bring it up to the Ministry of Justice? It wouldn't help the case and he'd be publicly humiliated! How is he going to go out and interact with people if it becomes known?” Boyong hissed.

“If he wants to protect his honor, he’s going to have to make a choice,” Sun Ruhui replied. “I’m sure he’s thought of this as well. If I may, did he ask you to find this girl?”

Boyong gave him a suspicious look. “How on earth did you know that?”

“You smell of women’s perfume, you must have been asking around among serving girls. If I’m right, then let me ask you this. Did he want you to silence her?” Sun Ruhui asked.

“No, he wouldn’t order something like that. He just wanted me to find her since she was important to the case,” Boyong replied.

“Then let me ask you another question. Is he keeping silent to protect someone in the palace?” Sun Ruhui asked. Boyong managed to keep a blank face, but Sun Ruhui could tell from the look in Boyong’s eyes that his guess was on the mark.

Sun Ruhui nodded. “That’s exactly what I thought. If the Grand Duke’s binding the hands of someone in the palace with the Minister, then the Minister must be trying to do something similar.”

“That doesn’t mean he wants it publicized! I don’t know exactly what was going on between the young lord and Liu Hongyu, but if you mean that it was that kind of relationship, then it’d ruin him,” Boyong said in a low voice.

“I don’t mean they were in a physical relationship, but if Liu Hongyu consistently behaved inappropriately towards the Minister and the Grand Duke condoned that, then it’s a situation where the Grand Duke would also be shamed, and to a much greater extent than the Minister would. Perhaps the Minister is aiming for a situation where the fish dies or the net breaks,” Sun Ruhui said thoughtfully.

“But that-” Boyong started and stopped, a look of dawning realization on his face. “The Grand Duke would definitely save himself. There’s no way he would head into a situation of mutual destruction. That means he’d have to drop the case!”

“My thoughts exactly,” Sun Ruhui replied. “It seems that our Minister came up with quite an interesting plan. If that’s the case, we should give him a hand, shouldn’t we?”

48-Shame and Honor (II)

Kayla sat silently in the interrogation room with the same blank expression she’d kept on for the last few hours. She could sense the magic device in use, and had to hold back several times to stop herself from nullifying it and rendering it useless.

Externally, it seemed that the newly promoted Minister was stubbornly refusing to speak while keeping his composure, but internally, she was screeching like a banshee.

This is the worst. Your grandmother can’t help us, and we can’t let them investigate in that direction. The only options we have are confessing or forcing the Grand Duke’s hand.

There was nothing but glum silence from Wenyuan.

Sorry, Wenyuan. I know you’re uncomfortable with this, and I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t get publicized. I’m betting on the Grand Duke burying the case once his own reputation is at risk, but I can’t give you a guarantee.

I trust you to get us through this, but it really does scare me.

That’s fair, Kayla admitted. Her internal conversation was interrupted by the door opening.

“Minister Zhao,” Minister Liang greeted her. “I hope you haven’t been too uncomfortable?”

“Not at all, Minister Liang,” Kayla replied insincerely.

“After some deliberation, we’ve decided to release you for a medical examination to confirm the status of your health,” Minister Liang said.

Kayla blinked in surprise.

He actually found an excuse to let me out? Why would he do me such a favor? “That’s very kind of you,” Kayla managed to say.

“We’ve reached out to your servant, Qu Boyong. He’s here to pick you up. You’ll have to be accompanied by an official from the Ministry of Justice, but only to the extent of being within the same building,” Minister Liang said.

“That’s very kind,” Kayla said, genuinely amazed. It was pretty much giving her a chance to find new opportunities or make a move, and a huge favor at that. Likely one that would be difficult to repay, but she could worry about that later.

“But of course, the Emperor’s faith in you attests to your character,” Minister Liang said. “I hope you feel better soon.”

“Thank you,” Kayla replied. She followed him out, exchanging a glance with Zhang Dingyong who was smiling with a calculative glint in his eyes.

So it’s a joint effort, are the princes behind it or is it their own doing? The Secretariat Director had stormed off already, but the remaining officials openly stared and didn’t bother lowering their voices as Kayla passed. She was beyond caring at this point, feeling a rush of relief as Boyong came into sight. After signing a guarantee for her return, she was sent off with Boyong and a low-ranking secretary from the Ministry of Justice who had only recently been promoted from the provinces. Kayla had never seen the secretary before, but he had an affable and earnest look to him.

“My lord, Chamberlain Sun and Case Reviewer Chen helped me arrange for a healer,” Boyong said. Given that there was an outsider present, he refrained from elaborating. Kayla was dying to ask him if he’d made any progress, but she would have to wait until they could speak privately.

“I see, I’ll have to thank them,” Kayla replied, fighting to keep the anticipation out of her voice. The secretary glanced between Kayla and Boyong, both of whom were keeping their faces politely stoic while sitting in taut silence.

“Minister, if it’s alright with you, I prefer riding on horses,” the secretary suddenly spoke up. Kayla and Boyong gave him looks of surprise. At their confused expressions, the secretary flushed a little.

“I’m from Anling County, my lord. We were grateful that someone bothered to reinvestigate the case for Governor Yue,” he said shyly. Kayla gave him a look of gratitude.

“Thank you,” Kayla said earnestly. Boyong hastily stopped the carriage, arranging a horse for the secretary before ordering the horseman to start again. Now that they were alone in the carriage, he immediately leaned forward with visible excitement.

“My lord, we’ve found the girl. I wasn’t able to locate her, but it seemed that Case Reviewer Chen’s brother happened to know where she lived. She wasn’t asked to testify before, since she didn’t know who you were,” Boyong said. Kayla felt a rush of relief.

“Thank heavens,” she sighed. “Finally, some good news.”

“The girl’s name is Zhu Ling’er, she’s waiting at the healer’s with Chamberlain Sun and Case Reviewer Chen. The man who tried to recruit me as a spy before also showed up again, I got him to agree to meet with you. He's actually the healer we're going to. I know it’s not a good time, but I thought it would be better to keep him near us than let him leave with whatever information he’s managed to garner or to involve a healer whose background is unclear,” Boyong reported.

“Good work,” Kayla said, unable to stop herself from smiling broadly. “This really is good news, Boyong.”

“My lord, about the witness…it seems Sun Ruhui has drawn some conclusions about…Liu Hongyu from the witness’ answers,” Boyong trailed off hesitantly. He searched for more words before falling silent.

Kayla shifted uncomfortably. “Don’t worry, I’ll explain more once we’ve met up with the others. I don’t plan to let this information get publicized though, so I’d appreciate it if you would keep quiet about it.”

If anyone tried to blackmail her with this information, Kayla had no intention of letting them off easily. At the very least, she didn’t have to worry too much about Xianchun’s reaction even if he somehow found out. The result of Yu Bianfu’s attempt to blackmail her was probably still clear in the Seventh Prince’s mind.

“Of course, my lord.”

“It’s fine if it makes you uncomfortable, it’s understandable,” Kayla said.

“I’m just surprised, my lord,” Boyong said earnestly. “Most of us who served the household knew that despite appearances, it wasn't all calm winds and gentle waves inside the family, but even so, we had no idea as to the extent.”

That much was understandable. Wenyuan had been traumatized enough by getting beaten right after his mother’s funeral for “failing to uphold the family honor” that he had mostly obeyed the Grand Duke and kept his head down, avoiding the severity and frequency of beatings that Kayla had a penchant for receiving. Until Kayla had taken over, there were rarely any confrontations or disagreements between Wenyuan and the Grand Duke.

Qu Boyong didn’t seem disdainful of her or at least hid it well, and Kayla felt a small rush of relief. She only had so much support outside of the palace, but she had no interest in keeping around someone who would look down on Wenyuan for circumstances not of his choosing. “What can I say? I didn’t have a choice until when I’d already been backed into a corner. Even a rabbit bites when it’s desperate,” Kayla replied. “I’m guessing Chamberlain Sun already knows what I plan to do then?”

“Yes, he’s already guessed that you’d use this information to force the Grand Duke to fold, and he also guessed at the person responsible being from the palace,” Boyong replied.

“That guy’s incredible,” Kayla shook her head in disbelief. “I knew he was smart, but still, he’s way too smart. He’s got the gist of it though. My grandfather probably never considered I would even consider letting this come to light. But even if I oppose my grandfather politically, in this matter, our shame and honor are tied together.”

Hu Qing smiled politely as an official dressed in the robes of a sixth-rank official got off his horse as the carriage pulled to a stop. For some reason, the sixth-rank official wasn’t riding in the carriage, and Hu Qing suspected that Zhao Wenyuan had politely forced him out. Qu Boyong got out of the carriage first, holding out his hand to help the other occupant down.

“Hello good sirs, may I ask which one is the patient I was contacted about?” Hu Qing asked in a saccharine tone. Qu Boyong gave him a blank look of barely contained annoyance that Hu Qing ignored.

“Hello, are you the healer?” The official asked. “I’m Secretary Zhen from the Ministry of Justice, the patient is this man, Minister Zhao of the Court of Judicial Review.” He gestured at the man who had emerged from the carriage in the meantime.

Hu Qing finally caught sight of Qu Boyong’s employer, glancing the man over with intense curiosity. Zhao Wenyuan was a good-looking man in his mid-twenties. He was rather thin and had dark circles under his eyes, with the distinct stiffness to his shoulders of a man who had been stressed for a long time.

“Of course, please come this way,” Hu Qing led them into the small house Qu Boyong had prepared. Strangely, Zhao Wenyuan didn’t seem familiar with the place, which meant that he either didn’t know about the place or was so rich that he didn’t remember all the buildings he owned.

“Thank you, I’ll be in your care,” Zhao Wenyuan said. Qu Boyong cleared his throat slightly.

“Excuse me, Healer Hu. Is there somewhere that Secretary Zhen could take a rest while you treat the patient?” Qu Boyong asked.

“Of course, please take a rest in the reception room to your right,” Hu Qing said with a smile toward Secretary Zhen. The affable-looking man gave a quick word of thanks before heading into the room without any sign of annoyance at being shuffled aside.

“My lord, this is the man I told you about,” Qu Boyong said to Wenyuan in a hushed voice. “His name is Hu Qing.”

Hu Qing turned to keep walking backward while giving a bow to Wenyuan.

“At your service, Minister Zhao,” Hu Qing said.

“Well met, Hu Qing. I heard from Boyong that you’ve helped us out quite a bit,” Wenyuan said.

“I’m happy to serve, my lord,” Hu Qing replied blithely.

“He didn’t do that much,” Qu Boyong objected. Wenyuan acted as though he didn’t hear it.

“Are they here already?” Wenyuan asked. Hu Qing nodded.

“They’re in the inner rooms, my lord. Zhu Ling’er was a little nervous, but Ministerial Case Reviewer Chen is with her, so she calmed down pretty quickly,” Hu Qing said.

They entered the inner room, Caichun and Ruhui quickly shooting to their feet as Wenyuan approached. Zhu Ling’er who was sitting between them looked at him with surprise before nervously getting up as well. From her reaction, it seemed that Ling’er definitely recognized Wenyaun.

“Minister, are you alright?” Sun Ruhui asked urgently.

“I’m fine,” Wenyuan replied. “Thank you for your hard work in such a trying time.”

“Not at all, my lord,” Caichun and Ruhui said in near unison.

“My lord, this is Zhu Ling’er,” Sun Ruhui gestured at the young girl, who nervously shrank back. “We’ve already recorded and transcribed her testimony.”

Wenyuan nodded in the girl’s direction, giving her a friendly smile. “Hello again, I believe this is the first time we’ve been properly introduced. I hope this hasn’t caused you too much trouble.”

“N-not at all, sir. I’m so sorry if I was rude to you in any way b-before,” Zhu Ling’er stammered. “I didn’t know who you were...”

“There’s nothing for you to worry about, I’m grateful that you were willing to testify,” Wenyuan said kindly. Zhu Ling’er lowered her head, flushed red to the tip of her ears.

“To be honest with you, this case has broad implications. I’d like to compensate you for your troubles, given that you've lost your place of employment and have also been called to testify multiple times, but since your testimony relates to a case in which I’m the primary suspect, I’m afraid my hands are tied. However, if you are so willing, I’d like to contribute to your dowry once this case is wrapped up,” Wenyuan continued. Zhu Ling’er looked up in shock.

“No, my lord, I can’t accept anything from someone so important! I didn’t know how important this was, or I definitely would have testified properly before,” Zhu Ling’er protested. “I really didn’t know who you were, but this is something I should do anyways.”

“Regardless, this may create difficulties for you in finding employment in the future,” Wenyuan said patiently. “I can recommend you to a household, but depending on how the case turns out, I’d be hardpressed to ensure that people would do me such a favor. Since it relates to my affairs, I’d like to take responsibility.”

Zhu Ling’er began to stammer out a protest, but Caichun gently took her hand.

“Since the Minister’s said so, you should accept his good intentions,” Caichun said in a kind tone. “If things don’t work out well, then you’d be provided for. If things turn out fine, then you can just refuse it then.”

Zhu Ling’er mumbled out a few words of thanks. Wenyuan smiled at her before giving an imperceptible nod to Caichun. The young woman quickly escorted Zhu Ling’er to wait in the side room with her aunt before returning. Hu Qing watched the exchange with interest. Zhao Wenyuan didn't need to bribe commoners into silence given his growing power in court, especially not a girl from a family of servants, but it seemed that the man didn't have a taste for threats.

“Minister,” Caichun said softly as she closed the door behind her. Qu Boyong nodded at Hu Qing, cueing for him to go join Zhu Ling’er as well. Hu Qing briefly considered staying just to see if Boyong would physically remove him but decided against it.

“Then I’ll also take my leave for now, Minister,” Hu Qing said with an exaggerated bow.

“Thank you, Healer Hu. I’d like to have a brief discussion with you in a moment if it’s not too much trouble,” Wenyuan said.

“Not at all,” Hu Qing replied. He left the room, closing the door firmly shut behind him.

Kayla slowly took a deep breath as she sat down, gesturing for the other three to sit as well. Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun exchanged a glance with Qu Boyong before settling into their seats.

“Good work finding Zhu Ling’er, I had been worried it would be like finding a needle in an ocean,” Kayla said. Caichun gave a sheepish smile.

“I’m afraid it was mostly luck rather than ability, Minister. I had asked my brother if he knew anyone we could ask to find out more about the accusations, but this girl just happened to be the only one whose address he knew. It seems that he took her back after she was called in for questioning,” Caichun explained.

“A coincidence,” Sun Ruhui agreed. “But it seems that the heavens favor you that we would have such a stroke of luck. I’m guessing that her testimony is going to be crucial in your next steps?”

Kayla nodded. “The three of you are exceptionally intelligent individuals, I have no doubt you already have a good sense of the situation at hand. The palace has its hands tied, so Zhu Ling’er is crucial to resolving the predicament we’re facing. She’s the only one who can provide a valid testimony.”

At the hesitant silence that stretched out as everyone tried to find an appropriate way to ask the questions on their minds, Kayla cleared her throat slightly.

“To put it simply, my testimony in the Liu Hongyu case omitted many crucial details,” Kayla explained. “I’ve been drinking with Liu Hongyu for a few years now at the behest of my grandfather, as Boyong must’ve told you already. Liu Hongyu often spoke in an inappropriate manner about my late mother, unbefitting his status as my elder and as an official of the court. I didn’t take it too seriously at first because I thought it was just the drunken words of an aging man who may or may not have been in the early stages of dementia. Since my grandfather didn’t think much of it, and also because the political situation wasn’t conducive to taking any action, I didn’t report Liu Hongyu for lese-majeste until very recently when he spoke against my mother while sober. When testifying against him, however, I didn’t mention that he often spoke inappropriately to me in our interactions as well.”

Wenyuan had been forced to undergo countless interactions over the years that Kayla would’ve reported as sexual harassment in the modern world, but she planned on glossing things over as much as humanly possible for the sake of Wenyuan’s pride.

“I’ve approached my grandfather about this matter in the past, but he chose to brush it off. Since very few people know of this, and even fewer people have borne witness to it, it primarily relies on Zhu Ling’er’s testimony and my own. But no matter what my grandfather says, the court won’t see it as just simple dismissiveness or negligence on his part, his reputation would plummet along with mine. There’s also the risk that he would rather go down with me than let go after sinking his teeth in, but I doubt it.”

She glanced around at the others. The silence that fell over the room was unbearably heavy. All three of her subordinates had troubled looks on their faces, which didn’t exactly inspire any confidence in how they were taking the information. Before she could start overthinking herself down a rabbit hole, Kayla gave a pointed cough. “What do you all think of this plan?”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Minister. But if that’s the case, then I believe you have a high chance of success,” Sun Ruhui said. “Since your hold over him is based in truth, it can withstand scrutiny. It’s just like your inability to contest Li Sanjin’s statement, since his testimony against Liu Hongyu was false, the Grand Duke will be unable to contest Zhu Ling’er’s testimony.”

“But there’s also a high risk. Minister, you’re tied to the Emperor and the neutral faction, while the Grand Duke is only tied to the Zhao clan. He may choose to back down to avoid ruining the reputation he’s built up over his lifetime, but that doesn’t mean his allies will. After all, they also benefit if the Grand Duke’s ruined,” Caichun pointed out. “If you take this course of action, it needs to be done discreetly. But that has its fair share of difficulties. In order to do this, you’d have to write a confession admitting to lying by omission and supplement it with Zhu Ling’er’s testimony, and that would also have to be notarized. But your confession and Zhu Ling’er’s testimony can’t fall into anyone else’s hands, nor can anyone be allowed to know of its contents.”

“I’ll have to leave the notarization and safekeeping of the documents to you two. It’s just as Case Reviewer Chen says, they’ll have to be made to disappear after this matter is resolved. I know I’m asking both of you to go against regulations to withhold and destroy key evidence here, but would you be willing to do so?” Kayla asked.

“Of course, I owe a debt of recognition to you,” Sun Ruhui said, Caichun nodding her agreement. “But what about Zhu Ling’er? Now that she’s involved this deeply, how will you deal with her?”

"We need to provide for her safety, since the Ministry of Justice won't. How is it that we still don't have formal policies for protecting witnesses?" Kayla sighed deeply.

Qu Boyong leaned forward in his seat. “My lord, the best idea may be to find her a good job outside of the capital and provide a large enough dowry. Quite a few members of her family work as servants, so they’ll surely understand our meaning and stay silent if that’s the case.”

Kayla sighed and shook her head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The capital may be dangerous, but outside of the city, the sky is high and the Emperor is far. Even if she feels pressured to stay quiet, there’s no telling what kind of methods people will use against her. As a young girl alone in a different city…well. I would hire her, but given the circumstances of my household, it’s probably best not to, for her sake if not for mine.”

“Minister, Investigator Li’s serving girl recently left to get married, and his wife has her hands full with their three children. Perhaps we can ask him to hire Zhu Ling’er for the time being. As the servant of a senior Investigator, no one will dare to trouble her. So long as she keeps her mouth shut, this matter will be taken care of,” Caichun said.

“Good, then it’s settled. We’ll follow Case Reviewer Chen’s suggestion,” Kayla announced. “I’ll draft up a statement immediately. Chamberlain Sun, please notarize it for me once I’m done.”

Kayla had already drafted several versions inside her head while sitting in the Ministry of Justice, so the process was quickly completed. Once Sun Ruhui stamped her statement, Kayla turned to Boyong.

“I need to get back home to make a deal with grandfather, can it be arranged?”

“Of course, my lord. Hu Qing can authorize the release,” Qu Boyong said. “Do you want to take the chance and talk with him? He doesn’t know the details of the case though.”

“Sure,” Kayla gave her approval. She gave Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun a grateful smile as Caichun tucked away the copies of the statement and testimony.

“You two really saved me this time, I’m really grateful,” Kayla said sincerely.

“Not at all, Minister. I’m glad my foolish older brother was of use for once,” Caichun said lightly.

“We hope that we can continue to serve under you for a long time, Minister,” Sun Ruhui added. “It’s only natural that we do what we can to ensure that.”

Kayla’s smile grew brighter at their assurances. “Could I trouble the two of you to keep an eye out for Zhu Ling’er for the time being?”

“Of course! I’ll take her to meet Investigator Li later,” Caichun agreed. After chatting a little longer, the two left the room for Kayla to speak with Hu Qing. Boyong remained where he stood in the corner, watching Hu Qing’s movements with caution. Though she hadn’t seen much of Hu Qing, the young man gave Kayla the feeling of an outgoing college student with a penchant for mischief and socializing, a personality type she was quite familiar with.

“Healer Hu, thank you for helping us out today,” Kayla said politely. Hu Qing bowed his head slightly.

“Not at all, my lord. I’m happy to be of service,” Hu Qing replied.

“I’d like to ask another favor,” Kayla continued. “I would like to be allowed to return home for a short time before returning to the Ministry of Justice, could that be arranged?”

“Of course. Would three days suffice?”

“It would be more than enough,” Kayla said after considering it for a moment.

“I’ll arrange for it right away,” Hu Qing said. Kayla hastily held out a hand to stop him from leaving again.

“Before that, I have a few things I wanted to discuss with you. If you don’t mind, I’ll open the door to the mountain rather than going in circles,” Kayla said.

“I would like nothing more, I hate it when people take corners to get to the point,” Hu Qing replied.

“Excellent, that suits me perfectly. You tried to recruit Boyong a few days ago, didn’t you? Whose orders did you act on?” Kayla asked.

“My lord, I have to protect my clients’ confidentiality. If I’ve accepted someone’s request, I have to be loyal to their matters. There’s nothing I can tell you about that,” Hu Qing said with a smile.

“That’s fair.” Kayla smiled back at him. “Then let’s talk about something else. Would you be interested in a change of employers? I would like to recruit you if you would be so willing.”

Hu Qing gave her a smile that was now tinged with a slight degree of condescension, reading along the lines of can’t-you-tell-I’m-from-a-rich-household-from-my-super-expensive-sword.

Kayla continued before Hu Qing could reply. “If I’ve guessed right, you’re from a rich household, aren’t you? You must be related to someone pretty influential to carry that fancy sword of yours. But for you to be working in this kind of occupation, well, then you’re either a bastard or your mother is of low birth. I’d guess it’s the latter, given that I don’t know of any particularly affluent household using the surname of Hu here in the capital. You must be using your maternal family name.”

Hu Qing’s smile faded away.

“The Minister sure is observant, no wonder you were placed at the head of the Court of Judicial Review,” Hu Qing said darkly. Kayla’s smile brightened in response.

“I mean no offense, I don’t care about someone’s birth in the slightest. If you’re so willing, I’d like to hire you formally like I did Qu Boyong, rather than as a shadow worker the way your current employer does,” Kayla offered. “It may not seem very tempting given my current circumstances, but I expect to resolve this predicament shortly.”

“You mean to reach a compromise once you’re home then?” Hu Qing asked.

“Not at all. I mean to force his hand. Once this is done, I also plan to look into any coercion or illegal action on my grandfather’s part in getting Li Sanjin’s statement against me,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing nodded. “Is it true though? That you ordered Li Sanjin to give false testimony?”

“Hey, you rude bastard,” Qu Boyong cut in, bristling at Hu Qing’s tone. Kayla nodded for him to calm down before turning back to Hu Qing.

“No, I didn’t order him to give false testimony, but I gave one myself,” Kayla admitted. “If you choose to work for me, you’ll come to know the details behind this case.”

“Thank you for your offer, my lord. But I’m not interested,” Hu Qing shot her down immediately.

“Are you sure? If you choose to work for me, you’ll have many opportunities in the future to gain merit and achievements,” Kayla said pointedly. As a child of low birth, gaining merit through military or civil service, whether as an official or as a retainer of one, would be Hu Qing’s only path to officially attaining recognition in his family.

Hu Qing stared down at the ground for a moment before shaking his head. “There’s no point.”

“So your family won’t grant you recognition even then?” Kayla asked in surprise. Hu Qing looked away, his mouth a hard line. Kayla shook her head at that.

“Well, they can fuck off then,” Kayla said after a short pause. “If they don’t want to acknowledge a talented person, that’s their problem. But you could raise the status of your mother’s house through gaining merit, and attain achievements under her family name. Isn’t that better than working in the shadows for people who have no intention of ever allowing you a better future?”

“But my mother’s dead, there’s no point,” Hu Qing said, sounding a little flabbergasted at her reasoning.

“My condolences,” Kayla said regretfully. “But that doesn’t mean that there’s no point. The end goal of gaining merit is to honor one’s clan and bring glory to one’s ancestors, why only do so for your father’s family? Why not your mother’s?”

Hu Qing gave Kayla a thoughtful look. “You have some pretty interesting ideas, my lord. But I’m happy where I am right now.”

“That’s fair. But if you ever feel unsatiated, my offer remains open,” Kayla said.

“Thank you, but they feed me well enough,” Hu Qing said with a wry grin.

“Alright, I won’t push you too much. But can I ask you to keep quiet about Zhu Ling’er’s involvement in this matter? It’s for the girl’s safety,” Kayla explained. “You won’t need to keep quiet for long, after three days you can tell your employer. I’m happy to offer an incentive.”

Hu Qing shook his head. “There’s no need. Like I said, client confidentiality. Your servant gave me a good amount of silver, so I’m obliged to keep your secrets.”

Kayla nodded. “I appreciate it.”

49-The Cyclical Nature of Fate

Kayla stepped into the Grand Duke’s household, feeling as though she was faced with an insurmountable enemy. Secretary Zhen, who followed her as mandated by the Ministry of Justice’s regulations, was quickly escorted to a room by the servants, leaving Kayla to head to her room alone.

She had left Qu Boyong at the door to wait as backup. In case things really went south, she would need someone to interfere from outside, preferably one who wasn’t an Imperial Investigator. If the Grand Duke ended up in direct conflict with the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, things would really become a huge mess.

Soon after she got to Wenyuan’s room, Kayla was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Young lord, it’s your servant,” Matron Li’s familiar voice rang out.

“Come in,” Kayla called. She felt a small rush of relief as Matron Li opened the door and stepped into sight. The older woman had a look of worry on her face, quickly heading over to check if Kayla was alright.

“Young lord, are you alright?” Matron Li asked.

“I’m fine,” Kayla said warmly, watching Matron Li with a grateful smile. “Matron Li, thank you for your help.”

The older woman gave her a look of surprise before ducking her head in a bow. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, young lord.”

“Of course,” Kayla said. “In that case, thank you for coming here.”

“That’s my job, young lord,” Matron Li said, a look of soft affection on her face.

Kayla felt the tension slowly easing from her shoulders. “Matron Li, this whole thing has been a mess. I see now why you told me to reach an agreement with my grandfather after being appointed as Minister, he really didn’t hesitate to go for the kill. But I think I have a way out.”

Matron Li frowned in concern. “Young lord, I implore you to please tread carefully. This isn’t going to be a simple matter to resolve, one wrong step and a deep abyss awaits.”

“I understand, Matron Li. I made sure to take the necessary steps so that my evidence is solid-if I bring it before him, he’ll be forced to make a deal with me.”

Matron Li’s concern only seemed to grow. “Young lord, just what are you planning to do?”

Kayla let out a sharp sigh. “The matter with Liu Hongyu, and grandfather’s role in it…I have enough to bring him down, enough to ruin him for good.”

“The matter with Liu Hongyu?” Matron Li paused for a moment, frowning slightly before glancing up in horror. “Young lord, did that man do anything to you?”

“I took care of it,” Kayla said, quickly shutting down the line of questioning. The situation with Liu Hongyu had been something Wenyuan deliberately kept from Matron Li and Chujiao, fearing the loss of their affection. “But I can still make use of it.”

“But that would destroy your future as well! Surely you can’t-”

“He’s the one who pushed me to this point! I’m already at the edge of a precipice, I can’t back down so I can only jump. It’s not by my own will, but as a result of my grandfather’s actions,” Kayla explained.

Matron Li gave a troubled grimace. Sensing that the woman was leaving something unsaid, Kayla pushed forward.

“Matron Li, there’s something you’re hiding, isn’t there? And not just about the Court of Judicial Review,” Kayla said suspiciously. Matron Li turned her face away. Kayla took in a deep breath.

“Tell me the truth, does it have to do with my mother or something? Grandfather’s so prideful, and yet he was fine sending me to Liu Hongyu. There’s something there that doesn’t make sense,” she prodded.

“Young lord, I…it’s not about your mother,” Matron Li said reluctantly.

“Then it’s my father? Am I not his child?” Kayla demanded.

“That’s not it-how can you even say that, my lord? Your mother was the paragon of a virtuous wife, she would never!” Matron Li hastily scolded him before clearing her throat slightly. “It’s complicated, my lord. You’re important to the Grand Duke, there’s no doubting that, there’s just too much-”

“Matron Li, if there’s something I don’t know that might trip me up, you have to tell me or I’m done for. I need to know what I’m working with!” Kayla said in exasperation.

Matron Li struggled to find suitable words for a long moment before speaking. “Young lord, your father is…he wasn’t the Grand Duke’s son.”

Kayla frowned in confusion. “What?! How is that possible?!”

Matron Li hesitated before starting her explanation, her words spilling out in a rush after years of guarding the household's secrets.

Seventy years ago, the Grand Duke was born during the reign of Emperor Taizong. He was the second son of a second son, a relatively insubstantial figure in the Zhao clan who was unlikely to achieve much but would never have to worry about money.

The Grand Duke’s father was a mild-mannered man, a reserved scholar who had no concubines and doted on his wife. The two of them had several healthy sons. His father’s older brother Lord Zhao was the previous head of the Zhao clan, a man who had vast wealth but was in desperate need of an heir.

Despite consulting countless doctors, Lord Zhao simply couldn’t have a son. It wasn’t that he was impotent. He had a multitude of daughters, most of whom didn’t survive past infancy. Lord Zhao gave up at age fifty with only four daughters who made it past the age of ten. With no small degree of envy, he turned to his younger brother and requested to adopt his brother’s second son. Being unable to refuse the head of house by reason or sentiment, the Grand Duke’s father agreed without argument.

At the young age of ten, the Grand Duke was taken from the arms of his loving parents and into the care of his uncle. Lord Zhao was a demanding man and vented his frustrations at being unable to conceive a son on the young Grand Duke, and his wife didn’t hesitate to do the same. The Grand Duke suffered under the tyranny of his adopted father throughout his childhood, kept apart from his biological family and mired in the animosity and indifference of his adoptive one.

It was expected by almost everyone that the Grand Duke would grow into a meek and obedient man, but they had all underestimated him. He underwent the rigorous education for the heir and grew into a young man who was well-respected by those around him. Soon after he came of age, his older adoptive sister married the Sixth Prince, who would later become Emperor Gaozong. The Grand Duke also became an official, starting out in a mid-level position.

Soon after entering the Imperial Court, the Grand Duke’s career was ascendant like the morning sun in the sky. His relationship with his brother-in-law had also grown to be very close, and the Sixth Prince treated him with a great deal of fondness and trust. It seemed that everything was finally turning onto the proper tracks. The Zhao clan’s future was ensured with such a capable heir, and the Grand Duke had finally emerged from the shadow of Lord Zhao.

That was when Lord Zhao finally had a son. The birth of a healthy young son shook the entire Zhao household to its core. No one had ever considered it possible, especially given how old Lord Zhao was by then. Rumors were rampant about the fidelity of Lord Zhao’s young concubine, and more than just a few people placed bets on Lord Zhao being cuckolded. But nonetheless, a son was a son, and the child became known as the Little Lord.

Under normal circumstances, the heir should’ve changed to the newborn boy, and as soon as the Little Lord was born, Lord Zhao immediately moved to chase out the Grand Duke from the seat of the heir. But the Grand Duke had already been the heir for twelve years and had a solid position in both the household and in the court, so matters weren't so simple as that.

No one knows exactly how things went down after that, other than that the internal battle was ugly and intense. But it was at that time that the Grand Duke was placed in charge of the investigation of the Court of Judicial Review with the support of his brother-in-law, and the Crown Prince was deposed soon after. The Sixth Prince became the new Crown Prince and ascended to the throne soon after as Emperor Gaozong, and the Grand Duke’s adopted sister gained the title of Empress Zhao.

Soon after taking the throne, Emperor Gaozong intervened on the Grand Duke’s behalf, naming him the official heir and giving him a title of nobility. To get Lord Zhao to back down and stop making a racket at court, it was agreed that the first son of the Little Lord would be adopted as one of the Grand Duke’s own children, making him eligible for inheritance.

Lord Zhao bitterly opposed this compromise. Given how much older the Grand Duke was than the Little Lord, he would have an heir long before the Little Lord was of age to marry. But Emperor Gaozong had already ascended to the throne, and the Grand Duke was an official who earned great merit in the process. Even if he opposed it, there was nothing Lord Zhao could do about the matter.

Just as Lord Zhao expected, the Grand Duke had several sons with his wife soon after their marriage, long before the Little Lord had even learned to read. But it seemed that either fate or Lord Zhao had other plans, as none of the Grand Duke’s sons made it past childhood. Of all the Grand Duke’s children, only the Grand Duke’s youngest son managed to survive past the age of ten. Notably, the child was born only a few days before Lord Zhao passed away. The old man was given a proper burial, but no one dared to grieve for him for fear of insulting the Grand Duke. Lord Zhao’s wife also chose to follow her husband in death soon after, even though she had initially refused to do so.

Orphaned and isolated in the Zhao household, the Little Lord lived a hedonistic lifestyle and indulged in women and wine. The Little Lord had little to look forward to in life. His father had left him under the care of the Grand Duke, who was all too happy to pay back Lord Zhao’s cruelties onto his son. As a result, the Little Lord was a meek and easily frightened man who drowned his worries in pleasure, choosing to enjoy himself as much as possible while he could. At only fifteen years old, the Little Lord ended up having a child with one of the serving girls.

“Wait, my father was illegitimate?” Kayla demanded.

Matron Li bowed her head slightly. “No, of course not. He’s listed as legitimate in the family tree.”

At the intervention of Empress Zhao, who was the Little Lord’s biological older sister and the only one who still cared for the boy after his parents had died, his son Zhao Kangyu was given the status of a legitimate son and the serving girl was quietly shuffled out of the capital. In accordance with the agreement Emperor Gaozong negotiated, the Grand Duke was forced to adopt Zhao Kangyu as one of his own sons.

Similar to the Little Lord, Zhao Kangyu grew up to be a very timid boy, faced with his adoptive father’s animosity and his adoptive mother’s cold indifference. The long years under Lord Zhao’s cruelty didn’t soften the Grand Duke to Zhao Kangyu’s predicament in the slightest, and until he was almost seven, Zhao Kangyu was often overlooked by the servants and barely even spoke in full sentences.

On the other hand, the Grand Duke’s son was greatly treasured as the household’s Young Master, being the only biological child and the rightful heir. Young Master Zhao was talented, handsome, and exceptionally brilliant in military affairs. Charismatic and confident, he was loved and adored by those around him in the way that the Grand Duke hadn’t been as a youth.

The Grand Duke doted on his son in both home and court, and he wanted nothing but the best for his son. He had secured the position as Central Secretariat in the court of Emperor Gaozong’s successor, as both the uncle of the new Emperor and a seasoned official with plenty of merits under his belt. Under the Grand Duke’s arrangements, Young Master Zhao was named an army commander and sent to the Northwestern border at the age of twenty-four, with the expectation that he would become the Minister of War as soon as he’d attained nominal military merit.

Young Master Zhao remained unmarried even though he was about to be deployed, with the tacit understanding that he would marry the Imperial Princess once she came of age. She was only fourteen at the time but already renowned for her beauty and intellect, but most importantly, she shared the same mother with the Crown Prince. The Grand Duke took pride in arranging a match that maintained the Zhao clan’s ties with the Imperial family and strictly warned his son against producing any illegitimate children that might make the Emperor oppose the union.

“I think I know where this is going now,” Kayla said darkly. Matron Li let out a deep sigh.

“It’s hard to say whether it was a fortune or a misfortune for your father, but it certainly was a great shock for your grandfather when your uncle died at the border,” she said. “The Young Master died in a skirmish with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate within a month of being stationed at the border. And since he didn’t have any children…well, your father became the heir.”

Kayla breathed in deeply, slowly absorbing the information. The circumstances certainly explained the Grand Duke’s animosity towards Wenyuan, but the old man had no one to blame but himself. If not for his greed and insistence on a marriage with a princess, there was no way the Young Master would have died without having a son who could become the household’s successor.

“No wonder. He must’ve been furious. All that effort to secure the marriage, and my father was the one to benefit,” Kayla said. “If that’s the case, then I’m not even his grandson. I’m the son of his cousin’s son...what does that even make me?”

“You’re his grandson and the household’s heir, young lord. Not to mention that you’re the son of the Imperial Princess. Legally or politically, there is no one who can dispute your position,” Matron Li hastily assured her.

The Little Lord and Wenyuan’s father all died young, just like Wenyuan did. Just how many generations of Wenyuan’s family has the Grand Duke crushed?

“Isn’t that a coincidence? My father passed away young, and his father did too. Tell me, Matron Li, how did my father die? My mother always said he got sick and passed away, but I’m starting to doubt that after hearing-”

“Young lord, I beg you to stop thinking about that,” Matron Li cut her off. “Your father died during the last epidemic. Even your mother and the Emperor accepted that as fact, it won’t do you any good to dwell on it.” She gave Kayla a worried look.

Kayla shook her head. “Who else knows of this?”

“Well, almost no one. A few of the older folks know of this, but not the details. Especially in regards to your father’s parentage, it’s only known that he was the son of the late Empress Zhao’s younger brother. Since the Little Lord died soon after your father was born, there also wasn’t anyone who could prove anything,” Matron Li explained.

Kayla slowly sat down, taking in the information. “How did you know this? Were you already working here by then?”

A sad look flashed over Matron Li’s face.

“I was. After your father was born, Empress Zhao sent some servants from the palace to make sure that he survived. I was one of them, the only one who grit my teeth and stayed on when they were pushing us out. I had served Empress Zhao in the palace, and she trusted in my ability to take care of him.”

“You must’ve been very young back then, wasn’t that a lot to ask of you?”

“I was fifteen,” Matron Li said sadly. “I’d been brought in as a young girl to serve as a playmate for one of the princesses, who shared the same mother as Emperor Gaozong. After the princess died of illness, I stayed on to serve her mother. Later, she sent me to serve Empress Zhao after Emperor Gaozong ascended to the throne. And soon after that, I was sent to the Grand Duke’s household.”

Kayla nodded sympathetically. “It’s really a hundred turns and a thousand twists, it couldn’t have been easy for you.”

Matron Li’s voice took on a bitter tone. “I did my best, but it wasn’t enough. I was one person alone against the entire household, and even if I was sent by the palace, there was only so much I could do. And then the Empress passed away, and later Emperor Gaozong did too. At that time, I thought both your father and I would be done for, that there was no limit to how much worse things could go from there. But the new Empress, your grandmother, she’s a kind and just woman. With her support, both your father and I were able to live on peacefully.”

“Don’t you hate the Grand Duke for how he treated you?” Kayla asked. Matron Li hadn’t hesitated for even a second to betray the Grand Duke in the original timeline after Wenyuan’s death, no longer needing to hold back for his sake. Now, the reason for Matron Li’s animosity seemed a little clearer.

Matron Li hesitated slightly but evidently decided that she had said enough to keep going.

“Not for how he treated me, but for how he treated the ones I care for,” Matron Li said. She let out a soft sigh. “He caused the death of my daughter to punish me when your father married the Imperial Princess. He forced her to go work at the countryside estate, and she died soon after. They all said it was a sudden illness, but my child had always been perfectly healthy since she was an infant. There was just no way that could’ve happened naturally. This was all before you were born, of course, but your mother felt so badly about it.”

At Kayla’s outraged expression, Matron Li smiled sadly. “Please don't let it bother you, young lord. It was a long time ago.”

“Matron Li, I’m so sorry,” Kayla said.

“Please don’t say that, young lord. To be honest, even without the matter of my daughter, I would still hate the Grand Duke. He disgusts me. How he treated your father, who was practically raised in my arms, truly made my heart run cold. And then there’s how he treats you, young lord,” Matron Li said.

Kayla broke eye contact, slightly overwhelmed with emotion at Matron Li’s earnestness.

Matron Li softly put a hand on Kayla’s shoulder. “I’m very sorry to drop such a heavy load on you, young lord. Your mother didn’t want you to know this, she was worried you couldn’t take it.”

Kayla nodded. “Of course, I understand, pitiful are the hearts of parents, she must’ve meant well. I’m grateful to you for telling me all this, and…I’m sorry that things have gotten to be like this. I’ve brought you so much trouble.”

Matron Li shook her head. “It’s no trouble to me, young lord. I’m just worried for your safety.”

“I know, thank you. I haven’t exactly been the most courageous person thus far, I’ve caused you a lot of worries,” Kayla said. She couldn’t exactly promise that she could make things better, there were simply too many uncertainties.

“Your parents raised a good man, young lord. Why must a man be brave? Is it not enough to be kind?” Matron Li asked. “As long as you can live on safely, that’s what your parents would want.”

Kayla looked down. Wenyuan really had been treasured, even if it was only by a small few. It hadn’t been enough, but now that things were different, a little could go a long way.

“Thank you, Matron Li,” Kayla said softly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Not at all, young lord.”

“I need to think about all this for a bit.”

Matron Li bowed slightly. “Understood, I’ll take my leave then.”

With one last friendly pat on the shoulder, Matron Li left Kayla alone with her thoughts.

This explains so much…Wenyuan, you alright there?

Wenyuan’s shocked silence continued for a moment longer before he finally replied. No, I-I thought…I didn’t know any of this.

I don’t think your parents wanted you to know, Kayla comforted him.

I wish they’d told me. I never understood why grandfather was never satisfied with me or why he treated me like this, if I’d known I would’ve expected this much, Wenyuan snapped in frustration.

I’m sorry, Kayla said. But at least Matron Li really treasures you.

That’s true.

I know this is a shocking situation, but knowing this gives me a lot more confidence.

At Wenyuan’s confusion, Kayla gave a small smile.

Trust me on this. Deep down, the Grand Duke wants to ruin us, but he can’t. If he goes down, he'll want to drag us with him, but he can't do that either. Our shame and honor are still tied together, but our fates won’t be.

She got up from her seat, reaching into her sleeve to confirm the presence of a thin scroll. It was time to face the Grand Duke.

50-On the Same Boat

Kayla made her way down the corridor, the servants lowering their heads and pretending not to see her. If they acknowledged her and didn’t offer a proper greeting, they would be in trouble with the household’s heir. If they greeted her, they would be in trouble with the household’s master. The best solution was simply to act as though they didn’t see Kayla at all. Given that she was the one putting them in such an awkward situation, Kayla wasn’t in a position to be bothered about it.

Catching sight of her target, Kayla strode towards Housekeeper Wang. He caught sight of her as well, bowing slightly as she approached. He gave a mocking smile that grew increasingly uncertain at the confident look on Kayla’s face.

“Young lor-” Housekeeper Wang began only to be cut off.

“Where is my grandfather?”

A knowing look flickered across Housekeeper Wang’s face and he bowed slightly.

“The Grand Duke is in his study right now, but I’m afraid he’s very busy at the moment,” Housekeeper Wang said politely. “Perhaps I can bring a message for you when he gets a moment of respite?”

“No need,” Kayla shot back. It was clear that both he and the Grand Duke expected her to go beg for mercy, and the Grand Duke was indulging in some twisted power play by refusing to meet her right away, shaving down the amount of time she would have to make any other moves. Kayla had no intention of playing along. Walking right past Housekeeper Wang, Kayla headed straight for the Grand Duke’s study.

“Young lord! Where are you going? You can’t just barge in there,” Housekeeper Wang protested, grabbing Kayla’s arm. She shook him off harshly.

“I’m the heir of this household and a Minister of the court, who are you to lay your hands on me?” Kayla asked icily. Housekeeper Wang hastily took a step back.

“But young lord, the Grand Duke’s busy right now,” Housekeeper Wang said.

“I’ll keep it short,” Kayla shot back. Housekeeper Wang shook his head with a frown, hovering anxiously as he followed Kayla down the corridor.

“Young lord,” he protested as she opened the door to the study. She ignored him, slamming it shut behind her.

The Grand Duke glanced up from the documents on his desk with a furious glare.

“What do you think you’re doing? Leave at once,” the Grand Duke demanded. Kayla turned to face him with a smile.

“I apologize, grandfather, but this is urgent. After all, I’m heading back to the Ministry of Justice soon,” Kayla said. The Grand Duke gave a low laugh.

“Heading back? To do what, sit in the interrogation room until they lose their patience with you?”

“To confess,” Kayla replied without hesitation.

The Grand Duke’s lips curled into a smirk. “And would the palace be alright with that? Right after the Emperor’s broken precedent to reinstate the Court of Judicial Review for your sake, you run your reputation into the dirt. Even if your punishment will be lightened, the Emperor won’t forgive you easily. What do you think will happen to you once you confess? There’s only one way out of this for you, and that’s for me to intervene.”

Kayla nodded thoughtfully. “Well, you have a point, grandfather. But I don’t want to ask you for help.”

“And here I’d thought that you’d grown a brain, but it turns out you’re still relying on boorish bravery,” the Grand Duke scoffed. “You really are a fool who won’t shed tears until he’s seen the casket. How long do you think you can keep this up? If you think anyone else will intercede on your behalf, you should think again. So long as the palace can't interfere, no one else will be able to do a thing for your sake.”

“I appreciate your concern, grandfather, but there’s no need for you to worry about my affairs. Shouldn’t you be more curious about what I’m going to confess?” Kayla asked.

“Did you get it in your head that you can threaten our clan by confessing about the Empress Dowager’s involvement? You'd be the one to take the greatest blow. Without the palace's support or my protection, the court will see to it that you die a pitiful death,” the Grand Duke said.

Kayla shook her head. “Of course not, I understand that much. I'm confessing on another matter entirely. Even if I confess, I’m sure Uncle will be fine with it, since it benefits him as well. After all, it has to do with our family’s reputation. But I’m concerned for your sake, grandfather. No matter what, we are family, so I thought I should at least discuss it with you first.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed and his voice came out in a low growl. “You little brat, what kind of tricks are you playing? Spit it out before I flay you.”

Kayla retrieved the scroll from her robes with a wry grin. “Alright then, it seems you’re finally willing to hear me out. I wanted to confess about the testimony I gave in the Liu Hongyu case. I’ll admit it, I lied. By omission, yes, but it was a lie nonetheless.”

“What nonsense. If you want to confess, go ahead and do it.”

Kayla didn’t bother responding to the Grand Duke’s mocking tone, plopping the scroll onto his desk. He scoffed but picked up the scroll disdainfully. As he read through the scroll, his expression darkened.

“What on earth is this?” The Grand Duke snarled.

Kayla smiled at him sweetly. “Isn’t it pretty clear from what I wrote? I briefly talked about Liu Hongyu’s insults to my mother in the testimony I have to the Imperial Investigator Bureau, but I omitted his insults to me out of pride."

The Grand Duke’s frown deepened, but he didn’t seem to believe that Kayla would really go through with it. It would ruin her reputation and make her the subject of endless mocking from the court if she went ahead and admitted that Wenyuan had bit his tongue and put up with Liu Hongyu’s offenses for almost five years, especially when he had the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s favor the whole time.

From insulting Wenyuan for being a coward to mocking his masculinity, the response of the court that Kayla had rather thoroughly offended was certain to be vicious. It was a nightmare scenario for Wenyuan, who never would’ve gone through with it even if the alternative was death.

"You fool, do you know what this would mean? Your career would be over," the Grand Duke said.

"Well, I was also afraid of that at first. But now, having seen the ramifications of Li Sanjin’s false testimony, I have realized how much importance these testimonies hold and wish to supplement my previous statements. As your grandson and as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, I have to abide by proper principles and serve as a good example, I can’t just continue to commit an error while knowing it’s wrong," Kayla replied.

"And what do you think this flimsy testimony would do for you? Your words alone can't prove anything. It wouldn't help you legally, only fuel the rumors of the court," the Grand Duke shot back.

Kayla reached into her robes, pulling out the second scroll with Zhu Ling'er's testimony. Kayla had purposefully removed the girl's name from the scroll, leaving only the red fingerprint.

"It's not just my words alone, take a look at this," Kayla passed the scroll to him. The Grand Duke practically ripped the scroll open, the paper nearly tearing beneath his fingers. His rage mounted as he read through the statement.

The Grand Duke flung down the scroll in anger. “You bastard! How dare you!”

“Careful there, grandfather. My parents were wedded when I was conceived, you wouldn’t want my uncle to hear your conjectures about my mother just now, would you?” Kayla shot back.

The Grand Duke shot to his feet, his chair overturning with a loud crash. Kayla kept herself from flinching at the noise, refusing to break gaze with the Grand Duke.

“Are you threatening me right now?” The Grand Duke snarled, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Grandfather, how can you say that I’m threatening you? This is a warning for your good. There is a witness, and her testimony has already been recorded and made copies of. If we push this matter any further, we’ll both come to shame. Of course, maybe you don’t feel that should need to feel ashamed of anything, but I’m not so sure the court and the palace would agree with you,” Kayla said sweetly.

The Grand Duke let out a harsh laugh. “You little piece of shit; I don’t know when you suddenly decided to grow a pair, but what the hell do you think you can do against me? I’m nothing like those fools I’ve let you mess around with until now-everything you have, everything you know, all of it comes from me,” the Grand Duke said, his voice so cold that the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"This might shame me, but it’ll ruin you,” the Grand Duke snarled. “How dare you try to use this against me? Do you think you’ve made it this far because you’re talented? It’s because you had my patronage! Mine and Liu Hongyu’s! And now the dog bites the hand that feeds it. You white-eyed wolf!”

“It’ll ruin me, yes. But most importantly, it’ll ruin the Zhao clan,” Kayla shot back. “And your patronage? I would’ve thought it was my mother’s bloodline that got me this far, not yours. We both know how much you benefited from my mother’s identity, both in her life and death, you’ve all but crushed the bones to suck out the marrow! Even if this ruins me, I still have royal blood. But you, you only have the Zhao bloodline. And where would that leave you if this comes to light?”

There was a subtle change in the Grand Duke’s expression. Even after all the mess Kayla had stirred up, the Grand Duke still only knew about the Yue Wuxuan case and the Liu Hongyu case. Kayla’s promotion and appointment to the rank of Minister had seemed more like a declaration of war from the Emperor than a sign of a significant shift in Wenyuan’s abilities and political status, and the Grand Duke still saw Wenyuan as a weak and cowardly puppet who would cave in once his rebellious spirit wore out.

Kayla slowly took a deep breath as she watched the shift in the Grand Duke’s gaze. His eyes took on the sharp glint of a hunter assessing his prey. It was enough to make her break out in a cold sweat. For the first time, the Grand Duke was seeing Kayla as a political rival.

“So that’s how it is, I’ve raised a tiger to become a threat,” the Grand Duke said in a low voice.

“I’d say that you barely raised me, but you’ve got the gist of it,” Kayla agreed.

From now on, she would no longer have the advantage of being under-estimated, but for the time being, she needed him to see her as a threat. She needed him to see her as dangerous enough for him to fold.

“It doesn’t have to be so hard,” Kayla said gently. “Let’s just take care of this within the family. After all, I’m your grandson. There’s no need for such hard feelings between blood.”

A vein throbbed on the Grand Duke’s forehead. Even if Wenyuan was only a relative’s grandson, he was socially, politically, and legally the Grand Duke’s grandson. It was the only way the Grand Duke could remain the Imperial Princess’ father-in-law and not just one of the many clan leaders with some blood relation to the current emperor.

“You lowly scum, you’re no grandson of mine. You’re nothing but a spineless coward too weak to protect yourself. At first, you hid behind your mother’s skirts, then you shuffled around with a lowered head in my shadows. Now that you’ve finally gained some courage, your first act is to attack your own family-I’d be better off adopting one of your cousins, they’d be more of a man than you could ever be!” The Grand Duke shouted, slapping the table hard enough that Kayla was almost certain she’d heard a crack.

“More of a man…well, that’s fine with me. But what would you say to Uncle?” Kayla asked. “You’re the cold-blooded bastard who sent me to act as a hostess for your ally the second my mother’s mourning period had ended, and I’m his precious nephew. He was furious enough with Liu Hongyu for insulting my mother. Now that old codger’s dead, who do you think his rage will be directed towards?”

She leaned forward with a mocking smile. “You better think things through before making a decision, or the one who’ll get burned is you, grandfather.”

Something seemed to snap in the Grand Duke, his eyes filling with an animalistic rage. The Grand Duke shoved the desk out of the way and lunged forward, grabbing Kayla by the collar. She made a choked noise as the cloth constricted around her throat. The Grand Duke’s face was twisted into an ugly mask of fury, flushed dark red with throbbing veins on his forehead and jaw.

Her body reacted instinctively with fear, an icy coldness that flooded her veins. Kayla tried to speak, but all that came out was a jumbled mess that couldn’t make it past her teeth.

Finally, a coherent sentence tumbled out.

“You think you could get away with killing me?”

The Grand Duke paused for a moment, physically trembling with rage. With an angry snarl, the Grand Duke shoved Kayla backward with enough force that she flew through the door. The wood splintered into her back and Kayla groaned in pain, bitterly recalling the last time she’d gotten bodily flung through the door of Wenyuan’s room less than two months ago. Kayla landed on top of the broken door, its splinters digging into her back. She was pretty sure a particularly sharp piece of wood had gotten lodged in her shoulder blade.

Fucking asshole- Kayla carefully pulled herself off the ground, trying to avoid getting stabbed by any additional splinters. She ignored Housekeeper Wang’s horrified expression. To her disappointment, he had moved away from the door fast enough to avoid getting a splinter in the face.

Wheezing a little, she turned towards the Grand Duke and gestured at the scrolls scattered over the floor.

“Well, I have to get back to the Ministry of Justice within the next three days, you should make a decision before then,” Kayla choked out. Ignoring the Grand Duke angrily shouting after her as Housekeeper Wang tried to calm him down in vain, she staggered towards the household’s back door, activating her communication talisman to contact Boyong.

By the time she actually made it to the back entrance, Qu Boyong was already anxiously waiting there.

“My lord!” Boyong pushed past the doormen to Kayla’s side. The doormen quickly stopped trying to pull him back out after catching sight of Kayla, at which they nervously looked away and shuffled back to their positions. Boyong shot an angry glare at them over his shoulder before turning back towards Kayla with a look of concern.

“Hey Boyong,” Kayla said between gritted teeth. “I think I really need a healer now.”

Hu Qing smiled politely at the doormen, flashing the silver plaque he’d been given by Zhao Wenyuan. The doormen at the Zhao household’s back gate glanced at each other with visible discomfort before nodding at Hu Qing and looking away. Hu Qing glanced back at them, scrunching his face up as he walked into the Zhao household.

The place was huge and expensively decorated, but that wasn’t what caught his attention. There was a strange air in the household that hit him like muggy weather, the kind you only ever saw when something really bad had gone down and everyone was trying not to talk about it. It was rare to see in the Liang household, except for that one time when three of Minister Liang’s concubines had a giant spat fight after which each of them decided to go back to their maternal families, crying and stirring up a huge fuss until Minister Liang spent a great deal of effort coaxing them into a better mood.

None of the servants spoke to Hu Qing, quietly ignoring him and acting as though they hadn’t seen him. Hu Qing leisurely strolled down the corridors until he finally found a room that looked like it was the Zhao heir’s quarters. Without hesitation, he knocked.

“Who is it?”

Hu Qing smiled at the familiar sound of Qu Boyong’s voice.

“It’s Hu Qing,” he called. There was the soft sound of footsteps and the door swung open to reveal Boyong’s agitated expression.

“Hurry up and come in, what took you so long?” Boyong asked.

“Whoa, you wanted to see me that much?” Hu Qing teased. His smile faded away at the serious look on Boyong’s face. “Wait, what’s wrong?”

“I hope you’re as good a healer as you claim to be,” Boyong replied in a tense voice. He led Hu Qing further into the room.

“My lord, Hu Qing’s here,” Boyong announced.

“Evening, Minister Zhao,” Hu Qing said cheerfully. The smile slowly faded from his face as Wenyuan nodded in greeting.

“Thanks for coming,” Wenyuan said. His calm tone was completely out of place compared to his appearance. There were pieces of what seemed to be wood in the man’s hair and clothes, and even though Wenyuan’s back wasn’t visible, there was the distinct smell of blood. For all purposes, the man looked like he’d gotten run over by a cart or kicked through a door.

The fact that Hu Qing had been called in as an actual healer caught him off guard. Either Wenyuan was about to ask something really difficult from him, or the household’s healer was refusing to treat Wenyuan.

“Yeah, uh, no worries,” Hu Qing said nervously. “To be honest, I didn’t think you actually needed a healer, I thought it was just an excuse. If I’d known I would’ve brought the proper tools.”

“I have some medical talismans on hand. Boyong,” Wenyuan nodded at his servant, who quickly retrieved a stack of talismans from Wenyuan’s desk. “Will these do?”

Hu Qing stifled the urge to ask what on earth had happened and settled for looking through the supplies instead. Zhao Wenyuan was oddly prepared to have a stack of these on hand inside his desk, especially given that he was the rich young master of a very influential household. But then again, Hu Qing already knew that the Zhao household’s internal affairs were a mess.

“I can make do if I combine these with the ones I brought,” Hu Qing said, approaching where Wenyuan sat on the bed. “Can I take a look?”

Wenyuan shifted to let Hu Qing see his back. “Of course, please go ahead.”

Hu Qing cast a pain-relief spell before getting to work pulling out the sharp pieces of wood lodged in Wenyuan’s back, wincing a little in sympathy.

“What a mess,” Hu Qing muttered to himself.

“Just work quietly,” Boyong snapped in annoyance. Hu Qing let out a huff but held back from saying anything. After healing Wenyuan’s back, he cautiously checked to see if there were any splinters he’d missed, but it was difficult with the multiple robes in the way.

“Sorry, but could you remove your robe for a bit? I need to check for anything I might’ve missed,” Hu Qing said. Wenyuan paused for a moment before nodding and removing his robes.

Hu Qing hesitated as to whether he should help Wenyuan with the complicated layers of robes, and Qu Boyong evidently had similar thoughts as well from how he shifted to move forward. It wasn't in their job descriptions, but it also didn't seem a good idea to call in a serving girl. Their worries seemed unnecessary given the ease and speed with which Wenyuan removed his robes, seeming to be pretty used to doing it himself.

Hu Qing quietly drew in a deep breath at the sight of Wenyuan’s back, glad that the man wasn’t able to see Hu Qing’s face right now. From the corner of his eye, Hu Qing saw Boyong visibly stiffen in place. It wasn’t so much that Wenyuan had a motley of scars like some battle-hardened warrior who went around with one pec exposed and a sword big enough to cut a cow in half, but that there were no scars whatsoever.

Healing magic sped up the body’s healing process, regenerating the muscle, flesh, and skin that had been damaged. It left no scars. What it did leave, on the other hand, was new and healthy skin that was visibly different from the skin around it, not completely fading into its surrounding skin until a long time after. As a result, most young women who received facial injuries would ask to have their entire face “healed” rather than just the chunk that was hurt to avoid having a conspicuous splotch.

Entire chunks of skin on Wenyuan’s back and arms looked like they were from a young child, paler and smoother than the surrounding areas. There were visible edges from where healing magic had been used multiple times, each time not overlapping completely with the others.

Hu Qing almost felt as though he had seen something he shouldn’t have. Even if the Zhao heir was on bad terms with his grandfather, he was the Emperor’s nephew. Just where did the Grand Duke get the guts to treat him like this? Being a rational and cool-minded person, Hu Qing decided to mind his own business.

“Your back should be fine now, Minister,” Hu Qing said politely.

“Thank you,” Wenyuan said, pulling his robes back on immediately.

The words came out before Hu Qing could stop himself, his curiosity almost boiling over. “How did things go with your grandfather?”

Wenyuan turned towards him. “I’d say that we’ve come to an understanding,” he said, a dangerous look in his eyes as he smiled. “Things will be looking up soon, would you mind if I made my offer again at that time?”

Hu Qing gulped nervously. “Um, actually, in hindsight, I’m starting to realize my uncle actually treats me pretty well. I think I’m good.”

Wenyuan’s smile only grew wider. “It’s good he treats you well, but my offer still stands. Sooner or later, it may come in handy.” Hu Qing shifted uncomfortably. Wenyuan seemed to think that he understood something about Hu Qing or sensed something they had in common, but Hu Qing didn’t want to entertain those delusions. Unlike the ambitious politicians of the capital, all Hu Qing wanted in life was to eat well, sleep well, and look at hot people.

“Sure,” Hu Qing said. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Minister?”

Wenyuan shook his head. “Boyong will give you the payment. Keep the plaque though, you can use it to come to find me if you ever have the need.”

Xianchun briskly walked through the Outer Palace, heading towards the convening of the court. It was certain to be a turbulent session after the sudden accusations leveled against Zhao Wenyuan and the subsequent fallout between the Secretariat Department and the Ministry of Justice.

The Secretariat Director was furious at Minister Liang, who had followed Xianchun’s intentions of helping out Wenyuan and letting the Zhao heir out on medical leave, only to have the heir hole up in the Zhao household on “prescribed rest” for three days. Of course, Zhang Dingyong had also been involved, but he had been discreet enough, or rather sneaky enough, that the bulk of the Secretariat Director’s wrath was directed at Minister Liang.

The last of the three days Wenyuan had been prescribed would be over by tomorrow, which meant the accusation was going to be presented in court while the man himself wasn’t present. Xianchun couldn’t tell if Wenyuan was smart or foolish to avoid such a decisive moment, but perhaps it was for the best.

The Secretariat Department’s vitriol against Wenyuan was enough to prove that the Grand Duke’s faction was attempting to prevent the tides from shifting against them at any cost and that they wouldn’t stop unless Wenyuan either caved or was ruined. Xianchun’s smile took on a slightly feral note at the thought. He had no intention of letting those old men have their way.

“Xianchun,” a familiar voice called out to him. Xianchun turned to greet Kuang, who approached with a friendly smile.

“Third Brother, is Fifth Brother not joining us today?” Xianchun asked politely.

“I told him to head in first, I thought I might find you here,” Kuang said.

“What can I help you with, Third Brother?”

“It’s about the new case involving our cousin,” Kuang said. “It’s certain to be a mess in court today, what are your plans?”

“I don’t happen to have any in mind,” Xianchun said after a slight pause. “Why?”

“I plan to throw my support behind Wenyuan, Yunqi will do the same,” Kuang said without the slightest hint of hesitation. “I wanted to warn you to stay quiet if you don’t plan to go along.”

“I was planning to support him to begin with, I don’t need you to instruct me on this,” Xianchun snapped.

Kuang’s smile faded away. “Good. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be worthy to be my rival.” He continued, ignoring Xianchun’s annoyed expression. “Xianchun, listen to your older brother on this matter. This isn’t the time to mess around, we could lose the momentum our elders have been working to build up for decades. No matter what, our common enemy is the scourge of this nation and a threat to our family’s reign. Not only do we all need to support Wenyuan, but we also need to show that we’re doing so in unison.”

Xianchun let out a short huff before nodding reluctantly. “I was worried you two weren’t going to support him, but here you are lecturing me, what a joke. But you’re right, we should join hands.”

Kuang gave a tight smile. “Why would you think that we wouldn't support him? He’s our cousin too, not to mention that he’s a talented official who’s sure to go far. Well, no matter. We can work that out another time, let’s focus on the matter at hand. We need to present a united front today.”

“I know, each of us backs up what the others say,” Xianchun said.

“That's right, we'll do it just like when we were students,” Kuang agreed.

The two princes headed into the hall side-by-side, falling into pace with each other's stride out of muscle memory. Yunqi greeted them as they entered.

“Third Brother, Xianchun,” Yunqi said. “Good, you’re both here. It seems the Grand Duke’s also not coming today, he’s taken a day off for sick leave.” He flicked his gaze towards the visibly flustered Secretariat Director, who no longer seemed to know how to proceed.

“Interesting,” Kuang said with a slight smile. “It seems our cousin’s made his move as well.”

“In that case, good luck to the Grand Duke,” Xianchun muttered, his brothers grinning in amusement.

“Well, shall we proceed as planned?” Yunqi prompted.

“Of course, I’ve taken the trouble to plead with my little brother,” Kuang said teasingly.

“You didn’t plead at all,” Xianchun said in annoyance even as he nodded his agreement.

“Alright then, I’d like to see how the court could make trouble while all three princes are working in unison,” Yunqi said. The three brothers shared knowing smirks before moving to stand in their positions before the throne.

With the Grand Duke out of play, their battle was already half-won.

51-Victim of Victory

Kayla greeted Secretary Zhen with a smile, making small talk with him while hiding her mounting anxiety. The three days of “bed rest” Hu Qing had prescribed her were up, but the Grand Duke still hadn’t done anything. He hadn’t even said a single word after their confrontation in his study, and the pressure of waiting for the ax to drop was driving Kayla insane.

In the end, it boils down to psychological warfare. She didn’t think the Grand Duke would really let Kayla confess, but he was waiting to see if she was serious. After all, it could just be a bluff.

The question was how far Kayla needed to go before the Grand Duke caved in, and always the chance that the Grand Duke really would let Kayla confess. In that case, both of them would go down together, unless the Grand Duke had somehow made a move to absolve himself of any responsibility.

That wasn’t very likely, with the court’s sentiments slowly shifting against the Grand Duke as they realized that there had been a fundamental change somewhere along the line without them noticing. According to Qu Boyong’s report, the court session the day before had caused an uproar in the capital when all three princes had worked together to support Kayla, backing each other up as they shot down anything the Grand Duke’s allies tried to lob against her. The Grand Duke had chosen to sit out on the chaos, watching the tides before making his move.

Since the Emperor had also expressed strong doubt about Kayla’s culpability as well as the truth of Li Sanjin’s statement, the tides were definitely not in the Grand Duke’s favor. The Imperial Family was completely aligned on this case, and if Kayla confessed at a time like this, it would be an unprecedented chance to crush the Grand Duke.

Even knowing all this, Kayla felt like she was going to implode.

“My lord, Secretary Zhen,” Qu Boyong greeted them as they approached the carriage.

“Oh, Minister Zhao, you wouldn’t mind if I take a horse, would you? I’m just not used to carriages,” Secretary Zhen said with a kind smile.

“Of course not, I’m sorry to have put you through all this trouble. Boyong, please prepare a horse for Secretary Zhen,” Kayla said.

“Not at all, you’re too kind,” Secretary Zhen said humbly. Boyong helped him onto a horse, Secretary Zhen giving his thanks as Kayla got onto the carriage. Boyong joined her shortly after, closing the windows firmly.

“My lord, has the Grand Duke not given an answer yet?” Boyong asked, keeping his tone remarkably neutral.

Kayla shook her head. “He won’t make it that easy for me. The battle continues until the very last second, and the closer we get to that moment the more difficult it’ll be. He wants me to crack and cave in, so there’s no way he’d give an answer before that.”

“Will you be alright?” Boyong asked.

Kayla nodded stiffly. “There’s an official in the Ministry of Justice who answers to him directly, by the name of Jia Fu. He’s probably the one who’ll be sent to check if I’m going through with it at the very last minute, I’ll have to let him know I’m serious. The Grand Duke will have to make a choice.”

“But how will we know what the choice is?” Boyong asked.

“I’ll ask for brush and paper and start writing my confession, there’s plenty of legal precedents, they’ll have no reason to refuse. I’ll write a very long preface thanking my parents for giving birth to me, my grandmother for her kindness, my uncle for his support, my cousins, and so on so forth. I can write slowly and keep the list going for as long as it takes, until the Grand Duke caves.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Boyong asked, unable to keep the tightness out of his voice.

Kayla breathed in deeply. “I’ll give him up to two hours. That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“You’d seriously go through with this?” Boyong asked in disbelief. Kayla reached into her robes and handed him a thin scroll.

“This is a letter of recommendation for a position in the Seventh Prince’s household, it should be enough to get you on a path to where you want to go,” Kayla said seriously. Boyong took it, still looking at her with shock.

“I don’t have a choice,” Kayla explained. “At least this way, I’m also injuring him.”

“I don’t need this letter, I believe in you,” Boyong said. Kayla smiled a little, sensing that he was saying that to make her feel better.

“Hold on to it, just in case,” Kayla replied. “After all, I have no guarantee as to what happens now.”

Even though it would ruin Wenyuan’s career and reputation completely, the Empress Dowager and Emperor would be certain to protect her. For one, she would have sufficiently demonstrated loyalty and dedication to protecting the Emperor’s goals by attacking the Grand Duke at great cost to herself, and also, the Empress Dowager and Emperor would feel immensely guilty for allowing Wenyuan to have gone through all this and go so far as to ruin his future for their sake. It would ensure her safety, if not Wenyuan’s dignity. Kayla would’ve preferred not to choose, but if it really came down to it, she would choose survival without hesitation.

The carriage pulled to a stop at the Ministry of Justice, and Kayla hid her reluctance as she followed Secretary Zhen back to the interrogation room, greeted en route by Minister Liang and Zhang Dingyong, both of whom were giving her meaningful looks, likely trying to signify that she should declare herself not guilty and deny all charges. She appreciated it, but that would mean launching an extensive investigation, the exact thing she was trying to avoid unless it was by completely rerouting the investigation to publicly humiliate herself and the Grand Duke.

She sat down with a soft sigh, back in the same spot she’d been in last time. Zhang Dingyong entered the room, accompanied by Secretary Zhen.

“Minister Zhao, we’d like to continue from where we left off last time,” Zhang Dingyong said politely. “I’ll read out the accusations that are being leveled against you.”

Kayla nodded, tuning him out as Zhang Dingyong read the lengthy legal document from the Ministry of Justice a second time. He glanced at her as he finished.

“Minister Zhao, do you confirm or deny these charges?” Zhang Dingyong asked. It was the standard opening question of the interrogation process.

“I deny them,” Kayla replied after a long pause. Secretary Zhen quietly transcribed her words in the corner.

Zhang Dingyong gave a small smile of relief, evidently glad that Kayla was setting off the investigation rather than sitting for hours in silence again.

“Understood, Minister. I have a few questions about this case that I would like to ask you,” Zhang Dingyong said. “Do you know the witness Li Sanjin?”

“No, I don’t know him personally, though we may have spoken briefly in passing,” Kayla replied.

“Li Sanjin stated that you ordered him to testify against former Secretariat Director Liu Hongyu, did you ask him to do so in person or via proxy?” Zhang Dingyong continued.

“No, I did not.”

The questions continued according to procedure, completely in line with Kayla’s expectations. Given Wenyuan’s experience in the Ministry of Justice, even if as a puppet, she could recite the questions almost from heart. Zhang Dingyong also avoided throwing in any surprises or pressing Kayla for answers.

“Alright then, Minister. I have one last question. This is to speed up our investigation and allow you to return to your duties as soon as possible,” Zhang Dingyong said. Kayla nodded.

“Can you think of anyone who might be behind this?” Zhang Dingyong asked.

Kayla cleared her throat. It was time for the final countdown until either she or the Grand Duke would have to make a move.

“I wish to make a written statement,” Kayla announced.

Zhang Dingyong’s brows creased into a frown of confusion. Kayla was on the verge of finishing the questioning phase and being released into restricted freedom until the investigation ended, which would allow her to at least move between her residence and workplace. Even if she had claimed not to know who was behind this, the investigation would still be able to proceed.

Asking to make a written statement usually meant revealing something important, and also that the writer couldn’t claim to have said the wrong thing under pressure, they were tied to their words. It wasn’t the type of move Kayla should be making at a time like this. Zhang Dingyong gave her a questioning look that Kayla met with a smile.

“Right Secretariat, I wish to make a written statement,” Kayla repeated. “If I may?”

Zhang Dingyong nodded, breaking eye contact. “Of course, Minister. I’ll have someone bring you a brush and paper.”

“Thank you.”

Zhang Dingyong left the room with Secretary Zhen, and a lower-ranking official soon entered the room with paper and brush. Kayla ascertained the length of the paper before nodding at him.

“I’d like some extra paper,” Kayla said.

Jia Fu still hadn’t approached her to make a deal or ascertain her progress. Kayla was feeling the pressure of impending doom, but she would make the Grand Duke feel it too. She was certain he was monitoring the situation remotely, likely with a communication device. Given how many magical devices were in use at the Ministry, she couldn’t sense which one was his.

The official left the interrogation room. Kayla waited with bated breath. If the Grand Duke still didn’t make a single move, even at this point in time, she really was going to have to go through with it.

The door opened, and to her relief, it was Jia Fu that stepped through with the paper she’d asked for. He set it down with a slight bow, fixing a questioning gaze on Kayla. She gave him a confident smirk, gesturing at the paper.

“I have quite a long preamble to write before I get to the statement, it’s good I have enough paper,” Kayla said lightly. “Thank you for bringing it over.”

“Not at all, Minister. I’m sure that with your eloquence, it will be a well-written preamble,” Jia Fu replied. He bowed and left the room with brisk steps. Kayla let out a soft sigh, certain that he had gotten the message. The countdown was now for the Grand Duke instead of Kayla, he would have to forcibly quash the accusations within the next few hours or face complete social disgrace.

Kayla began writing at an exceedingly slow pace, starting with praise for the Emperor, the Wu Dynasty, and the Imperial Family, before moving on to detailed words of thanks for everyone from the Empress Dowager to Investigator Li Que, with itemized lists of what she was thanking them for. Even as she wrote on with a steady hand, sweat was beading under her collar.

Kayla could feel the seconds ticking by, the pressure enough to make it feel as though the room was compressing itself around her. It must’ve been at least two hours since she’d started writing, and she was beginning to approach the limit of how long a written statement could reasonably take. If she dragged it on any longer, she could be suspected of knowing the Grand Duke’s move beforehand, calling her loyalty to the throne into doubt.

Jesus Christ, Kayla breathed in shakily, pausing as she tried to calm herself. After a long moment, she resumed writing again.

The door to the interrogation room swung open, Kayla dropping her brush in anticipation and surprise. Minister Liang entered the room with a smile.

“Minister Zhao, the charges against you have been dropped!” Minister Liang congratulated her, reaching out to grab her hands as Kayla stood up. As the pressure suddenly dropped away, she was left feeling jittery rather than relieved.

Kayla gave Minister Liang a curious look.

“Thank the heavens, but what happened? Wasn’t the Secretariat Department insistent on pushing this through to the end?” Kayla asked. Minister Liang shook his head.

“They wouldn’t have the face to continue on after this,” Minister Liang said.

“What do you mean?” Kayla prodded.

“Secretary Han of the Secretariat Department was found dead in his residence. It was suicide,” Minister Liang explained. At Kayla’s shocked expression, he continued. “He didn’t show up to work, so they sent someone to check. It seems he’d only killed himself less than an hour ago. Secretary Han left a note admitting to framing you, it seems that he was too ashamed of his crimes to live on. There was also evidence in his room to prove he was the one who coerced Li Sanjin into testifying against you.”

“Secretary Han was the one who coerced Li Sanjin?” Kayla asked in surprise. She hadn’t expected the Grand Duke to have pushed it all onto him. Minister Liang probably didn't believe it either but was accepting it for what it was. “I don’t recall having insulted him at all.”

“It seems to have been a case of jealousy, from what he said in his note,” Minister Liang said. “He’s twice your age, but still a sixth-rank and unaccomplished, it’s not strange that he would’ve felt jealousy towards you. But it’s shocking that he would’ve gone so far, to the point of abandoning reason. If he’d put half the effort into his work, he would’ve done much better for himself. The hearts of men are frightening to behold.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “I see.”

“We’re conducting an investigation right now, and we’ve also taken Li Sanjin into custody. When we arrested him, he started shouting accusations against Secretary Han for murdering his nephew, so this is likely to become a murder case as well,” Minister Liang said. At Kayla’s dazed expression, he gently patted her on the shoulder.

“Don’t take it to heart, Minister. There are always people like this, and the brighter you shine, the more likely you are to attract the evil in their hearts. You shouldn’t let it bother you,” Minister Liang offered comfortingly. Kayla nodded.

“Thank you, Minister. Then…” Kayla glanced at the door.

“Of course, you’re free to go now, Minister Zhao. Thank you for your cooperation through all of this, it must have been very trying to be falsely accused,” Minister Liang said apologetically.

“No, not at all. Thanks to your thoughtfulness, it was a very painless process,” Kayla replied. Minister Liang glanced at the paper stretching across the table.

“Minister Zhao, may I ask what that statement is?” Minister Liang asked. Kayla gave him a sheepish grin.

“I wanted to write an apology to the Emperor for getting mixed up in such a thing so soon after the reinstatement of the Court of Judicial Review. Even though he’s placed his trust in my abilities, we’ve lost momentum because of me,” Kayla said. “But I haven’t even gotten to that part yet, I was working on the preamble. I wanted to express my gratitude in a sincere manner.”

“You’re a very dutiful man, Minister Zhao. But there really is no need for you to feel sorry about the actions of small-hearted men like Secretary Han,” Minister Liang replied. “Is it alright if we hang onto the statement since it was written during the investigation process?”

“Of course, please go ahead,” Kayla said without hesitation. She had carefully left out any sensitive information, sticking strictly to what was already known to the court.

“Thank you, Minister Zhao. Let me walk you out,” Minister Liang offered. Kayla thanked him and finally made her way out of the building, stepping into the sunlight with a sense of exhaustion. It felt as though she had been climbing uphill with a heavy load before the weight had suddenly been lifted.

After bidding goodbye to Minister Liang, Kayla got onto the carriage that had been arranged for her. Qu Boyong, who had been waiting for her outside, quickly got on as well after exchanging a few words with the guards.

“My lord, how did it go?” Qu Boyong asked anxiously. “The guards were whispering about the accusations being lifted, is it true?”

“The charges against me were dropped,” Kayla said slowly. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh. “Apparently, Secretary Han framed me out of jealousy. He killed himself just earlier.”

Qu Boyong frowned slightly, blinking a few times before nodding. “In any case, congratulations, my lord. Your name has finally been cleared, and now that it’s been proven to be an attack on you, any future accusations against you will probably be taken with more suspicion as well. Even if the process was harrowing, we’ve emerged victorious, haven’t we?”

Kayla nodded. “We can say that, yes.”

“My lord, you’re not satisfied with this outcome?” Boyong asked. “I can understand your feelings, but the alternative outcome would have been much worse.”

“It’s not that I’m not glad to be relieved of the charges, I’m glad. I really am. But I have to say, my grandfather is a difficult opponent to face. Every time he makes a move, he takes it all the way. I didn’t expect Secretary Han to become the victim of my victory,” Kayla explained.

Kayla didn’t know how deeply Secretary Han was involved in the plot, but she doubted he had been willing to take his own life. If the murder charges were true, then Li Sanjin’s nephew had also been sacrificed in the Grand Duke’s plot. Kayla would be lying to say it didn’t bother her, but unlike when she had first arrived, she now understood that it was beyond her control. Given the path the Grand Duke had taken thus far, he was bound to bloody his hands, just as Kayla was bound to face him head on.

Kayla thought back to Matron Li’s recounting of the Zhao clan’s complicated history, a gnawing suspicion growing in her stomach. The Grand Duke had wrapped up this case perfectly for the Ministry of Justice. The evidence was there, their suspect was dead, and likely whatever the Grand Duke had done to get Li Sanjin’s testimony would be entirely pinned on Secretary Han. The Ministry wouldn't investigate further when they could already take credit, and that would be the end of that.

Just how good is he at covering his tracks?

No one had suspected the Grand Duke of Consort Chen’s murder until Liu Boyue had uncovered incriminating evidence in his infiltration of the Zhao household. Even if everyone knew that the Grand Duke had some part in the accusations against Kayla, it was more likely than not that no one would ever be able to prove it.

How many more lives are on his hands? I was worried about Xianchun until now, but there’s a far more dangerous opponent right in front of me.

“Boyong, I want to ask something of you,” Kayla said after a moment of thought.

“Whatever you wish, my lord,” Boyong replied.

“I want you to find the healers who treated my mother, and also the ones who treated my father,” Kayla said. “All of them. I want you to bring them to me.”

Boyong hesitated for a moment but bowed his head. “Understood, my lord. But what is this about?” Boyong asked.

Kayla let out a sharp sigh. “Nothing much. There’s just something I wanted to check.”

Xianchun tossed aside the report with mixed emotions. Just what had gone down in the Zhao household? It was obviously the Grand Duke who was behind the accusations, but within the span of a morning, everything had been summed up to a low-ranking official’s jealousy.

“At least Wenyuan managed to get out of this in one piece,” Xianchun said drily. “If they’d really gone through with the investigation, he would’ve gotten a layer of skin scraped off even if he didn’t take a serious blow.”

“You don’t seem satisfied, my prince,” Liu Boyue said.

“I’m glad Wenyuan’s going to be alright, but the Grand Duke’s just getting out of this without a single scratch,” Xianchun said. He gave a sharp sigh. “I guess it can’t be helped. But the question is, how did Wenyuan strongarm him?”

“He must’ve trapped the Grand Duke somehow, likely similar to how he trapped me.” Yu Bianfu spoke up from the other end of the communication device. She had grown more tan since she’d been stationed in the Southwest, where she was posted with a former subordinate of her father. Bianfu was treated well in the military base by the commanders and well-liked by the soldiers. She had adjusted quickly to her new position, but it was clear that Wenyuan’s actions had left a deep impression on her.

“You mean Wenyuan created a situation that the Grand Duke couldn’t wiggle out of? Even though it’s true that he’s quite talented in politics, that doesn’t mean he’s on the level of the Grand Duke,” Liu Boyue objected. “He must’ve had something to hold over the Grand Duke.”

“It’s not that far-fetched. If the Grand Duke underestimated Wenyuan as I did, then it’s extremely possible that he’d suddenly find himself trapped before even realizing it,” Yu Bianfu pointed out. “Wenyuan’s not afraid to throw himself in as bait, a guy like that is really difficult to deal with.”

“We have to consider both possibilities,” Xianchun admitted.

“If it’s like what Bianfu said, then we know how much of a threat Wenyuan is. But if it’s like what I suspect, we must find out what information he has, my prince. If we don’t find it out faster than the Third Prince does, then we’ll be at a major disadvantage,” Boyue said.

“And how do you propose we do that?” Xianchun asked.

“Please entrust this matter to me, my prince. I will look into it,” Boyue replied.

Xianchun nodded. “Alright then. I’d rather believe that there is than there isn’t, but in any case, don’t cause trouble for Wenyuan, and don’t try anything with that servant of his. Just leave it be if you can’t find anything.”

Boyue bowed his head. “Understood, my prince. I will take utmost care not to inconvenience him in any way.”

Yunqi sipped a cup of tea, watching from the corner of his eye as Qiu Jinwei mumbled softly, moving pieces of paper around on the floor.

Kuang entered the room, greeting Yunqi with a smile before stopping short to give Jinwei an incredulous look.

“Third Brother,” Yunqi greeted him.

“Yunqi,” Kuang said, sitting down opposite him. Yunqi poured out a cup of tea for Kuang, who quickly downed it before nodding at Jinwei. “What’s that strategist of yours doing now?”

“He’s been at it since we got the news about Wenyuan,” Yunqi replied. “Heavens know what’s going on in that head of his, but don’t mind him.”

Kuang shook his head slightly, smiling in disbelief. “Well, that’s fine then. Wenyuan, that kid really is something. Who knows what he’s done now? If your strategist can figure it out, then all the better.”

Yunqi smiled. “Wenyuan must’ve had a hard time of it. Stressful matters take a toll on the health, I’ll send him some supplements later.”

“Good thinking,” Kuang said. “Speaking of, I saw that cousin of yours on my way in. He was rather pale…he’s sure lost a lot of weight since we’ve last met.”

Yunqi’s smile faded and he set down his cup of tea. “Yes, he has.”

Kuang looked at Yunqi with concern, reaching across the table to gently place a hand on Yunqi’s shoulder. “It must’ve been difficult, with the household’s assets being confiscated and your grandfather’s imprisonment. But now Father’s agreed to let him work in your household, surely that means the situation’s taken a turn for the better. I’ll also keep pushing on the matter, so don’t let it get to you.”

“There’s no need, Third Brother. Don’t jeopardize the favor you’ve worked so hard to earn. Father only let my cousin join me in the capital because I’m supporting the growth of the neutral faction,” Yunqi said with a note of bitterness. “As long as my family’s useful, we’re allowed to survive. The second we lose our usefulness, we’re immediately discarded. Even my wife wasn’t an exception.”

“Out of us three, you’ve had it the worst,” Kuang said softly. “Xianchun, that brat, he only sees his own predicament and doesn’t understand your difficulties, but your older brother knows. We’ll make it through and be the ones who are laughing at the end.”

“That’s right,” Yunqi said, letting out a soft sigh. “We’ll just have to hang on until then.”

Kuang gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, pouring out another cup of tea for each of them before Yunqi could do it. He had just lifted the cup when Qiu Jinwei suddenly shot to his feet.

“Good grief,” Kuang set down the cup, glancing at Jinwei with surprise. “What’s wrong with you?”

Jinwei blinked owlishly, seeming to have only just realized that Kuang was here. “Qiu Jinwei humbly greets the Third Prince, the Fifth Prince,” Jinwei bowed towards each of them.

“You’ve already greeted me. I’ve been here since the start, did you forget?” Yunqi reminded him. “Third Brother, don’t mind his manners.”

“No matter,” Kuang said, waving it off. “Well? Did you figure something out?”

Qiu Jinwei nodded, a bright grin breaking out across his face. “Yes, my prince. I think I’ve got the gist of it.”

52-Ties of Blood

Ji Fangluo strode forward purposefully, her jaws clenched tightly together. It had been days since her father Ji Yantao should’ve arrived in the capital, but still there was no word from him. Just what did that accursed brat Qu Boyong think he was doing, calling an old man to such a dangerous place?

Once she got to the capital, Fangluo immediately sensed that something was wrong. There were whispers about a plot in the court that had nearly knocked the Emperor’s nephew from his newly appointed perch, and rumors were flying about a huge storm about to come in the capital.

Fangluo shook her head morosely. Her poor father must’ve been overwhelmed. Ji Yantao was terrible at dealing with this kind of thing, and the whispers about the court must’ve frightened him so badly that he forgot to contact her.

More likely than not, Ji Yantao’s anxiety had caused him to fall ill, which was why Fangluo was going to every doctor she could find.

“Miss, stop right there,” a voice called out. Fangluo didn’t take note, given how many people there were.

“Miss, hold on! Miss, I’m talking to you!” Fangluo finally turned around as the voice got closer. She frowned as a man in a guard’s uniform approached her.

“What is it, sir?” Fangluo asked suspiciously.

The guard wore a disapproving scowl as he looked her over, his eyes settling on her belt.

“What do you have there?” The guard asked. Fangluo glanced at her belt, patting the red cloth charm hanging from it.

“It’s a charm for a safe pregnancy, I got it from a temple,” Fangluo explained, confused as to what the matter was.

“No, not the charm. That,” the guard pointed at the huge machete strapped to her belt. Fangluo glanced at it, suddenly realizing she might be in trouble.

“Oh, that’s for my husband, he’s a butcher. I’m meant to bring it to him,” Fangluo said, keeping her tone casual. Her heartbeat quickened and her palms grew clammy. She had been in such a rush that she hadn’t bothered stopping to conceal her weapon, not that she could’ve concealed such a large machete. Fangluo could only pray that she wasn’t about to get arrested. It would take days to notify her husband, and she still didn’t know where her father was.

“What does a butcher need such a big blade for?” The guard asked suspiciously.

“He has big hands,” Fangluo replied. The guard’s look of suspicion didn’t fade in the slightest.

“You’re strapping it to your waist when you’re already heavy with child?” The guard demanded. “That’s terrible for your health! What’ll you do if you hurt your back in the middle of the street?”

Fangluo blinked in surprise, forcing out a sheepish chuckle. “Oh, I’m just so used to it, it’s a habit.”

“Habit? My wife hurt her back this way in her last pregnancy, and the child nearly didn't make it. It's not worth it for only something only a little bit more convenient. Strap it to your back instead, that’ll distribute the weight more evenly,” the guard instructed. “You’ll be less likely to get hurt.”

“Of course, thank you,” Fangluo said, hastily complying.

“And tell your husband not to make you run deliveries for heavy items while you’re pregnant,” the guard lectured her. “He should get them himself, rather than risk both wife and child.”

“You’re right, I’ll pass the word on,” Fangluo replied.

“Alright then, you can go now,” the guard said. Fangluo quickly gave her thanks before continuing on, pushing the encounter to the back of her mind. She made her way to the next doctor on her list. Fangluo was growing a little desperate. She had gone to over a dozen places already, but there was still no sign of Ji Yantao. The city was so big and there were so many people, how on earth was she going to find a plain-looking man in his fifties among them?

Fangluo entered the doctor’s place, praying that this would be the one.

“Excuse me,” she called out. An elderly doctor came out from the inner rooms, peering at her from beneath his bushy eyebrows.

“Hello there. How can I help you?” He asked. Fangluo gave him a smile.

“Hello doctor, I’m looking for my father. His name is Ji Yantao, a man in his fifties, kind of plain. I was hoping to ask if he had come here for treatment?” Fangluo asked.

“Oh, you must be that pregnant daughter of his, he mentioned you,” the doctor remarked. “Yes, he’s right here.”

Fangluo grew teary-eyed with relief. “Thank the heavens! Doctor, I’ve been looking everywhere!”

“It couldn’t have been easy, navigating the city alone,” the doctor replied. “He’s lucky to have such a filial daughter. Come on, follow me.”

The doctor led her into an inner room, where a familiar man was lying on a bed, looking listless and pale.

“Father!” Fangluo closed the distance between them, squeezing Ji Yantao into a hug.

“You’re crushing his ribs,” the doctor remarked mildly. Fangluo quickly loosened her grip, and Ji Yantao took a wheezing breath before looking up at his daughter in amazement.

“What-Fangluo? How are you here?” Ji Yantao asked.

“I came to find you, father. You should’ve gotten here days ago, but you never contacted me! I was so worried!” Fangluo said. She looked him over, shaking her head with pity. “My poor father, look at the state of you. Doctor, what’s wrong with him?”

“Don’t worry, child. He’s alright. Some kindhearted folks brought him in when he collapsed near the city gates, but there aren’t any major issues. It’s just a case of fright and worry culminating into sickness, he’ll be fine once he gets some rest,” the doctor told her.

Ji Yantao lowered his head in shame. “I’m sorry, Fangluo. Your father’s such a useless man, I couldn’t even do this properly.”

“Don’t say that,” Fangluo said forcefully. “Father, as long as you’re alright, nothing else matters. In any case, you have nothing more to worry about. I’m here now.”

“You have a good daughter,” the doctor chimed in. “Listen to her and focus on recovering, you’ll collapse again at this rate. Young lady, try to talk some sense into your father.”

“I will, doctor. Thank you so much,” Fangluo said.

“Then I’ll leave you to it,” the doctor patted her arm before leaving the room.

“Father, let’s go home,” Fangluo urged him. “Look at the toll it’s taken on you just to come to this city, why stay in such a dangerous place?”

Ji Yantao shook his head, eyes filling with tears that fell in large droplets into his lap.

“Are you worried about Qu Boyong? Push the thought from your mind. I’ll take care of things from here on,” Fangluo said firmly. “As your daughter, I’ll handle everything in your place. Surely he can’t complain about that.”

“You can’t! The capital’s waters are so deep, it drags people in and drowns them pitilessly. How many people do you think have died of unnatural causes in this city? Even the Emperor’s nephew’s mired in trouble, how can people like us survive?” Ji Yantao sniffled as tears streamed down his face. “I’m sorry, Fangluo. If only you weren’t born to such a father-”

“The Emperor’s nephew’s fine, they’ve uncovered the plot and worked everything out. Things here aren’t as bad as they seem,” Fangluo cut him off. “Unlike you, I don’t have any memories associated with this place, bad or good. I can handle whatever this city and its occupants throw at me because I don’t care about this place at all. Father, trust in me. Leave everything in my hands and everything will be alright.”

“But you’re pregnant,” Ji Yantao said in a choked voice. “And-and your children at home…”

“My husband can do the goddamn household chores himself! I’d like to see if he dares complain about this,” Fangluo snapped. “And so what if I’m pregnant? I could wield a machete even when I was eight months pregnant, much less now! It’s settled! Father, if you’re really worried, then stay here, but only focus on resting. I’m taking charge of matters from now on.”

“Fangluo, you’re more reliable than ten sons,” Yantao said. He wiped his face, having calmed down a little.

“Of course I am,” Fangluo declared. “In ancient times, there was Hua Mulan going to the army for her father. In these times, there’s Ji Fangluo! Don’t worry and rest, I’ll go and meet that Qu Boyong for you.”

Ji Yantao glanced at the giant machete on his daughter’s back and gave a smile of relief.

“Alright then, if you say so.”

Hu Qing headed back to the Liang household, lightly springing across the rooftops. He carefully stuck to the blindspots of the larger, sturdier trees, since he couldn’t be certain which ones had Imperial Investigators in them. He stopped short on the top of a building, squinting at the strange sight beneath him.

A pregnant woman was marching forward with the determination of someone out for blood, a large machete strapped to her back. Hu Qing shook his head, grinning in amusement before continuing on.

Hu Qing entered the Liang household, not bothering to be inconspicuous as he quickly headed back to his quarters while avoiding any of his cousins or nephews. Other than Minister Liang, none of his other family members knew how to address him and always awkwardly avoided eye contact in their interactions. At least Minister Liang was a decent uncle, certainly better than the Grand Duke was as a grandfather.

There was a knock on the door right as Hu Qing finished washing his face. Still dripping with water, he answered the door with a frown. A servant bowed slightly.

“Excuse me, sir. Minister Liang asked to speak with you in his study,” the servant said.

“Got it, I’ll be right there,” Hu Qing said. He wiped off his face before sauntering to Minister Liang’s study.

“Uncle, it’s me, can I come in?” Hu Qing called loudly.

The door flew open and Minister Liang pulled him in before hastily closing the door again. Minister Liang whirled to glare at him.

“Hu Qing! Where on earth have you been?” Minister Liang snapped angrily.

Hu Qing smiled sheepishly. It wasn’t as though he could say that he’d gotten roped into a commissioned job by Zhao Wenyuan while flirting with Qu Boyong, so he shrugged.

“Take a guess,” Hu Qing said sweetly. Minister Liang pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a harsh sigh.

“Do you even know what’s happened over the last few days? The whole capital’s been a mess with the Zhao Wenyuan case, the prince’s aide kept asking me to look into it and I couldn’t even catch sight of your shadow!” Minister Liang groaned.

“Sorry, uncle,” Hu Qing said apologetically. “But it all worked out, didn’t it? That means they don’t really need our help.”

“Work out? For Zhao Wenyuan, certainly. If it hadn’t worked out, how on earth should I have taken responsibility?” Minister Liang demanded. “Just what have you been doing?”

Hu Qing shrugged. He felt bad, but client confidentiality demanded his silence on the matter.

“Out with a lover again? Really, you have no shame,” Minister Liang grumbled. Hu Qing stiffened, annoyance rising in his chest.

“Seriously, uncle. It’s not like I’m sleeping around every time I’m out of your sight,” Hu Qing snapped.

“Whatever, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t expect much from you anyway,” Minister Liang said. Hu Qing gritted his teeth, his annoyance growing stronger.

“In any case, there’s still a lot of questions left unanswered. Remain on standby, I’ll be calling on you if there’s a need,” Minister Liang ordered.

Before Hu Qing could open his mouth to reply, there was an urgent knock at the door.

“Sir, the Seventh Prince is here!”

“What?! Right now?” Minister Liang said in shock, flinging the door open.

“Yes, sir. He’s already heading this way, he’ll be here any second now,” the serving girl replied.

“Good heavens! What is he doing here at this time of the night? Go, hurry up and prepare to receive our guests,” Minister Liang ordered. The serving girl bowed and scuttled off.

“Uncle, calm down,” Hu Qing said, grabbing Minister Liang’s arm.

“Something important must’ve happened! Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a reason for the prince to come in person without any warning,” Minister Liang said in a low voice. There was the sound of footsteps approaching, and the servants quickly lined up to stand by the wall, their heads already half-lowered in preparation.

“What are you doing? Hurry and go over there!” Minister Liang hissed, pushing Hu Qing towards where the servants stood. Hu Qing stared at his uncle in outraged silence for a brief second before complying mechanically. An unfamiliar emotion boiled in his chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d experienced such a thing, but it was the first time it bothered him so much.

The prince and one of his retainers rounded the corner, and Hu Qing followed the rest of the servants in kneeling to greet them. Minister Liang bowed, exchanging greetings with the prince before leading the guests into the study. Neither Minister Liang nor the prince glanced at Hu Qing and the servants, but the prince’s retainer, a good-looking young man, turned and gave him a piercing stare before following them into the room.

As the guests left the corridor, the servants let out a collective sigh of relief. Hu Qing stared at the closed door before him for a long moment, only moving aside when the serving girls arrived to serve tea and snacks.

He glanced over his shoulder again at the door before leaving.

Kayla rubbed at her chin, feeling worn out after getting back from the palace. She had gone to see the Emperor, who felt terrible about the whole situation. And then she’d gone to see the Empress Dowager, who also felt terrible about the whole situation. Overall, their intentions were that the resolution of the case would be an excellent chance to reaffirm their support and for Kayla to cement the foundations of the neutral faction. It had been tiring, but Kayla was glad that she hadn’t had to tell them about Liu Hongyu. They genuinely cared about Wenyuan, and the news would’ve been a huge blow.

After visiting the Palace, she still needed to send thank you gifts to each of the princes, and also take care of Zhu Ling’er’s dowry, Caichun and Sun Ruhui’s bonuses, giving Chujiao her thanks as well as a huge bonus without incurring suspicion, and so on so forth. The list went on endlessly, and while Boyong could take care of some of them for her, Kayla almost felt as though entering the political marriage wouldn’t be so bad. Since it would be an international arrangement, she would be granted a separate residence to live in with the Eastern Turkish princess, which meant having her own secretarial staff.

The wrapping up of the case had cemented Kayla’s position in court, and it also cemented her as the best candidate for the political marriage. Looking at it now, the marriage really wasn’t the worst Kayla could do for herself. Her thoughts wandered as Kayla listlessly made notes for herself in English.

Qu Boyong was off hunting down healers for Kayla, who couldn’t shake off the nagging suspicion that the Grand Duke hadn’t just killed Consort Chen, but also Wenyuan’s parents. She didn’t know what to do even after getting an answer, but still felt it was important to get one. The events of the last few days had left her even more paranoid than usual.

Why the fuck is everything so stressful?

Kayla’s internal complaints were interrupted by someone knocking on the window. She frowned.

Who would come in through the window? Is it an Imperial Investigator?

She opened the windows, stepping back in shock as Hu Qing greeted her with a smile.

“Minister, may I come in?” Hu Qing asked, hanging upside down from the top of the window.

“Get in here!” Kayla hissed. “Did anyone see you?”

“No, I was super careful! It took a while to get around the Imperial Investigators though,” Hu Qing said in annoyance. “One of them was in the exact tree I was planning to use to flip in.”

“You got around the Imperial Investigators?” Kayla said in shock. “Just how skilled are you?”

“Oh, like it’s hard,” Hu Qing scoffed. Kayla gave him a look of disbelief.

Okay, I may have been hinging too much on the investigator’s abilities to keep me safe.

“I won’t ask,” Kayla muttered, shaking her head.

“A good choice,” Hu Qing said cheerfully before leaning in with a conspiratorial smile. “By the way, that Boyong of yours has got game. I just saw him rendezvousing with a female servant on my way in.”

Normally Kayla would’ve just laughed off the gossip, but for some reason, the news set off alarm bells in her head. She frowned, uncertain as to why she suddenly felt so nervous.

Qu Boyong was a handsome young man with a good personality, the kind to be popular with women his age. Given that he was on good terms with his coworkers during his time in the Grand Duke’s household and that Boyong had left rather suddenly, Kayla wouldn’t have thought it strange that he had a lover or friend that he would still be in touch with. After all, it wasn’t as though he couldn’t have connections with the Grand Duke’s household anymore just because he was working for Kayla. Considering Qu Boyong’s cautious nature, Kayla wasn’t worried about him running his mouth either.

Then what the hell is it? Kayla couldn’t help but feel that she had overlooked something in plain sight.

“What’s wrong, Minister?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla quickly smoothed out her expression.

“Nothing, it’s just that Boyong’s usually so serious, who would’ve thought?” Kayla said. Hu Qing didn’t look very convinced.

“What did the girl look like? Did she have any characteristics?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing scrunched his face up. “Well, she was pretty. Or maybe plain? I have no idea.”

“What about height? Weight? Approximate age?” Kayla prodded.

“I don’t know, I didn’t really look at her,” Hu Qing said defensively.

“How could you not know anything about her appearance? You saw her!” Kayla said incredulously.

Hu Qing shrugged. “I mean, I only looked at Qu Boyong. I’m not interested in women.”

Kayla let out an exasperated sigh. “You're not inter-Even if you’re not interested, you still have perfectly good eyesight!”

There was a short silence in which Hu Qing gave her a look of surprise and curiosity before he waved his hands dismissively.

“Hey, if you saw a girl who was exactly your type chatting up a guy, would you look at the guy at all?” Hu Qing defended himself.

“I would!” Kayla shot back.

“Well that’s on you, isn’t it?” Hu Qing said. “Anyways, I don’t know. Is he going to be in trouble?”

“Of course not,” Kayla replied. “I was just…curious. I mean, who wouldn’t be?”

“Alright, that’s fair,” Hu Qing nodded sagely. Kayla shifted slightly in her seat.

“Have you given any thought to my offer?” Kayla asked. She doubted he had come all this way just to gossip about Boyong.

Hu Qing shifted uncomfortably. “Sorry to disappoint you, Minister. But I didn’t come to give my acceptance.”

“That’s fine too,” Kayla said. “Then what did you come here for?”

Hu Qing looked down. “Something came up, and somehow you seemed to be the best person to complain to.”

“Do you need help? If it’s something I can do, I’m happy to help out, no strings attached,” Kayla offered.

“No, I don’t really need anything,” Hu Qing said. “I was just in a mood to whine, but now that I’ve gotten here, it seems a little silly. It’s nothing.”

“Don’t be like that, you’ve piqued my curiosity now,” Kayla protested. “Seriously, spit it out.”

“It’s nothing much. It’s just that my uncle was reprimanding me when a guest came, and then he immediately tried to pass me off as a servant. Like, seriously, who doesn’t have a few illegitimate kids in the family? I’m not even his son, is it necessary that he scrambles to draw a clear line between us?” Hu Qing complained. Deflating slightly, he let out a sigh. “I don’t know why I’m so upset, it just bothers me.”

“Well, that’s understandable. Even if you work for your uncle, you have an emotional attachment to him that the servants don’t. For him to refuse to acknowledge it as though it were something to be ashamed of is definitely something to be upset about,” Kayla said sympathetically.

“I guess,” Hu Qing said, looking a little embarrassed now that he had gotten it out of his system. “It’s not like it hasn’t happened before, but this is actually the first time it’s bothered me so much.”

“Maybe it’s because you were reprimanded for helping someone out,” Kayla suggested. “I mean, you really saved my neck last time.”

“I didn’t really do much, you could’ve found any other healer,” Hu Qing pointed out.

“Your role was far more important than that, trust me,” Kayla said. “In any case, if you hadn’t accepted my commission, you wouldn’t have been bound to client confidentiality either, so I’m also grateful for that. I’m sorry that it seems to have caused you trouble though. Not to be an opportunistic asshole, but my offer for employment remains open.”

Hu Qing scrunched up his face. “I don’t get it, just why do you want to recruit me so much? You have Qu Boyong and your subordinates in the Court of Judicial Review, don’t you?”

“I can’t rely on them for everything, especially for personal matters,” Kayla replied.

“Not the officials, maybe, but what about Qu Boyong? Isn’t he capable enough?”

“Qu Boyong is extremely capable, he can get anything done within the shortest amount of time. I’m certain he’ll go far in life,” Kayla said.

“But you don’t trust him, right?” Hu Qing asked.

“That’s not it. I rely on him for almost everything. It’s true that I often don’t know the details of how he gets things done, but he gets them done,” Kayla said.

“Just like you don’t know where he got that building where we met?”

“Right, just like that,” Kayla agreed. “But that’s not why. I know that as long as I continue on my current path, I can entrust matters to him, just not everything. The actual reason I’m looking to hire you is that Boyong has a very strong sense of pride, and he holds himself to a high set of values. But those values are a complete mystery to me. I often get the sense that if I ask something of him that he considers beneath himself, Boyong will come to resent me for it, but I’m also not certain which things may fall under that category.”

“And you think I wouldn’t resent you?” Hu Qing asked suspiciously.

Kayla sighed. “I wouldn’t ask anything of you guys that I wouldn’t do myself given the skills. It’s just that I face a lot of limitations, and I need people who can help me work around them. The more options I have, the better. I just feel like our values are a bit more closely aligned, so I'm less likely to step on any landmines.”

“That's not unreasonable,” Hu Qing said thoughtfully. “I’ll think about it, but no promises.”

“Alright then,” Kayla said. “Is there anything else?”

Hu Qing lit up at that. “Oh wait, I wanted to ask something-how did you come to recruit Case Reviewer Chen? You don’t see a female official every day, much less a nineteen-year-old one.”

Kayla withheld a sigh, sensing that Hu Qing’s love for gossip would extend his stay for quite a while longer.

“Well, it was like this…”

Liu Boyue followed Xianchun and Minister Liang out to the entrance, giving Minister Liang a small nod to signify that he would be back soon.

“Minister Liang, thank you for your hospitality,” Xianchun said as he got into his carriage.

“Not at all, my prince. I’m honored by your visit to my humble abode,” Minister Liang replied.

Boyue joined Xianchun in the carriage as it made its way back to the Seventh Prince’s household.

“Do you think he’ll be able to turn anything up?” Xianchun asked.

Boyue gave the prince a smile. “You’ve come in person to emphasize the importance of a thorough investigation into the murder of Li Sanjin’s nephew, I’m sure he’ll find some way to connect it to the Grand Duke.”

“All we need is an excuse that would let us investigate that old codger,” Xianchun said. “Wenyuan certainly won’t get in our way, and neither will the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau. So as long as the Ministry of Justice can make a move, then we’ll have a chance to strike at the Grand Duke.”

“But Wenyuan must have something that ties the Grand Duke’s fate to his,” Boyue remarked. “That’s the only way the Grand Duke would have yielded. Even if he won’t stand in our way, there’s also a risk the Grand Duke would hold that over him and thus seek to impede us. With your permission, my prince, I would make preparations for potential countermeasures.”

“Ever the strategist,” Xianchun said, giving Boyue a fond look. “Very well, I’ll leave it to you to deal with that. As for the investigation, we need to keep our hands clean of that or it’ll be cast as an act of faction politics. That’ll reduce its legitimacy in the eyes of the court.”

“It’s as you say, my prince. I’m sure Minister Liang will manage. He is quite capable, after all,” Boyue assured him. Xianchun gave him a smile.

The carriage pulled to a stop before the prince’s residence, and Boyue took his leave with the excuse of retiring early for the night. Careful not to be noticed, Boyue discreetly made it back to the Liang household and back into Minister Liang’s study. The only one in the household capable of sensing Boyue’s entry didn’t seem to be there.

Minister Liang opened the door to his study, immediately hopping backward in shock.

“Sir Liu, you startled me!” Minister Liang said, hastily closing the door behind him.

“Apologies, Minister Liang. I had no such intention,” Boyue said apologetically.

“Think nothing of it, I’m merely easy to frighten is all. Does the prince have orders for me?”

Boyue shook his head. “It’s inconvenient for the prince to directly order such a thing, but if you would be willing to consider it as doing me a favor, I do have something to ask of you.”

“Of course,” Minister Liang replied.

“I didn’t see your nephew around,” Boyue remarked. “If I remember correctly, he was also missing during the time when the case was heading towards a full-out investigation.”

Minister Liang let out an exasperated sigh. “I apologize on his behalf. He’s a good kid, but he doesn’t understand the rules and is much too free-spirited. It’s my fault for being too lenient in his upbringing.”

“It’s good for young men to be energetic, Minister, I don’t mean to offer criticism. Now, this is merely my conjecture, based on absolutely nothing but my own instincts, but I sense that his disappearance was too timely to be a coincidence,” Boyue said.

Minister Liang frowned. “You mean he got involved? But I didn’t give him any orders.”

“As you said, he’s rather free-spirited. Again, this is solely based on my own shortcomings as a man who overthinks minor details, but would you kindly ask him for me? If it so happens that he really knows anything, that information would extremely valuable to our faction,” Boyue said.

“I see,” Minister Liang said thoughtfully. “Well, I could certainly ask, though I’m afraid that he was probably fooling around again. But if he really does know, then I’ll be certain to get the information out of him.”

“I don’t mean to interfere with your familial matters, Minister. But this really is an important matter. If he doesn't know, that's fine. But in the case that he knows but is unwilling to answer, may I offer a word of advice?” Boyue asked.

“Of course, Sir Liu. I’ll listen with open ears.”

Liu Boyue smiled, leaning across the desk.

“If he demands a reward, how about this? Offer him the thing he wants most. Offer him legitimization.”

53-Temptation

Hu Qing sauntered back to his quarters. It was well past midnight, and Wenyuan had chased Hu Qing out of his room, citing his need to sleep. Having gotten his fill of gossip, Hu Qing had graciously obliged so as to avoid deepening the dark circles under the Zhao heir’s eyes.

“Sir!”

At the sound of the familiar voice, Hu Qing’s mood immediately plummeted. It was Minister Liang’s personal servant, a stocky man in his late forties. If he showed up, it meant Hu Qing’s uncle wasn’t finished lecturing him yet.

Grumbling under his breath loud enough for the servant to catch a few key phrases, Hu Qing followed the servant to Minister Liang’s study. The older man gave Hu Qing a sympathetic look, to which Hu Qing gave an appreciative nod before heading in to face his uncle.

“Uncle!” Hu Qing said in an overly cheerful voice. “Did the prince leave already? Wow, he sure was a stud!”

“Don’t,” Minister Liang warned him, pointing a finger accusingly. “I don’t want to hear about how good-looking he is, I’m serious. Keep it to yourself.”

“Alright then, but that companion of his was also pretty good-looking,” Hu Qing continued, intent on annoying Minister Liang enough that he got kicked out.

“It applies to him as well! Really, why is all of your talent wasted on finding loopholes?” Minister Liang said in exasperation. “Anyways, sit down. There’s something we need to discuss.”

Hu Qing glanced at the offered chair suspiciously but complied.

“What’s this about?” Hu Qing asked. “Is it about the vase in the sitting room I broke last month?”

“I should’ve known that was you,” Minister Liang said. “But no. This is about the recent case with Minister Zhao. Surely you must’ve heard about it.”

“I suppose,” Hu Qing shrugged. “Should I go proposition Qu Boyong again?”

“No, don’t bother. Now listen closely, this is a very important matter, far more important than you can begin to imagine. I want to know if you had anything to do with the case,” Minister Liang said.

Hu Qing carefully controlled his reaction to avoid making a microexpression that might give him away. “No.”

Minister Liang didn’t look convinced in the slightest. “I’ve known you since you were born, do you think you can lie to my face? You’re not in trouble, I just want to know if you were involved.”

Hu Qing mulled it over for a moment before reluctantly giving a nod. Hu Qing’s jobs always went through Minister Liang’s approval. After all, Minister Liang was his actual boss and the head of the family, it only made sense to report any piecework he took on the side, even if he couldn’t discuss the contents of the job.

Minister Liang let out a deep breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “Hu Qing, I don’t know whether to curse your foolishness or thank you. Well, what happened?”

“Qu Boyong kind of roped me in, so I took the job,” Hu Qing said sheepishly.

“I suspected as much,” Minister Liang sighed. “We’ll discuss your impulsiveness another day, but first, tell me everything you know. Don’t leave out even a single detail.“

Hu Qing frowned. “That’s confidential. If I take a job, I keep its secrets. That’s a basic requirement for a professional. Isn’t that what you’ve always asked of me?”

“That was to protect our family. This is also for our family’s sake,” Minister Liang said, a note of impatience in his voice. “There’s no such thing as professional standards for your trade anyways.”

Hu Qing's frown deepened at Minister Liang's condescending tone. As an illegitimate child, he didn't exist in either government records or on the family tree. His relationship to the Liang clan meant that his bloodline was noble enough that he would face a lighter punishment even if he were ever caught, but he also wasn't noble enough to be held to social norms or etiquette.

In fact, as someone who didn't even exist on paper, Hu Qing couldn't be held to anything, nor could he engage in trades that required any form of registration. That only left him with his work as a spy and enforcer for the Liang clan, a thankless job that no one who had any other choice would take part in. Being ever the optimist, this didn't particularly bother Hu Qing much. Hu Qing considered himself a professional and held himself to the same standards as other members of his trade who worked as hired hands and were paid a whole lot more. He refrained from glaring at Minister Liang. The older man was either deliberately ignorant or simply didn't see Hu Qing's work as worthy of any respect whatsoever.

“Of course there are professional standards, just like there are for any other trades,” Hu Qing shot back. “Client confidentiality is one of the most important ones among them. I can’t tell you anything and you know that!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, do you know how important this is?” Minister Liang demanded.

“Not important enough to give up my integrity. If that’s all you wanted, I’m leaving,” Hu Qing moved to get up, but Minister Liang quickly stopped him.

“Hu Qing, don’t be like this. Listen, I’ll be sure to properly reward you if you tell me,” Minister Liang coaxed him.

“No thanks, I don’t need extra coin. I actually take pride in my work, you know, I can’t just start blabbering because you offered some spending money,” Hu Qing shot back. Minister Liang’s eyebrow twitched, but the man managed to keep his temper.

“I’m not offering money, you brat. I’m offering recognition.”

Hu Qing stiffened, staring at his uncle in disbelief.

Minister Liang continued reluctantly, evidently unwilling to make the offer. “I’ll add you to the family tree. You’ll be allowed to use the surname Liang and officially participate in rituals.”

“Why would you offer that? Aren’t you the one who doesn’t want me to be legitimized the most?” Hu Qing asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

Minister Liang shifted uncomfortably. “Our family’s future depends on the Seventh Prince’s success, surely you understand this.”

“And if you’re in his favor, he’ll ensure your position as the head of household regardless of my status?” Hu Qing asked with an edge in his voice. “Let me guess, I’ll be recognized as your nephew, won’t I? And whose son will I become?”

Minister Liang’s face hardened. “Don’t refuse the toast to drink the penalty wine. This is a chance that won’t come again!”

Hu Qing shook his head, letting out a cold laugh. “Uncle, I’m not interested in your position or any inheritance. I’ve waited for this day for years, but you’ve never so much as considered the option no matter what I did. And now you’re willing to do it to suck up to your newfound master?”

“Watch your tongue!” Minister Liang snapped. “I’m doing this for your own good, for the good of this family! You know why I couldn’t legitimize you earlier, but now things have changed! Can’t you see that this will benefit us in the long run?”

Hu Qing glared at Minister Liang for a long moment, disgust and hope intermingling in his chest to form a burning mess that scorched his insides.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Hu Qing said, making to leave.

“Hu Qing!” Minister Liang called after him.

Hu Qing turned to glance at him, forcibly biting down the biting words that threatened to bubble up. “Uncle, I have my own principles. There’s nothing I can tell you.”

He stormed out of the study, Minister Liang’s servant glancing anxiously after him before entering the study.

The Fifth Prince's household was usually a serene environment. The servants moved like clockwork, and everything happened at a calm, measured pace, reflecting the personality of its master.

The only oddity out among them was Qiu Jinwei, Yunqi's personal strategist and retainer, a brilliant man who was also extremely eccentric. Said man was currently walking down a corridor at a haphazard pace, slowing and speeding up as his thoughts ebbed and flowed. The servants of the household greeted him politely as he passed, but showed no sign of irritation as Qiu Jinwei ignored them. It was just how the man got sometimes when he was lost in his own thoughts.

Qiu Jinwei stuck out like a sore thumb in the Fifth Prince's household but was rather well-liked, the servants seeing him as some sort of a mascot. The strategist didn't follow etiquette or even seem to have any common sense whatsoever, but even the Third Prince didn't say anything, so why on earth would anyone else?

The only person who seemed to take an issue with Qiu Jinwei was Yunqi's maternal cousin, Shu Zhengyan. Zhengyan was a young man, barely past twenty, good-looking and slightly above average in ability, hailing from an illustrious clan that had very recently been brought to his knees. It was almost a given that he would be temperamental and arrogant in equal measure, and indeed, Zhengyan's temper had shown itself in angry bursts in the short period of time since his arrival.

The entire Shu family was currently banned from the capital, save for the Wise Consort who resided in the Inner Palace. Shu Zhengyan had only been allowed to join Yunqi after the Fifth Prince had repeatedly thrown political support behind the growth of the neutral faction, satisfying the Emperor enough to show this small amount of magnanimity. This certainly didn't help Shu Zhengyan's already-wounded pride, and the moodier the young man became, the closer people kept an eye on him, which would then further wound his pride. It was an ugly cycle, but given the sensitivity of the political situation at court, Yunqi had no choice but to keep his younger cousin under constant surveillance.

Qiu Jinwei's thoughts flitted to Shu Zhengyan's none-too-subtle attempts to ask about what Jinwei had told the Third and Fifth Princes about Wenyuan. The young man had nagged Jinwei earlier in the day, but after Jinwei's none-too-subtle rebukes, had stormed off and disappeared into his quarters. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, though Shu Zhengyan had never bothered Jinwei so boldly before.

Jinwei came to a full stop in his tracks, his right eye twitching. The startled serving girl Jinwei had stopped right next to came forward, looking at him in concern.

"Mister Qiu, is something the matter?"

Qiu Jinwei glanced around the corridor, a frown deepening on his face. He rubbed at his right eyelid, which was still twitching uncomfortably.

"Where is Young Master Shu right now?" Jinwei demanded. The serving girl shook her head, a look of alarm on her face.

"I don't know, sir. I'll go ask right away."

Jinwei remained where he was in the middle of the hall until the serving girl returned. The girl ran down the hall and came to a stop before him, wide-eyed and short of breath. Three guards followed her, looking just as alarmed.

"A-apologies, Mister Qiu. We were certain he was in his room, but he's gone!" One of the guards stammered.

"I hate it when I'm right," Qiu Jinwei said between gritted teeth. "Curses! I should've thought of this earlier!"

"Sir, where could he have gone?" The serving girl asked anxiously.

"No idea, but if my instincts are correct, he's doing something incredibly foolish as we speak. Notify the prince right away and send someone to check any buildings that his retinue has rented," Qiu Jinwei ordered.

"He didn't bring a retinue," the serving girl said cautiously.

Qiu Jinwei shook his head. "Not openly, no. But Lord Shu would've sent one anyway, the Emperor tacitly approved it when he allowed Young Master Shu to come to the capital. The housekeeper should know where they would be. Stop staring at me, hurry up and go!"

The serving girl and the three guards scampered off, splitting off in different directions to carry out their orders. Qiu Jinwei let out a heavy sigh.

"Goddamnit, why do I only think of these things when it's too late?" He muttered. "Let's just hope Sir Shu hasn't done anything stupid yet."

Liu Boyue kept his face in a polite smile as he finished listening to Minister Liang’s apology through the communication device. As Boyue ended the communication, he felt a small amount of relief. It was a pity that Hu Qing wouldn’t divulge the details, but if Hu Qing kept to client confidentiality and his identity remained a mystery to Zhao Wenyuan, then that meant Boyue and Minister Liang’s involvement would be firmly under wraps. The less Xianchun knew, the less he'd be implicated even if Liu Boyue's actions were ever uncovered.

The only downside to Hu Qing’s professionalism was that it covered Zhao Wenyuan as well. But the fact alone that Wenyuan was willing to hire Hu Qing, a complete stranger, and leave him alive after the fact narrowed down the possibilities of what could've happened.

A knock on the door drew him out of his thoughts.

“Sir Liu, there’s a messenger asking to speak with you,” a servant notified him.

“Whose house is he from?” Liu Boyue asked.

“He didn’t say, but he said it was important,” the servant replied.

“Alright, I’ll go meet with him,” Liu Boyue said, nodding for the servant to lead the way. Following the servant to the side gate, he was greeted by a middle-aged man who had the features of someone from the Northeast.

“Greetings, Sir Liu. Please pardon my rudeness in approaching you so abruptly,” the man said. “My master ordered me to deliver this to you.” As he spoke, the man took out a thin scroll that he handed over respectfully with both hands. Liu Boyue glanced at the scroll carefully before taking it.

“Who is your master?” Liu Boyue asked.

“Apologies, sir. I was ordered not to speak his name to you,” the man said, bowing his head.

“Then what is this?” Liu Boyue waved the scroll at him.

“Something that will be of use to you and His Highness the Seventh Prince,” the man replied.

“How so?”

“You will understand as soon as you read it,” the man bowed again. “I apologize, but I am unaware of its contents and thus cannot speak more on the matter. Now that I have delivered it to you, my work here is done.”

“Very well,” Liu Boyue sighed before nodding at the servant who had led him over. “Thank the man for his troubles and escort him out.”

The servant bowed, taking the coin Liu Boyue handed him and giving it to the messenger before leading the man away. Boyue watched after them, waiting until they had disappeared from earshot before gesturing to the second servant who was standing just out of sight. The servant approached.

“Your orders, sir?”

“Follow that man. I want to know exactly who sent him,” Liu Boyue ordered. The servant bowed and scurried off. Boyue stared after him with narrowed eyes. The servant was skilled enough not to be detected, but there was still the question of how cautious the messenger would be. All in all, it could take a while to figure out who the messenger worked for.

Liu Boyue headed back to his study and unrolled the scroll, his eyes narrowing as he read the contents. He slowly sank into a chair, running through the ramifications of what he had received. Even when the case involved such sensitive information, Wenyuan had the guts to trust an outsider like Hu Qing. Boyue couldn’t tell if the Zhao heir was bold or stupid.

In any case, it was enough to stir up an unprecedented shift in court.

“Good heavens,” Boyue muttered to himself. “Are they afraid that things aren’t chaotic enough?”

There was a knock at the door as a servant entered.

“Sir, apologies for the intrusion. We’ve tracked down the messenger,” the servant announced. Liu Boyue blinked in surprise. It hadn't been long since the messenger left, just how careless could he have been?

“Well? Who was his master?” Liu Boyue asked.

“We didn’t see him go to any of the major households, but we followed him back to his residence. From what we know, that building is currently rented by the retainers of the Shu household,” the servant replied.

“The Shu household?” Liu Boyue muttered. He nodded to the servant. “Good, you can go now.”

If it was the Shu household, then it must be related to Shu Zhengyan, the only member of the family who had been allowed into the capital.

“The Fifth Prince…no, that’s unlikely,” Liu Boyue mulled it over for a moment before heading towards Xianchun’s quarters at a measured pace, careful not to signal any unusual reactions to the servants and guards.

“My prince, it’s Boyue,” Liu Boyue called as he entered the doorway to Xianchun’s study.

“Come on in!”

Liu Boyue approached where Xianchun was leaning back in a chair, documents scattered before him, quickly kneeling on one knee in greeting. Xianchun waved for him to get up and sit down.

“It’s good that you’re here, Boyue. Look, these are the initial documents from the Ministry of Justice’s investigation,” Xianchun gestured at the haphazard pile of scrolls before him.

“I see,” Liu Boyue said. “It’s excellent that we have access to the Ministry of Justice now, at least we’re on an even playing field with the Third Prince in that regard.”

Xianchun nodded, chuckling in satisfaction as he picked up one of the scrolls.

“My prince, I just received something that may be more valuable than all of these documents put together,” Liu Boyue continued, offering up the scroll to Xianchun. Xianchun gave him a questioning look, but Boyue only pushed the scroll into the prince’s hands, nodding for Xianchun to read it.

Xianchun unfurled the scroll with a curious glint in his eyes, quickly scanning its contents. His face stiffened into a stony mask. Xianchun threw down the scroll, whirling towards Boyue.

“Is it true?” Xianchun demanded.

Liu Boyue lowered his head. “I’m not sure, my prince.”

“What a fucking mess,” Xianchun muttered.

“Though we can’t ascertain its truthfulness just yet, I believe it is at least based on fragments of truth. This was sent by members of the Shu household,” Liu Boyue said.

“The Shu household? None of them are here except for Shu Zhengyan…you mean it was that incompetent fool?” Xianchun asked. “But that means that Fifth Brother was involved.”

“I’m not sure about the Fifth Prince’s involvement,” Liu Boyue replied. “If it were him, he wouldn’t have done such a sloppy job and allowed us to find out the sender so easily.”

Even if it appeared that the Emperor had shown magnanimity by allowing Shu Zhengyan to return to the capital, it was in fact adding an additional burden to Yunqi by hoisting the most useless and incompetent member of the Shu family onto him.

Xianchun shook his head. “That goddamn idiot, his abilities are insufficient for getting anything done but are plenty for ruining things. I almost pity Fifth Brother for having a cousin like him. But if he’s gotten hold of this information, surely Fifth Brother and Third Brother already know as well. Just what did Shu Zhengyan intend by giving us something like this?”

“It’s a trap and a crude one at that. He hopes to reveal this information to the court by our hands instead of the Fifth and Third Prince’s. That way we would not only insult Wenyuan but also anger the Emperor. Did he think we wouldn’t see right through that?” Liu Boyue said disdainfully. “That Shu Zhengyan is unable to choose a path when desperate, like a man unable to choose his food in his hunger. My prince, what shall we do?”

“Send a message to Wenyuan. I have a gut feeling that this news may be closer to the truth that we’ve imagined. If it comes from Fifth Brother’s household, then that’s probably the case. I’m not sure what kind of talented men he’s gotten for himself, but Fifth Brother’s information tends to be uncannily correct.”

Liu Boyue gave him a look of surprise. “My prince, are you sure? If it’s likely to be true, then we should be all the more careful in how we react.”

“What else do you propose?” Xianchun asked. “Should secretly leak the news and have all the signs point towards Shu Zhengyan and Fifth Brother?”

Liu Boyue lowered his gaze, sensing that Xianchun was against the idea. “No, my prince. But is it necessary to disclose the news to him so soon? The longer we hold on to this information, the more desperate Shu Zhengyan is likely to become, which could only damage our opponent all the more. Even if Shu Zhengyan doesn’t make any further moves, discreetly holding on to this may serve to benefit us in the long run. Whether against the Grand Duke or the direction in which the neutral faction leans in the future, perhaps…” He trailed off, leaving the last part unsaid.

Xianchun shook his head. “You misunderstand me, Boyue. I don’t intend to let anyone use this information. Can’t you tell by now? Plots and schemes are the worst way to deal with Wenyuan. He looks harmless, but he has quite a temper. Even if Wenyuan doesn’t bite us in retaliation, he definitely won’t be satisfied without taking revenge. Rather than us, isn’t it better to place Fifth Brother into that position instead?”

“Your perceptiveness leaves us all in the dust, my prince. Then I’ll send a messenger to invite Wenyuan over,” Liu Boyue said. He bit down on the rising discomfort in his chest. Ever since the Yue Wuxuan case, Xianchun’s interest in Wenyuan had only grown despite the Zhao heir’s insistence on neutrality. But no matter what, Wenyuan was a political opponent, not a friend or ally. Xianchun was just unable, or perhaps unwilling, to see that clearly. It wasn't just an impediment to the prince's future, but also a threat to Boyue's position as well.

Xianchun didn't sense his friend's agitation, still engrossed in mulling over the situation. “Good idea, it’s best to discuss this in person,” Xianchun muttered. “No need to explicitly say anything in the message, but make sure he knows it's urgent.”

Kayla stared blankly at the message in her hands. It was after work hours, but not only did she have to deal with a long list of tasks, she had to deal with the ominous and vague message Xianchun had just sent.

Matron Li had quickly ushered the messenger to Kayla’s room, and the poor man was now trying not to shift on his feet as he nervously waited for Kayla to give a response. Understandable, given that she’d been staring at the slip of paper in utter silence for almost ten minutes now.

“The prince urgently requests your presence to speak of important matters to which a third person should not be privy. Make haste for your own sake.”

Kayla squinted at the paper, feeling like a character from an old sitcom she used to watch.

What the fuck does this mean? Is he picking a fight or something?

The message stared back at her with its neat handwriting.

Did he figure something out? Wenyuan asked. I mean, Hu Qing might’ve spilled the beans.

I doubt that he did, I think I have a pretty good grasp of his personality. In any case, I don’t think Hu Qing works for Xianchun. But there is no wall that does not leak wind, perhaps Xianchun did find out something after all.

You're trusting Hu Qing too much. And find out something? Find out what exactly?!

Kayla ignored Wenyuan's gripe about Hu Qing. Saying that she could trust him because he had the exact same personality as her best friend from college was a weak excuse, and Wenyuan wasn't likely to accept it either. Kayla also knew that she probably shouldn't trust him at all. Perhaps she was just growing desperate in her isolation and paranoia after entering this world, but the sense of familiarity Hu Qing gave her was especially comforting. There was also Kayla's inexplicable suspicion that Qu Boyong wouldn't be reliable for much longer, which made her anxious and guilty in equal parts. Shaking off the digression, Kayla replied to Wenyuan.

It’s not about Consort Chen, or Xianchun would go for my neck without sending a warning note like this. Then did he figure out what we have over the Grand Duke?

That would mean he has the cards to ruin us at any time!

Kayla sighed deeply, startling the messenger into taking a step back. She should’ve felt ice-cold panic rushing through her veins, but instead, there was just a slow, sinking feeling in her stomach. Maybe she was just too worn out from the turmoil of the last few days, but Kayla could only muster up a deep-set irritation.

“Did the Seventh Prince say when he wanted to meet?” Kayla asked.

“He would like to meet at your earliest convenience, Minister,” the messenger replied.

“Alright then,” Kayla sighed. “Let’s go.”

The messenger gave her a look of surprise before bowing his head. “Understood, Minister.” Kayla’s unease slowly increased as they headed to Xianchun’s residence so that it completely eclipsed her irritation by the time they’d arrived.

“The prince is waiting for you in the sitting room,” the messenger said politely. Kayla resisted glancing around too much. She’d been to both Kuang and Yunqi’s homes before, it was her first time inside Xianchun’s household. It almost surprised her how normal it all looked.

“Excuse me, your highness. Minister Zhao has arrived,” the messenger announced as he opened the door to the sitting room.

“Welcome,” Xianchun called, lifting a hand in greeting.

Kayla bowed her head. “Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince.”

“No need for formalities, come on in and sit,” Xianchun said. Kayla stiffly approached the offered seat.

“Your highness, may I ask what you wished to discuss with me?” Kayla asked pointedly.

“Apologies for calling you here so late at night, but the matter was rather urgent,” Xianchun replied. He reached into his robe and retrieved a thin scroll, holding it out to Kayla.

“This was sent to my household earlier today,” Xianchun explained.

Kayla gave him a questioning look before opening it. Her eyes widened as she read through it before belatedly fighting to keep her reaction under control. The scroll only contained a few sentences, but it was enough to dig her grave. She read over the last sentence several times, fury and panic churning around inside her chest.

“The case was wrapped up without an investigation into Minister Zhao to cover up his inappropriate relationship with Liu Hongyu.”

Oh shit. Fuck.

Kayla read it over again, her eyes narrowing. Not only do they know what cards I used, they’re doing everything they can to make it sound worse than it actually is. Who the fuck is this bastard? She stared mutely at the scroll, running through the situation in her head. Kayla had no idea who the mysterious sender was, but at the very least, it was unlikely to be Xianchun.

Then who the fuck is it? Do they have evidence? A chilling thought occurred to her. Shit, what if it’s the Grand Duke? He’s the only one besides us who actually knows the situation. Maybe he’s really going in for mutual destruction?

“Well, isn’t there anything you want to say?” Xianchun asked. “Surely you’ve read it more than three times by now.”

Kayla hesitated. She could deny it, but if the Grand Duke really was behind it, then he could back up his claims. If she confirmed the information, it put her political position at risk and gave Xianchun something to hold over her.

But on second thought, that wasn’t exactly the worst scenario either. Kayla needed Xianchun to see her as a completely separate entity from the Grand Duke. Now that she had the card of being only nominally related to him by blood, the second step was making sure that Xianchun understood that.

Kayla handed the scroll back to him, leaning back in the chair.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, my prince. But one thing is certain,” Kayla said calmly. “This letter is a trap.”

54-The Precipice

Yunqi clenched his fists, jaw clenched tightly together as Qiu Jinwei paced next to him.

"This brat, how much trouble is he planning to make?" Yunqi grit out, barely keeping his voice level.

"My prince, as long as you're certain he didn't have access to any confidential information, there is only so much he could've done. We can still mitigate the damage," Qiu Jinwei said in a weak attempt at comforting him.

"We'll know once he's back," Yunqi replied.

"My apologies, your highness. I should've known something was wrong once he started pressing me about what you and the Third Prince were discussing," Qiu Jinwei said.

Yunqi shook his head. "It's not the first time he's acted like this, you couldn't have known that this would be the time he actually did something."

There was a knock at the door, and the housekeeper entered the study.

"My prince, we've escorted Young Master Shu back. Shall I send him in right now?" The housekeeper asked nervously. As contained as Yunqi's anger was, it was rare enough an occurrence to set the household on edge.

Yunqi let out a sigh, giving the housekeeper a nod. "Yes, tell him that I require his presence immediately. Don't give him a chance to do anything else."

The housekeeper bowed and left, shortly returning with Shu Zhengyan in tow. The young man entered the room, looking irritated and anxious in equal parts.

"Cousin, Mister Qiu," Shu Zhengyan greeted each of them in a half-mumble.

"Zhengyan, where did you go earlier? Didn't I specifically instruct you to never leave the household alone? I thought my heart was going to stop when I realized you had left without a word," Yunqi scolded him, unable to fully keep the harsh edge out of his voice.

Shu Zhengyan lowered his head, looking chagrined. "I'm sorry, cousin. I...I didn't really do anything much, I just wanted to check in on the guys from my household."

"Is that how it was? Zhengyan, I already know what you've done. Now it's up to you, do you want to say it yourself or do you wish for me to say it?" Yunqi demanded.

Shu Zhengyan looked up in surprise, the gears in his head turning furiously as he tried to figure out if Yunqi was bluffing or not. The fact that Yunqi was uncharacteristically expressing his anger seemed to suggest that the Fifth Prince really had figured it out, but Shu Zhengyan didn't want to take the risk that it was all a bluff.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zhengyan said softly.

"You don't? Really, Zhengyan. As disappointed as I may be with you, at the very least I wish for you to act with honor when confronted with your misdeeds. An upright man dares to act and dares to take responsibility," Yunqi said, his voice low and dangerous.

Zhengyan gulped, glancing at Qiu Jinwei. The strategist started back with a disapproving frown.

After a long moment, Zhengyan's shoulders slumped a little. "I'm very sorry, cousin. I shouldn't have placed a recording talisman in your study."

Yunqi was livid and shocked in equal measure, but to his credit, managed to keep on acting as though he already knew. "That's all you have to apologize for?"

Shu Zhengyan shrank back a little at Yunqi's icy tone. "Cousin, this really isn't a chance we can afford to pass up! If it doesn't go well, I'm happy to take the blame for it. But on the off-chance that it does, then both the Seventh Prince and the Zhao household will take a huge blow," he said.

"Surely you didn't," Yunqi said in horror. "You fool!"

Qiu Jinwei hastily stepped forward. "My prince, please calm your anger. Young Master Shu, who in the Seventh Prince's household did your messenger speak to?"

"My messenger didn't know anything, I just had him deliver a scroll to the Seventh Prince's secretary," Shu Zhengyan said in a small voice.

"You gave physical evidence to the Seventh Prince's strategist?!" Qiu Jinwei screeched. "Good heavens, did you at least tell the messenger to leave the city?!"

"No," Shu Zhengyan said hesitantly. "But I told him to lay low after he was done."

"Lay low where? At the building he rented?" Qiu Jinwei pressed on.

"Well, yes, but the safe house is under the name of someone who isn't affiliated with the Shu family," Shu Zhengyan said. His voice wavered uncertainly.

Yunqi let out a noise of frustration, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Zhengyan, return to your room immediately," Yunqi grit out.

"Cousin, I-"

"Housekeeper Ke!" Yunqi called. The housekeeper quickly entered, bowing his head.

"At your service, my prince."

"Escort my cousin back to his room. I want eyes on him at all times, regardless of day or night, he is not to leave this household under any circumstances from this moment onwards until I retract my orders," Yunqi said.

"Wait, cousin!" Zhengyan protested.

"Understood, my prince." The housekeeper bowed before turning to Shu Zhengyan. "Young Master Shu, if you please."

With an angry huff, Shu Zhengyan allowed the housekeeper to lead him away. Yunqi dropped his head into his hands, a growing sense of dread weighing down his body.

He let out a sigh, staring blankly at the floor in despair. "We're done for, aren't we? In any case...notify Third Brother. More likely than not, this will get ugly."

Back in the Seventh Prince's residence, Kayla carefully placed the incriminating scroll into Xianchun’s hands. “This letter is a trap. I’m not sure who sent this to you, but their malice isn’t just directed at me.”

Xianchun frowned. “Is it true then?”

“You can say it’s true and you can also say it isn’t true,” Kayla said, keeping her tone casual. “Whoever it is, they’re great at making ambiguous statements to stir up a fuss. I’m almost wondering if they got an auntie with a love for gossip to write this for them.”

Shit, I said that last part out loud.

“I can’t say that they’re completely wrong, but I can definitely tell you that it’s not completely right either. Because of how ambiguous the situation was, no one other than the ones directly involved can give their judgment. For anyone else to try to make use of it would be fanning a fire to burn themselves,” Kayla pressed on.

“Then what is the situation? I’d rather hear you explain it yourself,” Xianchun replied.

“Could you tell me who sent this to you first?” Kayla asked.

“Shu Zhengyan. You may have heard of him, he’s Fifth Brother’s maternal cousin,” Xianchun said without hesitation. Kayla stared at him in surprise for a moment, gears spinning inside her head.

No wonder Xianchun isn’t hesitating to tell me, it involves the Fifth Prince. Wait, was there a guy like that in the original novel? Other than his mother, none of Yunqi’s maternal family had ever appeared until they were killed by Xianchun.

“I guess you haven’t heard then,” Xianchun said. “Father previously prohibited anyone from the Shu family to return to the capital, but he recently made an exception for Shu Zhengyan to join Yunqi’s household.”

The Emperor stops everyone from coming back except a guy who stirs up trouble and gets caught so easily? Is he trying to make an excuse to depose Yunqi? But why would he do that? It tips the scales in Xianchun’s favor if the Third Prince loses Yunqi.

Kayla hesitated for a moment. No, the Emperor has no reason to do that. He’s ambivalent towards Yunqi and the Wise Consort, it’s the Shu family that he wants to get rid of. Was he hoping Shu Zhengyan would make a mistake? This feels more like something the Empress Dowager would do, but she values family a lot while the Emperor’s the one who’s more likely to treat his in-laws like this.

“How…unexpected,” Kayla managed.

“Shu Zhengyan was allowed back because he’s bad at everything. In other words, he’s not a threat,” Xianchun explained. “But it seems he’s still rather valued within Fifth Brother’s household if he was able to get hold of this information. Now that I’ve explained my side of things, it’s your turn.”

Kayla nodded. “Thank you, my prince. As for my situation, it's a little complicated. But to put it simply, Liu Hongyu was infatuated with my mother.”

Xianchun stared at her in surprise. “What?”

“He hid it well, but he was actually rather obsessive. I take after her, so my grandfather decided to make use of that to cement his alliance with Liu Hongyu. It was mostly just drinking free wine while listening to him spout bullshit and slander, but it was difficult to deal with him because he kept bringing up my mother,” Kayla explained. “That was why I eventually got fed up and complained to uncle.”

“Hence the lese-majeste charges,” Xianchun muttered. “But even if that were the case, it only adds to Liu Hongyu’s crimes. How does that implicate you and the Grand Duke?”

“Liu Hongyu wasn’t just like that towards my mother, but towards me as well. The letter was just saying it in a way that would cause people to misunderstand. There wasn’t any 'relationship' to speak of per se, it was just that Liu Hongyu would speak inappropriately every so often, but my grandfather ignored all my complaints. It wasn’t really anything serious, but definitely enough that the rumors would spiral out of control. Since my grandfather values his reputation, I was able to make use of that,” Kayla said, drastically understating everything to the best of her abilities.

But how the hell did the Fifth Prince find out? Kayla grimaced a little. She didn’t think Hu Qing worked for the Third Prince’s faction, but either there was someone really good at piecing together bits of a puzzle by instinct alone, or the information had been leaked.

So we still can’t exclude the Grand Duke either…She was startled out of her thoughts by Xianchun’s angry response.

“How is it not serious? He dared to humiliate an official of the court and a member of the Imperial Family at that!” Xianchun snapped. “Then what about that time you left his household covered in wine? Was that nothing serious either?”

“So you also heard about that,” Kayla muttered.

“The entire city heard about it.”

“I was only aiming for a small fuss, but I guess it stirred up more attention than I expected,” Kayla said. “That was when I went to apologize to him and he poured a bottle of wine on my head.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“I splashed wine on him because I got fed up. But that’s not important,” Kayla said.

“Sometimes I really have to wonder about what you consider important,” Xianchun replied.

Kayla avoided Xianchun’s piercing stare.

“This information isn’t something I’d make use of, so you can rest at ease about that.”

Kayla glanced at him in surprise. This time, Xianchun was the one to hold the cards. Was he really going to let go of this chance?

“I still remember your criticism from last time with Yu Bianfu,” Xianchun said drily. “You asked why the prince of a nation would stoop to using such methods.”

When the hell did I say that? I don’t even remember anymore.

Kayla lowered her head. “I apologize for my rudeness.”

“Forget it. But why did you wait this long to start taking action? Your grandfather treated you in such a degrading way, how on earth did you put up with it?” Xianchun asked.

Kayla shook her head. “I’ve been terrified of my grandfather since I was a young child. While my mother was alive, I was taught to respect and obey him, and once she passed away…well, let’s just say things got worse.”

“That was about when you became an official,” Xianchun remarked softly.

“It’s just as you say. My mother had just died, and I relied on my grandfather for a lot of help, so it was all the more difficult to speak up against him or refuse his orders,” Kayla said.

“You had the support of my father and grandmother, more so than we did. Why didn’t you ask for help?” Xianchun asked.

“It wasn’t just a matter of political support. There was also that I thought of him first and foremost as my family member, so even if only out of emotional attachment, it was difficult to refuse or strike back. It took a while, but eventually, I realized that not just myself, but the entire Zhao family was doomed if things went on like this,” Kayla explained.

Xianchun sighed, nodding. “It seems you've been in a difficult position. In any case, you have nothing to worry about from me. But what do you plan on doing about Fifth Brother?”

“I get the feeling that this isn’t his doing. Most likely, it’s that Shu Zhengyan who went behind his back,” Kayla said. “Fifth Cousin wouldn’t approve of such a thing, it’s not his style. He’s the most gentlemanly out of us. If anything, he’s also been screwed over by this.”

“You have quite the high opinion of him,” Xianchun said.

“If it were the other way around, I also wouldn’t think that you were behind it,” Kayla said, not at all believing that.

“Good, I would be angry if you thought otherwise. Even if you’re not my ally, you at least share some of the same goals. I wouldn’t make such a low-handed attack against you.”

“Thank you for your words, my prince,” Kayla said. “And speaking of which, I still haven’t given my thanks for your help in the Li Sanjin case. Without Minister Liang’s support, there’s no way I could’ve gotten out of that one whole and hale.”

“As I said, we share the same goals. It’s only natural,” Xianchun replied. “Let’s deal with it like this, I’ll send this scroll directly back to Fifth Brother and see how he responds.”

Kayla mulled it over before nodding her assent. If it was Shu Zhengyan acting out by himself, Yunqi would be scrambling to clean up the mess, and if for some reason the Fifth Prince had been involved, his cautious nature would prevent him from making a move before ascertaining Xianchun’s reaction.

She watched Xianchun carefully as he called in a servant and gave him the scroll and some instructions. Once they were left alone again, Xianchun gave her a reassuring nod.

“I’m grateful for your support, especially given the events of the last few days,” Kayla said.

“The Li Sanjin case must have been difficult for you. But you used to work in the Ministry of Justice, surely they didn’t trouble you too much?”

“Of course not, they were very considerate. It’s just…” Kayla trailed off, trying to create a chance to naturally bring up the lack of direct blood relation between Wenyuan and the Grand Duke.

“Is there something else troubling you?” Xianchun asked.

“I’m just having a hard time adjusting. I only learned the other day the truth about my father, and now I suddenly feel so out of place in the Zhao household,” Kayla said.

Xianchun shifted to lean forward. “What are you talking about? What about your father?”

“It seems that…well, my father isn’t the Grand Duke’s son,” Kayla mumbled.

“What?” Xianchun gave her a look of utter disbelief. “That’s not possible! He was the heir, wasn’t he? He even managed to marry my aunt!”

“It’s complicated,” Kayla said hesitantly. “But could I trouble you to hear out my frivolous concerns?”

“Of course, go ahead,” Xianchun said, badly hiding his curiosity.

“Well, it’s like this…”

Yunqi leaned his chin on his hand, breathing in deeply as Qiu Jinwei paced the room.

“What’s with you two?”

Yunqi glanced up, his eyes filling with relief at the sight of Kuang’s arrival.

“I humbly greet the Third Prince,” Jinwei mumbled, bowing toward Kuang.

“Brother!” Yunqi shot up from his chair. Kuang closed the distance between them and gently pushed Yunqi back into his seat.

“What’s happened?” Kuang asked with concern. If Yunqi, who was usually the epitome of restraint and calmness lost his cool, it was evident that something major had gone down.

“It’s Shu Zhengyan, that accursed fool! He got ahold of Jinwei's theory from our last discussion,” Yunqi took a deep breath, trying to forcefully quell his temper.

"How on earth is that possible? We were the only ones here," Kuang said.

“Sir Shu admitted to using a recording spell,” Jinwei cut in.

“What?!” Kuang said in disbelief. “What does he think he's doing? How could he be so insolent and faithless when you’ve welcomed him into your home and given him your trust?”

“That’s not the worst of it,” Yunqi said heavily. He hesitated, searching for the words.

Jinwei stepped in and continued for him. “Sir Shu confessed that he had his subordinate leak the information to the Seventh Prince.”

“Good heavens, what the hell does he think he’s doing? He’ll bring a crisis upon all of us!” Kuang snarled. “That brat, I don’t care if he wants to dig his own grave, but not if he’s dragging you in! If it's difficult for you to reprimand him, I'll do it for you!”

Yunqi dropped his head into his hands in despair. “He thinks he did well by setting up a trap, but he’s the one who walked right into one! Now that Xianchun has everything he needs to crush the Shu family, how can we possibly expect him to hold back?”

Kuang hurriedly put a hand on Yunqi’s shoulder. “Yunqi, calm down, I’ll definitely figure out a solution to this,” he comforted him.

“The best solution is to hand the life and death of Shu Zhengyan to Minister Zhao,” Jinwei chimed in.

“No! Absolutely not! My uncle begged me on his knees to protect Zhengyan, how can I hand him over like that?!”

Jinwei flinched a little at Yunqi’s uncharacteristic shout. “T-then the second-best solution is to directly admit Shu Zhengyan's guilt, but insist on taking responsibility yourself. If the prince is taking responsibility, Minister Zhao will definitely feel pressured to drop it, and perhaps we can work out a deal with the Seventh Prince by offering some concessions. After all, we still have something to hold over Minister Zhao, so he'll also be inclined towards arbitrating an agreement. But if the Emperor catches wind of this somehow…”

“Then the Shu family’s truly done for,” Kuang finished the thought for him. “I won’t allow that.”

He turned to Yunqi, who looked increasingly disheartened. “Yunqi, I understand your difficulties. I’ll take responsibility, so just push everything onto me,” Kuang said comfortingly, clapping a hand onto Yunqi’s shoulder.

“No, definitely not. Third Brother, my family’s fate, as well as the fate of this country, all of it depends on your success,” Yunqi said. He drew in a deep breath, forcing a smile. “I’ll take care of it.”

“This’ll only be a small setback, it won’t matter in the long run! We can just agree to whatever Xianchun asks. That kid may be smart, but he’s not far-sighted enough to cause us critical damage. I can’t stand by and let your predicament become more difficult than it already is,” Kuang insisted.

“An embankment of a thousand miles can be destroyed by an ant colony, a building of a hundred meters can be burnt down by sparks from a crack in the chimney. Important matters under heaven are all decided by details, and the throne is no exception,” Yunqi said. “I can’t let something like this become a burden to you. Xianchun sent Shu Zhengyan’s message right back to me just earlier. I didn't tell you or Jinwei yet, but before you came in, I already sent a messenger to apologize to Wenyuan and Xianchun.”

“Yunqi!” Kuang grabbed Yunqi by the shoulders with a distressed expression, hastily loosening his grip to avoid using too much strength.

“It’s alright, Third Brother. It’s because I have such a reliable brother that I’m fine with doing this,” Yunqi assured him.

“Yunqi, you really…I’m grateful for your thoughtfulness, but where does that leave you? What will you do if Xianchun makes a fuss out of this?” Kuang asked. “No, we can’t wait until he makes a move. That kid doesn’t hold back in the slightest, looking ahead without thinking about the consequences. I’ll go right now and meet with him and Wenyuan. If I offer concessions of some sort-”

“I already stated that I will send Shu Zhengyan from the capital and that I will properly recompense them however they wish, they should be satisfied with ousting me from the court. Thank you, Third Brother. But like you said, Xianchun doesn’t have a sense of restraint. Who knows how he’ll force your hand? It’ll leave us in a very beholden position, and I can’t allow that. Whatever concessions he asks for will have to come from me.”

“Sending Shu Zhengyan back? Do you know how much trouble that’ll cause you? Your family will definitely kick up a fuss!” Kuang said.

“I’ll manage. I feel apologetic towards my uncle, but it can’t be helped,” Yunqi said grimly.

“You’re sending me out of the capital?”

Yunqi and Kuang turned at the sound of Zhengyan’s voice.

"What are you doing here?" Yunqi demanded. "I ordered you to reflect on your misdeeds in your room."

“Cousin, my father begged on his knees for this chance, but you’d chase me out like this?” Zhengyan said in a small voice.

“Do you even realize how much trouble you’ve caused?” Kuang asked angrily. “You’ve created a mess for your cousin to deal with! What else could you expect him to do?!”

“Third Brother,” Yunqi hastily stepped between them. “I’ll deal with this, please leave it to me.”

Kuang gave him a sympathetic look, gently patting Yunqi on the arm.

“Alright then, I’ll head back first. My men will keep an eye on Xianchun and Wenyuan and track whatever moves they make, so don’t worry too much,” Kuang comforted him.

“Thank you,” Yunqi said. Kuang gave him a nod and left the room, shooting an angry look in Zhengyan’s direction. Jinwei hastily bowed in Yunqi’s direction before heading out as well.

Once they were alone in the room, Yunqi let out a sigh.

“Zhengyan, it’s not that I don’t want to keep you, but look at what you’ve done,” Yunqi said in a weary voice.

“What’s so wrong with what I did? I only did what you must’ve thought of!”

“But I didn’t do it for a reason,” Yunqi replied. “Why did you think to go against my wishes like this?”

“I did it because I knew you wouldn’t! I knew you were too much of a coward!” Shu Zhengyan shouted.

Yunqi stared at his cousin in disbelief and outrage, finally losing his temper.

“Curse you, you fool!” Yunqi snarled in a low voice. “Do you even understand what you’ve done? You’ve dishonored me, and you’ve dishonored your house! If you were going to make a move like this, did it not at least occur to you not to make such a mess out of it?!”

“I may not have done it well, but don’t you see that we have no choice? What good is honor when we’ve already fallen to these straits?” Shu Zhengyan shot back. “Are we meant to sit and wait for death?!”

“I’m already working on it!” Yunqi shouted. Zhengyan stepped back in surprise. Yunqi almost never raised his voice, and it was the first time Zhengyan had ever borne witness to the sight. After a long moment, Zhengyan shook his head.

“And how long will that take?” Zhengyan asked. “You’d wait for the Seventh Prince to gain enough ground to fight the Third Prince on equal terms like the Empress Dowager wishes, and then overtake him? What happens to us in the meantime? The Emperor doesn’t care about whether or not we make it through, but don’t you care at least? Your mother, your grandfather, your uncles, your cousins, you’d leave us all to face our demise like this?!”

“Of course not! As I said, I’m already doing what I can! Can’t you see that your course of action will only worsen the situation?” Yunqi demanded.

“How much worse can it get? Do you know that my sister’s husband tried to divorce her? They’ve been married for twelve years, and the second our family lost our influence, he didn’t hesitate to force her out along with her children in front of the entire household! And my other siblings and cousins, everyone who was purged from the military had their assets seized. They were forced to leave the military posts in the middle of the day, before all of their colleagues and subordinates. We’ve loyally served the dynasty for our entire lives, only to be publicly humiliated and brought to ruin! And what have you done?” Zhengyan hissed.

Zhengyan stepped closer to Yunqi, glaring at him as though lamenting iron that can’t turn into steel. “You’re the Fifth Prince. You’re the hope of our clan! But what you've done nothing! Do you know how much hope we’ve squandered on you? The fact that you won’t even try for the throne and instead support the Third Prince notwithstanding, you wouldn’t even fight for our family in court and hid in your household instead!”

“You don’t understand anything! My father’s always been wary of our clan’s military power, and now I’m meant to gain political power as well? If I had chosen to fight for our family in the Imperial court, what do you think would’ve happened? You wouldn’t be standing here right now, and our grandfather would no longer be alive! I’ve seen enough of the court, of what happened to my older brothers and their families, I know what I can do and that I can’t do if I want our family to survive!” Yunqi snarled. “This is the path I chose after considering every possible option, you have no idea how close our family was to facing extermination!”

“The Emperor wants to cull the clans, I know this much. But who’s his primary opponent? Isn’t it the Grand Duke? He’s too much of a coward to take on that old codger, so he sharpens his blade on us instead!” Zhengyan shot back. “And you’ve got a whole armory of excuses for why you’ve chosen to stand by and allow this! Look at the Third Prince, the older brother you rely on so much. His clan has plenty of military power as well, but why has his family been left alone? It’s because he’s fighting for them!”

“It’s because they’re spread out across various posts in the country, all of which still need them there! Our clan’s concentrated in the Northeast, who do you think the Emperor views as a greater threat?” Yunqi shouted. “I don’t care if you think I’m a coward, but I won’t allow you to doom our clan with your short-sightedness!”

He jabbed a finger in Zhengyan’s chest, fighting the urge to grab his cousin by the shoulders and shake some sense into him.

“All these years, my father has always treated me and my mother as though we were his enemies and not his wife and child, I know exactly the weight of our clan in his heart. Ever since I was a child, I’ve thought through the various scenarios and how to deal with them over and over, because I knew this would happen eventually! Did I not warn grandfather? Did I not warn my uncles? But none of you would listen. Even with my marriage, I warned you guys to take your hands off of it! But they interfered anyways to satisfy their greed, and look what happened. The moment my father allowed my wife to be killed, that was the moment when our clan’s fate was decided. I withdrew from politics to a nominal role to try and appease my father. That’s the only reason why you were allowed to return to the capital and why you're still breathing right now!”

Zhengyan broke eye contact, his eyes filling with tears. From the obstinate clench of his jaw, Yunqi could tell that Zhengyan didn’t understand. Yunqi let out a deep sigh, stepping away from his cousin to sink into a chair.

“Zhengyan, leave the capital and don’t send anyone to replace you. I’ll arrange for your journey and give you some funds to take with you, so don’t do anything foolish and live quietly until things take a turn for the better,” Yunqi said.

The heavy weight of his clan felt as though it was crushing his ribcage to squeeze his organs until they burst. Yunqi had no idea how he was supposed to wrap up the situation with Wenyuan and Xianchun, but at the very least, he could save Zhengyan from their wrath, even if his cousin didn’t understand Yunqi’s intentions in the slightest.

“You’re really chasing me out,” Zhengyan said in a trembling voice.

“You forced my hand,” Yunqi replied.

Zhengyan stood in the doorway, glaring at Yunqi for a long moment before storming off. Alone in the room again, Yunqi buried his head in his hands.

“For heaven’s sake, just what am I supposed to do?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, clasping trembling fingers together tightly. His only hope now was that Wenyuan and Xianchun would be willing to compromise. But if Wenyuan felt offended enough, there was no telling what the man would do. If this was brought into the palace, the situation would spiral out of control.

Father would have the excuse he needs to kill my uncle and grandfather, Yunqi tried to breathe past the sinking weight in his chest. Then what happens to my mother? What about the rest of the family?

Yunqi opened his eyes, staring desolately into the distance.

What happens to me?

55-The Burden of Responsibility

Kayla’s discussion with Xianchun was interrupted by a servant knocking on the door.

“Your Highness, it’s a messenger from the Fifth Prince.”

Xianchun glanced at Kayla, who gave him an encouraging nod. Xianchun’s stance was aligned with Kayla's, but there was still the issue of whether the Fifth Prince would choose to grit his teeth and back up Shu Zhengyan.

“Send him in,” Xianchun ordered. After a moment, a servant led in the messenger.

“Your Highness, Minister Zhao, this lowly servant humbly greets you,” the messenger said.

“What does my brother want?” Xianchun demanded.

“The Fifth Prince sends his deepest apologies for his household's transgression, which he would like to deliver in person with your permission,” the messenger said haltingly. “He wishes to make his amends through whatever recompense Minister Zhao determines necessary.”

Kayla carefully kept her face a blank mask. He's admitting it this easily? Don't people usually try to make excuses or deny it at least once? I guess he really doesn't want to stir up a fuss. Then again, Yunqi knows Xianchun's personality well, if he denies it, Xianchun definitely wouldn't let the matter go.

“That's certainly very straightforward of him. How is he going to explain this situation?” Xianchun asked.

The messenger bowed his head. “Young Master Shu took action on his own without consulting anyone else, but as his education has been entrusted to His Highness the Fifth Prince, the responsibility of the matter will fall on the Fifth Prince. Young Master Shu will be severely reprimanded and sent out of the capital by noon tomorrow at the latest, and the Fifth Prince is willing to pay dues in his place. The prince swears upon his honor that nothing of the sort will ever be allowed to happen again.”

“I see,” Kayla said, glancing at Xianchun. If Yunqi was being this straightforward, then his offer to negotiate was probably sincere. She rather liked Yunqi, the most reasonable out of all of the nobles. Personal feeling aside, it would be a bad idea to insult the Third and Fifth Prince, much less make them think she’d fully thrown her support behind Xianchun.

Xianchun was in a good mood after learning of the Grand Duke's messy familial situation, vindictively pleased that the Zhao clan's internal affairs were even messier than the Imperial Family's. Given his unusually high spirits, Kayla could probably get him to agree to let the matter go.

“Tell my brother that I have nothing to say,” Xianchun said, his mouth a hard line. The messenger lowered his head nervously.

Kayla cleared her throat. “Please tell the Fifth Prince that I’m grateful for his sincerity. I will strive to provide a proper response as soon as possible.”

Xianchun gave her a look of surprise, but the messenger bowed with visible relief.

“Thank you! I’ll take my leave now. Your highness, Minister,” the messenger bowed at each of them before hastily leaving the room.

Xianchun shifted in his seat to face Kayla. “Wenyuan, what are you thinking? Are you afraid of Fifth Brother?”

“I’m not afraid of him at all,” Kayla replied.

“Then it’s Third Brother you’re afraid of? He’s at a disadvantage right now, why should you be the one backing down?” Xianchun demanded.

You’re the scariest one out of the three, Kayla griped silently.

“I’m not particularly afraid of Third Cousin. In any case, I’m not backing down out of fear.”

“Then what is it?” Xianchun asked, leaning forward in curiosity.

“I’m willing to let go of the matter,” Kayla said hesitantly. “The question is if you would be alright with that?”

“You mean you’re letting Shu Zhengyan off the hook? He tried to trap both of us,” Xianchun asked, visibly irritated.

“That’s true, but the one who’ll really take a hit from this matter isn’t him, but Fifth Cousin. Honestly, it’s not like I can’t understand Shu Zhengyan. He’s desperate because of the plight of his family, so he’s making short-sighted moves without regard for even his own cousin. But he did try to screw us over, so my sympathy for him is limited.”

Kayla paused, letting out a sigh. “On the other hand, Fifth Cousin would be in a difficult position. If he’s forced to send Shu Zhengyan back when Uncle has finally allowed that brat to come to the capital, then Fifth Cousin will be openly refuting the Emperor’s favor. That may only invoke Uncle’s wrath against the Shu family. But if Fifth Cousin explains the reason, then Uncle will only be angrier. It puts him in too much of a predicament,” Kayla explained.

“Well, you’re certainly good at being considerate towards Fifth Brother,” Xianchun scoffed, an irritated scowl on his face.

“Fifth Cousin is a decent man, and he’s also my cousin. This matter was out of his hands,” Kayla hastily replied.

“He should’ve kept his own people in line then,” Xianchun shot back.

“The allure of power is something that will drive men to madness. Even if the Fifth Prince has resisted its call, how can someone in a desperate situation ignore a chance to change their fates? It's impossible to rein in everyone's desires,” Kayla said.

She leaned forward to meet Xianchun’s gaze. “Right now, you have a limited amount of allies, all of whom are highly dedicated to the same ideals. But what about in the future? As your faction grows, there will inevitably be people who are in it for power, riches, or glory. Or even if they share the same ideals, they may be far more extreme than you’re willing to be. What then? Can you really make sure every single person is kept in line?”

“Of course I understand that, it’s something any leader will have to face. But what are you trying to say?” Xianchun demanded.

“I’m asking you to let Fifth Cousin off the hook so you’ll have more leeway in the future, should you ever face a similar situation,” Kayla explained. “Fifth Cousin is a man of honor, he’ll be sure to repay your favor. Rather than push your own brother into a corner, why not give both him and yourself some breathing space? I’m not saying that Shu Zhengyan’s off the hook. How about sending Shu Zhengyan back with the excuse of health and replacing him with someone who’s less of a troublemaker? It's humiliating enough for Shu Zhengyan, but it also avoids pushing Fifth Cousin into desperate straits. If none of us stir up a fuss about it, Uncle probably won’t say anything either.”

Xianchun didn’t reply, sinking into a thoughtful silence. After a long moment, he nodded.

“Alright then, since you insist, then I’ll just think of it as doing you a favor instead of my brother,” Xianchun said.

“My prince, aren’t you pushing me into debt a bit too brazenly?” Kayla protested. Xianchun chuckled lightly.

“Why not? Fifth Brother would never ask this favor of me, knowing that he can’t promise me anything that he hasn’t already sworn to Third Brother’s service,” Xianchun said. At Kayla’s troubled expression, he shook his head. “Forget it, I’m not actually going to make you repay it.”

Seeing that Xianchun's good mood was still going strong, Kayla gladly took the offer.

“Thank you, my prince,” Kayla quickly said. “Once a great man’s words have been spoken, it can’t be chased back even by the swiftest horses, so I’ll take your word for it.”

“Hey,” Xianchun said in a warning tone, but he didn’t actually seem to be irritated.

“But really, thank you. In a way, this makes my work a lot easier as well,” Kayla admitted.

“I see now why Father chose you to head the neutral faction,” Xianchun sighed in defeat. “Alright then, go ahead and tell Fifth Brother. I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear the news.”

The second she arrived at the Fifth Prince's household, Kayla was greeted by Yunqi himself.

He must really be worried if he’s going so far as to greet me right at the door himself.

Kayla bowed her head. “Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets the Fifth Prince.”

“No need for formalities, Wenyuan. Thank you for joining me on such short notice,” Yunqi said. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

Kayla gave him a look of surprise. In front of the servants too? He really is serious.

“You’re much too kind, my prince, there’s no need for that,” Kayla hastily said. “This may be rude to ask, but may I speak with you in private? There’s something that I wanted to discuss.”

“Of course, this way please.” Yunqi led her to the sitting room where they had first met. They sat at the same table as before, a kettle of tea and two cups already on the table. The only difference from their first meeting was that this time, Yunqi was the one in a precarious position.

As soon as they were alone, Yunqi leaned forward in his seat.

“Wenyuan, I really am sorry about this. My cousin’s foolish actions are unforgivable, but please go easy on him on account of his young age. I’ll take responsibility in his stead,” Yunqi said.

“There’s no need for you to apologize, my prince. You weren’t involved in this, were you?”

“I may not have participated, but I allowed this to happen while Zhengyan was under my care,” Yunqi replied. “I have no excuse. If I may be shameless enough to make a request, I'd ask you to be merciful and handle this matter privately.”

“Please be at ease, your highness. I don’t intend to pursue this matter any further, and neither does the Seventh Prince,” Kayla said. “Shu Zhengyan’s only just come of age, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary for him to make a mistake. It happens to the best of us.”

Yunqi gave her a look of incomprehension.

“It may be rude for me to speak about your family affairs, but it seems that Shu Zhengyan isn’t very suited for life in the capital, given that his body has trouble adjusting to the local soil and water. Perhaps it would be best for him to return to the Northeast and have another one of your cousins join you here instead,” Kayla said.

Yunqi hesitated for a moment before giving her a grateful smile. His eyes shone with immense relief. In the worst-case scenario, Yunqi and the Shu family could have faced complete destruction. It was as though the sword hanging over their heads had been lifted away, but Yunqi's relief was tinged with a note of bitterness. Despite the temporary respite, it didn't change the fact that the sword had been in the hands of Yunqi's younger brother, and handed to Xianchun by Yunqi's cousin, all while they stood in a cage of the Emperor's making.

“Indeed, that seems to be the case,” Yunqi replied, his voice heavy with emotion. The tacit agreement was a done deal on Kayla and Xianchun’s side, and it was now up to Yunqi to make an offer on his side.

“Wenyuan, words aren’t enough to express my gratitude for your magnanimity,” Yunqi said. “Please allow me to repay you.”

“There’s no need for such things between family,” Kayla replied. “I’m sure you would do the same for me or the Seventh Prince.”

In other words, you’d better repay the favor for Xianchun or I'll have left him hanging.

Yunqi smiled. “Of course.”

“As for the contents of the scroll, I’m afraid there may have been a misunderstanding,” Kayla continued. “I’m not sure who you may have heard this from, but there wasn’t any relationship to speak of between Liu Hongyu and me, I just drank with him to please my grandfather. I only threatened to make a huge fuss because I was left with no way out.”

“I apologize for my needless speculation,” Yunqi said apologetically. “I admit that I was curious about the case, and it seems to have infected my cousin as well. My cousin overheard bits and pieces of random rumors from the streets and came to strange conclusions on his own.”

Both of them were drastically misrepresenting their situations, but Kayla didn’t care how Yunqi put it as long as he was bound to silence.

“Please don’t worry about it, it is a situation that can be easily misunderstood. To be honest, I purposefully made it that way since I didn’t have anything else that could get my grandfather to back down,” Kayla said, shaking her head. Yunqi picked up her tone, sensing that the negotiation wasn’t over yet.

“I have to admit that I was surprised. I didn’t think that the Grand Duke would take such a drastic action against you, given that you’re his grandson and only heir,” Yunqi said.

“It is pretty unbelievable, isn’t it? But the truth is, I’m not his grandson,” Kayla admitted.

“What? I don’t understand, how is that possible?” Yunqi asked in bafflement.

“My father’s the son of the Grand Duke’s cousin,” Kayla explained. “I only learned of this recently as well.”

“That–it must’ve been a huge shock for you,” Yunqi said sympathetically after a moment of disbelief.

“It was, but I have to say that I felt a bit of relief,” Kayla replied. “A few years ago, I certainly would’ve been deeply disappointed to learn this, but now I only feel as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It explains why my grandfather has always been so antagonistic towards me.”

“I’m sorry, Wenyuan. Even if you’re not his grandson, there’s no excuse for the way he’s treated you,” Yunqi said.

“Thank you for that. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask of you,” Kayla said. “Mind that this isn’t in exchange for forgiving Shu Zhengyan, but a separate favor altogether. If you accept, I will be indebted to you.”

“Nonsense, I’m the one who’s indebted to you. As long as it’s within my power, I will ensure it is done.”

Kayla took a deep breath. “I wish to become the head of the Zhao clan and receive amnesty for any of the Grand Duke’s crimes. On paper, we’re related closely enough that I would also receive punishment as a member of his direct relations, but in truth, I'm only nominally related to him.”

At this point, she had lost any hope of leaving the capital and taking refuge elsewhere. Kayla had insulted more than enough people to lose her life the second she left the capital or lost the Emperor’s favor. But as long as she was stuck in the capital, she was certain to be implicated in the fall of the Grand Duke unless Xianchun hit his head and received a personality change overnight.

“I understand your concerns, Wenyuan,” Yunqi said. Kayla nodded in response. Yunqi was probably the person who understood her most, being in a similarly difficult situation except that his opponent was the Emperor.

“I swear that Third Brother and I will throw our complete support behind you,” Yunqi promised. “I assume that grandmother and father must also be aware of this situation, that’s certain to make things easier. No matter what the officials of the court say, we will follow through.”

“Thank you,” Kayla said in relief.

“It may be rude to ask this, but does Xianchun know? It may be difficult to deal with the aftermath if only Kuang and I know,” Yunqi said.

“I told him earlier, and he was quite pleased with the news,” Kayla replied. “But since I already had something to ask of him, I didn’t ask this favor of him yet.”

Even though it was left unsaid, Yunqi seemed to understand that Kayla’s request had resulted in Xianchun’s surprising magnanimity.

“If it’s difficult to approach him with this, perhaps you can go through our grandmother. I’m sure she would be happy to arbitrate a deal,” Yunqi suggested. “No matter what he chooses, our position will not change.”

“Thank you, my prince. The Zhao clan is sure to fall into shambles once the Grand Duke is taken down, but if I can replace him as the head of the household before that happens, then we still have a chance,” Kayla said. “I won’t attempt to protect anyone who deserves punishment, but I do want to leave a path to survival for those who don’t.”

“As expected, we're in a similar situation,” Yunqi said, patting Kayla’s shoulder sympathetically.

“I’m just worried that Xianchun will be dissatisfied,” Kayla muttered. If there wasn’t a bloodbath, he likely wouldn’t be satisfied with his revenge for Consort Chen.

Yunqi let out a sigh. “Not to speak ill of him, but Xianchun doesn’t have maternal relatives to worry about. He doesn’t understand having to hold back for their sake. On one hand, that means he can move unhindered. On the other hand, it means he can be ruthless because he doesn’t face the consequences. He also can't empathize with our predicaments.”

“I get what you mean,” Kayla said. “Sometimes I get the sense that he’s the kind to move forward without regard to the cost. It’s true that he does care about the populace, but he also won’t hold back for their sake.”

“That’s exactly what my little brother is like. Kuang and I can’t be like him, nor can we go easy on him. If we win, we can keep our families and our allies in check. But if we lose, Xianchun won’t be able to handle them. If that’s the case, he’ll have no choice but to purge the court,” Yunqi said.

Kayla lowered her head, avoiding Yunqi’s eyes. That had actually been the case in the original novel. As soon as Xianchun had become the Crown Prince, both Kuang and Yunqi’s maternal clans had been thoroughly purged through executions and exile.

“That’s why I’m glad for Grandmother's meddling,” Yunqi continued. “Even if it slows down the process and increases the limitations, with a strong neutral faction, neither side will be able to gain a crushing victory and there will be room for compromise. If both sides are left to develop unhindered, then one side will definitely need to be routed in the aftermath of the battle. Your presence means that the battle itself will be heavily moderated. The more ambitious of us may be dissatisfied with such a battlefield, but I’m glad for it.”

Kayla nodded. “The same goes for me. The country is at a crossroads, and it's almost certain that there will be great turmoil. I'd rather not live in such eventful times, but since I have no choice, I want to at least keep the bloodshed to a minimum. To be honest, I was only willing to let go of this matter because you’re the voice of reason for the Imperial family.”

Even in the original novel, Yunqi was the sole advocate of restraint when Kuang’s battle with Xianchun reached feverish heights, and his presence was probably the main reason why the country hadn’t dissolved into civil war. Looking back at it now, Kayla really felt that he didn’t deserve the ending he had gotten.

“I’m unworthy of such praise,” Yunqi replied. “But if the upper ranks struggle against each other for personal gain, the country faces great danger. The people are always used and discarded in conflicts like these, even more so if everyone’s convinced that their narrow definition of righteousness is justice. Is it not natural to wish for restraint? Perhaps I take it too far, but that’s something that only the future can offer as critique.”

“If anything, I agree with you,” Kayla said. “I have to say that it’s a pity you can’t take a more active role in politics right now, your presence alone would make things easier for me.”

Yunqi shook his head with a light chuckle. “Thank you for your confidence, but I’m afraid that wouldn’t be the case. No matter what, I am on Third Brother’s side. If I were to play a bigger role in politics, it would only make your role more difficult.”

Kayla looked at Yunqi, mulling over her current situation. The original novel’s plot had changed so much at this point that nothing was guaranteed any more. Was it possible that Kuang and Yunqi could be the ones to win in the end? Even if that wasn’t the case, there was still a possibility that they could survive Xianchun’s ascension to the throne.

If they survived, then Kayla’s likelihood of survival would drastically increase as well.

“I disagree with that,” Kayla said aloud. “In fact, I think it would be rather helpful.”

Liu Boyue bit down on his agitation with immense effort as he listened to Xianchun recount the events. Even if the Shu family was completely routed, Yunqi would still have the military’s sympathy if not their outright support. Many of General Shu’s former subordinates were stationed at various posts across the country, which combined with the strength of Kuang’s maternal family meant that they held an overwhelming advantage in terms of military strength. Xianchun needed political dominance to counter them.

The growth of a neutral faction was much more harmful to Xianchun than his older brothers, and while the Seventh Prince had no choice but to reluctantly accept the situation, it was incomprehensible to Liu Boyue that Xianchun should let go of a critical chance to limit both Wenyuan and Yunqi’s actions.

“My prince, you’re really letting this matter go?” Liu Boyue asked incredulously.

Xianchun smiled. “I’m fine releasing a small fish for a big one. Let Shu Zhengyan hide behind Yunqi if he wishes, I’ve gained hold of something much more important.”

“It appears that Wenyuan gave you good news, my prince,” Liu Boyue prodded.

“Good news? Well, I suppose you can also say that. It certainly makes things a lot easier from here on. Boyue, it seems that Wenyuan isn’t the Grand Duke’s grandson.”

Liu Boyue frowned in confusion, feeling a sharp pang of unease. He had planned to discuss Wenyuan with Xianchun soon, but it seemed that his plans couldn’t catch up with the changing circumstances.

“I’m not sure I understand,” Liu Boyue said.

“His father was the son of the Grand Duke’s cousin, not the Grand Duke. If that’s the case, Wenyuan’s only his relative, and he’s more closely related to me than to him. That makes things a lot easier, whether in terms of dealing with the Grand Duke or the aftermath,” Xianchun said, a satisfied look on his face.

“But is the Grand Duke our only goal, my prince?” Liu Boyue asked.

“Of course not,” Xianchun replied without hesitation.

Liu Boyue took a deep breath. “Then it’s much too early to rejoice. Your highness, we can’t rely on Wenyuan’s support just because he’s not the Grand Duke’s grandson.”

“He all but said it outright himself, if we don’t grab hold of this chance, Third Brother will,” Xianchun replied. “He had no intention of hiding it from them either.”

“I understand that, my prince. But the problem is that Wenyuan’s a decent person, which means he’s bound by decency! Since ancient times, it has been difficult to fulfill both filial piety and loyalty. Wenyuan’s parents both passed away early, and he’s received the Grand Duke’s care and protection for this long. How can you expect him to strike the death blow for the man who raised him as a grandson? No, even if you ask it of him, how can you trust him afterward? You’d be forced to get rid of him one way or another,” Liu Boyue said.

“But why allow things to develop to that extent? We should take matters into our own hands. My prince, please forgive my rudeness, but you can’t entrust these matters to Wenyuan. Rather, you should actively keep these matters from his knowledge and spare him the temptation of saving his grandfather at great cost to the nation.”

Xianchun took a deep breath, a conflicted look on his face.

“Your words have merit, Boyue. But I’m not so certain that we should abandon this route. I wouldn’t necessarily hesitate against my father if I were really pushed into a struggle to the death, is it absolute that relations between family members would hold one back? If Wenyuan can’t make the move, then perhaps the stakes are merely not high enough yet.”

“Could you do the same against your brothers?” Liu Boyue asked pointedly.

Xianchun didn’t reply, but his hesitation said enough.

“I understand that Wenyuan is the easiest way to take down the Grand Duke. He has insider information, the Emperor’s support, and tacit approval to act as he likes. It’s also true that he’s been actively working against the Grand Duke. But if it really comes to a life or death situation, I don’t think he can be relied upon. Rather than misplacing our faith, we should take matters into our own hands,” Liu Boyue said.

“There’s also the fact that he’s good at enduring and laying low, which means he could’ve gotten this information at any point in time, but is strategically choosing to reveal it at this time. We also need to consider what he’s aiming for,” Liu Boyue continued.

Sensing that he had said enough to shake Xianchun’s newfound confidence in Wenyuan, Liu Boyue bowed his head.

“I apologize for speaking so rudely, but please believe that my words are sincere.”

Xianchun shook his head. “There’s no need to apologize at all, Boyue. I understand your concerns. You have a point, in either case, there’s no need to take a risk with Wenyuan when we can simply handle it on our own, isn’t that the case?”

Liu Boyue nodded. “It’s just as you say, my prince.”

“But I have to say, Wenyuan made a good point earlier,” Xianchun muttered thoughtfully. “Power is enough to drive a man to madness. Not just the desire for power, but the hope that it brings, that’s all outside of my control. One day, I’ll probably also face the problem of my subordinates doing things that I didn’t agree to.”

Liu Boyue felt a twinge of anxiety, even though he was sure Xianchun had no idea about Boyue’s requests to Minister Liang.

“I’m sure that you won’t, my lord. You’re better at keeping people in line than the Fifth Prince, his men take his caution for cowardice and thus feel the need to act out themselves. You give your retainers no such misconceptions.”

“I hope that’s the case, Boyue.” Xianchun sighed. “The problem with gathering talented people is that they won’t necessarily listen to you if they think they know better. But since I have you to help me deal with them, I’m not too worried about that.”

“Thank you, my prince. I’ll do everything within my abilities to fulfill your expectations,” Liu Boyue said, bowing his head.

Xianchun smiled at him fondly. “Yes, I’m sure you will.”

56-The Gears of Fate

An Haoyang waited impatiently at the designated meeting spot. Ji Yantao was already half an hour late. The old man should've been familiar enough with the capital city that getting lost wasn't an issue, but perhaps Haoyang had been careless. After all, a city changed a great deal every few years, and Ji Yantao hadn't set foot in the capital for over a decade.

Just when Haoyang was beginning to berate himself, he caught sight of a pregnant woman out of the corner of his eye. He frowned a little. It was a public alley, but it was usually completely empty at this time of the day, hence the reason it was chosen as a meeting place. Haoyang leaned back against the wall, trying to act casual as the woman passed.

To his surprise, the woman came marching straight at him. Haoyang bristled a little, glancing at the large machete on the woman’s back. Fighting a pregnant woman was the last thing he'd expected to have to do, but he discreetly reached for his knife anyways.

“Are you An Haoyang?” The woman asked, coming to a full stop before him.

Haoyang stiffened slightly. How the hell did this woman know him? He glared at her coldly. “Who are you?”

“My name is Ji Fangluo. I’m the daughter of Ji Yantao,” she said. “He’s fallen ill so I’ve come in his stead.”

“Do you have any proof of your identity?” Haoyang asked, glancing her over suspciiously. Ji Fangluo retrieved the letter Haoyang had sent to Ji Yantao, handing it over for Haoyang to verify.

“So you’re really his daughter…did you come all the way to the capital while heavy with child?” Haoyang asked in surprise.

“I’m his only family, so of course I had to come,” Fangluo replied.

An Haoyang shook his head. “Approximately when do you expect your father to recover?”

“First, please tell me what you need us to do.”

“We can’t tell you the complete plan right now,” Haoyang said patiently. “We’ll give you instructions step by step.”

Ji Fangluo smiled, a cold look in her eyes. “Step by step? How are we meant to get anything done like that? We won't even be able to provide for our own safety this way."

"You won't need to, your father's safety will be provided for. I don't recommend you to get involved though, you weren't included in our strategizing."

Ji Fangluo let out a soft sigh. "Our safety will be provided for...now doesn't that sound familiar. Is that the will of your master?”

“Yes, it is,” Haoyang said, ignoring her none-too-subtle jab. “Then, about your father’s health-”

“If it’s the will of your master, then I want to hear it from him. It’s not fair that we’re getting strung along like this,” Fangluo said.

Haoyang scowled, annoyance rising in his chest. “I’m the go-between, you can hear from me.”

“I don’t want to speak with you. Where is your master?” Fangluo demanded. An Haoyang bristled at her tone.

“He's busy,” Haoyang replied through gritted teeth.

“Too busy to meet the daughter of the man he called to the capital? Too busy to meet a woman whose mother died for his sake?” Fangluo shot back. “I’m not a woman of culture, but I know that honor is meant to be reciprocated. I have come to meet him, leaving behind my husband and children, out of respect for what his family has done for us. But if he will not meet with me, then I will take my father and leave the capital.”

Haoyang threw his hands up in exasperation. “You’re being unreasonable! As I said, the young master is busy. He currently works for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, it’s not as though he can leave his post at a moment’s notice!”

"This late at night and he's still working?" Fangluo asked.

Haoyang nodded. "The Minister called him over, what could my master do? If he refused, it would only invoke suspicion."

“Then when can your master meet with me?” Fangluo demanded.

“He went with the Minister to the Fifth Prince’s household, but I’ve already notified him of your arrival,” Haoyang said. “Since you insist, I’ll ask him to meet with you.”

“I do insist,” Fangluo replied. “You can’t make any decisions in his stead, can you? Then he speaks to me himself or I’m leaving.”

Haoyang glared at her for a long moment before letting out an angry sigh. “Fine.”

“So it was like that,” Kuang said thoughtfully. On the other end of the communication device, Yunqi had finished summarizing the negotiations with Wenyuan, and was now sipping a cup of tea as shock and relief wound down into exhaustion. “In any case, I’m glad that it turned out this well. Neither of them is planning to use it against you for the time being, and you’ll also be able to exchange Zhengyan for someone more cautious. We're quite lucky.”

“Agreed. And what do you make of his request?” Yunqi asked.

“He’s more certain than anyone else that the Grand Duke’s done for, and he’s already positioning himself to fill the power vacuum. Wenyuan’s being surprisingly proactive, perhaps he’s more ambitious than I thought. We'll have to keep a closer eye on him in the future,” Kuang replied.

Cao Shuyi cut in as she entered the room and joined the conversation, leaning over so that Yunqi could see her. “That’s a bit unfair now, isn’t it?”

“Did that little rascal finally fall asleep?” Kuang asked in amusement. Cao Shuyi let out a sigh.

“Yes, finally. I don’t know where this kid gets so much energy,” she groaned.

“He must take after me,” Kuang said, a note of pride in his voice.

"I wish he didn't," Cao Shuyi grumbled.

Yunqi gave Cao Shuyi a smile in greeting. “Sister-in-law, if my brother's words are unfair, then what are your thoughts?” Yunqi asked.

Cao Shuyi leaned her weight against her husband's sturdy back. “This is how I see it. The Grand Duke has control over three of the Six Ministries and all of the Three Departments. Even if Wenyuan was completely passive, he’d be in an excellent position to inherit immense wealth and political power. But rather than doing so, Wenyuan’s actively working to decrease his inheritance, isn't he? Those aren't the actions of a man burning with ambition.”

"Well, that's not untrue," Kuang began. Cao Shuyi calmly put a hand over his mouth and continued.

“Not to mention that Wenyuan could’ve used the information about his family history to make a deal with Xianchun, but instead he took the chance to buy us a favor. The last thing we should be doing is ignoring the sincerity he has shown.” She gave Kuang a pointed look, removing her hand from his face. "Isn't that right, my dear?"

“My wife has a point,” Kuang said after a moment of thought. “I may be a bit too sensitive, but the Grand Duke also rose to power fighting corruption for our great-grandfather. If Wenyuan goes down the same path as the Grand Duke, I’ll have no choice but to get rid of him. That would be a waste.”

“It would be just as troublesome if he had no ambition whatsoever,” Cao Shuyi pointed out. “You don’t need a man who’s satisfied with the status quo.”

“I agree with sister-in-law. From what I've seen, I don’t take Wenyuan as a particularly ambitious man in terms of his personal power,” Yunqi said. “If he were, he would have made an exchange rather than a request. This seems more in the interest of self-preservation than anything else.”

“I trust your judgment. If we don’t have to worry about keeping him in check, that’s all the better,” Kuang said. “Our cousin’s had a difficult time so far, we should treat him better from now on.”

“Agreed,” Yunqi said with a smile.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll help him out to become the head of the Zhao household, as Yunqi has promised him,” Kuang declared. “It may propel the growth of the neutral faction, but there’s no reason why we can’t make use of that.”

"Indeed, an opportunity is what we make of it. On another note, Yunqi, how are you planning to deal with your relatives?" Cao Shuyi asked. "Are you just letting Zhengyan off the hook so easily?"

"He's kneeling in the courtyard right now," Yunqi replied without hesitation. "He'll remain there until it's time for him to leave the capital. Hopefully, he'll have learned a lesson from all this. Zhengyan is my uncle's first son after having four daughters, so he was always treated preciously. And it's true he's not entirely untalented, so he's formed a warped perception of his own abilities. With this, Zhengyan might actually be able to grow a bit."

Kuang withheld a scoff, not wanting to quench the small amount of hope Yunqi still had for the Shu family's heir. "I hope that's the case, Yunqi. Do you need anything for the journey? I can lend you some guards, or send a messenger to your uncle to make it clear this wasn't on you."

Yunqi smiled. "Thank you, Third Brother. But that's alright, I've arranged for his guard and accommodation on the journey back, as well as for his younger brother's trip to the capital. As for my uncles, I have ordered the guards to deliver a message on my behalf. Once they learn of what foolishness Zhengyan had been involved in, they won't be able to say anything."

Kuang nodded, not pushing the matter any further. If he had been anything but a prince, Yunqi's maternal familial background would have been a source of great pride. But given their twisted family background, Yunqi's relation to the Shu family made him feel paranoid and inferior in equal parts. The Fifth Prince was constantly desperate and afraid due to his maternal grandfather's arrogance, but also terrified of damaging Kuang's position because of the Shu family. As a result, Yunqi always tried to handle his family matters while involving Kuang as little as possible.

Picking up that Kuang was helpless to interfere any further, Shuyi stepped in.

"As expected, Yunqi's always so thoughtful in his arrangements. Just be sure to send along a healer for the journey as well. If Zhengyan falls ill or does something foolish, it'd be better to be prepared," Cao Shuyi said.

Yunqi gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you for the advice, sister-in-law. I'll be sure to do so."

Qu Boyong returned to his residence, irritation itching at his insides. Zhao Wenyuan had suddenly rushed to the Seventh Prince’s residence after returning to the Zhao household, and Qu Boyong had been called on standby. The entire way there, the Zhao heir was extremely reticent about what the purpose of their impromptu trip was, but from the man’s tense shoulders, Boyong could tell something was wrong. Then a while later, the Zhao heir had headed to the Fifth Prince’s house for another stretch of time, once again tight-lipped about the whole situation.

After seeing Wenyuan back to the Zhao household, it was already well past midnight. Qu Boyong was getting overtime pay, but he didn’t care for the money. It was the withheld information that was grating on him. Boyong was certain that he had performed well during the turmoil of the Li Sanjin case, but Zhao Wenyuan only seemed more tense and paranoid than before. Had Zhao Wenyuan noticed something? Perhaps someone had caught sight of Boyong when he’d last met with Chujiao, or perhaps the Zhao heir’s paranoia had simply hit the mark.

Qu Boyong’s thoughts were interrupted by his communication talisman. He recognized it as Haoyang and disclosed his location. Soon after, there was the soft sound of footsteps across the rooftops.

Qu Boyong opened the door to greet him.

“Haoyang, how did the meeting with Ji Yantao go?”

Haoyang shifted uncomfortably. “Well, it didn’t take place.”

“What do you mean? Did he chicken out?”

“Ji Fangluo is here,” Haoyang explained. “She’s the daughter of Ji Yantao, and she insisted on speaking with you in person. It seems her father's sick. I tried to talk her down, but she wouldn’t be convinced.”

Qu Boyong let out a sigh. As though things weren’t irritating enough, the situation had gotten more complicated.

“But more importantly, sir, what happened with the Seventh Prince?” Haoyang asked.

“I have no idea, Zhao Wenyuan didn’t say a word about it. But the Fifth Prince must’ve been involved somehow, they met right after Wenyuan met with the Seventh Prince.”

“He’s double-dealing them?”

“No, he went straight from the Seventh Prince’s household to the Fifth Prince’s, he wouldn't be so stupid as to double-deal so openly,” Qu Boyong said. “It probably has to do with the Liu Hongyu situation, so it’s to our benefit. Even if we make use of that information, his first thought would be to suspect one of the princes rather than us.”

“I see,” Haoyang murmured. “Well, it’s about time we pulled in the net anyways. It’s not safe for you to remain at his side for much longer. From the rumors I’ve heard, the Imperial Investigators assigned to him have intercepted multiple assassins over the last few days.”

“Multiple? Does that mean they’ve increased surveillance on the Zhao household then?” Boyong asked, a touch of anxiety in his voice.

“Surprisingly, no. No one’s said it outright, but from what I’ve seen, the Empress Dowager is probably purposefully keeping surveillance lax in order to reel in the fish,” Haoyang explained. “It seems that they have evidence already that Li Sanjin was transported from the Zhao household to Secretary Han’s residence, but that alone isn’t enough to strike a critical blow.”

“So Zhao Wenyuan’s the bait? That old bat sure is cold-hearted to use her own grandson. How is she so certain that the Grand Duke would try to kill Wenyuan?” Boyong muttered. “Well, that means we need to hurry up and make our move. I don’t want the Zhao clan’s family drama to overshadow our goals.”

“When a wall falls, the crowd hurries to push it. That might actually be the most viable option for us,” Haoyang cautiously pointed out.

Boyong shook his head. “Absolutely not. Then the injustice done against us would only become one of the many factors contributing to the Grand Duke’s fall, and not a case in which he is the prime culprit. We’d be indebted to the Imperial Family for using our case against the Grand Duke, even though they also bear responsibility.”

“But the longer you stay at Zhao Wenyuan’s side, the greater the risks are. I’m just worried for your safety, sir.”

“I know,” Boyong said tiredly. “That guy is pretty paranoid, and he has good instincts. He’s probably pulling Hu Qing over right now because he doesn’t fully trust me.”

“He doesn’t suspect anything about the young miss, does he?” An Haoyang asked.

“No, I don’t believe so.” Qu Boyong sighed. “If he did, it certainly would be a problem. Even if he won’t be in that seat for much longer, he’s still a Minister right now. We need the Court of Judicial Review to sit out on this case until it’s too late for them to interfere, or we’ll never get anywhere.”

“If Zhao Wenyuan tries to interfere, he can still reach a deal with the Seventh Prince,” Haoyang griped. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just get rid of him?”

“Are you kidding me right now? Even if the Imperial Investigators assigned to him don’t manage to save him, the capital will be in a complete mess. Our case will only get buried in the chaos, it’s the same as if the Grand Duke is caught red-handed,” Boyong snapped. “He’s much more useful alive.”

“Understood, sir.”

“That reminds me, Zhao Wenyuan asked me to find healers who were involved with the Imperial Princess and Zhou Kangyu,” Qu Boyong said. “It probably isn’t just a trivial whim. Everything he’s done so far has turned out to have a greater purpose.”

“But what could it mean?” Haoyang asked.

Boyong shook his head. “I’m not sure. Perhaps he suspects the Grand Duke of sabotage.”

“Even the Empress Dowager didn’t sense anything suspicious about their deaths, but this guy’s suspicious?”

“He thinks in strange ways sometimes,” Boyong replied. “In any case, help me look into it. It might turn out to be useful in taking down the Grand Duke. Also, look into Hu Qing. It bothers me that I couldn’t find out anything about him. He may also turn out to be a threat.”

Haoyang nodded. “I will. What should we do about Ji Yantao’s daughter? Should I just have her bring Ji Yantao instead?”

Boyong considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “No. Since she insists, I’ll meet with her.”

Haoyang bowed his head before leading Qu Boyong to where the woman was waiting.

Qu Boyong had to stop himself from raising his eyebrows in surprise. Ji Fangluo was a tall woman with a striking appearance, with her large machete and visible pregnancy being particularly noticeable. Had she come all the way to the capital without any sense of discreetness?

On second thought, it could’ve been her way of ensuring that she couldn't be silenced without someone noticing her absence. Ji Yantao wasn’t capable of cooking up such an idea, but Boyong had never met Fangluo and couldn’t ascertain her abilities yet.

“Miss Ji,” Haoyang called out. “The young lord’s returned.”

“Ji Fangluo greets the young lord,” Fangluo said coolly. “Unfortunately, my father’s fallen ill, so I’m here in his place.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Boyong replied. “Is he alright?”

“He’s still recovering, the stress and the journey both took a huge toll on his health. I can’t say when he’ll be well enough to serve you, so I’ve come in his stead,” Fangluo said.

Boyong withheld a grimace. Ji Yantao was a key witness, but Ji Fangluo had only been a child back then and didn’t have any key information. He glanced at Haoyang out of the corner of his eye, the two of them sharing an exasperated look.

The journey from Ji Yantao's hometown wasn’t particularly long or difficult, and Boyong had sent him funds for travel as well. It was clear that Ji Yantao had just gotten scared and was trying to back out. Boyong felt a surge of annoyance. If he wanted to refuse, he should’ve at least had the guts to say it himself rather than sending his pregnant daughter.

“What a surprise,” Boyong said with a hard edge to his voice. “I paid for his journey to be comfortable, if not luxurious. The same goes for the accommodation I arranged for him. How on earth did he fall ill?”

“These things happen, I have a doctor’s note if you need it,” Fangluo replied.

Boyong’s lips pulled into a tight smile, and he gave a cold chuckle.

“So he’s even gotten a doctor’s note. Is an illness enough for him to renege upon his promise? If that’s the case, then my father must not have been a good judge of character to have trusted him with our bookkeeping,” Boyong said sarcastically.

“My father has been in bad health for a while, you’re asking quite a lot of a man past half a hundred years of age. Seeing as I’ve never met him, I can’t speak to whether your father was a good judge of character, but I also recall that my father never made an explicit promise to you,” Fangluo shot back.

“So he’s abusing a loophole now?”

“You’re the one abusing his contract. His contract of employment was to your father. His loyalty was to your father as well, why should he be obliged to drag his ailing body through endless trials for your sake?” Fangluo demanded.

Boyong grit his teeth. Nothing was going smoothly tonight. From what Boyong remembered of the man, Ji Yantao wasn’t someone capable of defying an explicit order from the clan that employed him, which meant that his daughter had taken matters into her own hands. Even though he’d known her for less than an hour, he already knew it in his bones that Ji Fangluo would be difficult to handle.

“My father granted assistance to your entire family through his decision to employ your father out of the multitudes of talents who were introduced to our household. Now, I seek to avenge my father, and Ji Yantao would refuse his help? What kind of man is this that would allow his benefactor to remain condemned for a false charge of treason?” Boyong snapped.

“Allow me to ask this, young lord, but what exactly are we aiming for here? If it’s just the restoration of your status, then I doubt it would be difficult for someone like you,” Ji Fangluo said.

“I don’t care for status, what I want is to clear my family’s name,” Boyong replied. “We were falsely accused and faced the worst of punishments, but the man responsible still eats well and sleeps well, how can I stand aside and watch?”

“So you want revenge,” Fangluo said. “Respectfully, young lord, you’ve made the wrong call. If you want a life for a life, you need a hired blade, not a retired bookkeeper. What good could my father be? You make an unreasonable demand.”

Qu Boyong felt anger boiling up like acid, coursing up his chest and into his throat. He bit back his fury with immense effort, settling for coldly glaring at Ji Fangluo.

“What a preposterous thing to say, you family of ingrates!” Haoyang said angrily. Qu Boyong held out a hand to stop him.

Qu Boyong shook his head. “I won’t force you. If it’s really as much of a burden as you say, then I apologize. You’re free to go.”

Ji Fangluo gave him a curious look. “You’re serious?”

He wasn't, but Boyong nodded. “From now on, I won’t contact your family anymore. You can live in peace without worrying about this. I’m doing this for the sake of justice, and for the sake of the people who were crushed by the greed of Grand Duke Zhao. To achieve my goals, I’m willing to sacrifice anything, but I can’t ask the same of you or of anyone else. Even if I asked it, I’d have to extricate it with tooth and nail, since it’s evident that none of you are interested in such a goal.”

“And so you’re the virtuous one, and we’re the cowards, that’s the gist of it, isn’t it?” Ji Fangluo asked.

Qu Boyong clenched his jaw. The woman was like a wild dog that bit on and wouldn’t let go, and he had half a mind to silence her. An Haoyang was obviously of the same mindset. But if he could help it, Boyong didn't want to go overboard against a pregnant civilian woman.

Ji Fangluo either didn’t notice his seething or didn’t care, continuing on in a fiery tone. “Let me ask you, young lord, who’s included in your justice? Does it include the servants who were slaughtered despite only being hired hands? Does it include their bereaved families? Does it include the serving girls who were assaulted and the bastards born as a result? I’m guessing you don’t even know who they are or where to find them.”

She glared at him venomously. “Tell me this, young lord. Does your justice include my father, who lost his wife and unborn child? If it does not, then your justice is merely personal vengeance. If it does, then you would not have asked of him what you did.”

“The young lord’s already showing mercy towards your family but you’re still running your mouth, just what the hell do you want?!” An Haoyang angrily cut in.

Fangluo whirled on him. “I want him to understand! I get that you guys have had a rough time of it and that the young lord’s only barely an adult. But what you’re trying to do is going to create a lot of casualties. What happened in your household will repeat itself in the Zhao household, people will suffer regardless of their guilt or innocence. Your scrutiny shouldn’t be leveled at us but at yourself! Stop holding us to your moral standards and take a look at what you’re fighting for!”

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” Qu Boyong replied. “I’ve been working for this for the last ten years, how could I not understand?”

“It’s exactly because you’ve spent ten years on this that I’m this worried,” Fangluo shot back. “You started when you were still a child, and you’ve already put in so much effort that you can no longer get yourself to properly evaluate what you’re doing, the only thing you care about is seeing it through. Have you considered what happens if you fail? It’s fine and easy to say you’re prepared to die, or that Haoyang is willing to die alongside you. But is that really the path you want to take? What happens to the young miss? She’ll be left alone as a servant with close ties to a criminal. Rather than worrying about getting killed, the concern would be that she isn’t killed immediately.”

Boyong grit his teeth. “I know.”

“Do you? Have you looked her in the eye and told her that?” Fangluo pressed. “If you can’t bring yourself to do that, then my father isn’t the one who should be called a coward.”

Boyong found himself short of a reply and angrily turned his gaze away.

“If that’s all you have to say, you can go. Haoyang will bring you funds for your return.”

Fangluo let out a huff, placing her hands on her hips. “You’re not good at receiving criticism, young lord. I also want justice for everyone who suffered in that incident. But it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it. I came here not just to let off steam on behalf of my father, but because I needed to see for myself if you could do it properly.”

Boyong glanced at her in surprise. Fangluo’s tone had gone from fiery rage to exasperated scolding. After a moment of evaluation, Boyong understood what she was here for. As his temper cooled down, he objectively considered the woman before him. Even if she spoke harshly and was hard to deal with, her words had a point. Ji Fangluo was evidently good at considering the big picture and the detailed consequences, and she had a bold and willful personality to boot.

Boyong’s demeanor shifted and he softened his tone to speak politely. “Miss Ji, I can see now that you didn’t come unprepared. I apologize for my rudeness before, and humbly ask for your advice.”

Fangluo smiled. “To be honest, I was going to leave if I thought it was hopeless, but it seems that you’re more capable than I expected. If that’s the case, then I’m willing to help you out. When it comes to plotting and schemes, you nobles are the experts. But when it comes to dealing with the fallout and considering the implications of those plots, we commoners are the ones who know best. It all boils down to whether you’re willing to listen.”

Boyong stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. If Ji Fangluo wasn’t sincere, she wouldn’t have come all the way to the capital while heavily pregnant. Before the Zhao heir had suddenly started making waves in the capital, Boyong had a relatively clear sense of where things were heading, and what the aftermath would look like. Now, there were more chances, but also more complications.

“I’m more than willing,” Boyong said. “Miss Ji, please lend me your support.”

Fangluo lifted her chin proudly, a wide grin on her face. “Ask and you shall receive, young lord. Ji Fangluo is at your service.”

Qu Boyong and his two companions headed back towards Boyong’s residence, moving quietly through the streets. Ji Fangluo raised her eyebrows in surprise as she glanced around the mostly empty neighborhood.

“I remember this place, I came here with my father before,” Fangluo said softly. “It used to be such a busy area.”

“Ever since the Xiang family’s extermination, people have been leaving this place alone even though the location is great,” An Haoyang commented. “There are so few people that I don’t even have to cover my face when I come here.”

Fangluo glanced at Qu Boyong, whose face was carefully blank.

“You’re alright with living in this place?” Fangluo asked.

“Of course, this has always been my home,” Boyong replied. He opened the door to his house, revealing a simple and tidily kept residence. It was mostly bare except for the wooden furniture and a cloth curtain hanging over a small shelf. He removed the cloth curtain, revealing a small but well-kept ancestral altar.

Haoyang and Ji Fangluo both bowed slightly towards the altar to pay their respects.

“Today marks the beginning of our final struggle,” Qu Boyong said. “Haoyang and I have been working towards this day for years, and now we’ve finally gotten here. It’s time to strike a death blow against the Grand Duke and the Zhao household. As you both may know, my father General Xiang always prayed before the ancestral altar before heading out to war. Today, I’d like to do the same.”

“Of course,” Haoyang and Ji Fangluo replied. Qu Boyong quickly gathered the materials he needed before he knelt in front of the makeshift altar, An Haoyang kneeling behind him and Fangluo standing with a bowed head a little further back. Boyong lifted the three sticks of incense to brow-level before bowing three times towards the plaques before him.

“Ancestors of the Xiang family above, I, Xiang Daozong, son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, am here to pay my respects,” Boyong said reverently. “I humbly ask for your protection and swear to strive for the restoration of our family’s honor and the destruction of our enemies.”

He stood and approached the altar, bowing three times before placing the incense on the burner. Qu Boyong stepped back, kneeling again.

“Before the plaques of my ancestors and the retainers of the Xiang family, An Haoyang and Ji Fangluo, I make this oath.”

Qu Boyong took a small vessel of wine into his hands, filling the cup before him. Behind him, Ji Fangluo and An Haoyang bowed respectfully.

“I swear to attain justice for the Xiang family, and all those who came to harm during the downfall of our clan.”

Qu Boyong poured the wine into a small basin and refilled the cup.

“I swear to restore the honor and reputation of our family and the families of our retainers, servants, and all those who were implicated.”

Again, the wine was poured into the ground.

“I swear that from this day on, the Grand Duke of Zhao will know no peace. I will destroy his hollow glory and crush his honor, and bring the Zhao clan to its knees. No words or deeds will protect him from our wrath. No power can shelter him or offer refuge. All those culpable will be forced to bear their guilt, and we will not rest until the Grand Duke of Zhao faces ruin and humiliation, and is made to pay the ultimate price for his crimes.”

The wine was emptied onto the ground, and Qu Boyong set aside the vessel and cup.

“And this I swear to the retainers of the Xiang clan. In both my revenge and afterward, I will humbly heed their advice, and will never forget the help I have received. In my lifetime, they will be honored and rewarded, and generations of the Xiang family henceforth will never forget the loyalty that our retainers showed in our darkest moment.”

Qu Boyong bowed towards the altar again, An Haoyang and Ji Fangluo following suit. After completing the ritual, the three of them gathered at the plain wooden table in the center of the room.

Qu Boyong clasped his hands on the table, glancing between his companions. "Alright. Now, let's discuss the plan."

Ji Fangluo nodded. "I'd be grateful to hear it, young lord. But before that, there's something we should discuss first."

Qu Boyong gestured for her to go on.

Ji Fangluo continued, her voice calm and serious. "The Minister you serve, the grandson of the Grand Duke...how do we get rid of him?"

57-Blade in Moonlight

“How do we get rid of Zhao Wenyuan?” Boyong repeated Ji Fangluo’s question, looking slightly uncomfortable. Ji Fangluo and An Haoyang exchanged an uneasy glance, and Haoyang cleared his throat and went for another try.

“My lord, what are your plans?” An Haoyang asked.

A long silence hung over the three of them before Boyong gave a slight shake of his head.

“Leave him. Whether he lives or dies, there’s no need for us to interfere. Fate will decide.”

“Wait, young lord. This isn’t a simple issue, regardless of how it looks on the surface. The Grand Duke’s hold over the Imperial Family is very weak right now. He’s no longer the brother of an Empress or the father-in-law of an Imperial Princess. The strongest tie he has to protect him is Zhao Wenyuan. If that guy was just a useless playboy, we could just ignore him, but he’s not only the Emperor’s nephew but also the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He has a stranglehold over our case,” An Haoyang argued.

Ji Fangluo watched Qu Boyong’s reaction carefully, her own face an inscrutable mask.

“Have you grown attached to him?” Ji Fangluo asked.

Qu Boyong winced. “No…that’s not the case. But he’s useful in his own way, and there’s also the issue of how my cousin will take it.”

“Miss Shuyou has been working as Zhao Wenyuan’s serving girl since ten years ago,” An Haoyang explained to Ji Fangluo.

“How old was Zhao Wenyuan at that time?” Ji Fangluo asked.

“He’s three years older than me, so he should’ve been fifteen,” Qu Boyong replied.

Ji Fangluo nodded thoughtfully. “So he was twelve at the time of the Xiang family’s destruction…it’s safe to say that he couldn’t have been involved in the slightest. And is the young miss very attached to him?”

An Haoyang refrained from commenting, raising his eyebrows as he glanced down at the table. Qu Boyong awkwardly cleared his throat a little.

“Forget getting rid of him, they’ve practically spent half their lives together,” An Haoyang mumbled.

Qu Boyong let out a sigh. “It’s quite the headache for me. Shuyou’s a kind girl, but she’s spent way too long living as Chujiao. I know full well that her feelings for Zhao Wenyuan are that of a woman for a man, not just that of a childhood friend. If I were to lay hand on him, she would never forgive me.”

An Haoyang glanced at Ji Fangluo, noting her thoughtful expression. He softly cleared his throat and leaned over. “The young miss is the young lord’s closest living relative now, even if she’s on the maternal side, so we can’t just ignore her wishes,” he explained quietly.

Ji Fangluo gave a slight nod, but no other response.

“To be honest, I originally planned to get Zhao Wenyuan killed off one way or another since there was no way our plan could ever get anywhere as long as he was in the Ministry of Justice. I figured that I wasn’t the only one who wanted him dead anyway, so all I had to do was find a suitable opportunity. But he suddenly started acting against the Grand Duke so aggressively that it stirred up the entire court, and it threw my plans into shambles,” Qu Boyong sighed. “In any case, he’s been decent towards me, and a protector towards Shuyou. If the Imperial Family tries to shield him, I won’t press the matter.”

Ji Fangluo gave a small sound of understanding, looking down at the table for a moment before hesitantly speaking.

“But he’s currently the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, not only hasn’t he lost influence within the judicial system, he’s gained more. Do you really believe he would allow our plan to succeed?” Ji Fangluo asked.

“That’s why it’s imperative to keep this from him until it’s too late,” Qu Boyong said. “He may be the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but I know that he’s burned quite a few bridges in the Ministry of Justice. Excluding the Minister of Justice and the Right Secretariat, there’s no one who would warn him.”

Ji Fangluo sighed, shaking her head. “That’s a bit optimistic. No matter what, Zhao Wenyuan is the Emperor’s only nephew, do you think a low-ranking official would dare to suppress the information from reaching his ears? Not to mention that the two highest-ranking members of the Ministry aren’t exactly-”

She fell silent, looking at Qu Boyong uneasily. The young man kept his expression calm, but his eyes were filled with murderous rage. Fangluo glanced at An Haoyang to see that he was also clenching his jaw. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

“Apologies, young lord. It was a slip of the tongue,” Ji Fangluo said, keeping her voice calm and neutral to avoid giving the two younger men a chance to lash out.

“That’s alright,” Qu Boyong said, giving her a pleasant smile even as his voice was dark with anger. It made for a very discomforting sight.

“Just keep this in mind. My mother may have been the daughter of an unfavored consort, but she was still an Imperial Princess. Regardless of what the Emperor and Empress Dowager may think, Zhao Wenyuan is not the only nephew of the Emperor,” Qu Boyong said coldly.

“I understand, young lord. I’ve made an unforgivable mistake,” Ji Fangluo replied.

Qu Boyong let out a deep breath, his anger receding. “It can’t be helped. Everyone’s eyes are only on Zhao Wenyuan, they’ve forgotten that I ever existed in this world.”

“My lord,” An Haoyang protested.

Qu Boyong shook his head. “It was like this even when my parents were still alive. My mother was married off before the Emperor and Imperial Princess were old enough to remember her, and my father was still a minor border general at the time. Even after he gained military merits and became celebrated, people still didn’t think of my mother as a proper princess because of the Empress Dowager’s power.”

“That’s something you can remedy once your status has been restored,” Ji Fangluo comforted him. “But first, we have to get to that point. As we were discussing before, Zhao Wenyuan’s influence in the judicial system is not an issue we can overlook, do you have a plan to deal with that? I’m not advocating for his death, but we do need a viable alternative.”

“Miss Ji is right, young lord. There are also rumors that the Eastern Turkic Khaganate will be proceeding with a political marriage, that would put the Grand Duke in too much of an advantageous position. He’d be in-laws with a Khagan, even if the Emperor wants to execute him, it won’t be so easy to push through due to political considerations. We should’ve just gotten rid of Zhao Wenyuan months ago,” Haoyang chimed in.

Qu Boyong fell silent again. After a moment, he glanced up with a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Would I choose to keep him alive unless I had a plan to deal with him? Relax, the solution to this is much simpler than you may think. The best way to ensure that Zhao Wenyuan can’t interfere is to drag everyone in. The Third Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Emperor himself, I’ll give all of them a reason to keep this quiet.”

An Haoyang bowed his head. “Apologies, my lord. I didn’t mean to question your judgment. But won’t they just bury the case if they think it’s dangerous?”

Qu Boyong smiled thinly. “They won’t be able to sit still if they think they can grab on to their opponent’s greatest weakness. I’ve been watching for the last ten years, I know how to make them dance to my tune.”

Ji Fangluo jumped in, a frown on her face. “But Zhao Wenyuan’s the head of the neutral faction, isn’t he? He’ll definitely notice and step in if the princes are clawing at each others’ throats.”

Qu Boyong’s smile faded and he looked away from her, a twinge of unease and guilt in his expression. “He’ll be too preoccupied to notice. There’s something that Zhao Wenyuan’s been trying to keep under wraps, information potent enough to force the Grand Duke to back down. If we make use of that, he’ll have his hands full trying to stay afloat.”

A look of recognition flashed over An Haoyang’s face, and he nodded in satisfaction.

“You mean to make use of rumors to ruin him, young lord?” Ji Fangluo asked.

“The rumors are not enough to ruin him. No one will be able to find any evidence to support it, and with some help from the palace, it’ll all die down after a while. But as the person involved, Zhao Wenyuan will certainly be extremely frazzled, especially with that paranoid personality of his,” Qu Boyong said wryly. “After all this is done, he’ll probably have to step down as Minister anyways, so there’s no need to overdo it.”

An Haoyang grinned, satisfied with the response. Ji Fangluo was still watching him with a look of quiet curiosity on her face. After Boyong glanced at her a little uneasily, she gave him a smile.

“An excellent plan, young lord. It’s admirable that you can clearly distinguish who your animosity should and should not be directed at, even within members of the Zhao clan. It wouldn’t do to foolishly show mercy to a person who could endanger so many people’s lives, nor would it do to kill an innocent man while we claim to serve justice. It’s reassuring to see that you’ve inherited General Xiang’s wisdom and sound judgment,” Ji Fangluo said, her voice teeming with satisfaction.

Qu Boyong gave a smile in return, pleased at her praise. After a moment, his smile faded as he gave her a suspicious look.

“Ji Fangluo, are you testing me?” Qu Boyong demanded. An Haoyang whirled his head to glare at her.

“What-seriously? How rude of you!” An Haoyang snapped.

Ji Fangluo’s smile broadened. “I apologize for my rudeness, young lord. I was simply curious as to how you intended to deal with this problem.”

Qu Boyong let out an exasperated sigh. “Well? Was my answer satisfactory?”

Ji Fangluo nodded. “I wouldn’t invoke General Xiang’s memory in vain.”

Qu Boyong gave her a tight nod. “I guess I can’t blame you for wanting to see what kind of person I am. But there’s no need for you to worry, you’ll get to decide for yourself whether my plan is good enough.”

Kayla lay her head on the desk in exhaustion. She’d returned to the Zhao household rather reluctantly from the Court of Judicial Review, only leaving after realizing that if she stayed in the office, none of her subordinates would feel comfortable going home. The mood within the Zhao household had grown increasingly stifling, both due to the Grand Duke’s growing animosity and Kayla’s growing paranoia. She still had no idea how the information had leaked, what other cards the Grand Duke had, or when Xianchun might find out about Consort Chen’s murder.

Qu Boyong hadn’t shown up today, preoccupied with the multiple leads he was chasing on the death of Wenyuan’s parents, and Kayla couldn’t help but feel a little relieved that at the very least, there were a few capable people around.

She’d fully taken back the reins from the two Vice-Ministers at the Court of Judicial Review, retrieving the Halved Seals and locking them back into her desk. Though the two Vice-Ministers had done alright heading the Court of Judicial Review while she was under investigation, they had been overly cautious to the point of not getting much done at all, leaving Kayla with a mountain of paperwork on top of everything else she had to worry about. Was it that hard to sign off on a few decisions? As capable as Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui were, their positions were too low in the hierarchy to do much.

It wasn’t as though she could complain about work being too tiring when her subordinates were doing their best, but Kayla felt that she could really use some good news at this point in time. Though he was evidently trying his best, Qu Boyong had yet to turn up anything on the healers involved with Wenyuan’s parents, and Wenyuan himself had been moody and quiet ever since learning about his complicated family history.

Kayla drummed her fingers on the desk. Taking down the Grand Duke wouldn’t be easy, but taking over as head of the household before he goes down would be even harder. Kuang and Yunqi had agreed to support her, but there was still Xianchun to worry about. Once he finished gloating about the Grand Duke’s messy family relations, Xianchun would probably start feeling cheated at having been persuaded into letting Yunqi off the hook. Who knew how that would turn out?

I need to talk with the Empress Dowager soon. Kayla reached for the nullification talisman still tucked inside her robes. She pulled it out, looking at the expensive paper. It was yet another thing she had to discuss with the old woman.

Kayla still had her Plan B in place, even though she’d all but given up on it altogether. If nullification magic-users were subject to the direct control and surveillance of the state, there was absolutely nothing to keep her from getting sent out to some border dispute and dying within the first five minutes of conflict. A magic arrow with its magic removed was still an arrow that could very much kill her, and a magic fireball with its magic removed was still a scorching-hot mass moving at high velocity. Considering Wenyuan’s physical capabilities, Kayla did not have the reflexes or strength to pull off any cool moves in combat.

But the longer she stayed in this world, the more questions she had, though most of them stemmed from her ceaseless worrying rather than simple curiosity. What kind of magical research had the late Imperial Princess been involved in? The princess had been skilled enough to send Wenyuan back in time and drag Kayla into this world, even if it was imperfect. If that was the case, how could someone that good at magic die of illness?

There was also the matter of Kayla’s nullification magic. She was literally not from this world, was there any reason why she had magic while Wenyuan didn’t? Kayla began to feel a nagging suspicion that her nullification magic was more the result of the Imperial Princess’ preparations than any innate talent on Kayla’s end.

The Imperial Princess was a highly talented magic researcher at a time when most of the court wanted to monopolize magic for the elite, is it really just a coincidence that the healers weren’t able to save her? But even then, the Emperor and Empress Dowager wouldn’t just stand by, would they? Or…had they tacitly allowed it?

Looking at Yunqi’s situation, it really was hard to say. But the Emperor hated General Shu, while he had doted on his younger sister. And looking at the way he treated Wenyuan, Kayla felt that she could reasonably cross out his involvement.

Shit, maybe I’m just overthinking- but there’s no way for me to confirm this, I can’t just ask Qu Boyong to check this for me either.

I have no idea what mother worked on in her research, but grandmother might know, Wenyuan jumped in, breaking his silence.

Kayla straightened in her seat, brightening at the idea. That’s a good point, maybe I should also ask her how to contact the guy who made the nullification talisman as well, who knows what they might know?

Kayla pondered it for a moment, uneasiness growing in her stomach. She could sense magic when it was around her, but she had no idea if others could sense nullification magic.

Technically, it’s magic that doesn’t create magic, right? Doesn’t that mean it can’t be sensed?

Theoretically, that’s the case. But the second you actually use it, other mages will immediately be able to recognize the sudden disappearance of existing magic, Wenyuan chimed in, much more enthusiastic now that it pertained to his hobby. Since magic only wears off gradually, and can only be removed by casting spells that can cancel out each others’ effects, nullification magic has a much more unique and recognizable feeling.

I have literally cast nullification magic in the palace before and you tell me this now?!

Most magic-users aren’t skilled enough to sense minute amounts of magic, if it’s just a small talisman or the like, they usually won’t even know of its existence, Wenyuan defended himself. You only nullified a few talismans that were wearing off anyways, no one in grandmother’s palace would’ve noticed!

Kayla let out a soft sigh in relief.

Could users of nullification magic sense it when others use nullification magic? I’ve never met anyone else, and I can’t sense anything from my own magic. It’s really hard to tell, Kayla griped.

Powerful mages are supposed to be able to sense other magic-users, even when they’re not casting. But nullification magic should be different. Then again, there are so few nullification magic users that there aren’t any records on the issue, Wenyuan said apologetically. Theoretically, they shouldn’t be able to tell, but I don’t know if fellow nullification mages can sense each other.

Then if I really meet the mage who made those talismans for your grandmother, I’ll have to be prepared to immediately throw a huge bribe in their face, Kayla decided. I’ll have to prepare some cash. But what if they just report me? I mean, they already get paid astronomical amounts just for making a single talisman! Should I even try to find them?

That opened up another rabbit hole of worries, which slowly began to bleed into her existing sources of stress to form a motley of anxiety inside her chest. The walls seemed to shrink in around her. It was suffocating to the point where Kayla couldn’t help but throw open the door and walk into the courtyard.

Wenyuan’s rooms had two entrances, one that led to the corridor connecting the rest of the Inner Quarters, and another one that led to a small courtyard. That door had been locked for quite a while since Wenyuan had never set foot into the courtyard ever since his mother’s death. Kayla had only been there twice, the first time when she was still wandering around in a state of confusion after arriving in Wenyuan’s body, and the second time after they had merged souls. On the second visit, the melancholy emanating from Wenyuan had been more than enough to dissuade her from going there a third time.

The courtyard was lined with weed and grimy with dust. Ever since Kayla had received the Imperial Edict promoting her to a third-rank official, the servants had immediately abandoned their upkeep of Wenyuan’s quarters, including the small courtyard. Kayla actually hadn’t wanted to come out here either, but going out into one of the larger courtyards meant she might run into the Grand Duke or Housekeeper Wang, and she couldn't stay inside a moment longer.

Kayla paced the length of the courtyard, which was really much too small to allow for much pacing in either direction. She settled for kicking at a bunch of weeds instead as she tried to clear her head. The suffocating feeling receded, and it became possible to rationally sort her thoughts again.

Maybe the stress is starting to get to me, Kayla wryly thought to herself. She lifted her gaze to look at the moonlight spilling through the clouds. The brief moment of peace was shattered by furious rustling in the branches of the tree that towered over her.

What the fuck? Kayla nervously stepped back until she had retreated into the doorway. Is it one of the investigators? Maybe it’s Hu Qing? She squinted at the branches as they frantically waved around. That doesn’t look good.

The rustling came to an abrupt stop, followed by a whooshing sound as a corpse dropped from the tree, hitting the stone wall of the small courtyard with a sick crunching noise before falling to the ground a few feet away, broken limbs splayed across the stone paving. Kayla stared at the body in shock before hastily stepping back and slamming the door shut.

What the fuck?!!!! Holy shit! Did someone just fucking die in my courtyard?!

Right in my courtyard?!! Why?!! Wenyuan screeched.

Her hands shaking, Kayla hastily locked the door.

The window! Wenyuan’s voice was loud enough to make her wince. Kayla whirled her head towards the open window a few paces away. It didn’t face into the courtyard, but it was open.

Fuck! Why the fuck did I have to open the goddamn window?! Kayla sprinted over and locked the window shut before grabbing a stack of talismans out of her desk.

Kayla fumbled a bit as she pulled out an anti-theft talisman and slapped it onto the window before running back to the door and slapping on another one. It couldn’t stop anyone from physically breaking the door like the Grand Duke so often did. Kayla knew all too well that the quality of doors in this household couldn’t withstand much force. All the talismans could do were to start loudly blasting an alarm while flashing with red light, but that would hopefully be enough to alert someone. She backed away into the middle of the room to stand behind a bookshelf.

Who the fuck was that? An Imperial Investigator? An assassin? Some idiot who climbed a tree and then had a heart attack? She hadn’t seen any blood, so the last option was also possible.

Now is not the fucking time, Kayla! Hurry up and call for help!

Fuck-hold on! If someone wanted to break in, they would’ve done so already, do you really think I would’ve had the time to lock the door and the window like this? How fast do you think your body can run?

If that had been an Imperial Investigator who had dropped dead before her, that meant there was someone incredibly skilled involved. Should there really be an assassin that powerful, then the only reason they’re not coming in here is probably that they were ordered not to-but why? Kayla ground her teeth together as she glanced uneasily in the direction of the Grand Duke’s quarters. There had been such a commotion with the tree and a body had fallen from the sky. Even if there was no one in the courtyard, some of the guards stationed along the outer perimeter should’ve noticed, and yet there was no reaction. This could very well be an inside job. Shit, did I piss him off too much?

If it was an inside job, the Grand Duke wouldn’t want there to be signs of a struggle. The Zhao household was meant to be well-guarded and secure, it didn’t make sense for the only heir to die a violent death in the middle of the night without anyone noticing. Should Wenyuan’s rooms be left a complete mess, suspicion would fall on the Grand Duke rather than anyone else.

Maybe they can’t break in-or maybe I’m overthinking it, don’t Imperial Investigators wear masks? That guy wasn’t wearing a mask. Damn it, what the hell is the right move?!

There was another soft thump in the courtyard. Kayla stiffened, backing further away into the shadows. To her surprise, there was a knock on the door leading to the courtyard.

Are you fucking kidding me? Why the fuck are they knocking?!!! This crazy bastard!

“Excuse me,” a familiar voice said politely. “Minister Zhao, please pardon my intrusion. Are you there, my lord?”

Kayla’s jaw dropped. What? Is that Chen Jian?

“This is Chen Jian, my lord. Sorry for the disturbance, I hope I haven’t interrupted your rest.”

“Wait, what?” Kayla blurted out before she could stop herself. “Chen Jian? Why are you here?”

“Apologies for the disturbance, an assassin got in without our noticing due to my negligence,” Chen Jian’s voice said sheepishly.

Thank god, so the corpse was an assassin. I was just overthinking it. Feeling a rush of relief, she peeled the talisman off and opened the door.

“Chen Jian-”

Rather than Chen Jian, it was a man with black cloth covering his face.

Shit! Kayla hastily stepped back, reaching to close the door.

There was a flash of silver as moonlight glinted off a blade. The man lunged forward, plunging the sword at Kayla’s chest.

Even as she was backing away, she could tell it wouldn’t be fast enough. The world seemed to move in slow-motion, trapping Kayla in her moment of panic. Who had sent him? Xianchun? The Grand Duke? Shu Zhengyan? Someone else she’d pissed off along the way?

Fuck, I’m such a fucking idiot, did I make it this far just to die like this?!

The blade pierced into her robes, slicing through layers of cloth. A clanging noise rang out as the sword struck metal.

There was a sharp pain as the golden plaque in Kayla’s inner pocket was pressed into her skin by the force of the blow, hard enough to make her stumble backward. The plaque vibrated as its magic activated. Both the assassin and Kayla glanced at the item in shock as it emanated high-tier magic. The assassin jumped back.

“What? A magical item?” The assassin said in surprise, still in Chen Jian’s voice. Kayla grabbed her chance. Fueled with adrenaline, she stepped back and slammed the door shut at an ungodly speed, slapping the talisman back on.

“Oh my god,” Kayla gasped, stumbling away from the door.

What the fuck-he had Chen Jian’s voice! Whoever did this knew who I’ve worked with. This is definitely an inside job! Kayla fled deeper into the room. But who is it? The Grand Duke? Someone in the Investigator's Bureau? Shit, it's probably the Grand Duke.

Kayla, we need to get out of here!

I just said this is an inside job! The second I step into the corridor there’ll be another one waiting, I need to buy time!

We’ll just get killed! Not dropping dead just now must’ve used up all of our luck, if we just stay here we’ll be waiting for death!

“Damn it, fuck the orders! I can’t just go back like this!” The assassin snarled from the courtyard. He was using his own voice now, deep and raspy. From his moonlit silhouette against the window panes, Kayla saw him raise his sword.

Fuck, this crazy piece of shit!

Wood splinters flew in every direction as the assassin cleaved the door open.

The talisman activated. A blaring alarm sounded out, blinding red lights flashing like a strobe light throughout the room. Kayla was prepared, but the assassin wasn’t.

“What in the heavens?!” The assassin shouted in confusion, his eyes watering from the lights going off right in his eyes.

“THIEF! THIEF! THIEF! THIEF!” The alarm blared loudly. Wincing at the noise, Kayla backed away towards the corridor entrance.

“Damn it!” The assassin snarled, rubbing the back of his hand over his tearing eyes. His words were drowned out by the alarm blaring on.

“THIEF! THIEF! THIEF! THIEF!”

Kayla waited by the door a moment more. Even if the Grand Duke had another assassin lying in wait, he couldn’t make another attempt at this point. With such a large commotion, the Grand Duke couldn’t pretend that an intruder had just snuck in without his noticing-regardless of how much he wanted Kayla dead, the only thing he could do now was to pull the brakes.

The assassin blinked until his vision cleared, locking onto Kayla with a watery glare. Kayla dashed out of the door into the corridor. She instinctively stiffened, half-expecting a blade to plunge into her side. To her relief, nothing happened.

Kayla sprinted down the corridor towards where she knew there had to be at least two guards stationed. She didn’t expect them to be there tonight, but if she made it that far, the Grand Duke would no longer be able to stand back and let her die without incurring suspicion.

Even from down the corridor, she could still hear the alarm blaring.

“THIEF! THIEF! THIEF! THIEF!”

She caught a flash of motion from the corner of her eye and instinctively dived toward the ground. The sword slashed thin air through where Kayla had been standing a second ago.

“Fuck, you crazy bastard!” Kayla screamed in fear. She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the assassin’s attack as he plunged the sword downwards. The edge of the blade nicked her cheek, right under her left eye.

Kayla lunged forward to try and escape, only to receive a kick to the ribs. Winded, she hit the floor with a painful thud, the air forced out of her lungs by the sudden impact.

The assassin raised his sword and swung it down. The world didn't seem to slow down this time, not when Kayla could barely breathe from the pain.

Blood splattered over her face. The blade clattered down next to Kayla, narrowly missing her fingers, a severed arm thudding onto the ground a second later. The arm landed right on Kayla’s hand and she hurriedly drew back, scooting away as the assassin screamed in pain.

“How dare you!” A familiar figure had his blade pressed against the assassin, having pressed the man against the wall. Kayla scooted further away, nervously glancing at the two of them.

“Hu Qing?” Kayla managed to wheeze out as she caught her breath.

“Minister, are you alright?! You’re bleeding!”

58-Candle in the Wind

“Minister, are you alright?! You’re bleeding!” Hu Qing asked, pinning the assassin against the wall effortlessly.

The assassin summoned his last burst of strength, flinging himself backward to break out of Hu Qing’s hold. Utterly unfazed, Hu Qing grabbed the man by the hair and slammed him facefirst into the ground. The assassin made a choked sound of pain, struggling uselessly against Hu Qing’s iron grip.

“This piece of shit,” Hu Qing growled. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, picking on a guy who doesn’t have the arm strength to truss a chicken?”

Kayla scrunched her face up, a little offended despite the rush of gratitude in her chest.

The assassin made a garbled noise as blood filled his mouth, only to have his head slammed into the floor again. He fell limp this time, and Hu Qing didn’t waste a second before binding and gagging him.

“Seriously, what the hell are the guards doing?” Hu Qing grumbled, deftly tying the final knot. He turned back towards Kayla, who was still sitting on the floor.

“Hu Qing, what are you doing here?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing let out a sigh. “Actually, I came here to say goodbye to you. I was planning to leave the capital tonight, but…” he glanced around the hallway with narrowed eyes. “I guess I’m changing my plans. Minister, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Kayla replied shakily. “Thank you so much, I’m really grateful. I thought I was done for.”

Hu Qing pulled Kayla up, checking her for injuries. He frowned at the torn robes where the assassin’s blade had struck, pulling at it to see if there was any blood. Seeing that there wasn’t, he gave a nod of satisfaction.

“Alright, let’s go back to your room for now, the corridor’s not safe. I’m guessing this is an inside job then?” Hu Qing said. Kayla nodded.

“Even a beast as cruel as the tiger doesn’t eat their own young,” Hu Qing said darkly. “This guy’s worse than an animal.”

Kayla let Hu Qing gently nudge her in the direction of Wenyuan’s room, glancing back at the assassin on the floor.

“Is it really fine if we leave him here?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing shot the assassin another look of disgust. “Yes, we can both ascertain he’s still alive and has no means of offing himself, so if he dies it’ll prove this to be an inside job. He won’t pose any further threat to you right now, but who knows if he’ll try something if he gets close enough. I didn’t do a thorough check, he might have hidden explosives or something dangerous in his clothes. Better to leave him here,” he explained.

Kayla nodded again and mechanically followed Hu Qing back to Wenyuan’s rooms, leaving the unconscious assassin in the corridor. The alarm was still blaring loudly, the red light flashing throughout the room, alternating between illuminating the shattered door and plunging the room into darkness. It made for a very disorienting effect that had Kayla’s head spinning.

“I’ll deactivate the talisman first,” Kayla said. The loud noise didn’t help her slipping concentration as she fumbled for the right talisman. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t just nullify the magic before Hu Qing. She winced as she finally fished out the right one to deactivate the anti-theft talisman, silencing the noise. The room fell into darkness again, the only light on Kayla’s desk having been upturned by the chaos earlier. Hu Qing glanced past the gaping door into the courtyard.

“Shit, is that a dead guy in your courtyard?”

“Yeah,” Kayla said grimly. “I’m guessing he’s an investigator.”

“Figures, I didn’t sense any investigators on my way in,” Hu Qing muttered. “Guess they’ve all been wiped out. But that guy was too weak to have done it, either there was a mole among the Investigators or there’s someone else still hanging around.”

Kayla grit her teeth together. “No wonder, there are no witnesses so he can just cover up any disturbance, no matter how large it is! And here I was foolishly thinking that if it became enough of a commotion, he’d have to back down.”

“Given that you didn’t stand a chance against that guy from earlier, it’s not a bad plan,” Hu Qing comforted her. “But damn, your grandfather’s got balls of steel to try something like this.”

“I was still thinking of this in terms of political implications, but he was going for the kill without hesitation. No wonder he’s stayed in power this long, that old codger has the guts to do whatever he wants and the skill to get away with it,” Kayla said darkly.

“I feel sorry for you to have such a grandfather,” Hu Qing commented.

Kayla glanced around the dark room, which was now illuminated only by the moonlight.

“Is it really alright to stay here?” Kayla asked.

“Far safer than taking you out of the household,” Hu Qing replied. “Here, it’s still a controlled environment. No matter how hard he goes, that old man has a limit to what he can do. It’s also easier for me to sense people as they approach in a confined region rather than while I’m moving around, staying here is our best bet. The Imperial Investigators are supposed to change shifts during the night, they’ll soon notice something’s wrong. Once they send backup, you’ll be fine.”

“That makes sense,” Kayla said. “But I should probably contact Chen Caichun, she can alert them right away.”

Hu Qing nodded his agreement, and Kayla stiffly activated the communication talisman for Caichun, using it to send a brief written message. The adrenaline was wearing off now, leaving her exhausted. Hu Qing brushed the splinters off a chair and gently pushed her into the seat.

“Take it easy, Minister. Let me heal you up first, he got you under the eye so I’ll have to heal your whole face or it’ll be a splotchy mess,” Hu Qing said, his tone deliberately light and casual. Kayla relaxed a little, letting Hu Qing do his work. The comforting tingle of healing magic washed over her face.

“What about your ribs? Want me to take a look?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla hesitated for a moment before nodding. She pulled out the golden plaque as she removed her robes, frowning as she saw the dent in it. It was still emanating magic, though she couldn’t tell the effect it was meant to have.

“That’s a serious dent,” Hu Qing remarked as he healed the plaque-shaped bruise. “Did you use it to block a blow or something?”

“It blocked that guy’s sword earlier,” Kayla said, showing him the plaque. “He stabbed me as soon as I opened the door, I got really lucky that he hit the plaque instead.”

“You…opened the door for him?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla flushed in embarrassment.

“I thought it was someone I knew, he used their voice. And his height and figure were close enough,” Kayla said, her voice wavering between sheepish and defensive.

“Damn, a voice modification? That’s expensive as hell to prepare,” Hu Qing said in surprise. “No wonder you fell for it.”

“It was pretty stupid of me, I should’ve asked for proof of identity first,” Kayla said. She rubbed at her head, which was starting to ache dully.

“Well, I’m not sure how to say this, Minister. But you’re a civil official, not military personnel. Under normal circumstances, there would be no reason for you to be familiar with the various tricks of the shadow trades,” Hu Qing consoled her as he finished up with the healing magic. Kayla pulled her robes back on, her movements slow and sluggish.

“Yes, but I was careless. I should’ve been much more cautious.”

“I think you’re plenty paranoid already, Minister. Even your subordinates agree with me on that. If you slip up, then that just means you’re exhausted from worrying all the time,” Hu Qing replied.

Kayla let out a deep sigh, the murkiness in her chest clearing up a little.

“You’re probably right. I just…I want things to stop happening so much all the time, but that’s out of my control,” Kayla said. Hu Qing held out a hand to silence her, frowning as he tensed his body.

Kayla glanced at him nervously, but she wasn’t left to wonder for long. The door to the corridor flew open with a crashing sound. A guard dressed in the Zhao clan’s uniform had kicked the door open, his foot still outstretched. The guard’s eyes glinted dangerously as he stepped through the doorway with a sword in his hand, several guards standing behind him in the shadows. Kayla instinctively stiffened, jumping up from her seat.

“Young lord, there’s been an intruder-Agh!” The guard was cut off by Hu Qing’s fist making contact with his face. He stumbled back, bleeding from his broken nose.

“You bastard, how dare you! He must be one of the intruders, seize him!” One of the other guards snarled. From his uniform, it seemed that he was the rank of a vice-captain. Hu Qing scoffed, reaching for his sword.

“Pieces of shit, you show up late with your blades out, just what are you trying to do?” Hu Qing snapped. He unsheathed his blade, a murderous look on his face.

Kayla shook herself out of her shocked silence, stepping forward to grab Hu Qing’s arm.

“That’s enough, this man is with me,” she said to the guards.

“Please move aside, young lord. We’re here to secure your safety,” the vice-captain said dismissively.

“Did you not hear me the first time?” Kayla snapped. The vice-captain’s expression twitched at her cold tone but showed no signs of backing down.

“Apologies, young lord. But-”

“I’m not interested in what you have to say. Leave immediately. If it’s security you’re worried about, then take the man in the corridor into custody and see to it that he stays alive until the Imperial Investigators can interrogate him,” Kayla ordered. “No one is to enter my quarters without my permission. This man is enough to ensure my safety.”

The vice-captain clenched his jaw, annoyance flickering in his gaze.

“Young lord, the city guard is more than enough to deal with a thief,” the vice-captain began.

“A thief? Is that what we’re going with?” Hu Qing asked accusingly.

“I’ve already contacted the Imperial Investigators, but it can’t be helped if the city guard has already been notified,” Kayla replied, deciding to cut her losses by choosing the fight she could win.

If push came to shove, things would become overly complicated if Hu Qing ended up killing one of the guards. “Since it’s just a thief, then there’s no reason for you to trouble yourselves. I have a guard present already, you should ensure the security for the rest of the Inner Quarters.”

“Apologies, but the Grand Duke has ordered us to guard you,” the vice-captain said firmly.

Kayla frowned in frustration. Just how persistent is this guy? There was no guarantee that the Grand Duke hadn’t ordered them to off her before the investigators could arrive, pinning the blame on Hu Qing or the assassin. She still had a corpse in her courtyard and her room was already a mess, at this point, it wouldn’t particularly increase the amount of suspicion the Grand Duke would face if Kayla died.

Even if Hu Qing could take down all of them, it would plunge him into hot water if they couldn’t prove that the guards were trying to kill her. Kayla glared at them and took out the golden plaque in her robes, ignoring the large dent in it.

“Do you know what this is? This plaque symbolizes the authority the Emperor has personally granted to me as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review,” Kayla said, resorting to pulling rank over them. The plaque didn’t even serve that function, but its symbolic importance as an item from the Emperor himself would hopefully be enough. “I am telling you to leave my quarters as a Minister, not as the young lord of the household. If you insist on barging into a site that I have deemed restricted, then I will personally see that you’re harshly punished for threatening national interests.”

“National interests? How absurd, how can this be a matter of national interests? You’re being unreasonable, young lord!” The vice-captain protested.

“Minister,” Kayla corrected him. “And that was not a threat but a promise. Try taking a single step forward and I’ll make sure to prosecute you into oblivion. Hu Qing, close the door.”

Hu Qing gladly obliged, slamming the door shut in the vice-captain’s face. Kayla backed away from the door, tensely waiting for the vice-captain to make a move. To her relief, there was only some resigned mumbling on the other side of the door before the guards dispersed, their footsteps moving away. The Grand Duke must’ve decided to cut his losses as well, Kayla realized. He must’ve realized that he won’t be getting anywhere with this.

Kayla let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, sagging in relief. She slumped into the chair again, feeling even more drained than before.

“What a mess,” Hu Qing bit out. “Minister, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine,” Kayla replied. “At least I can be ninety-nine percent certain who’s behind this, saves me the trouble of trying to figure it out.”

“You’re in a pretty dangerous situation, Minister. Wouldn’t it be better to just go ahead and leave this household? No matter how bad the political implications of breaking ties are, your life is more important,” Hu Qing suggested.

Kayla gave him a grateful look. It had always been tacitly understood that Wenyuan was meant to maintain relations with the Grand Duke and the Zhao household. Even the Emperor and Empress Dowager who doted on Wenyuan were willing to overlook his abuse in order to keep the Grand Duke in check until they were ready to strike.

“I would like to do that more so than anything else,” Kayla admitted. “I’d even be happy to marry someone from the Khaganate right here and now in order to do so, but that’s really out of my hands.”

Ultimately, no matter how much authority she was granted, Kayla and Wenyuan weren’t allowed to covet anything they weren’t given. If Kayla lost their favor, she would be done for.

“Your family sucks,” Hu Qing said sympathetically.

Kayla shook her head, smiling wryly at his comment. “Let’s talk about something else. Earlier, you said you were leaving the capital tonight. Can I ask why?” She could use a distraction before she had a meltdown.

Hu Qing shifted uncomfortably.

“Feel free to ignore my question if you don’t want to answer,” Kayla said.

“That’s not it. It just sounds pretty silly when I say it out loud,” Hu Qing admitted. “I had another fight with my uncle and overreacted to something he said. And then the more either of us tried to make things better, the worse it became. He would say something condescending or I would say something inappropriate. It just became a mess. I don’t want to deal with it anymore so I’m leaving.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kayla said. “But will you be alright leaving the capital? Your quality of life will probably drop a lot if you leave your household.”

“It’s better than my current situation,” Hu Qing said, his voice teeming with frustration. “I’m not a master, but I’m not a servant. I’m not a member of the family, but I’m also not an outsider. I can do and say whatever I want without regard for propriety, but I can’t eat with the family or be present when there’s a guest. Sometimes I really can’t tell if I’m lucky or unlucky.”

“Do you want to talk about it while we're waiting?” Kayla offered. The sharp brittleness was easing out of her mind as her attention shifted to Hu Qing’s troubles instead of her own situation.

Hu Qing sighed, leaning against Kayla’s desk. After a long silence, he spoke.

“My employer, my uncle, that is. He isn’t really my uncle,” Hu Qing said.

Kayla nodded. The guy’s probably Hu Qing’s father, but doesn’t want to claim his son, she hazarded her assumptions.

“He’s actually my brother.”

Oh. Kayla barely stopped herself from raising her eyebrows. Wait, what? That is not what I was expecting.

“That sounds like a complicated relationship,” Kayla said instead.

Hu Qing shook his head with a sigh. “My employer, he’s actually the son of a concubine, and the only surviving son other than me. Our father didn’t take another formal wife for a long time after he was widowed, but shortly before his death, he married my mother even though she was a courtesan. That’s how I was born.”

“That makes you the legitimate heir then, doesn’t it?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, so to speak. That’s why my other relatives wanted to kill my mother and me, but my employer intervened. I guess he felt bad or something since my mother isn’t much older than him and had a weak body after giving birth to me. But he also refused to acknowledge my status, so he turned me into the mistake of one of his deceased brothers instead of the mistake of his father,” Hu Qing explained.

“I’m sorry to hear that, that is so…convoluted,” Kayla said, sincerely sympathetic. Wenyuan’s situation wasn’t much better, given the twisted relationships of the Zhao clan.

“I guess,” Hu Qing pushed a hand through his hair, looking rather frazzled. “I mean, I shouldn’t have even told you any of this. But– damn it, I’m tired of dealing with it, you know? I care about my employer a lot, and I think he cares about me as well. But if he ever needs to sacrifice someone, he’d probably think of me first. I’ve always known that, but I didn’t think it mattered. As time goes on, it’s becoming clearer to me that I value him far more than he’ll ever value me. Rather than stay there and let our relationship deteriorate, I’d rather strike out myself.”

“I can understand,” Kayla assured him. “Probably more so than you might think.”

“Yeah, I get that feeling from you,” Hu Qing replied. “In any case, that’s the rundown of why I was planning to leave.”

Was?

Kayla gave him a look of surprise before realization hit her. Hu Qing was waiting around until a member of the Imperial Investigators showed up, out of concern for Kayla’s safety. But that meant his presence would no longer be hidden from the authorities. If he left the capital now, he would definitely be tailed and subjected to surveillance. But even if he stayed, Hu Qing’s career would have to be put on hold until the attention faded.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Since I was already here, I couldn’t just ignore the situation. It can’t be helped that I’m such a warm-hearted person.”

“That’s very kind of you."

Hu Qing gave her a grin. “Of course, I’m a virtuous man with a heart of gold!”

Kayla smiled back before hesitantly making her offer. “Since you’ve gotten into quite a troublesome situation because of me, I’m more than happy to take responsibility. Hu Qing, do you want to work for me? You don’t even have to do anything much, since I don’t want to put you in conflict with your brother, but I really do feel bad about messing up your plans. I’ll just pay you for doing nothing until you’re free to go.”

“Seriously?” Hu Qing asked gleefully, his eyes lighting up. “Paying me for nothing? Wow, Minister, you’re such a generous soul!”

“Is that a yes?” Kayla asked.

“I really don’t have to do anything?”

Kayla shook her head. “I understand the feeling of wanting to break away from your house before ruining things completely, and if you end up getting stuck back there because of me, I’d feel terrible about it. I’m happy to just give you a salary so you can go independent from your brother. If you want to leave the capital after everything calms down, that’s also fine.”

Hu Qing’s face took on a look that Kayla couldn’t quite recognize.

“Of course, I get that my situation is also quite discouraging for potential employees,” Kayla awkwardly said. “But if it’s financial support-”

“I’ve decided, Minister. I’m throwing my lot in with you,” Hu Qing cut her off.

“You’re what? I mean, I am recruiting you, but given my position right now-”

Hu Qing cut her off again. “What can I say? I’m weak against pathetic, helpless men.”

“Wow, that’s really something,” Kayla replied, too surprised to even feel offended.

“I don’t mean that in a bad way either, it’s just that I’d feel bad about myself if I ignored your situation,” Hu Qing said. “Your grandfather wants to kill you, your guards from the Imperial Investigators evidently aren't competent enough, and you don't trust Qu Boyong for help. I mean, isn’t your situation pretty bad right now? I'll feel bad if I just leave you to die.”

“Wait, that’s your reason?” Kayla asked, genuinely shocked at his answer.

“I hope you’re not offended, but yes,” Hu Qing replied. "Also, you seem easy to get along with. Last time when I mentioned I wasn't interested in women, you didn't even bat an eye. Most people would've thrown a fuss right there and then."

“I really wasn't expecting this, but I'm glad to hear it. If you’re really willing, then please work for me," Kayla offered.

Gaining Hu Qing’s support because he thought she was pitiful had been the last thing Kayla expected, but she wasn’t about to kick a gift horse in the mouth, especially when said gift horse had just saved her life.

Hu Qing grinned at her. “I'm glad you’re not too proud to accept, you’d be surprised at how many people would be,” he replied. “Minister, I’ll be in your care from now on.”

“Great, let’s talk about the salary and benefits,” Kayla began.

“Hold on, the Imperial Investigators are arriving. Do you want me to stick around or leave first?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla hesitated for a moment. The last thing she wanted was for Hu Qing to catch the attention of some investigator and end up in a rooftop chase.

“Please stay,” Kayla replied. “It might be dangerous for you to leave now, I’ll just tell them you work for me.”

“How reliable,” Hu Qing said lightly. After a moment, there was a light thump in the small courtyard, a tell-tale sign of an Inspector arriving. Kayla glanced out of the broken door nervously. To her relief, it was the familiar figure of Li Que.

Li Que removed his mask as he stepped through the doorway, glancing at the corpse and the shattered wood frame of the door before bowing at Kayla.

“Apologies for our tardiness, Minister. Are you alright?”

“Thank you for coming, Investigator Li. Thanks to my employee, I’m perfectly fine,” Kayla replied, gesturing at Hu Qing, who nodded politely at Li Que.

“I’m terribly sorry for our negligence,” Li Que said. “Unfortunately, it seems my fellow Investigators were overpowered, my colleagues are recovering the bodies right now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kayla said, her heart dropping into her stomach. So they really had been wiped out after all. “How many Investigators were killed?”

“We’ve found four bodies, including the man in your courtyard. A fifth man is missing, but it’s too early to say what happened with him,” Li Que said grimly. “Once we find out who was behind this, we’ll definitely make them pay with their lives.”

“I hope you give them what they deserve,” Kayla agreed.

“Thank you, Minister. But in any case, this was the Bureau’s failing,” Li Que bowed his head.

“Please don’t say that, the only one at fault here is the criminal,” Kayla hastily assured him. She had also been careless, even after realizing that someone as skilled as Hu Qing could easily slip past the Imperial Investigators.

“Thank you for your graciousness, Minister. But this-” Li Que stopped as he caught sight of the rip in Kayla’s robes.

“Minister, are you injured?!” He asked in alarm.

“I’m fine,” Kayla replied.

“But your robes!”

Kayla pulled out the dented plaque to show him. “I’m really fine, see? This plaque saved my life.”

Li Que stared at the plaque in surprise before shaking his head in disbelief. “No wonder the Imperial Guard was dispatched,” Li Que muttered.

“What? The Imperial Guard?! That’s-” Kayla fell silent halfway through her sentence, glancing uneasily at the plaque in her hands. Just what is this thing?

“They should be here momentarily,” Li Que replied. “Did His Majesty not say anything about that when you received the plaque?”

Kayla shook her head. “His Majesty never mentioned anything about the Imperial Guard.” Kayla had also pushed them to the back of her mind now that she no longer had to worry about Yu Bianfu.

“I’m sure they’ll be happy to explain it to you later. Since the Imperial Guard is getting involved, the Emperor and Empress Dowager have probably been notified. More likely than not, you’ll be making a trip to the palace, Minister.”

“I see,” Kayla said, not sure whether to feel stressed or relieved at the notion. “On another note, is Investigator Chen alright?”

“Investigator Chen?” Li Que gave her a befuddled look.

“Investigator Chen Jian,” Kayla clarified. “The assassin was using his voice.”

At Li Que’s contemplative frown, Kayla balked a little. “He wasn’t stationed here tonight, was he?”

“No, he wasn’t,” Li Que quickly assured her. “He was at home with his sister until she received your message. But that’s troubling to learn, it all but confirms that there’s a rat within the Bureau.”

Hu Qing jabbed a finger at the corridor. “I left the guy tied up in the hallway, but I doubt he’s still alive.”

Li Que let out a sigh. “I’ll be sure to take a look later, but it’s unlikely we’ll find a lead there.”

He glanced at a communication device on his wrist. “It seems the Imperial Guards have arrived. May I escort you to the gates, Minister?”

Kayla took a deep breath. The Imperial Guards getting involved meant that the Palace would be directly intervening, and the implications of that were far more complicated than just dealing with an assassination attempt. Her mind flitted to the assassin with Chen Jian’s voice.

There was a rat in the Imperial Investigation Bureau, the Grand Duke was out for blood, and now the Imperial Guard was here. Things will only get more complicated from here on. I really can’t wait any longer. As reluctant as she was to be seen as actively seeking more power before the Emperor and Empress Dowager, Kayla’s life was like a candle in the wind.

I need to make my move.

“I’d be grateful, Inspector Li,” Kayla said calmly. “Hu Qing, you can go back for now.”

“It might be a good idea to bring him with you for now,” Li Que suggested in a soft voice.

“Alright then. Hu Qing, is that fine with you?”

Hu Qing nodded. “I’ve never been inside the palace before, I wouldn’t mind taking a look.”

“Then shall we go, Minister?” Li Que asked.

Kayla nodded. “Of course, it wouldn’t do to keep the Imperial Guards waiting.”

59-The Stone-Cold Palace

Kayla stared in shock at the Imperial Guards before her. There was an unreasonable number of guards, with what must’ve been at least sixty men in full armor spread out before the Zhao household’s front gate. The doormen were backed against the wall, nervously trembling as they shied as far away as they could from the spears pointed in their direction.

From her peripheral vision, Kayla could see more guards securing the perimeter. The Imperial Guards had distinct armors and capes, higher quality than their counterparts in the City Guard. Between the torches and the moonlight glinting off the expensive metal, it made them seem twice as intimidating as usual.

Why are there so many guards? Is this all because of the plaque?

Something about the situation irked her, even though she couldn't quite put her finger on it yet.

“Minister, here we are,” Li Que said politely. “This man is Jiang Jing, a captain of the Imperial Guards.” Li Que gestured at the man in fancier armor than the others before stepping aside. Behind her, Kayla could sense Hu Qing fighting his conflicting instincts to appreciate the handsome captain and to take off at full speed away from the Imperial Guards.

The captain approached, bowing before Kayla.

“Minister, Captain Jiang of the Imperial Guards is here at your service. Please forgive us for our tardy arrival!” His voice rang out, almost seeming to echo off the other guards’ armor.

“Not at all, thank you for coming all this way,” Kayla said, keeping her tone mild. She still had no idea why they were even here, but Jiang Jing had been a named character in the novel. He was handsome, of course, and had been in love with a high-ranking serving maid. The captain had ended up swearing his loyalty to Xianchun after the prince helped him attain the serving maid’s hand in marriage. Though most of his appearances in the novel were dedicated to saving Xianchun or Consort Liang from various assassination attempts, Jiang Jing had been pretty competent when it came to running people through with a spear.

This is another guy to watch out for, Kayla thought grimly to herself. At this point, he shouldn’t have sworn his loyalty to Xianchun yet, but who knows? With how much I’ve been messing with events, it could’ve happened already.

“Thank you for your graciousness, Minister. Please leave the rest to the Imperial Guards, I’m to escort you to the palace on orders of the Empress Dowager,” Jiang Jing said. Kayla glanced at Li Que, who nodded.

“We’ll take care of things here, Minister. Please go ahead,” Li Que said.

Kayla obediently followed their arrangements, getting into the carriage. Hu Qing was offered a horse. Almost half the guards got into position around the carriage, Jiang Jing riding up to the carriage’s window on his horse.

“Then we’ll get going, Minister. Please let us know if there’s anything you need,” Jiang Jing said. At Kayla’s unnerved expression, he frowned slightly. “Is something the matter, Minister?”

“Not at all, thank you,” Kayla replied, forcing her face into a smile. Jiang Jing nodded politely before heading off to lead the convoy toward the palace. Hu Qing was doing an admirable job of not panicking despite looking visibly nervous and for good reason.

Why are so many people escorting the carriage? Even the princes don’t go around with this many guards! Won’t it be a traffic disturbance?

The Imperial Guards rarely acted as escorts for anyone who didn’t reside within the Imperial Palace, and even when they did, it wasn’t to this degree. Kayla could feel cold sweat beading on the back of her neck. As much as she was hoping this didn’t have any political implications, she could already tell it would stir up a fuss.

The carriage pulled to a stop before the Imperial Palace, just as Kayla had finished using a talisman to mend her torn robes. There wasn’t much she could do about the badly dented plaque, which was now both glowing and continuing to emanate magic, so she just tucked it back within her robes and hoped for the best.

“Minister, we’ve arrived,” Jiang Jing said, startling Kayla out of her thoughts. One of the guards opened the carriage door, bowing his head politely as Kayla passed before him.

Why are they being so polite? Aren’t the Imperial Guards supposed to be pretty arrogant? What the hell is this?

“Please allow me to escort you to the Empress Dowager’s palace,” Jiang Jing said.

“I’d be grateful,” Kayla replied. She followed the captain in silence with Hu Qing in tow. Kayla tried very hard to ignore the dozen Imperial Guards flanking them, Hu Qing doing an admirable job of not staring at everything with wide-eyed curiosity or flipping over a wall and running for it.

“Minister, please go ahead,” Jiang Jing said politely as they reached the entrance of the Empress Dowager’s annex, gesturing for Hu Qing to wait outside.

“Thank you very much, captain. I’ll go a step ahead,” Kayla said. She entered the building, bowing as soon as she caught sight of the Empress Dowager.

“Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets the Empress Dowager.”

“Be at ease, Wenyuan,” the Empress Dowager said, waving her over. “Are you alright? I’ve heard about what happened, it must’ve been quite a scare.”

“I’m perfectly well, grandmother. Thank you for your concern, I must apologize for disturbing your rest this late at night,” Kayla said. She sat obediently where the Empress Dowager gestured, settling into the familiar spot.

“Thank heavens you were unharmed, to think there would be someone capable of getting past the Imperial Investigators this easily,” the Empress Dowager sighed in relief. “It seems that we were too complacent.”

“It’s terrible what happened to the Imperial Investigators. Do you think they will be able to find out who was behind it?” Kayla asked.

The Empress Dowager gave her a look that Kayla couldn’t quite comprehend.

“It is clear who the primary suspect should be, but it remains to be seen whether our preparations will come through,” the Empress Dowager replied.

So she also knows it was the Grand Duke, Kayla thought grimly. But if he covers it up too well, her hands are tied as well. I guess that can’t be helped.

“I hope that we will attain a satisfactory outcome,” Kayla said in a neutral tone.

The Empress Dowager let out a sigh. “I hope so as well, but the best-laid plans often cannot catch up to changes in the situation. The Imperial Investigators had intercepted multiple assassins over the last few days, but none of them were able to provide anything useful.”

Wait, what? Multiple assassins?! Why the fuck is this the first time I’m hearing about it? Kayla felt an urge to demand answers from the Empress Dowager but fought it down with difficulty.

“I was unaware,” Kayla said instead.

“We did not intend for you to know. If your behavior were to drastically change, it would be difficult to determine what course of action your opponents may take,” the Empress Dowager said. “We had hoped to root them out, but unfortunately, it seems that this backfired. Our men were overpowered, and we may very well be unable to gain enough evidence.”

The nagging doubts at the back of Kayla’s mind seemed to connect at that moment. Pieces of the puzzle finally came together, and Kayla understood the hidden meaning of the Empress Dowager’s words in a sudden burst of clarity.

So she used me as bait. Five investigators, isn’t that even less than there would be for a surveillance mission?

Kayla felt a cold knot growing inside her stomach. She did this on purpose. The Empress Dowager intentionally reduced security when she knew I was in danger.

Kayla couldn’t place a finger on exactly what the emotion creeping up her spine was. It was something close to rage, or perhaps a sense of betrayal. Even if she hadn’t truly trusted the Empress Dowager that much, the realization still left her reeling.

Wenyuan’s your grandson, Kayla silently accused the old woman before her. If you’re going to make use of us, isn’t it natural to at least consider our safety? No wonder they say that the Imperial family is the most heartless.

Outwardly, Kayla maintained her polite demeanor.

“I understand, grandmother. Will tonight’s incident suffice?” Kayla asked.

The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment, and Kayla immediately understood that the palace wouldn’t be doing a single thing.

“I’m sorry, Wenyuan. But we can’t take action right away,” the Empress Dowager said. “The assassin poisoned himself and died before your arrival, and we’re still uncertain about the missing Investigator. It still remains to be seen what will come of this incident.”

Wow, absolutely amazing. So they can't do anything at all, is that how it is?

“That can’t be helped,” Kayla said.

“You can be assured that such a thing will not happen again, I will make sure of it.”

“Of course, grandmother. I’m very grateful.”

The conversation came to a pause, the Empress Dowager hiding her feelings of guilt by sipping at a cup of tea. Kayla internally debated her options, rummaging through her thoughts as she came to a decision. She had started out trying to protect herself against the threat of Xianchun, but now, the Grand Duke was an enemy that was much closer at hand.

If I take him down, perhaps I’ll also neutralize the threat of Xianchun as well.

“Grandmother, I have an unreasonable request to make, if you would be so kind to indulge my foolishness,” Kayla said.

“Don’t be silly, my grandson finally makes a request, how can I not be eager to hear it?”

Kayla steeled herself, fumbling for the right words.

“I recently learned of my family history,” Kayla began. The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly.

“Oh? Did Matron Li tell you that?”

“Yes, at my insistence. I was hoping to gain some insight into why the Grand Duke acted the way he did, but I didn’t expect to learn such a shocking truth.”

The Empress Dowager gave her a thoughtful look. “It must have been quite a surprise for you. Is your request related to this? Do you wish to change the records of your family tree?”

“Not quite,” Kayla admitted. She took a deep breath, mustering the courage to make the request.

“Our household has gone from a prestigious clan known for its loyalty and service to the throne to a blight on the dynasty. It is clear that my grandfather is no longer fit to lead the Zhao clan,” Kayla said. “If I may be so rude as to recommend myself, I would like to replace him as the head of household so that our clan may avoid complete ruin.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. “I see, it certainly makes sense for you to think this way.” The old woman reached for her teacup, which Kayla hastily refilled for her. Kayla watched anxiously as the Empress Dowager emptied the cup, setting it back down with barely a clink.

“Do you know why the Three Departments are still left in the Grand Duke’s hands, even now that He Shirang and Liu Hongyu have been deposed?” The Empress Dowager asked gently.

Kayla nodded, hiding her frustration at the sudden change of topic. “Because you don’t want the princes to compete over them yet.”

The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly. “That’s right. And what about the Six Ministries? Do you think you’re ready to take them on?”

“The Ministries of Personnel and Justice are already balancing themselves out, Seventh Cousin’s gotten his men among the Ministers and so Third Cousin’s men have wormed their way into the Right and Left Secretariat positions. That means both are deadlocked in terms of power,” Kayla replied. “The Minister of Public Works is already neutral, so that leaves three more ministries open. The Ministry of War can’t be touched until after the Grand Duke’s taken down, or Minister Zhao might try to sabotage Fifth Cousin or Third Cousin’s maternal families. That could have disastrous consequences, so it’s probably best to avoid antagonizing him for now. Then as for the remaining two, shouldn’t the ideal balance be that the princes aren’t able to dominate any of the ministries?”

“You’ve got the gist of it. Ideally, it should be that each ministry is balanced out or at least balanced enough that we don’t have to worry about factional domination in any of them, but that’s not realistic. Even in the Ministries of Personnel and Justice, the vying between the upper ranks is starting to heat up,” the Empress Dowager replied. “Let’s say it like this: Three legs allow a cauldron to stand.”

“Two ministries for each faction,” Kayla muttered thoughtfully. “And what about the departments? One each?”

“Once we’ve secured the seat of Central Secretariat and the Department of State Affairs, the other two are open for competition,” the Empress Dowager explained. “As for the ministries, it’s practically set in stone that Kuang will dominate the Ministry of War. Between him and Yunqi, it’s a given that they enjoy military support. Kuang’s foothold in the Ministry of Personnel is very shaky, and he’s about to lose hold of it altogether, so that’s one for Xianchun as well. That leaves four more.”

“The Ministry of Justice is likely to be a tie, and adding in the Ministry of Public Works, the neutral faction already has a third. But is it really possible to achieve such a balance? The numbers may work out on paper, but surely it won’t be easy to maintain in practice,” Kayla asked.

“Remember, Wenyuan. These aren’t just simple math problems. Power is always shifting, always fluid, and the importance of each ministry is also changing at any given moment in time. Just because they’re neutral now doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way, and Xianchun’s hold over the Ministry of Personnel is much shakier than Kuang’s hold over the Ministry of War,” the Empress Dowager cautioned her.

Kayla frowned. “Then I should intervene in the Ministry of Justice? But I’m already balancing them out with the Court of Judicial Review.”

“When I say that three legs make a cauldron, I did not mean that they should be completely equal in weight and length. The neutral faction should always strive to maintain an advantage over both the other factions,” the Empress Dowager replied. “To do that, you need to completely grasp the judicial system. That itself would impose plenty of limitations on what either of them could do.”

“Both the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau and the Court of Judicial Review already answer to the Emperor, so that leaves the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla said.

The Empress Dowager gestured for Kayla to lean forward. Kayla obeyed, and the Empress Dowager reached into Kayla’s robes and pulled out the golden plaque she’d received before the Yue Wuxuan case.

“It’s dented,” the Empress Dowager commented.

“Apologies, grandmother. It was an accident.”

“Well, no matter. I’ll give you a replacement soon. Do you know the significance of this plaque?”

Kayla shook her head. It definitely had something to do with the Imperial Guards, but she had no idea what the connection was.

“This golden plaque is not just a simple token, but a symbol of Imperial authority. I have one, your mother had one, and your cousins have their own. Do you understand what this means?” The Empress Dowager asked gently.

Kayla stared at the plaque in shock for a moment before nodding.

Holy shit, it was something that important? Why didn’t she say so earlier? Wenyuan was the Emperor’s nephew, but only through his sister’s side and not through his brother’s, and given the patrilineal social structure, that basically meant he wasn’t a member of the Imperial Family at all, only counting among the higher-ranking nobles.

Even the Archdukes, the Emperor’s half-brothers, still faced severe restrictions on how much authority they could wield as members of the Imperial Family.

A symbol of Imperial authority? She bit the inside of her cheek, glancing at the Empress Dowager nervously.

So she probably feels I already have enough power and prestige...she won’t think of me as power-hungry, right?

“That’s why the Imperial Guard hastened to your aid even though they normally don’t intervene in such things. I hope you understand that this isn’t a privilege to be taken lightly,” the Empress Dowager said gently. She put the plaque back into Kayla’s robes, patting it gently. Kayla remained frozen in place, sweat dripping down her neck from the pressure the Empress Dowager was exuding.

“Between this plaque and your current position, both the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau and the Court of Judicial Review will answer to you. And you, you answer to the Emperor,” the Empress Dowager warned Kayla. The old woman’s voice was soft, but there was just enough of an edge to remind Kayla of how dangerous she was. “Remember what this means.”

Kayla gulped nervously. “I understand, grandmother. Please be at ease. Anything that I do, I do for the throne. I’m not interested in personal gain or power.”

“I know,” the Empress Dowager said. “That’s a wonderful quality to have. But remember, good qualities are easy to grow out of, while bad qualities cling on much more tenaciously. Good qualities require upkeep, they require you to reflect on yourself thrice each day and to move as though you’re walking on thin ice or the edge of a precipice. The Grand Duke was once in a similar position as you are now, serving the throne to clean out the court. But he made one wrong decision after another, and look where he is now. Even his own heir is seeking to oust him.”

Kayla felt vaguely nauseous with stress. The old woman’s gaze was startlingly similar to the Grand Duke’s eyes as he had glared at Kayla the moment he had recognized her as an opponent rather than just a rebellious brat. It was enough to send chills down her spine.

So that’s what she was going for after such a wide loop. Shit, I miscalculated. It must have been too much to directly pose the request, I should’ve waited for her to make an offer and then refused at least once! Fuck, I was too impatient.

“Thank you for the advice, grandmother. I’ll be sure to keep it close to my heart. In any case, I have no intention of following in the Grand Duke’s footsteps. If someone’s virtue doesn’t match their position, their relationship to me would not be part of the considerations,” Kayla replied. “Rather than how high my relatives can climb in life, I’m more interested in their personal refinement. They say the first step to establishing peace and prosperity throughout the country is personal growth, and unrestrained ambition is one of the first things that need to be culled in refining one’s virtue.”

Her heart pounding loudly, Kayla wanted to punch herself in the face. She’d dropped subtlety in favor of damage control, but there was still the issue of whether the Empress Dowager would buy it.

Confucius, please don’t let me down. Kayla had basically given her word that she wouldn’t protect a single clan member who was implicated in the Grand Duke’s crimes or attempt to replace them, which essentially removed the Zhao clan from the political scene altogether. Even if Kayla took over the position as the head of the clan, she would be taking the reins of a ruined house. If the Empress Dowager still wasn’t satisfied, then that meant they were aiming for complete extermination.

The Empress Dowager smiled affectionately. There was a subtle shift in her demeanor, and she once again was Wenyuan’s loving grandmother, offering advice for her grandson’s career.

“Indeed, the most important duty one has to their family is ensuring their health and happiness,” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla felt a rush of relief that the Empress Dowager seemed to be letting her off the hook, but she couldn't quite push away the exhausted annoyance thrumming through her chest.

“Wenyuan, don’t blame this grandmother for nagging at you. I’m saying this to you now so you don’t have to hear it when things have already progressed too far for you to turn back,” the Empress Dowager said. “I understand your character, and you’ve proven to me time and again that you value the country over your personal glory or even that of your clan. But you also need to be very aware of how each of your actions can be interpreted by people who know nothing about you. Even if you don’t take a step yourself, they may push you onto a path you’re unwilling to take. In the palace and in the court, caution is your greatest friend.”

Kayla nodded. “Understood, grandmother. Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom.”

That wasn’t a refusal, but it sure as hell wasn’t acceptance either. It's true that the plaque gives me a lot more prestige than I've earned, but it wasn't like I could've made use of it since I never even knew myself. Not to mention, she didn't explain what set the plaque off.

The plaque hadn't launched any communication magic or offered any protections, serving effectively fewer functions than the talismans Kayla bought off the street. The Imperial Guards had indeed gone to Kayla's aid, but they certainly hadn't acted as though they were responding to an emergency. They had extra rotations of guards stationed at key points throughout the city to ensure the safety of the palace, if they wanted to get to the Zhao household quickly, they could've gotten there in minutes. Even Li Que, who came all the way from the Bureau, got there faster than them.

She felt a twinge of outrage at the injustice of the situation. It was still difficult to say whether this situation was the result of the Empress Dowager's mistake or by design, but was Kayla's request really so unreasonable when her situation clearly warranted it? Kayla had to force her thoughts into silence to focus on the Empress Dowager's words.

The Empress Dowager patted Kayla on the shoulder. “As your elder, it's only proper that I offer you advice. Now, let’s talk about the Ministry of Justice.”

“Investigator Tabuyir is currently wrapping up his investigation of the Ministry of Justice, since you were involved in initiating the case, you should discuss it with him and Investigator Li Que,” the Empress Dowager said pointedly. “As for the replacements for the personnel who were implicated, I leave it to you.”

“To me?” Kayla asked hesitantly. “Grandmother, I appreciate your faith in my abilities, but I truly do not dare to take on such a task. Personnel should either be handled by the Ministry of Personnel or assigned by the Emperor or Three Departments, how can I, a Minister of the Court of Judicial Review make these decisions?”

“It’s good that you’re cautious not to overstep your role, but you also shouldn’t refuse the responsibilities you have been given. Handle this however you see fit,” the Empress Dowager assured her.

Kayla bowed her head. “Understood, grandmother. Thank you for entrusting this duty to me.”

The Empress Dowager looked Kayla over, her expression softening at the exhaustion on Kayla’s face.

“Take the day off tomorrow,” the Empress Dowager suggested. “Do you remember the house under your mother’s name on the city's outskirts? It’s been a while since you last visited there, hasn’t it?”

Kayla gave a hesitant smile to hide her confusion.

Wenyuan, which house is this?

What house?

What? You don’t know either? After a moment of pure and unadulterated confusion, Kayla came to a realization. Ohhhhh, ok. I think I get it now.

“Indeed, it’s been so long I barely remember it,” Kayla said, tinging her voice with regret. The Empress Dowager smiled, looking rather pleased that Kayla had picked up the cue.

A secret house on the outskirts that we never knew about? It must be her research lab, Kayla realized. The Empress Dowager must be giving me access to this information in compensation for what happened tonight, especially since she’s refusing to give a clear answer about taking over the Zhao clan. But she is handing me the reins of the neutral faction, so I guess she’s balancing it out her own way.

Mother had a secret research lab?! And she didn’t tell me?! Wenyuan sounded genuinely offended at the thought.

That’s the part you’re focusing on?

“I’ll have Sir Yang send a carriage,” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla nodded, recognizing the name as the elderly eunuch who had taken her into the palace during the Li Sanjin case.

“Thank you, grandmother. I’d be very grateful for the reprieve,” Kayla replied.

“Before you leave, I wish to meet with that new employee of yours.” the Empress Dowager said. Kayla fought to keep herself from stiffening.

Damn, I sure hope I haven’t dragged Hu Qing into trouble.

“Of course, grandmother. I believe he’s waiting outside,” Kayla said obediently. “His name is Hu Qing, he saved my life tonight.”

“Excellent,” the Empress Dowager smiled at her. “Call him in.” One of the serving maids peeled off to do so, returning with Hu Qing in tow.

Hu Qing exchanged a panicked glance with Kayla before kneeling and bowing his head to the floor. “This lowly commoner Hu Qing humbly greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager! May Her Majesty live for thousands of years!”

“Please rise,” the Empress Dowager said. She made to continue, but stopped short, staring in shock at Hu Qing’s face.

“Grandmother?” Kayla prompted.

After a short moment, the Empress Dowager smiled, her surprised expression melting away.

“Wenyuan here tells me that you saved his life,” the Empress Dowager said. “You’ve done me a great service by saving my only maternal grandson, what would you like for a reward?”

“I-I don’t dare to hope for one,” Hu Qing stammered, glancing at Kayla nervously. She gave him an encouraging look, helpless to do much else for him.

“How humble,” the Empress Dowager remarked approvingly. She regally lifted her hand, gesturing at the serving maids. “Reward Hu Qing with two-hundred gold and ten bolts of Hangzhou brocade. From now on, he will be permitted to wear brocade.”

A single bolt of palace-quality Zhejiang brocade was worth at least a hundred silver. While it was prohibited to sell rewards from the Imperial Palace, it was still a hefty amount to have on hand.

“That’s too much, Your Majesty! I don’t dare to accept so much,” Hu Qing protested. Kayla hesitated, not sure if she should jump in.

“Is my grandson’s life not worth at least this much? You must accept it,” the Empress Dowager said firmly.

Kayla cleared her throat. “Hu Qing, since the Empress Dowager is giving you a reward, you should accept her generosity.”

Hu Qing bowed his head to the ground again. “I apologize for my rudeness and gratefully accept! I am eternally thankful, Your Majesty.”

“Raise your head, you are well-deserving of this reward,” the Empress Dowager said. Her smile took on a far-off look, her voice tinted with nostalgia.

“But really, your words just now brought back old memories. You look just like your father.”

Kayla stared at the Empress Dowager in shock.

“Um,” Hu Qing replied. He was sweating bullets and looked as though he would rather be anywhere but here. “A-as you say, Your Majesty.”

“Especially around the eyes,” the Empress Dowager remarked. “And the shape of your face as well. It almost feels as though I’m looking at the late Lord Liang again.”

Kayla’s eyes widened in surprise.

Wait, the late Lord Liang?! That’s who his dad is?! Then isn’t he-

“You must be his youngest son, Liang Hongfei,” the Empress Dowager continued. “Are you using Hu Qing as a pseudonym?”

Oh shit, I fucking knew it! He was too good-looking not to be a character!

“It…it is as you say, Your Majesty,” Hu Qing said weakly, looking as though he wanted to sink through the floor. The Empress Dowager turned toward Kayla with a smile.

“How wonderful, Wenyuan. You’ve found yourself quite a talented employee,” the Empress Dowager said pleasantly. It was Kayla’s turn to want to sink through the floor.

Fuck, please don’t misunderstand again, Kayla silently pleaded. I’m really not trying to mess with the Liang family’s internal affairs!

“Thank you, grandmother,” Kayla said. She bit back her urge to explain, knowing it would just cause more trouble. “Though we haven’t known each other long, Hu Qing saved my life tonight. He’s a very reliable young man, and I have a lot of expectations for his future.”

“What excellent news,” the Empress Dowager said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled. Kayla felt a small rush of relief, seeing that the Empress Dowager hadn’t come to the wrong conclusion. “Liang Hongfei, I’d like to appoint you as my grandson’s guard, will you accept?”

Hu Qing and Kayla balked a little at the loaded question. The Empress Dowager was still insisting on using Hu Qing’s identity as a member of the Liang clan, singlehandedly turning this from Kayla’s own affairs to a politically fraught issue.

Kayla had put the pieces together the second the Empress Dowager mentioned the late Lord Liang.

I should've guessed from Hu Qing's family situation!

Liang Hongfei had been a minor character in the original novel, the son of the late Lord Liang and a young courtesan. The late Lord Liang had fled the capital during the reign of the previous Emperor after General Liang had been framed and his family persecuted. It was during this period of time that he ended up meeting Hongfei's mother. After having Liang Hongfei, the late Lord Liang passed away shortly before the family had been properly reinstated, and Liang Hongfei immediately lost his only protection within the Liang clan.

He had emerged in the novel's narrative almost a year into the battle of succession to blackmail Minister Liang for the position of the head of household with evidence of the various deeds Minister Liang had done for Xianchun’s sake, damning enough to crush both the Liang clan and the Seventh Prince. Backed into a corner, Minister Liang had chosen to relinquish his seat to his younger brother rather than endanger the Seventh Prince, but Xianchun had intervened on Minister Liang’s behalf.

After some plots and maneuvers, Minister Liang retained his seat and Liang Hongfei turned up dead a while later. It had only been a minor arc for the sake of cementing the trust between Minister Liang and Xianchun, leading to Minister Liang becoming Xianchun’s father-in-law.

But now, with Hu Qing right in front of her, Kayla couldn’t muster anything but outrage on Hu Qing’s behalf. Minister Liang was the asshole who forced his younger brother to live as an illegitimate child, and yet Hu Qing’s death was only used as a catalyst for Xianchun’s harem development. Kayla could imagine things eventually going down that route if Hu Qing’s relationship with Minister Liang had continued to worsen, but now, Hu Qing didn’t seem particularly interested in political power at all.

The problem was whether the Empress Dowager saw it that way.

“Your Majesty, I don’t dare to covet anything such as a formal position. I am but a simple man with simple desires, I know my limits and abide by them well. I chose to live freely as Hu Qing rather than take on my responsibilities as Liang Hongfei for that very reason. Please forgive my rudeness, but it would go against my conscience to accept something I am unworthy of,” Hu Qing replied, nervous enough that his voice was wavering. His delivery wasn’t great, but the answer should’ve been passable.

Kayla anxiously watched the Empress Dowager’s reaction. For a long moment, the old woman’s face was completely impassive, but she finally gave a smile.

“It’s rare to see a young man who chooses to steadily progress step by step rather than trying to quickly rise upon azure clouds. Your attitude is commendable. Since you have such a clear understanding of your own goals and value, then I’ll happily accommodate you. But without a formal position, you won’t be able to do your job properly,” the Empress Dowager said. She gestured for her serving maid. The serving maid approached, a bronze plaque in her hands. She bowed as she handed it to the Empress Dowager before scuttling off again.

“This will allow you to act freely while working for my grandson,” the Empress Dowager said, holding it out to Hu Qing. Hu Qing shuffled forward on his knees, taking the plaque with both hands.

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty!” Hu Qing quickly bowed his head to the floor.

“Whether it’s cooperation from the City Guard or access to restricted areas, you may use this plaque as needed,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Thank you, grandmother,” Kayla said, bowing her head. “With this, both I and Hu Qing will have a much easier time.”

Hu Qing nodded his head furiously, having shuffled back to a respectful distance from the Empress Dowager.

“Good, good. I’m sure he’ll do well,” the Empress Dowager said, her voice taking on a far-off tone. “Work hard, Liang Hongfei. You’ll be certain to receive a suitable reward.”

Just what is she planning now? She has the look of someone who just added a new piece to the board.

Hu Qing hastily bowed his head again, gulping nervously. “I don’t dare to wish for any further reward, Minister Zhao is already a generous employer.”

That drew out a burst of laughter from the Empress Dowager.

“What an amusing response,” the Empress Dowager chuckled. The old woman laughed mirthfully, Kayla laughing along to be polite.

The Empress Dowager smiled, looking much more relaxed than she had before. “Alright then, it’s rather late, don’t let this old woman keep you from your beds. Wenyuan, why don’t you take a rest at your mother’s house tonight?”

“Gladly, grandmother. Then I take my leave of you, please have a good rest,” Kayla bowed her head, Hu Qing bowing his head to the ground again. The Empress Dowager nodded, waving for them to go. Kayla and Hu Qing gladly took their leave, careful not to seem too eager.

A familiar eunuch greeted them as they exited the building and stepped into the cool night air.

“Minister Zhao,” the eunuch bowed.

“Sir Yang, it’s been a while,” Kayla greeted him.

“The Empress Dowager has ordered me to accompany you and take care of your needs at the Imperial Princess’ villa,” the eunuch said.

“Then I’ll be in your care.” Kayla discreetly took out a small bag of silver coins from her robes, slipping it into the eunuch’s sleeve.

“No, no, Minister,” the eunuch protested. Familiar with the ritual, Kayla insistently pushed away his hand as he tried to return it.

“No, really, I insist,” Kayla said. The eunuch bowed slightly.

“Then since the Minister’s generosity is so overwhelming, I’ll gratefully accept,” the eunuch said. At Kayla’s affirming nod, he gestured for them to follow.

“This way, Minister. The carriage is ready.”

Kayla glanced at Hu Qing, raising her eyebrows slightly. Hu Qing gulped in response, shifting his gaze to avoid her eyes. The two followed the eunuch in awkward silence to the carriage.

60-The Imperial Princess’ Villa

Qu Boyong stood around his table with Ji Fangluo and An Haoyang, speaking in a hushed tone as he went through the details of the plan. It wasn’t possible for them to meet during the day, Qu Boyong and An Haoyang both being busy with their jobs, so they had no choice but to sacrifice their sleep.

“But isn’t that too dangerous? Even if Haoyang is an Imperial Investigator, his ranking isn’t high enough and he doesn’t have political backing,” Ji Fangluo objected.

“It’s a necessary risk, we need someone on the inside to push it forward,” Qu Boyong replied. “Our men in the Ministry of Justice are ranked too low, and we don’t have anyone else who passed the background check for the Bureau. An Haoyang is our only choice.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Ji. I’ve been there long enough, they wouldn’t find me suspicious,” An Haoyang assured her. He made to continue but suddenly fell silent.

An Haoyang patted at his robes with a frown, retrieving a metal plaque. His expression darkened as he looked at the symbol that had appeared on its surface.

“That’s not good,” An Haoyang muttered.

“What happened?” Qu Boyong demanded sharply.

“The Imperial Investigation Bureau has raised an emergency alarm. All off-duty Investigators are to report immediately to the Bureau,” An Haoyang said grimly.

“What on earth is going on? Was there a security breach?” Boyong asked.

“Young lord, listen,” Ji Fangluo cut in urgently. The three fell silent. There was the sound of rhythmic footsteps and horses in the distance.

“That must be well over seventy men,” Ji Fangluo muttered. “And yet they’re moving in unison without making any extraneous noise, it can’t be the City Guard.”

“It’s not the Bureau or the Ministry of Justice,” An Haoyang muttered. “Listen to that, they’re wearing armor.”

“The Imperial Guard,” Qu Boyong said. “No one would be foolish enough to march soldiers into the capital, it can only be them! Are they headed towards the Zhao household?”

The three of them exchanged looks of confusion.

“Haoyang, hurry up and go to the Bureau first. It’ll get complicated if someone notices you here,” Qu Boyong ordered.

An Haoyang nodded. “Please be careful, young lord. If the situation gets out of hand, you’ll need to get out of here.” The young investigator left on foot, avoiding going through the rooftops until he was a safe distance away. Qu Boyong swiveled his head in the direction of the footsteps, unease twisting inside his stomach.

“Young lord, they’re stopping outside the Zhao household, something must have happened! Did the Grand Duke snap and kill his grandson?” Ji Fangluo asked.

Qu Boyong clenched his jaw, moving towards the door. “Damn it, our plans will all be for nothing if he did! I’ll have to go find out.”

“You can’t,” Ji Fangluo said in alarm. “It wouldn’t be surprising that you didn’t know of what happened later on, but it would definitely be suspicious for you to show up now! Stay here, we’ll find out in due time.”

“But-” Qu Boyong began to protest.

"Young lord, what can you even do if you go right now? Unless you can prove the Grand Duke's guilt in framing the Xiang clan right then and there, it's pointless to risk yourself by intervening," Ji Fangluo said, grabbing him by the arm.

“You’re right,” Boyong said grimly. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

It wasn’t long before his communication talisman received a message from An Haoyang.

“He sent a message while inside the Bureau? Isn’t that dangerous?” Ji Fangluo asked in alarm.

“It must be an emergency,” Boyong said. He read the message, handing it to Ji Fangluo with a severe look on his face. “Thank the heavens, the Grand Duke hasn't been arrested yet. It seems that Zhao Wenyuan will live to see another day. But this means our plans will have to be accelerated, the Grand Duke’s already making his move and the Bureau will be retaliating soon. Here, see for yourself.”

Ji Fangluo read over the message with growing concern. “There are four dead investigators, a fifth one missing, and they suspect there’s a spy within their ranks. That’s extremely disadvantageous for An Haoyang!”

“Haoyang will be alright, it’s the Zhao clan’s situation I’m worried about-they mobilized the Imperial Guards to interfere on Zhao Wenyuan’s behalf, and he’s already been whisked away to the palace. Who knows what will happen from now on? The Grand Duke and the Zhao clan may very well emerge from this in a better position than ever before,” Qu Boyong spat out. “Who knows what that old man has up his sleeve?”

“Then we’ll have to move forward ahead of plan,” Ji Fangluo replied. “We can’t afford to wait and lose the advantage of surprise.”

“Yes, but it seems that just the measures I had in mind won’t be enough. The intervention of the Imperial Guards will raise Zhao Wenyuan's prestige yet another step, and the Zhao clan will benefit by association. I need to throw that into chaos if we are to proceed. Ji Fangluo, I’ll need your help with this. Starting from tonight, we need to run Zhao Wenyuan’s reputation into the ground,” Qu Boyong said.

“You plan to substantiate your rumors?” Ji Fangluo asked.

Qu Boyong bit down on the twinge of guilt rising into his throat. “It may be unfair to Zhao Wenyuan, but it’s about time to pull him from his perch. If we can’t tie his hands up with this matter, there’s no telling what that guy will do.”

Ji Fangluo hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Understood, young lord. I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Inside the Zhao household, the mood was taut enough to cut with a knife. The Imperial Guards had left the Inner Quarters, but they were still surrounding the household, and the Imperial Investigation Bureau could enter on the grounds of conducting an investigation at any moment. Both the Imperial Guards and Imperial Investigation Bureau were treading extremely carefully since they were dealing with the household of Grand Duke Zhao. Not only did the Grand Duke hold a title of nobility, but he also held the powerful seat of Central Secretariat. He wasn't someone they wished to deliberately offend.

The Grand Duke’s rage bounced off the walls of his study. Housekeeper Wang hid his wince as an expensive vase flew past his head, missing it by an inch to shatter against the wall.

“Which goddamn bastard dared to do this?!” The Grand Duke roared, upturning the heavy mahogany desk as though it weighed nothing.

“I-I’m sorry, my lord, we’re working on it right now,” Housekeeper Wang said softly. He glanced at the captain of the Zhao household’s guards, who was pale and shaking.

“You useless pieces of shit! Is it that hard to do something properly?!” The Grand Duke raged on.

“My lord, I’m terribly sorry, but I arranged the guards as previously agreed upon, so we also didn’t see what happened to the investigators,” the captain said in a trembling voice.

“Four dead investigators and one missing! Do you know how much of a mess this leaves us in? Those bastards from the Bureau dare to openly send their watchdogs, and now they blame us! And you, didn't you think to make any preparations for unexpected complications? Did you think I was making a joke when I said I wanted it done quietly?!” The Grand Duke shouted, jabbing a finger at the guard captain, who gulped nervously.

“The man we paid for has gone missing, but I don’t expect we’ll ever find him alive,” Housekeeper Wang said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “But he must have let something slip, how else would the assassin have known when to strike?”

“You bunch of failures! Not only is that little brat Wenyuan still alive and kicking, but the Imperial Guards have also gotten involved. They’re only a single breath away from launching an all-out investigation! It seems that neither of you realizes the severity of the situation, that assassin could’ve learned this information from anyone in this household. Captain, do I pay you to sit around and do nothing? Check the entire household and root out anyone who’s suspicious!” The Grand Duke ordered.

“Understood, my lord! I will do so right away!”

“Fix up that goddamn mess of a guard unit, do you think I don’t know that your men go around flirting with all the serving maids? Find everyone they’ve spoken to and root out the rat!”

The captain bowed deeply. “I sincerely apologize for my negligence! I swear to find the person responsible for the leak at any cost!”

“Don’t just go asking around like a block of wood, this might as well have been Wenyuan’s doing as well. That brat, he may have gotten hold of the information somehow and staged this himself to tie our hands. Figure it out, and look into those employees of his, especially that new one,” the Grand Duke seethed.

The guard captain gulped nervously, bowing lower to hide his expression. “As you wish, my lord.”

“And you, Housekeeper Wang! Start cleaning up the loose ends, we can’t just sit and wait for them to launch an investigation. Destroy everything that can be destroyed and silence everyone who can be silenced.”

Housekeeper Wang bowed his head. “Understood, my lord.”

The Grand Duke let out an angry huff, having burned through the worst of his rage.

“And one more thing, send word to Lin Yaoguang. Tell him I require his services again,” the Grand Duke ordered. Housekeeper Wang gave him a look of shock.

“Lin Yaoguang? My lord, are you certain? It could be dangerous, especially now that the Imperial Investigation Bureau and the palace have their eyes on us.”

The Grand Duke shot him an icy glare. “Do I need to repeat myself? If we don’t have the guts to make a bold move, we can only sit and wait for death!”

At the murderous look on the Grand Duke’s face, Housekeeper Wang gave up and bowed his head.

“Apologies, my lord. I will do as you command.”

Kayla sat in the carriage, glancing out the window as it pulled away from the Imperial Palace. She’d dragged Hu Qing in with her, ignoring his attempt to get on a horse instead. As expected of a high-ranking eunuch who had served the Imperial family for most of his life, Sir Yang deftly read the mood and took a horse, giving Kayla and Hu Qing their privacy.

Along in the carriage, Kayla was finally free to voice her thoughts.

“So, Liang Hongfei, was it?” Kayla asked. Hu Qing stiffened immediately.

Kayla glanced at him, and he stiffened even further. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, evidently unable to think of what to say.

After a long and awkward silence, Hu Qing slumped his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he said meekly. "I was just hoping that this would never come up, I didn't think the Empress Dowager would recognize me two seconds in."

“Relax, you said it yourself, you’re living as Hu Qing right now. I don’t see any problem with it,” Kayla said, feeling a little bad for him. He had just saved her life after all, and he'd opted to work directly for Kayla even when offered an official position that could have gotten him legitimized in the Liang family, she couldn't muster any actual anger towards him.

Hu Qing visibly sagged with relief. “Sorry, Minister. I mean, the name itself gives a lot away, doesn’t it? And it’s true that I wasn’t allowed to use my given name, I didn’t lie about that!”

“Technically, you didn’t lie about anything.” Kayla comforted him. “I have to say though, that’s some impressive family background you have there. In terms of history and prestige, the Liang clan’s almost on par with the Zhao clan. Are you really alright with giving up on that?”

“Please spare me, Minister!” Hu Qing protested. “I don’t want to get involved with all that political stuff, I’m not cut out for it. In any case, I’ve never even considered usurping my brother’s position, I'm happy so long as I'm getting paid.”

I wonder why he changed his mind in the original timeline, did he end up wanting to take back his seat after all? And isn’t Minister Liang the usurper here?

“That’s fine with me. In any case, I’m the one who dragged you to the palace, so if anyone gives you trouble, just point them my way,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing glanced at Kayla with a doubtful expression.

“I appreciate the thought, Minister. But if there’s really any trouble, it might be better if you just take a step back,” Hu Qing said. Kayla shook her head in exasperation.

“Not that kind of trouble,” Kayla protested. “I mean the political stuff. Or paperwork, or whatever. It’s up to you to handle the fights.”

Hu Qing nodded. “That sounds more like it.” He glanced out the window, lifting the curtain to see where they were.

“Minister, where are we heading to? We’re leaving the city center,” he remarked.

“We’re going to my mother’s house on the outskirts of the city. My grandmother gave me the day off tomorrow, so I’m going there to take a rest.”

Hu Qing raised an eyebrow. “She’s shunting you to the side for the investigation?”

“In exchange for new information,” Kayla explained. “The investigation probably won’t get far away. But this? This is useful. My mother was a magical researcher, I believe this was where she conducted her work. I never had access to this place even while she was still alive, so I’m not about to turn down this chance.”

“Magic research? You mean like creating new talismans?”

“More likely, it was creating entirely new ways of using magic,” Kayla explained. “Everything we have right now is basically just extensions of what we already use, but I believe my mother was working on something beyond that.”

She was able to create a magical time-loop and forcibly drag my soul over, none of the magic Wenyuan had read about came even remotely close. Most of the existing research was limited by cultural traditions and followed extremely conservative lines of inquiry, the Imperial Princess’ work is on a completely different level.

“But why would she bother with something like that?” Hu Qing looked at her quizzically.

Right, I keep forgetting that Ancient China didn’t really have much enthusiasm for scientific inquiry.

“For the sake of inquiry itself, I suppose,” Kayla replied. “In any case, the contents of her research were probably enough to cause significant changes to society, so I want to know exactly what I’m dealing with.”

A frown flashed over Hu Qing’s face as he seemed to realize the situation. Anything that could cause significant changes to the status quo was certain to be faced with a strong backlash. Even if the Imperial Princess had kept out of politics, anything she did would still have wide-reaching implications.

“What kind of changes?” Hu Qing asked.

“That’s what I want to find out,” Kayla sighed. “I’ll be straightforward with you. Both of my parents passed away from illness at a relatively young age, even though they had always been in good health. I don’t think that was a coincidence. Depending on what I can learn about what happened back then, it could completely upturn the current political landscape.”

“So you suspect the Grand Duke? Or someone else?”

Kayla shook her head. “He’s the one I suspect the most, but things are rarely that simple.”

“Got it. So we're going to the villa to dig up dirt on him.”

“I sure hope so, but if it ends up just being a normal house, then I’ll also be at a loss for what to do,” Kayla said drily.

"I wouldn't cross out that possibility so quickly," Hu Qing replied. "You should really be more careful in dealing with the palace, the security detail in charge of the Zhao household is pitifully small. There haven't been more than four or five Investigators in the area since the time we first met, or I wouldn't have been able to hop around so easily either."

"So it wasn't just tonight?" Kayla asked in surprise. "I thought she had just reduced the security as a temporary measure because she knew the Grand Duke was going to make a move or something like that."

“No, it must have been like that for at least a week or so. You probably know this, but for a household of this size and significance, even a surveillance detail would have at least eight or nine people," Hu Qing said.

Kayla shook her head in frustration. "I know that, but I didn't think that she would...I mean, I'm useful to her, aren't I? Does it even make sense to throw me out there as bait?"

"With his skills, Qu Boyong should've been able to notice," Hu Qing said. "He didn't tell you?"

Kayla groaned, burying her face into her hands as something clicked together in her head. Fuck.

"Then it seems like your instincts are quite sharp. You were right to be suspicious of him," Hu Qing muttered.

The carriage pulled to a stop, Sir Yang dismounting from his horse to open the door for them.

“Minister, Mister Hu, we’ve arrived,” Sir Yang said politely.

“Thank you, Sir Yang.” Kayla got out of the carriage and approached the villa. It was an elegant building, three stories high, surrounded by an artistically crafted garden. Even at night, its tasteful design was evident at first glance. Just from the pleasing arrangements of the plants and its calming, natural beauty, Kayla could tell it was designed by the Imperial Princess herself.

Neither she nor Wenyuan had ever been here, but somehow it felt so familiar that it was almost like coming home. Kayla instinctively knew how the rooms would be arranged inside as she entered the villa. She came to a stop inside the first room, glancing around in wonder.

This place feels just like mother’s quarters, Wenyuan said in delight, his outrage and fear temporarily forgotten. The Imperial Princess’ quarters in the Zhao household had been completely rearranged after her death on the orders of the Grand Duke, and due to Wenyuan’s reticent personality, he rarely ventured to ask for permission to visit his mother’s old rooms in the Imperial Palace, even though they had been maintained.

“We’ve taken care to keep this place clean, but we’ve left everything as it was,” Sir Yang said softly. “I sent word for the servants to prepare rooms for yourself and Mister Hu, and then to take their leave for the time being.” Kayla nodded mutely. From the decorations to the furniture, everything seemed to exude the effortless elegance of the Imperial Princess.

“Wow, this place is really nice,” Hu Qing said cheerfully. Sir Yang gave him a look of rebuke, but Hu Qing’s words were enough to shake Kayla out of her moment of wonder. She had more important things on hand.

This is a chance I gained after having my life put at risk, if I don’t make good use of it, I’ll have let it happen for nothing. But this place looks so normal, did she even do any research here?

Mother would never be so careless as to leave things out here in the open, if there was anything, it would be on the second or third floor, Wenyuan remarked.

“I’d like to take a look around,” Kayla said to Sir Yang.

“Understood, Minister. I’ll light up the lamps on the second floor.”

“No need, I’ve got one,” Hu Qing said. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small magical device. It activated, exuding a bright blue light. “Shall we, Minister?”

Kayla nodded, letting Sir Yang lead them up the staircase. The second floor had a few bookshelves that Kayla was determined to check out later, but not much else that suggested traces of magic.

“Shall we see the third floor as well?” Kayla asked. Sir Yang bowed his head and led them up another flight of stairs. To her disappointment, the third floor looked much the same as the first two floors. Just as she was about to give up and call it a night, Kayla sensed a faint thrum of magic. It wasn’t just low-level magic like the magical talismans she’d procured from the market, but high-tier magic, expertly packaged to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Wenyuan, do you sense that?

It’s not just a single device, Wenyuan pointed out. They’re everywhere! The third floor’s full of them! Look, even the books and the paintings are like that!

Kayla barely managed to keep herself from smiling broadly. Looks like we didn’t come here for nothing.

“Please feel free to go for now, Sir Yang. I’d like to just take a look around here,” Kayla said. Sir Yang hesitated for a moment before bowing.

“Then I’ll take my leave, Minister.”

Kayla waited until his footsteps had receded down the staircase before going around to take a closer look.

“Everything here is imbued with magic,” Hu Qing said in wonder.

“Where the hell do I even start with all this?” Kayla muttered to herself.

“Look at these books, Minister. There’s some hefty magic on them to hide its actual contents.”

Kayla perked up at the information. “Wait, really? How did you know?”

“I doubt your mother needed six copies of The Analects, especially since they were all the same version,” Hu Qing said. “A lot of nobles use stuff like this to hide their dirty secrets in plain sight, but it seems your mother didn’t really care about being inconspicuous. No one would dare to carelessly sift through the Imperial Princess’ possessions, and she’s got some high-tier spells on them.”

“You’re amazing,” Kayla said. She took out one of the copies of The Analects, flipping through it with interest. “I never would’ve even noticed it.”

Is this how the Grand Duke hides his evidence?

“It’s surprisingly common. If you walk into the room of someone you know isn’t a man who likes reading, and he has the full Han Histories on his bookshelf, it usually means he’s hiding a lot of records,” Hu Qing said. He reached over Kayla’s head and pulled down another stack of books from the top shelves. “And look here, four copies of Mencius and three copies of A New Account of Tales of the World. Was your mother really someone who liked collecting several copies of the same edition?”

Kayla quickly looked through them. Looking closely, there was high-tier magic on almost every single page.

“How on earth do we deactivate this?”

“That’s the thing, we can’t,” Hu Qing replied. “I’ve dealt with plenty of these before, but they’re usually custom-made spells that can’t be deactivated without a specific key, and that key tends to only be in the hands of one or two people. If you can't steal it, you have to get it out of them some other way.”

“Damn it,” Kayla grumbled.

Wenyuan, where would your mother hide the key?

I don’t know, Wenyuan replied. She never told me much about her research.

If only I could nullify these. Maybe I can take these back with me and pretend to “find the key” later.

We could also try finding a magic appraiser.

“Ask Sir Yang for me if we’re allowed to take anything from the villa,” Kayla said. Hu Qing nodded and left, returning a moment later with a sympathetic expression.

“No?” Kayla asked in disappointment. Hu Qing shook his head.

“This villa can only be accessed with the Empress Dowager’s express permission, and nothing can be removed without her permission as well.”

Fuck, seriously? It’s right in front of me and I can’t use it! I got this opportunity after nearly dying, who knows if I’ll get another chance?

“Hu Qing, now that you work for me, you’re bound to customer confidentiality, right?” Kayla asked.

“Of course. Just like I can’t tell you anything about my previous employer, I can’t tell anyone about your matters.”

“Excellent. Let me ask you this, can you tell if Sir Yang is a magic user?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing shook his head. “I didn’t sense anything from him, but it’s hard to tell if he’s not actively doing anything.”

“Damn it,” Kayla grumbled.

“Do you need me to distract him for you?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla gave him a look of surprise.

“Can you do that?”

“I’ll say you wanted a flower from the garden or something, I’ll get him far away enough that he wouldn’t be able to sense moderate amounts of magic even if he was a magic user,” Hu Qing said. Kayla smiled and made to agree.

Kayla! What if the Empress Dowager realizes the magic was nullified?! Wenyuan hastily stopped her in alarm.

They won’t be able to tell whether it was nullified or deactivated. As long as we insist that we deactivated it, no one can prove otherwise. Do you think they even know how your mother made these? If the Empress Dowager could deactivate the spell and still left these here, that means these are fine to open. If they actually contain something confidential, then that means the Empress Dowager can’t deactivate it anyways.

That’s a bit of a gamble, isn’t it?

We can’t let this chance go, we need something that we can use. A weapon that belongs to us, do you understand? We can’t just rely on the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, just look at the Li Sanjin case, if we hadn’t managed to scrounge up a card to play, we would’ve been done for. It’s the same with tonight, we only got lucky because Hu Qing happened to get here in time. Now that I'm actually in this position, I can understand why Xianchun got so angry when I told him to prioritize pleasing the Emperor over building up his own power base, the Imperial Palace really is unreliable to a ridiculous degree.

But still, what do you think happens if grandmother learns of your nullification magic? Will she think of it as a good thing or will she begin to see us as a threat?

Kayla hesitated. You make a pretty good point.

She glanced at the books again, a thought occurring to her. Isn’t it possible to only temporarily nullify something?

Are you kidding me? Do you think this is like one of those lightning devices from your world that you can just turn on and off?

It’s electricity, not lightning. We don’t have something that cool.

The point is that it's not something that– Wenyuan stopped for a moment. Actually, is it possible? There aren't exactly any writings on this.

We won’t know unless we try, but I think I can do it. I don’t really understand how magic works in the slightest, but things tend to work out anyways.

“Alright then, please do that,” Kayla said to Hu Qing, who was still patiently waiting for a reply.

Hu Qing gave her a grin and headed off, leaving Kayla alone. She waited until she saw Hu Qing follow Sir Yang into the garden before hastily making to nullify the magic on one of the books as a test run. She had expected some degree of difficulty, but to her surprise, the nullification magic simply bent to her will, removing the magic on the pages without destroying it completely.

I did not expect that to work so well, Kayla thought in amazement. She hastily flipped the book open, thumbing through the pages. Her smile faded as she took in its contents, slowing down to read it carefully.

Holy shit, Wenyuan. Kayla gulped nervously as she flipped to the next page. Just what the hell was your mother involved in?

She glanced at the pile of books before her, foregoing caution to temporary nullify the magic on all of them at once. Kayla frantically flipped through them, her breathing growing increasingly panicked.

Grandmother must not have been able to access these. If she had, the situation would be completely different from what it is today.

We would probably be dead, Kayla thought grimly. Your mother held on to this information silently for a reason. But this basically confirms it, your parents didn’t die of natural causes.

She’d expected some details on the Imperial Princess’ research, but the late princess was evidently much more dangerous than Kayla and Wenyuan could have imagined.

The books were filled with evidence, covering multiple cases and implicating what Kayla estimated to be over half the current court. The common thread throughout was that every single case was tied to the Grand Duke in some way.

One of the books was completely filled with details of the death of Zhao Kangyu, Wenyuan’s father. It was clear that the Imperial Princess didn’t believe her husband died of an epidemic, especially when she’d overseen his treatment herself. Kayla didn’t have time to look through the book fully, but she was almost certain that the end results pointed to the Grand Duke. Another thick tome seemed to be full of accounting records. Between the books in front of her and the various other bookshelves that Kayla hadn’t even gotten started on yet, it was enough to guarantee the extermination of not just the Zhao clan, but a large number of the prominent clans in the country.

Fuck, how the hell did she even do this? Magic? Connections? Was she the Empress Dowager’s spymaster or something like that? But I don't think the palace has any of this information.

Kayla’s head swam with the implications of this information. Shit, how the fuck do I deal with all this? This is enough to get a shit ton of people and their families killed. It’s enough to get us killed too! The Zhao clan is just as screwed as everyone else. She rubbed at her temples, her headache returning.

From the corner of her eye, she saw movement in the garden as Sir Yang headed back with Hu Qing in tow, the younger man dragging his feet to buy her more time. Kayla pushed down a rush of frustration and released her nullification magic, allowing the spells to seep back onto the pages.

Damn it! I swear to god, I am getting that man out of my hair tomorrow, one way or another. I need to go through all this and figure out how to deal with it.

Kayla placed the books back onto their shelves, straining a little to replace the ones Hu Qing had removed from the top shelf before heading back down to the first floor, where Sir Yang politely escorted Kayla and Hu Qing to their rooms for the night.

Kayla sat in stunned silence at the foot of the bed for a while, her brain uselessly turning in circles without coming to any useful conclusion. She slumped sideways onto the bed. The soft covers and the firm bed beneath reminded Kayla of her exhaustion. Within moments, she fell into a deep sleep and did not wake until morning.

Even if Kayla hadn’t been much of a morning person, Wenyuan’s muscle memory was conditioned to get up early enough for the convening of the court and still be functional, enabling her to wake up at the crack of dawn. The only downside to this was that Kayla always ended up waking up early and being unable to fall back asleep, which coupled with the late hours she kept, led to a state of chronic lack of sleep. Despite the hectic events of the previous night, Kayla was fully awake by the time the sun had risen past the horizon.

She got dressed and wandered into the garden, hoping the greenery would ease her mind a little.

Kayla had been in stress-activated hyper-concentration mode since the moment she’d woken up but still had yet to find an answer to any of her questions.

We need to get Sir Yang enough of a distance away so we can check out the rest of the evidence, Wenyuan grumbled. But it also wouldn’t do to offend someone who serves grandmother so closely.

Forget that for a moment, let’s focus on the major issues here at hand. First of all, why did the Empress Dowager send us here? It’s definitely not just the investigation, she could’ve sent us anywhere to keep us out of the way. Is she hoping we find something here? Maybe she was betting on us having a way to deactivate the magic on the books.

You’re being a little paranoid, Wenyuan objected.

No, I’m absolutely not. Listen, Wenyuan. She was lying to us about the plaque. In fact, that’s my second question. What the hell does the plaque do?

The golden plaque definitely did serve a symbolic function as an acknowledgment of Wenyuan’s lineage, but that couldn’t be the only thing. If the Empress Dowager had wanted to use it to raise Wenyuan’s de facto status to be on par with the Imperial Princes, it should have been gifted in public, rather than at midnight in the courtyard of the Zhao household.

And why did it activate so suddenly like that? It didn’t even have any protective function or anything. Did they give it to me to trap the Grand Duke?

What are you talking about?

Think about it. The Imperial Guard didn’t come over to save us.

But surely grandmother wouldn’t– Kayla winced at Wenyuan's tumultuous emotions. He had grown up with the affection of his grandmother, it would probably be difficult for him to accept the fact that even if he was the Empress Dowager's grandson, he was still first and foremost one of her pieces on the chessboard.

Okay, let’s not discuss this for now. There’s still another issue we need to consider. Why did the Empress Dowager give us nullification talismans?

What? Wenyuan sounded increasingly confused at Kayla’s train of thought.

If it were for our safety, she could’ve given us anything. A nullification talisman is rare and expensive, sure, but it’s far from being the best choice or the most useful one. Wouldn’t a shield or a poison-immunity spell be much more suitable? In what situation would a nullification spell be more useful than those?

It’s probably useful in some way, I just don’t know what, Wenyuan said weakly. What are you trying to get at?

Kayla pulled out the nullification talisman, looking at it pensively. Maybe we weren’t careful enough. Did she notice something?

61-Whetstone

Kayla stared at the nullification talisman she had gotten from the Empress Dowager, a cold feeling taking root in her stomach and spreading through her veins.

Did the Empress Dowager choose a nullification talisman because she’d noticed something? Or am I just overthinking this?

You must be overthinking it, Wenyuan comforted her, but his tone betrayed his own unease.

Would your mother have uncovered anything on Consort Chen’s murder as well? Shit, the Empress Dowager sent us here with full knowledge of our situation. She knows that we’re desperate, and she let us loose on this villa. Even if she doesn’t know about our abilities, she might've expected us to use the nullification talisman to gain access to this information.

Kayla paced back and forth across the garden, increasingly agitated as she ran through the situation in her mind.

Maybe I should just give up on this information altogether, it’s not worth the risk. But the Empress Dowager could just nullify the magic herself, why hasn’t she? She has access to nullification talismans and to this villa, she doesn't need me to make the move in her stead. Then what is she playing at? Is she just doing me a favor? Does she know something about my nullification magic? Or is it something else?

“Damn it!” Kayla groaned, leaning her head against a tree trunk.

“Why are you cursing at a tree this early in the morning?”

Kayla turned to nod at Hu Qing as he approached.

“Nothing in particular, I just have a lot to think about.”

Hu Qing raised his eyebrows. “Yeah? I’d bet. The morning market isn’t even open yet and you’re already pacing around in the garden like an abandoned wife. Is everything alright?”

“Remember that plaque you got yesterday?”

“The one the Empress Dowager gave to me? How the hell can I forget? I’d probably lose my head if I ever lost that thing,” Hu Qing replied.

“I wonder if we can find a magic appraiser to take a look at your plaque. And mine as well,” Kayla showed him the dented golden plaque before tucking it back into her robes. “You know far more about these things than I do. Is there any risk in getting someone to look at it?”

Hu Qing grimaced. “Well, I wouldn’t mess around with anything directly from the palace, or even something directly from the household of a noble. There tends to be a lot of magic on those things, including anti-tampering spells and tracking spells, it’s better to just assume the worst and work around it.”

Kayla gave him a curious look. “How?”

“You can cancel out its effects by using more spells to negate its effects. You can’t disable them, since that’s too dangerous, so you just have to mess with the existing spells. There are talismans for these things, but not the kind of talismans you have. You’ll need the kind of stuff they don’t sell on the main streets. I can get them for you, but those might be a little annoying to get caught with in court,” Hu Qing said. “It would raise a lot of questions to be found carrying specialized devices on you. But then again, you’re pretty creative with how you use talismans, so you could probably make do with a combination of a few normal ones.”

So it's not all that different from modern surveillance and counter-surveillance measures.

“Interesting, I might need some ideas on that later,” Kayla muttered. “I have a lot of questions about the plaque right now, but that will also have to wait. Right now, my priority is accessing the things my mother left here.”

“Can you disable the magic?” Hu Qing asked.

Kayla hesitated for a moment. “I’ll need your help with those,” she replied, avoiding his question. “The magical devices on the third floor, most of them activate and deactivate manually, right?”

“From the looks of it, yes. But I can’t say for certain until we’ve tried it out,” Hu Qing said.

“Is it possible to create enough interference that a high-tier magic user wouldn’t be able to sense which spells are being deactivated?”

Hu Qing gave her a gleeful smile. “I see what you’re trying to do now, you don’t want him to be able to tell how much magic is in use at any given moment, right? It can definitely be done, in fact, I’m dying to try it.”

“It might be a bit too obvious,” Kayla said.

“Well, that’s true,” Hu Qing said. “But he still can’t prove anything. If anyone asks, you would just be messing around.”

“The Empress Dowager will be the one asking,” Kayla replied.

“Oh, ok, maybe not the best idea then,” Hu Qing muttered. “But are you sure he’s a high-tier magic user to begin with? I can’t sense anything from him, and I’m trained to sense people like that.”

“Maybe I’m being a bit paranoid, but it’s not just him I’m worried about. The plaques have high-tier magic on them, and I have no idea what it does. What if it can sense these things?” Kayla asked.

It made her feel bone-grinding frustration that made her want to scratch right through her skin. She had something game-changing dangled in front of her face but was unable to grab hold of it without invoking serious and unknown consequences.

Didn’t you say this was too dangerous to use? Is it really necessary to take any more risks? Wenyuan asked fearfully.

I’m also considering that, Kayla admitted. But I could be letting go of something that could save my life. If all else fails, I’ll still have a card to play, whether it’s against the Grand Duke, Xianchun, or any other opponent.

But the second we use it, we’ll essentially be standing in direct opposition to most of the court!

I never said I had to use the information to attack them–rather, I can use it to force their hand. Mutually assured destruction works way better than you’d probably expect, they’d scramble to save me with everything they have if they know they’ll also go down if I die.

Then grandmother and uncle would–

Yes, they’d be furious. We’d essentially be switching sides and betraying them. That’s why this is the last resort and one that I’m not sure I’d want to use even if I could. But if I ever had to, it would be because they’ve abandoned me to my fate.

“Minister, did you hear me?” Hu Qing’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Kayla looked up with a start.

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

“I was saying that even if has high-tier magic, your idea would still work,” Hu Qing said. “Are you alright though? You look more stressed than yesterday, I didn’t know that was even possible.”

Kayla sighed, rubbing at her temples. “I’m fine, I just have a lot on my mind right now.”

“If you’re not sure about doing it, why not eat breakfast first? You’ll probably feel better once you have some food in you,” Hu Qing pointed out. “And that way Sir Yang won’t have an excuse to keep running up and down to ask if you want to eat.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Kayla admitted. She let Hu Qing herd her back into the villa, where Sir Yang had somehow prepared an entire meal already. Kayla was almost certain he had been sleeping when she’d gotten up, but she marked it up to the eunuch’s years of experience serving the Empress Dowager.

“Minister, do you have any plans today? I’d be happy to make any necessary preparations,” Sir Yang asked as Kayla finished her meal.

Kayla hesitated for a moment. “Does Sir Yang have any recommendations?”

“The garden is lovely at this time of the year, but it will probably rain later in the day,” Sir Yang said unhelpfully.

“I see, if that’s the case, then I’ll just take it easy,” Kayla replied.

So the Empress Dowager didn’t have anything planned for me, or surely she would've had Sir Yang drop a hint. Does that mean she really just wanted me to stay safely out of the way for the investigation? Then did she really not suspect anything about her daughter’s books? If Hu Qing could notice so easily, surely one of the competent people at the Empress Dowager’s side would’ve noticed already. But in the original timeline, she never used any of this until her death, and the Emperor also didn’t seem to know anything. What the hell is this situation?

Kayla downed her cup of tea, sinking back into deliberation.

It was also possible that the Empress Dowager already knew of the Imperial Princess’ findings, but couldn’t make a move for some reason and was outsourcing it to Kayla instead.

But surely she would’ve at least given us a hint, Wenyuan said uneasily. Perhaps we’d be better off just leaving this alone.

Kayla watched Sir Yang as he moved about, clearing up the dishes with fluid and efficient movements.

No. I have to take this chance. It’s better to handle a trap where we have some sense of the situation and a certain degree of leverage rather than walk unprepared into traps we can’t anticipate. We’ve survived this long by taking every opportunity we had and creating opportunities where we couldn’t find one, we can't let this chance slip past us.

She got up and left the room, heading into the garden at a leisure pace. Hu Qing joined her shortly, still munching on one of the pastries he’d tucked away into a handkerchief.

“So what now, Minister?” He asked around a mouthful of red bean paste.

“The thing we discussed before, I’ll be needing your help,” Kayla said.

“You have a way to deactivate the magic on the records?” Hu Qing asked.

“Well, you’re certain to find out anyways, I might as well tell you straight,” Kayla sighed. “I can use nullification magic.”

“Whoa,” Hu Qing said in alarm. “That’s–okay, on second thought, I think you should maybe stop for a bit. You do realize that your grandmother will notice right away that it was you, right? It’s a bit too obvious, shouldn’t we at least fake a break-in or something?”

“I’m not sure if my grandmother will know,” Kayla admitted.

“How on earth could she not know? You’re a nullification mage and you go to a place where there was high-tier magic, and when you leave, the magic is gone. Of course she’ll know!”

“I can make it a temporary nullification.”

Hu Qing stared at her in disbelief. “What? How?! If you were in the same trade as me, I’d strangle you out of jealousy! That’s just way too convenient!”

“And also, I’m not sure my grandmother knows about my abilities,” Kayla added on, ignoring Hu Qing’s outrage. “I’ve tried to keep it under wraps, so I really haven’t confirmed it.”

Hu Qing frowned. “Is that even possible? No matter what, you wouldn’t have been able to control it as a child, even if your mother was careful, the Empress Dowager definitely would’ve figured it out at some point.”

Kayla winced. “I actually didn’t have this ability until very recently, I don’t even know how it happened. It just ended up like this.”

Hu Qing mulled it over for a bit with a thoughtful frown. “How long ago?”

“About three months.”

Hu Qing ate the rest of the pastry that was starting to crumble in his hand with a look on his face that all but screamed what-the-fuck-did-I-get-myself-into. Kayla couldn’t blame him. He had chosen to throw his lot in with a stressed politician that he found amusingly pitiful, not get tangled up with supernatural occurrences and the Empress Dowager’s mind games.

“As expected, I should probably just give up on it, right?” Kayla said uneasily. “If she doesn’t already know, the last thing I want to do is tip her off.”

Hu Qing shook his head. “It’s hard to say. You’re paranoid enough that I doubt she would’ve easily caught on if you were actively trying to hide it. If you think it’s worth the risk, then it should be fine.”

“I also feel like she shouldn’t know, but right before the Third Prince returned to the capital, the Empress Dowager gave each of the princes a nullification talisman, and she gave me one as well. I didn’t think anything of it for a while, but now I can’t help but start worrying,” Kayla admitted. “But maybe I’m just overthinking it.”

Hu Qing frowned. “Are the records worth the risk?”

Kayla nodded. “It contains information that could save my life.”

Hu Qing gave her a look of utter exasperation.

“Then you should do it. How can anything be more important than survival? If there are consequences, you can deal with them as they come. So long as the green mountain remains, there will be no shortage of firewood. You won’t even have a chance if you’re already dead,” Hu Qing shot back. “Aren’t you in enough danger right now to warrant this risk?”

Kayla’s eyes lit up.

“Hu Qing, your words are right on the spot! You’re absolutely right, what could be more important than survival? I’m worried about making a move even when my own life is at risk, there must be something wrong with my brain.”

She shook her head, glancing at the villa sharply. “There are limitations for everything I do in court, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be proactive elsewhere.”

“It’s good you’ve straightened out your priorities,” Hu Qing remarked. “Does that mean I get to do whatever I want with the magical devices?”

Kayla nodded. She turned on her heel and headed back towards the villa with Hu Qing in tow.

“Minister,” Sir Yang greeted her at the entrance.

“Sir Yang, I want to spend some time upstairs. Unless there’s an emergency, please don’t disturb me for a while. It’s been some time since I’ve last had a chance to feel my mother’s presence like this, I’d like to make the most of it,” Kayla said.

Sir Yang didn’t give any reaction, bowing his head respectfully. “As you wish, Minister. Please feel free to call me if there’s anything you need.”

Kayla didn’t waste any time heading up to the third floor.

“Alright, give me a few minutes before you do anything,” Hu Qing said. He began moving through the rooms, gathering all the magical devices and records he could find.

“Let me help,” Kayla said.

“No, just stay where you are. I know what I’m doing,” Hu Qing said. “This way I’ll know exactly where to put them back to later.”

Kayla watched as Hu Qing quickly swept through the third floor, covering a tabletop in magical devices. He sorted through them, recognizing their function by a glance.

“These should do it,” Hu Qing said with satisfaction, gesturing at the ones he’d chosen. “They won’t cause any strange effects, and they’re easy to turn on and off. I’m going to turn all of them on and wait a few minutes, and then I’ll start turning them on and off at random. Don’t do anything for now, I’ll let you know when you can start.”

“Sure, I trust you know what you’re doing,” Kayla replied.

“It’s only natural. In my line of work, you need to know how to cover up your tracks,” Hu Qing said cheerfully as he turned on the magical devices. After a few moments, he gave Kayla a nod before starting in on the devices. His deft movements reminded Kayla of street food vendors who always seemed to be doing five different things at once.

Kayla tuned out the manic fluctuation of magic in the room, focusing on the record books. The magic on a book pulled away effortlessly, just like it had the night before.

Thank god it still works, I’d be screwed if I completely destroyed the spell.

She pulled out brush and paper from her robes, having gotten into the habit of carrying them around.

Alright, let’s do this the usual way. Kayla had plenty of experience in parsing important information and translating it into English from her time investigating the archives in the Ministry of Justice. She could only hope that one day would be enough to get through the intel gathered by the Imperial Princess.

Hu Qing began humming under his breath as he continued messing with the magical devices, varying the frequency at random. It was a jarring juxtaposition to the words on the paper before her, only serving to increase the horror of what Kayla was looking at now. Kayla’s blood ran cold as she read through the pages.

Shit, just how much murkier can the waters get? Kayla thought grimly to herself. Working in silence, she buried herself in the pages, determined to get as much information as she could.

Kayla buried her head in her hands, completely exhausted after hours of going through books and books of disturbing information. Her hands shook a little from writing as fast as she could, but she’d somehow managed to pull through. The sun was setting now, its blood-red rays drenching the pages of notes scattered across the table and floor around her. She slowly released the hold of her nullification magic on the spells, which slipped back into place with a strange viscosity.

“You can stop now,” Kayla said to Hu Qing, who had been tirelessly messing with the magic devices since morning, adding and removing ones from the batch at random intervals to create what Kayla could only assume was the magical equivalent of signal interference.

“I’ll keep going a little longer, that’s standard practice,” Hu Qing replied. “It’s not a good idea to let someone know exactly when you’ve started or stopped.”

“Got it,” Kayla replied wearily. She gathered up her notes, tucking them into her robes before dropping her head onto the table.

I’m in way over my head, Kayla realized. The information exceeded her expectations completely. The Imperial Princess’ suspicion of her father-in-law had been proven true by books upon books of evidence. It didn’t include Consort Chen’s murder, but that now looked to be like only a drop of water in the ocean.

From what the Imperial Princess’ investigations laid out, the Grand Duke had kept himself busy after his son’s death–in fact, that was when he’d started on his bullshit.

He had gained enough power by helping Emperor Gaozong ascend to the throne, by framing members of the Crown Prince's faction for the crimes of members of Emperor Gaozong’s faction, resulting in the deposing of the Crown Prince and the dismantling of the Court of Judicial Review. It wasn’t as though the crown prince’s faction had been composed of saints, but they had been caught completely off-guard when pinned with crimes they had no idea about, versus their own misdeeds, which they were actually prepared to deal with. The Grand Duke didn’t even need to falsify evidence from scratch, just transplant it properly. Despite the limitations of the Imperial Princess’ findings, the information was potent enough to completely discredit Emperor Gaozong.

It was also enough to keep the Grand Duke in a powerful position while his brother-in-law remembered his contributions, which carried over to the previous Emperor as well. But after the death of the Grand Duke’s son and rightful heir, the Grand Duke’s power came under threat. Zhou Kangyu wasn't actually the Grand Duke's son but the son of the Grand Duke’s cousin, and now the son-in-law of an Emperor. If Zhou Kangyu was able to gain his father-in-law’s favor like how the Grand Duke had ingratiated himself to his brother-in-law, even the Grand Duke’s place on the family tree could come under threat.

The Grand Duke was already the Central Secretariat by then, and in an excellent position to grab more power for himself by combining force and favors. He committed a large number of crimes to expand his power base and had been cunning enough to always involve more than two officials in every given move, managing to involve all of the core members in his faction to ensure that everyone’s fates were tied together.

Kayla’s brain was almost numb with shock after mentally screaming What the fuck and Why the fuck on end for hours.

How the Imperial Princess had managed to gather all this information without anyone being the wiser, Kayla had no idea. It encompassed the Grand Duke’s involvement in the deposing of Empress Gongsun, the exile of the First and Second Prince, the death of the Second Prince’s father-in-law, the extermination of the Xiang family, the extermination of several notable local clans in the provinces, and even his hand in the death of Zhou Kangyu.

Beyond that, the information implicated over forty officials who were third-rank or higher, dozens more lower-ranking officials, and over two hundred military and civil officials at the local level. From Kayla’s knowledge of the judicial system, at least five separate officials would qualify for the punishment of clan extermination to the ninth degree, and over twenty more would qualify for the execution of their family to the third degree and the exile of their clan to the ninth degree, and almost everyone else who didn’t qualify for those would still be sentenced to execution. The death toll was certain to number into the thousands, and the execution square would be flooded with blood.

She patted at the messy notes in her robes apprehensively. It was a blessing that she was the only one who could read English, especially when she was carrying something that could decide the fates of so many people.

But seriously, what the fuck?! What does the Grand Duke think this is, Game of Thrones? Why the hell did he have to go and kill so many people?! His stakes aren’t even that high! He would’ve still been powerful even if he’d just gone and retired!

The Imperial Princess’ investigation had been set off by the death of Zhao Kangyu. The circumstances were suspicious enough even without the evidence the Imperial Princess had managed to find, but it had been left alone due to political considerations. The Imperial Princess had been the only one to keep digging into her husband’s death.

Zhao Kangyu had patiently and responsibly stayed at home with his wife and child during the epidemic in the capital eighteen years ago and had little to no chance of getting infected under the watchful eye of the Imperial Princess. But somehow, he had abruptly gotten ill and died within the span of three days, even while having access to Imperial Healers thanks to his status as the husband of the Imperial Princess. At the young age of twenty-four, Zhao Kangyu had become one of the only nobles to die during the entire span of the epidemic.

The Imperial Princess, who was suddenly thrust into widowhood at the age of twenty-three, took matters into her own hands. She had managed to scrounge up evidence proving that the Grand Duke had purposefully infected his own nephew and then bribed the Imperial Healers into deliberate incompetence. But it was hardly the first time the Grand Duke had done such a thing, so evidence of one case inevitably dragged out the threads of another one, and eventually, the Imperial Princess gathered enough ammunition to singlehandedly end the Zhao line. More likely than not, she had withheld all this information for Wenyuan’s sake.

This confirms that the Empress Dowager wouldn’t have had access, not if the princess wanted to save Wenyuan's life, Kayla grimly thought to herself. The Imperial Princess probably understands her mother best, she knows that the Empress Dowager is first and foremost a politician, and politicians are pitiless creatures.

Kayla stared blankly at the books before her, amazed at the dedication of the Imperial Princess. Even as the princess had been left a widow in a hostile household, she’d somehow managed to get all this done rather than succumbing to helplessness and despair.

She got up and started putting the books back into their original places, leaving the top shelves to Hu Qing, who was several inches taller and had longer arms.

“Alright, I’m all done now. But that was insane, how the hell could you write so fast for hours on end?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla let out a sigh.

“Practice makes perfect, ninety percent of my job is doing paperwork, the rest is wrangling with the court,” she said wearily.

“I would not want to be in your place,” Hu Qing replied. “But I would want your nullification magic, do you know how easy it would be to get into places?”

Kayla shook her head, cracking a smile. “I don’t even want to imagine how scary that would be. Let’s get some rest for now, you must be tired as well.”

“Not really, but I’ll never say no to lazing around. I am hungry though," Hu Qing said breezily.

Kayla ventured down from the third floor and headed back into the garden, deep in thought as she paced under the trees.

This could save my life, but it could also ruin me. Just why the hell did that old bastard have to get involved in so much bullshit? We seriously would’ve all been better off if he’d had a heart attack twenty years ago! I need help with how to deal with this, this is too much for me to handle alone.

We can’t trust Qu Boyong anymore, Wenyuan warned her.

That’s for sure, I don’t know what he’s playing at, but he can’t be allowed to know anything about all this. Hu Qing doesn’t really need to know the details until they become relevant, he already said he's not interested in politics. But Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui should be looped in. Their fates are tied to mine, they can’t easily betray me, especially once they’re complicit in this.

Kayla’s greatest fear was that the Empress Dowager would take interest and nullify the spells if she noticed Kayla’s actions. If only there was a way to prevent someone else from nullifying the protections, or a way to make fake copies with forged information inside.

But that was out of her hands, and even if the Empress Dowager gained access somehow, she wouldn’t be able to act against all the officials implicated all at once without throwing the court into complete turmoil–that still gave Kayla plenty of room for maneuver. Kayla actually had something concrete in her hands now, something that gave her the power to barter for her life without relying on the pity or protection of the palace.

Even as anxiety bubbled in her chest over the implications of the Imperial Princess’ findings, Kayla couldn’t help but feel more sure of herself than she had in months.

62-Sharpening the Axe

Liu Boyue wandered through the market, which was filled with more people as the sun continued to rise through the sky. He dressed in the clothes of a commoner, a wide-brimmed hat obscuring part of his face. It was the strategist’s habit to go around undercover once in a while to gather information about popular opinion for Xianchun, but the events of the last few events had necessitated increasing the frequency of his trips. The last incident at the Zhao household the night before last had Boyue making visits on two consecutive days, hoping to catch wind of something that may have slipped from a servant or serving maid and made its way to the public market.

The Seventh Prince’s faction had been on high alert after the mobilization of the Imperial Guards, but beyond the fact that Zhao Wenyuan had been involved, they didn’t know anything. The Zhao heir himself was nowhere to be found, seeming to have simply disappeared after entering the palace. They needed information, but there was simply none to be found. Consort Liang didn’t have access to the Empress Dowager’s palace, and they didn’t have anyone in the Imperial Guard who would risk leaking information this sensitive, now that Yu Bianfu was no longer there.

With his face partially covered and wrinkles on the rough cloth of his narrow-sleeved robes, Liu Boyue looked every bit like a normal worker except for the toned figure that spoke of regular martial arts training rather than long hours of hard manual labor. Luckily for him, the capital had no shortage of people of various trades and backgrounds, including youths from rich or noble households who had fallen upon hard times. All in all, he didn’t particularly stand out.

Liu Boyue stopped by a food vendor and paid for a flatbread and a bowl of porridge, shuffling into a seat to crowd among the other customers and sharpening his ears to listen for any rumors flying past. Wherever there was food, there was information. Everyone needed to eat, and food tended to loosen the tongue and lower defenses between strangers, making it the ideal place to learn new rumors.

It seemed that Liu Boyue was in luck. He’d barely made himself comfortable on a bench when the information began to flow in.

“Speaking of lucky matches, didn’t the young miss of the Liang clan recently gift the Seventh Prince some calligraphy?” A middle-aged woman chortled to her companion. Liu Boyue hid a smile at that. It had actually been her father who had sent the calligraphy, but it was also true that Xianchun had taken more than just one or two glances in the young lady’s direction during their last meeting.

“Really? Well now, does she hope to snag the spot of Seventh Prince Consort? Her father’s the Minister of Justice after all, surely she could at least qualify for a high-ranking concubine,” her companion replied.

“Is it true the Seventh Prince isn’t interested in marriage though?” A man joined in the conversation, the dust that hadn’t been fully wiped from his face speaking of the long journey to the capital that must have lasted into the early hours of the morning.

“He is already twenty-five, wasn’t the Third Prince already married at this point?” The first woman replied.

“But the Zhao heir is also twenty-five, he’s also unmarried, isn’t he?” A second man joined in from next to Liu Boyue.

“Oh, but haven’t you heard?” A younger woman joined in from across the table. “You wouldn’t believe it from the looks of him!”

“What is it?” Several voices clamored excitedly for what was certain to be juicy gossip.

“Oh really, I shouldn't say it," the young woman said. The people around her eagerly called for her to speak. After feigning reluctance, the young woman leaned forward with a glint in her eye.

"It's really none of my business, so perhaps I shouldn't be waggling my tongue about it," she said, to the protests of the rest of the table.

"You wouldn't think it of him, but it's already spread through the whole capital! They say the Zhao heir only beds male lovers and only older men at that!” The young woman said with vicious glee. There were several gasps of disbelief. Liu Boyue tried to hide his confusion, but the rest of the table immediately launched into a frenzy of conversation.

“What? Surely not!”

“Is that why he doesn’t visit the entertainment districts?”

"Goodness, but he's the Grand Duke's only grandson, what a predicament for the Zhao clan!"

“Don’t just say that and stop talking, go on!”

Urged on by her fellow customers, the young woman leaned in, making a show of lowering her voice without actually doing so by much.

“They say he didn't just rise so quickly for no reason, apparently, the Zhao heir sleeps with his grandfather’s allies, and that’s how he procured all that dirt on them! Those investigations? He’d already planted the evidence while in their bedchambers!”

Despite his own suspicion and intense dislike of the man, Liu Boyue was almost stunned at the maliciousness of the rumor and the audacity of whoever had started it. This was the Emperor’s nephew after all, who had gotten the guts to start saying such a thing?

“No, surely not!”

“Unbelievable!”

“But he’s the Emperor’s nephew after all, is it safe for us to be saying these things?” Liu Boyue asked, filling his tone with false apprehension. He didn’t actually care about stopping the rumor, but he’d learned that the more someone questioned the person talking, the more gossip was sure to follow.

“That’s right, little sister. Best to watch your mouth or your employer will be certain to give you a lashing,” one of the older women chimed in.

“I wouldn’t say this at my employer’s place! I’m not that foolish!” The young woman replied.

“But that’s so hard to believe, he’s a noble! I thought they were the most conservative about this kind of thing, no?” The man with a dusty face asked.

"Ha! How foolish, the nobles are the most lecherous!"

“Trust me, I also couldn’t believe it at first! Such a fine young man in a high position, why would he ever do such a thing? But I heard this from my friend's cousin who heard it from her friend that someone who used to work in the Liu household said that the Zhao heir used to visit Liu Hongyu’s private chambers at least twice a month, on the eighth and sixteenth! Apparently, no one’s ever been allowed to stay inside the room for long while the two were alone, only a young serving girl was ever made to stay one time, and she was so frightened that she quit her job afterward! The poor girl didn’t want to, but she couldn’t go against her master,” The young woman said with some degree of relish at having the details.

Liu Boyue withheld a smile. He almost wanted to applaud whoever had started the rumors. The population of the capital was hardly easy to swindle, constantly being caught up in the aftermath of some political plot or another. But specific dates were convincing, and the hint of something more sordid, the presence of a defenseless young serving girl, all of these rumors were easy to substantiate with more rumors. Zhao Wenyuan hadn't been particularly well-known before and wasn't particularly well-liked now, so it was only natural that everyone would want in on the fun. So as long as there was so much as a single shred of truth to any one of the details, it would all snowball out of control.

And here I was so worried about Zhao Wenyuan’s growing influence, Liu Boyue thought to himself, almost giddy with glee. With this, he won’t be able to lift his head for at least a few months, and that’s more than enough time for us.

Better yet, Liu Boyue hadn’t even had to do anything. He could claim absolute innocence and it would be completely true.

“Good heavens! Why on earth would the Zhao heir do such a thing?”

“What happened to the poor girl?”

“Those high-ranking officials dress all fancy and neat, but they’re no better than animals. All they do is sop up resources and tax money while plotting at each other and making our lives difficult.”

“I shouldn’t even be surprised, it’s not like there haven’t been cases like this before.”

"Who would've thought that the Zhao heir was such a fox spirit?"

“Well, at least the guys he screwed over weren’t exactly great people either.”

The table became increasingly excited as conjectures were made and opinions cast about. Liu Boyue quietly ate his food, providing suitable reactions as needed.

“He must have done it to pave his own road to success, didn’t he manage to get Liu Hongyu killed? Who knows what his involvement in the other cases was?”

“No wonder, the trouble at court hasn’t ceased for even a day over the last few months!”

“Good heavens! Who would’ve known?”

“You know a man and his face but not his heart,” the dusty-faced man shook his head before nudging Liu Boyue. “Isn’t that right, little brother?”

“Indeed, what a scandal, the court will definitely be in an uproar,” Liu Boyue contributed, starting off another wave of comments that only increased in intensity as a few new participants joined in from where they had been eavesdropping while waiting for their food. One could almost see with the physical eye as the rumor spread like a ripple.

Satiated in both stomach and spirit, Liu Boyue left the table to continue wandering the market. He did feel a small amount of sympathy for Zhao Wenyuan, who was certain to come under immense scrutiny once he reappeared, but only barely. Xianchun didn’t seem to see it, but Zhao Wenyuan was dangerous.

He had gotten Yu Bianfu suspended and then sent away from the capital, and had been the primary force behind destroying the Grand Duke’s iron fist over the Three Departments, as well as the deposing of two Ministers, but Xianchun seemed to think of Zhao Wenyuan as though the man was pitiful.

My prince, you’re really much too soft on someone like that. Do you think Zhao Wenyuan is a pitiful little animal that can’t fend for himself, simply because he showed weakness before you once or twice? I know him for what he’s really worth.

At the very least, the same rumors seemed to be filling the entire market, which meant that by noon, it would be completely impossible to contain. Smiling to himself, Liu Boyue headed back to the Seventh Prince’s household. He found Xianchun practicing his swordsmanship in the inner courtyard. The prince greeted him with a smile, and Liu Boyue quickly gave a run-down of what he’d heard.

He wasn’t quite surprised when the prince reacted with outrage, but the Seventh Prince’s genuine upset on Zhao Wenyuan’s behalf left Liu Boyue uneasy.

Xianchun frowned, his voice taking on a note of rage. “Unbelievable, they dare to spread such rumors about a Minister of the court? Who would even believe something so outrageous?”

Boyue shook his head. “The court sees him as a cunning snake who gained his seat through nepotism, and the people don’t think much differently. Why would they care if it’s true?”

“This is ridiculous,” Xianchun snapped.

“Perhaps, but Zhao Wenyuan’s reputation is certain to plummet lower than ever before,” Liu Boyue replied.

“Who the hell could’ve spread these rumors? They ought to be rooted out and imprisoned for slandering an official of the court,” Xianchun snarled.

Liu Boyue’s face twitched, his calm expression rippling for a moment before smoothing over again.

“That’s hard to say, there is any number of people who could’ve been involved,” Boyue replied. “Zhao Wenyuan’s probably the only person who would be able to tell, and he’s nowhere to be found.”

“Damn it, where the hell did he disappear to at such a critical time? Tell our men to quash the rumors where they can,” Xianchun ordered. “A good chunk of the Ministry of Justice hates Wenyuan’s guts, and now that a huge number of officials are going to be replaced, they’re certain to be all the more antagonistic. Tell Minister Liang to keep an eye on them in particular.”

Liu Boyue gave Xianchun a look of disbelief. “You mean to help him? It will do us no good, my prince!”

“I want no part in this,” Xianchun shot back. “And I don’t want our men to have any part in this either!”

“This is a perfect chance, my prince. If the Empress Dowager has her way, the neutral faction will completely stifle our growth,” Liu Boyue argued. “Right now, the neutral faction’s only source of power is directly given by the throne, and most of its prestige stems from having Zhao Wenyuan’s bloodline. If he were to fall, the neutral faction would fall with him.”

“I know that as well, Boyue. You must find me unbelievable for thinking this way,” Xianchun said, deflating a little in the face of Boyue’s disappointment. Even if the strategist kept his reaction under control, Xianchun had known Boyue long enough to tell what the other man thought about the matter.

“Not at all, my prince,” Liu Boyue replied. He did in fact find Xianchun’s strange sense of affinity with Wenyuan to be utterly incomprehensible, not that he would ever say as much.

“It’s fine even if you do, after all, I was the one who’s always hated him the most. To be honest, it wasn’t so much that I hated him, but that I despised him. He had everything I wanted, and he didn’t even seem to appreciate it. Father doted on him, grandmother loved him, and even the Grand Duke didn’t hesitate to give him power and prestige,” Xianchun said.

His eyes took on a far-off look. “For the longest time, I wanted to see him suffer.”

Liu Boyue looked down. Who wouldn’t? Even though he was the Seventh Prince, Xianchun only received nominal interest from his father and grandmother and had to struggle to take even a single step forward in court, while Zhao Wenyuan had everything from the moment he was born.

It’s only natural that he would think this way after everything that’s happened, but why did he change his mind?

“But even though I thought this way for years, actually seeing it didn’t make me feel satisfied at all. Instead, I couldn’t help but wonder, why did I ever wish for this?” Xianchun said, letting out a heavy sigh. “It’s fine if you don’t understand since I don’t even understand it myself.”

Liu Boyue clenched his fist tighter, his fingernails digging into his palms. If it were back when Zhao Wenyuan was still the Grand Duke’s obedient little puppet, he could’ve overlooked Xianchun's pity as the prince's magnanimity towards a lesser man. But the Zhao heir had gained a desperate edge that made him like a jagged blade, and the destructive storm Zhao Wenyuan had stirred up in the capital over the last few months was the perfect proof of that.

“My prince, that’s because you’re a magnanimous person. But in all truth, Zhao Wenyuan would hardly suffer even if he was forced from the court. He is still the Emperor’s only nephew and the Imperial Princess’ only son, even if he were forced to leave the capital, he would still have the Imperial Princess’ villa in Suzhou and in the Northern Plains, as well as the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s care and protection,” Liu Boyue tried again. “I don’t mean that we should move against him, but even if we try to help him, there’s not much we can do. Why not let things run their natural course?”

Xianchun sighed. “I suppose you have a point.”

The prince lifted his sword, squinting as the morning light reflected off the blade.

“But I do want to see how he’ll deal with this. Will the sword grow sharper or simply break?”

“A blade’s edge is just as sharp against any surface,” Boyue said quietly.

Xianchun’s gaze flickered over Boyue’s face before focusing back on the sword.

“Don’t worry, Boyue. I do understand that Zhao Wenyuan is a double-edged sword. Looking back over the last few months, one of the main reasons I’ve been able to grab hold of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Personnel so quickly was because of him. I feel grateful to Wenyuan, but it also worries me a bit. If he had sided with Third Brother instead of remaining neutral, I probably would’ve had to kill him.”

Xianchun slowly sheathed the sword, handing it over to Boyue.

“Let’s just quietly watch how the situation develops this time. We should focus our efforts on the Ministry of Justice instead, with all the new seats opening up, we’ll need to work faster than Third Brother and grandmother if we want to consolidate our control.”

Boyue felt a rush of relief and gave Xianchun a smile.

“As you wish, my prince.”

“That being said, this is also a chance for us. Grandmother and father must be reeling in the net now, we should also quicken our pace. How are the arrangements going for infiltrating the Zhao household?” Xianchun asked.

“We’re ready to move at any time, my prince. Last time I was far too careless, but this time, neither the Grand Duke nor Zhao Wenyuan will be able to notice anything fishy. I’m a little apprehensive since I can’t go there myself, but I’ve arranged for every detail and contingency,” Boyue replied, his smile growing wider.

“Excellent! As expected of you, Boyue! Move forward whenever you’re ready, it’s about time we went for it,” Xianchun said, his voice tinged with excitement.

Boyue bowed his head slightly. “It will be done.”

He took his leave of the prince after talking awhile longer, pleased at the direction the conversation had went. As long as Xianchun properly recognized Wenyuan as a threat, the rest was only a matter of time. Xianchun could be fiercely protective of his allies, but in turn, was suspicious and calculating against his enemies in equal measure.

As long as he stops thinking of Wenyuan as a potential ally, the rest will follow shortly enough.

Boyue had known Xianchun long enough to know how things would go from here.

Kayla felt almost reluctant to return to the capital, back to the court and to the Zhao household. But it was her battlefield, and she had no choice but to fight upon it. She had been given a second day off, mostly so that she could meet with the Imperial Investigators about the personnel for the Ministry of Justice later in the day.

The carriage rolled smoothly down the pavement at a steady speed, people quickly making way for it upon seeing the mark of the Imperial family. Hu Qing was amusing himself by folding paper animals with the unused scraps of paper from Kayla’s notes, and she watched with mild interest as the man gave a wide smile upon making what looked like a deformed duck.

“Is that a duck?” Kayla asked. Hu Qing gave her a deeply offended look.

“This is a frog,” he said, sounding rather aggrieved.

The carriage turned a corner and pulled to a stop, and Hu Qing immediately sprang to alert, pushing Kayla’s head away from the window as he reached for a blade. Kayla stiffened, memories of Yue Wuxuan’s sworn warriors’ attack popping unbidden into her mind. After a moment, Hu Qing relaxed and settled back into his seat.

“Nevermind, it was just a messenger from the palace. Sir Yang’s sent him away,” Hu Qing told her. Kayla nodded in relief. There was a polite knock on the carriage door before it opened.

“Excuse me, Minister, Mister Hu. I apologize for the delay,” Sir Yang bowed his head slightly.

“Not at all, is something the matter?” Kayla asked.

Sir Yang hesitated for a moment, a look of uncertainty flashing over his face. “It appears that some unsavory rumors have spread in the capital during our absence, but they have only been brought to this humble servant’s attention just now. Would the Minister like to take a look before deciding on your next destination?” He raised a small scroll into sight, offering it with both hands.

Kayla frowned. She had a bad feeling about this, nothing good ever happened when her carriage stopped en route, whether it was initiated by herself or someone else.

“Let me take a look first,” Kayla said. She unfurled the scroll and swept over its contents. Ice spread through her veins and she forced herself to keep reading.

What the fuck?

“What the fuck?” Kayla accidentally said it out loud as well, still in English.

“Pardon?” Sir Yang said in alarm.

“Nothing,” Kayla hastily replied, reverting back to the setting-appropriate speech. She breathed in deeply, trying to figure out what to do next.

“May I take a look, Minister?” Hu Qing asked. She wordlessly handed him the scroll, tilting her head back to blankly stare at the roof of the carriage.

The rumors were far worse than anything Kayla would’ve subjected Wenyuan’s reputation to, even for the sake of dealing with the Grand Duke, and the details about the bimonthly visits were damning. Rumors of promiscuity were damning for women, but barely impacted a man's reputation unless he went too overboard. But that only if he was a womanizer, and if he were the one paying. If he went around flirting with men or having his female companions foot the bill, it would be a huge blow to his reputation.

“There are some…nifty details in here,” Hu Qing said carefully. “Those are certain to make the rumors a lot more believable, and if this has already circulated within the market this morning, then it’s already out of control.”

“The details,” Kayla grit out, red-hot rage bleeding into her vision.

“Inside information,” Hu Qing confirmed.

Qu Boyong. Kayla breathed in deeply as a rush of nausea swept over her like a wave. Wenyuan’s rage was swirling around like a tornado, but one that had picked up a half-ton worth of kitchen knives. It almost physically hurt to feel his anger, at Qu Boyong, but also at the Grand Duke and at himself.

Calm down a bit, Wenyuan, Kayla tried to comfort him. I can fix this.

How the HELL could you possibly fix this?! This is way worse than you think! No matter what we say now, I’m done for, my reputation’s done for, you just don’t care! Wenyuan’s voice was high-pitched, almost hysterical. Kayla winced a little. In Ancient China, one's reputation was often seen as more important than one's life, and it was often considered honorable to commit suicide rather than suffer dishonor. Kayla didn't agree with those ideals, but she wasn't the only one affected.

I do care, it’s my reputation as well! I can’t fix this right away, but we have leverage too. I can fix it in due time, Kayla assured him, barely able to contain her own rising panic. She caught Hu Qing’s concerned look in her direction and tried to collect herself.

“It must be Qu Boyong, the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince wouldn’t have access to this information, and the Grand Duke wouldn’t implicate himself like this,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing gave her a sympathetic look. “Qu Boyong sure is cold-hearted, those are some seriously nasty rumors,” he said uneasily.

Kayla shook her head, feeling sick to her stomach. “This is such bullshit,” she grit out through a clenched jaw.

Seriously, it’s always one step forward and two steps back–even if I gained hold of the information from the Imperial Princess' investigations, it’s not something I can carelessly bring into use. But who knows how the situation will escalate from here? I have no idea how things will develop from here on, it’s already diverged way too much from the original timeline. If I end up waiting too long, I could lose my chance, but if I move too early, I could be crushed like an ant. I’m not making a single move until I’ve spoken with Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun.

She rubbed her face tiredly. “The best thing I can do right now is to just ignore it,” she said.

Hu Qing gave her a long look of incomprehension, and Kayla let out a sigh.

“There’s not much I can do about it right now,” Kayla said wearily. “More importantly, I need to make haste and meet with Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui. Could you do me a favor and find Qu Boyong for me? I doubt he’ll show up again, but it bothers me to leave things hanging.”

“Sure, but what do you want me to do with him? I might not be able to win if he gets backup,” Hu Qing warned her.

“No, that’s not what I mean. If I do anything to him, it’ll only make me look worse, not to mention that it might set off any shadow employers of his. Just give him his severance pay and a notice in writing. That way, even if he does something from here on, I can legally claim that I have no responsibility,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing raised an eyebrow. “Alright. Leave it to me, just give me the money and the letter, I’ll take care of the rest.”

Kayla pulled out a brush and paper, hesitating for a moment before beginning to write. There was a hollow feeling inside her chest, but it was slowly becoming replaced with fury.

She’d been a minimum wage worker before and knew that loyalty to the paymaster was a flimsy thing. But I wasn’t too shitty of an employer, was I? I paid him plenty, I gave him health insurance and basically free rein to do whatever the fuck he wanted, however the fuck he wanted. The scheduling was a bit of a nightmare and there was lots of overtime, but…okay, fine. So the scheduling was terrible.

Are you kidding me? Most people don’t even dote on their personal serving maids half as much as you have Qu Boyong! The only comparable treatment I’ve ever seen is with Chujiao, and that was because she was my childhood friend! Wenyuan shouted in outrage.

You’re right. The lack of worker’s rights in this time era had always bothered Kayla a bit, but in comparison to the usual standards, Kayla would’ve been a more-or-less model employer even with the nightmarish scheduling issues.

You should curse him with a talisman or something, Wenyuan seethed, unusually vindictive.

Fuck, I kind of want to. But someone as smart as Qu Boyong wouldn’t fall for it.

She hesitated for a moment, thinking back to her knowledge of the young man. Wenyuan had known Qu Boyong for almost three years but had never so much as spoken a single word with him. Kayla had also only known him for a couple of months. Thinking of it, was Qu Boyong even his real name? Hu Qing’s identity reveal had been a shocking reminder of how deep the waters in the capital were, and given Qu Boyong’s looks, he may very well be a hidden side character as well.

I’d rather be overcautious than careless.

Kayla sighed and decided to just pen a written notice by professional standards. She was far from being a perfect employer, but she had tried so far. She might as well do the last part properly rather than accidentally invoke the flames of revenge in someone who may end up being a significant character after all.

She wrote a formal notice of employee termination and stamped it, handing it to Hu Qing. The man had been watching Kayla write with a curious look his face, and cheerfully tucked away the note.

“And hold on a minute, let me figure out the exact amount,” Kayla said, running the numbers through her head before counting out the right number of coins. Hu Qing let out a noise of surprise.

“That’s a lot,” Hu Qing said in shock.

“This was the agreed amount,” Kayla replied. “Severance pay plus accrued paid time off, to the very last coin.”

“Seriously, you’re still going to pay him all that?” Hu Qing demanded. “Why not just hold on to this and give him a written notice?”

“As long as I stick to the employment agreement word for word, he is the only one who is legally responsible for breach of contract, and people will actually be more likely to believe me if he tries to make a fuss,” Kayla explained. “I need to meet with Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui to decide on my next steps first, so I’ll leave it to you.”

Hu Qing tossed the purse in his hands, raising an eyebrow at its weight. “Alright then." He ducked out from the carriage door and disappeared over the rooftops under Sir Yang's impassive gaze.

"Minister, then your next destination?" Sir Yang asked politely. Kayla sighed.

"I wish to meet my subordinates, discreetly. Can it be arranged?" Kayla asked. If there was someone from the palace who could take care of these things, she would absolutely make use of them.

"Of course, Minister. It will be done," Sir Yang bowed, easily taking on the task. Kayla nodded and settled back into her seat, letting the curtain over the carriage window fall shut again.

63-Double Edged Sword

Both Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun were on edge as they waited for Zhao Wenyuan’s arrival. They were meeting in the private room of a teahouse in a quiet neighborhood, and the entire establishment was more or less deserted.

“Do you think the Minister knows about the rumors?” Chen Caichun asked.

Sun Ruhui let out a sigh. “Most likely so. It'd be difficult for him not to know at this point.”

“This really isn’t an ideal situation for the Minister, especially since the Li Sanjin case has only barely died down. Too many rumors about a man will put everyone on edge, even those within the palace,” Chen Caichun murmured concernedly. “Not to mention the pressure on the Minister, these things keep happening one after the other, it’s a wonder he can keep afloat.”

Chen Caichun still remembered the look on Zhao Wenyuan’s face when he had been implicated in the Li Sanjin case. The man had gone completely pale as though he’d seen a ghost, only barely managing to keep his expression blank. The entire process had been extremely stressful for everyone involved, but Zhao Wenyuan would have had the worst of it. For all this to happen so soon afterward, the Zhao heir really was unlucky.

Sun Ruhui gave a subtle shake of his head. “If the heavens wish to give a huge responsibility to someone, they would first test his will, tire his limbs, starve his body, and raise barriers to his every move. In that way, they can shake his mindset so that he will gain resilience and awaken greater abilities. Whether or not he can withstand these difficulties will decide his future, but while we can help him face these challenges, his own willpower and perseverance are what really matters.”

Caichun winced a little, a disquieted look on her face. “Barriers to every move indeed...this must have been quite a huge blow to him. Only the Minister, the Grand Duke, Chamberlain Sun, Qu Boyong, Zhu Ling’er, and I could have known enough details to spread the rumors like this. The Minister couldn’t possibly destroy his own reputation like this, and the same applies to the Grand Duke. Both you and I also wouldn't be involved, and Zhu Ling’er has also been under the eye of Investigator Li, so it could only have been Qu Boyong, but why would he do such a thing?”

“What a pity, Qu Boyong seemed like someone with a promising future,” Sun Ruhui lamented. “He shouldn’t have gone down this path, now that he’s offended both the palace and the Minister, his fate is more or less sealed.”

The two of them continued discussing the situation in soft voices a little longer before there was a knock on the door.

“Excuse me, good sir and lady, your companion has arrived,” the server announced. The two glanced at each other, standing as the door opened. Zhao Wenyuan stepped through, somehow looking even more exhausted than usual. He gave the server a small tip as the man left, giving his subordinates a wan smile as he gestured for them to sit.

“Thank you for coming here on such short notice,” Zhao Wenyuan said, his voice a little hoarse. “I thought it would be best to meet here rather than at the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Not at all, Minister. Have you been well? We'd heard of a disturbance,” Chen Caichun asked carefully. Zhao Wenyuan shifted in his seat.

“There was a…situation at the Zhao household. A burglary attempt, as is currently being said,” Zhao Wenyuan said. “The Empress Dowager thought it would be best for me to take a day off after all that.”

As he spoke, he removed a golden plaque from his robes and carefully placed it on the table, gesturing at it silently.

Sun Ruhui stared at it in confusion for a moment, not quite recognizing its significance, but Chen Caichun stilled before standing up, pulling out a talisman from her robes and activating it over the plaque. After a moment, she nodded at Zhao Wenyuan.

“It’s best to be careful, Minister,” Chen Caichun said respectfully. "I'm not sure what function the plaque has, but this should do the trick." Zhao Wenyuan gave her a pleased smile.

“What talisman did you use?” He asked curiously.

“Women often use these in bathhouses to prevent flower thieves and peepers,” Chen Caichun said. “My brother found that these work just as well as the more expensive ones, and now he uses these when he needs them. I’m happy to procure some for you.”

“Excellent, and here I thought it would be very difficult,” Zhao Wenyuan said thoughtfully.

“Many of the measures used in the entertainment district, the bathhouse, and the healers for women’s problems tend to be quite effective, probably because the artisans rarely think to test the effect of those talismans,” Chen Caichun explained.

Zhao Wenyuan nodded, looking incredibly pleased with the explanation.

“Minister, the Bureau is undergoing an intensive internal investigation, does it have anything to do with the assassin?” Chen Caichun asked worriedly.

“Unfortunately, yes. I think it’s an inside job by the Grand Duke, but I could be wrong. In any case, this plaque also started emanating magic before the Imperial Guard also showed up, though I’ve yet to hear what that’s about,” Zhao Wenyuan said.

Chen Caichun’s frown deepened. “I really couldn’t say, Minister. But you seem to have something on your mind.”

Zhao Wenyuan hesitated for a brief moment before retrieving a stack of notes from his robes, written in the strange code that only he seemed to be privy to.

“There’s quite a lot I want to say, but let me just give you a simple rundown,” Zhao Wenyuan said calmly before launching into an explanation of the most convoluted situation they had ever been involved in.

Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun stared at Zhao Wenyuan in shocked silence for a long moment. They looked to be stunned into immobility on the surface, but both of their minds were working in overdrive, thinking as fast as their neural pathways could possibly allow.

“Minister, what do you plan on doing with this information?” Chen Caichun asked uneasily.

Zhao Wenyuan let out a soft sigh, glancing at their reactions. His expression was deliberately relaxed, but both of them could sense that Zhao Wenyuan was on edge.

“That’s actually what I wanted to discuss with the two of you,” Zhao Wenyuan said. “I don’t believe my grandmother and uncle have access to this information, and I also highly doubt the Grand Duke actually knows the extent of what my mother uncovered. As it stands right now, we may very well have the advantage over all of them.”

Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun exchanged a subtle glance.

So Zhao Wenyuan is considering actively grabbing power.

Without waiting for Chen Caichun to sort through her thoughts, Sun Ruhui cleared his throat and began to speak.

“I believe I understand your intentions, Minister. With this, you will have information over much of the court, so it only stands that you will be able to gain political power without the palace’s help,” Sun Ruhui cautiously ventured. Zhao Wenyuan nodded slowly.

“The palace can only help me so much, the rest depends on my own actions,” he confirmed. Sun Ruhui could already guess that the Minister’s faith in the Empress Dowager’s protection was crumbling, and it hadn’t seemed to be all that strong in the first place. But given Zhao Wenyuan’s delicate position, at the crosshairs between the Zhao clan and the Imperial family, it was a dangerous mindset to have.

“You’re walking a dangerous path, Minister. You want power over protection, but none of what you have today was built by your own hands,” Sun Ruhui warned him. “If you want for too much, you’ll end up with nothing.”

“Chamberlain, saying it like that is too much,” Chen Caichun protested.

Zhao Wenyuan sighed, leaning back in his seat. “No, Chamberlain Sun is right. I’m only in my current position because of nepotism and luck, as well as the long-standing plans of the palace. But my current situation is way too dangerous to just leave everything in the hands of the palace.”

Sun Ruhui nodded sympathetically. “I understand that, Minister. But you must also understand, that accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger, you must be careful at every given moment, constantly wary of their mood, how they view you, what they’ve said and what they’ve left unspoken. Yet at the same time, you must not let them realize that you are watching them with caution. It must seem natural to them that you’re able to accommodate their moods and avoid their rage, or you will be seen as a sly and cunning man who must be warded against,” Sun Ruhui said calmly. He glanced at Zhao Wenyuan.

“Minister, this is much more of a problem for you than it is for us, given your position with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. You have no need to build up their trust and affection, only to maintain it. This puts you at a much greater advantage than anyone else. But if their trust in you were ever to crumble, their fury towards you would be much greater than towards another official, you would hurtle downwards to your doom. They would most certainly be unable to separate their personal feelings from their objective judgments. As helpful as your lineage is, it’s a double-edged sword. It can cut you as deeply as it can help you.”

Zhao Wenyuan gave a deep sigh. “That’s exactly the problem. It’s growing more difficult to both preserve myself and maintain their trust, how am I meant to balance that?”

“All rulers are suspicious, even if they act outwardly magnanimous. The power of the throne, the power to command all under heaven, it’s enough to drive a man mad. How can one person possibly be responsible for all that and not be suspicious of everyone around them? Minister, this will sound cruel to your ears, but I must say it anyways,” Sun Ruhui said.

“Please go ahead, I’ll respectfully receive your advice,” Zhao Wenyuan replied.

“You must not be afraid to put yourself at risk. Instead, you must proceed even when it will endanger you. That is the only way to maintain their trust. So long as you have that, anything can be made possible. Without it, I’m sorry to say this, but you have nothing. ”

Zhao Wenyuan closed his eyes, rubbing a hand over his face tiredly. “I understand that rulers prefer their best subjects to stand isolated and ostracized. But the Emperor and Empress Dowager are pushing me into situations that they have little to no control over, how on earth am I meant to survive like this?”

“With your abilities, you are entirely capable of prevailing. We are also here to assist you in any capacity. There are still going to be many insurmountable difficulties, of course, but that’s part of being a powerful member of the court. In exchange for power and privilege beyond what the average person could ever even dream of, there are risks you have to take,” Sun Ruhui replied.

“I see,” Zhao Wenyuan said resignedly. “So I should just play the fool before the Empress Dowager for now and hang on to the information until I can safely use it.”

“Exactly,” Sun Ruhui agreed. “But that shouldn’t stop you from strengthening the position of the neutral faction and your hold over it. Since the palace assigned you to this role, they shouldn’t have any issues with you doing it well. However, there is a very thin line between building up the neutral faction and building up your own faction, you must be mindful of it, Minister.”

Kayla felt increasingly aggravated as the conversation continued, but she had no choice but to admit that Sun Ruhui was right. Zhao Wenyuan, from his very birth, was doomed to a fate of teetering on a knife’s edge for his entire life. He was a double-edged sword for both the Grand Duke and the Imperial family, and they, in turn, were the same for him. The original goods had always understood that, or rather, had been forced time and time again to see it clearly as the clashes between the Grand Duke and the palace had claimed the lives of his parents. Zhao Wenyuan had spent his life trying to flee from that fate, but it had only led him down the path to the yellow springs and straight into death’s door.

Kayla had no intention of following that path, but she still had Zhao Wenyuan’s identity, and so she couldn’t remove herself from the precarity of it. She had to concede that Sun Ruhui’s advice was entirely correct, but it was chafing to finally have the equivalent of a tank after defending herself with a butter knife for so long and still be unable to use it.

Or at least unable to use it for now, it could still save my life in the future, Kayla assured herself. I shouldn’t get greedy the second I manage to get my hands on something useful, it’ll only be the death of me.

She still had plenty of other cards to use, the Empress Dowager’s apology gift package wasn’t so stingy as that.

Kayla forced herself to speak in a light tone. “Then what about the personnel issue? Do you two have any recommendations for that? The Empress Dowager is sure to be keeping a sharp eye on what I do, so I have to act carefully. I was actually hoping to make Chamberlain Sun the new Left Secretariat of Justice since the palace wants us to consolidate our hold over the justice system. That way, I can also move Case Reviewer Chen into the vacancy and make her a Chamberlain. Is that advisable?” Kayla asked.

It was the solution she had thought of on the way back. Kayla really only had those two who absolutely could not betray her, and she needed them in higher positions.

Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun glanced at each other thoughtfully, one with apprehension, one with approval.

“I don’t believe the Empress Dowager would take issue with that. Raising up your own people is fine, but bartering positions in exchange for support is a huge taboo. As long as you avoid that, she should be fine with this much. But the court definitely wouldn’t stay silent,” Caichun said.

“Minister, I’m grateful for your trust, but my connections in the capital are too limited for me to be of much use in the position of Left Secretariat,” Sun Ruhui protested.

“I need you to do this, regardless of whether you can do it well. Better you than someone else,” Kayla insisted. She wouldn’t have minded shoving Chen Caichun into the spot either, but in terms of seniority and rank, Sun Ruhui was more suitable. It would also spare Chen Caichun the harassment of the chauvinists at the Ministry of Justice. Kayla felt responsible for Chen Caichun to a certain extent as the person who brought her into the court, the young woman was certain to be treated decently while right under Kayla’s nose in the Court of Judicial Review, but it wasn’t as though Kayla could go check on the Ministry of Justice every day to ensure Caichun was doing alright.

“We can’t just ignore the pressure from the court,” Caichun reminded them. “Since yesterday, the rumors about the Minister have been spreading like fire. If we further antagonize them now, we’ll be left in a very disadvantageous position.”

“Then I can’t be the one to bring it up myself,” Kayla muttered. She glanced at Caichun before silently crossing out that idea. Asking Chen Jian to do her a favor and bring word to his superiors could backfire, especially if Li Que and Tabuyir chose to report to the Empress Dowager that Kayla had been trying to manipulate the internal affairs of the Imperial Investigator Bureau through Chen Caichun.

“I believe that if you give them a hint during the meeting, Investigator Li and Investigator Tabuyir would be happy to make the offer,” Caichun suggested. “They’re very good at observing people’s wants and needs, and they’re also not interested in stirring up trouble. If they don’t want to do you a favor, they will simply pretend not to catch the hint rather than making a big deal out of it with the palace.”

Kayla nodded. If they agreed, it also meant that it aligned with the Empress Dowager’s intentions. If they didn’t, dropping hints was hardly anything worth reporting.

“Minister, please be sure not to mention anything about the information you have,” Sun Ruhui worriedly reminded her. “If your suspicions are correct, the Empress Dowager must be watching you intently. Unless you’re confident you can wield this blade, you must keep it sheathed and hidden.”

“Chamberlain Sun is right, but riches and glory are often won from danger,” Caichun jumped in. “It’s almost certain to be of use at some point in time, we just have to be thoughtful about how to wield it.”

Kayla smiled in relief. “Thank you for your words. And about the rumors, should I just ignore them for the time being?”

Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun gave her identical looks of surprise.

“You’re alright with that, Minister?” Caichun ventured. "I would've thought...after all, this is a rather sensitive topic, and there's the matter of your reputation..." The young woman uncertainly trailed off

Kayla sighed. “To be honest, I'm really not alright with this. I think both of you can guess who was responsible, but I can hardly drag him into the market and force him to recant. Even if I did, it wouldn’t work. So there’s not much I can do, is there? The more you try to clear your name, the worse your reputation becomes, unless you two have any ideas?”

Sun Ruhui winced. “I’m afraid I’m also at a loss, Minister. If the rumors get out of hand, it could affect your career, and even eliminate you as a potential candidate for the political marriage with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. People’s words have frightening power, but three people’s statements can make a tiger real. But at the same time, it's already spread to this extent, actively trying to deny them won't help you.”

Kayla sighed again, nodding her head in resignation.

“If I may, Minister, what do you plan to do with Qu Boyong?” Sun Ruhui asked. Chen Caichun hastily glared at him, but the words had already been spoken. It had been tacitly agreed upon by the two of them that the young man’s involvement wouldn’t be brought up, not when his employer had shown such trust.

“I’m planning to leave him be, I don’t know who’s behind him, if there is such a person, and I don’t want to startle the snake by beating the grass,” Kayla explained. “But I also don’t plan to look without seeing and wait for him to twist the knife. I’ve recently hired Hu Qing, the man you met last time. He saved my life from the assassin, and I know enough about his background to feel at ease working with him. I asked him to find Qu Boyong’s residence and deliver a written notice and his severance pay, that way, no matter what waves he stirs up later on, I will have no legal culpability.”

Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun looked surprised but didn’t seem to disapprove. They just glanced quietly at each other again, but when they turned back to Kayla, their gazes seemed to be even more sympathetic than before.

Caichun shifted nervously in her seat, glancing at Kayla and Sun Ruhui before speaking.

“Qu Boyong aside, I do have an idea for how to dispel the rumors, Minister. But I hope I won’t offend you,” Caichun said cautiously.

Kayla gave her a hopeful look, at which the young woman flushed red.

“Pardon my saying so, Minister, but you should visit the entertainment districts,” Caichun said, the tips of her ears also becoming red even as she kept her tone calm and even with impressive professionality.

Kayla stared at Caichun in stunned silence for a moment.

“That’s a novel idea, Case Reviewer Chen,” Sun Ruhui said, his surprise evident in his voice. “I did notice that in the major cities, it’s much more common to visit the red-light districts, especially here in the capital. I’m afraid I won’t be of much help in this regard though.”

“Isn’t it a bit…inappropriate?” Kayla asked uneasily. “I mean, I’m a Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and the palace is considering me as a potential marriage candidate for a Turkic princess. It’s a bit…”

“Minister, I can safely say that you’re probably the only minister other than Minister Hu who does not go at least every once in a while,” Chen Caichun said. “In fact, you’re rather well-known for being the only minister who doesn’t, which probably aggravates the rumors. And as for the political marriage, it would be better to be seen as a man who indulges a bit rather than allow the current rumors to shape your image.”

Kayla shook her head in disbelief. “Seriously? I’m the only one? But most of them have more than two concubines, is that still not enough?”

“Which man who holds power does not wish to enjoy its benefits somehow? If their greed for wealth and influence is satisfied, then it’s only natural they’d turn to lust and entertainment as well,” Caichun said drily. “Not to mention that most deals between officials are struck in these establishments.”

“I’m not sure about this,” Kayla said uneasily.

“Chamberlain Sun has a wife, so no one would think anything of him for abstaining, but you’re young and unmarried, it’s expected that you should drink flower wine from time to time,” Caichun replied. “Whether or not you actually do anything doesn’t really matter, what’s important is that you’re seen going in and out of these establishments at least once in a while.”

Kayla gave Sun Ruhui a questioning look, but the man also gave her an affirming nod.

“I believe Case Reviewer Chen’s idea has merit,” Sun Ruhui agreed.

“I can’t believe this,” Kayla said. “The solution is to go to a strip club?”

“A what?” Caichun asked in confusion.

“Nevermind that. Thank you for the advice,” Kayla hastily replied. “I’m glad I met with you two before meeting with the Investigators.”

“Not at all, Minister. On another note, may I also suggest meeting with Minister Hu of the Ministry of Public Works? He’s a long-standing member of the neutral faction, if we’re to proceed, we definitely need his assistance,” Sun Ruhui suggested.

“I’ll ask Sir Yang to arrange it for me, Minister Hu might be a bit more willing if he thinks the palace is involved. And related to that, I gained some interesting insight into Captain Jiang Jing of the Imperial Guards in regards to his troubles with romance, and I might be in a good position to do him a favor,” Kayla said, thinking back to the good-looking guard captain she’d met the other night.

She had conversationally brought him up with Sir Yang and learned that Captain Jiang was unmarried and had no fiancee, which could only mean that Xianchun had yet to win the man’s loyalty. In other words, Captain Jiang was up for grabs.

“That is not advisable at all, Minister,” Caichun objected. “He directly serves the Emperor, even if you can do him a favor, you should avoid doing so to protect yourself from suspicion.”

Kayla silently crossed out her idea of having Consort Zhao intervene and thereby gain points for both Wenyuan’s aunt and Kayla herself. Consort Zhao had become close friends with Consort Liang, and her relationship with the other consorts had also improved once she’d realized that the Grand Duke was completely unreliable. While she was well-positioned to help out the guard captain, her actions were likely to be misconstrued by the Empress Dowager.

“I don’t mind giving up on this opportunity, but how about handing it over to someone else?” Kayla asked.

“Do you mean to do one of the princes a favor, Minister?” Caichun asked with a worried note in her voice.

“No, I’m supposed to be neutral, how can I possibly help them out in gaining the support of the Imperial Guard? I was thinking of giving the information to Consort Hu. She’s the daughter of Minister Hu Weizhi, but she’s basically a wallflower in the Imperial Harem. If she gets an opportunity like this to improve her situation in the palace, it may help us with winning over Hu Weizhi,” Kayla explained.

“I believe that Consort Hu and Captain Jiang will be grateful to you, but it probably wouldn’t be very useful in dealing with Minister Hu,” Caichun said doubtfully. “He’s a traditionalist, and he looks down on harem intrigue as the petty battles of jealous women, he even wrote an article criticizing the Emperor for letting his consorts carry on the way they did a few years back. The Emperor had been rather infuriated.”

“But he didn’t hesitate to send his own daughter to be a concubine, did he?” Kayla said drily. “Well, that’s too bad. Do you have any ideas then?”

“Minister, may I ask exactly what you have in mind with Captain Jiang?” Chen Caichun asked.

“He’s in love with a serving maid,” Kayla replied. “Whoever helps him win her hand will probably receive quite a bit of gratitude. The protection of a guard captain is probably one of the most useful weapons a woman in the palace could have, even if she angers anyone, they’d have a harder time getting rid of her than they would an isolated and unfavored concubine.”

“If it were me, I would be immensely grateful for someone to do my daughter such a favor, but Minister Hu is one of the most conservative men I’ve ever met before,” Sun Ruhui commented. “It may be better to offer this opportunity to someone else.”

“How about the Sixth Princess?” Caichun jumped in.

Kayla frowned. “My cousin? She doesn’t live in the palace anymore, does she?”

The sickly Sixth Princess had remained unmarried into her late twenties, residing in the summer palace of the Imperial Family outside of the capital city after the death of her mother. She visited the capital once every few months but rarely met with anyone other than her father and the Empress Dowager, each time only staying in the palace a few days before leaving again. The Sixth Princess barely had any presence whatsoever and had no political influence at all.

“Yes, but her next visit should be coming up soon. Don’t forget, Minister, the Sixth Princess’ mother was from a prominent clan of the steppe tribes. If you give her something that could help to increase her reputation and prestige, they will think upon you favorably as well,” Caichun said. “The Sixth Princess barely has any influence at all, but she’s still treated with the utmost respect and caution by the servants. It’s not just because of the Emperor’s favor, but also because of the political need for good relations with the steppe tribes, given their role in buffering relations with the Eastern Turkish Khaganate. We’re likely to enter a period of peace with the Khaganate, so if you add the support of the steppe clans as well, it would be an extremely advantageous position for you.”

Kayla scrunched her face in confusion. “But how will the Sixth Princess even benefit from this?”

“It’s about her reputation, Minister. She basically has no reputation or support beyond being favored for her maternal relatives, people pretend to respect her as a princess even while laughing behind her back for being constantly ill and bound to a wheelchair. If she can manage to get this done, it will be an opportunity to increase her reputation within and outside of the palace. A little bit of exaggeration and some work spreading rumors, and she will soon become known as a wise and benevolent princess,” Chen Caichun explained. "The Sixth Princess will be certain to appreciate such an opportunity.”

Kayla nodded. “I'll have Hu Qing figure out who the woman in question is, it shouldn't be a problem for him.”

To her surprise, both Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui nodded in agreement. It seemed that Hu Qing was much more popular than Kayla had realized.

The most pressing issues taken care of, Kayla thanked the two for their time before heading off again, this time to deal with the Imperial Investigators. Chen Caichun had already hinted at it, but the internal investigation was probably not going too well, and there was no telling who or what they would suspect. Kayla steeled herself for the upcoming interaction, praying that she could snag the seat of Left Secretariat for Sun Ruhui.

Sun Ruhui let out a deep sigh as he watched Zhao Wenyuan's carriage depart from the window.

"What do you think, Case Reviewer Chen?" Sun Ruhui asked wearily.

Chen Caichun was looking out the window thoughtfully and started at his question.

"Chamberlain Sun, are you worried that the Minister will become too ambitious?" Chen Caichun asked in return.

Sun Ruhui hesitated. "That's part of it, yes. But for the most part, what I'm worried about is how the palace will perceive it. The new information that he's gained is extremely opportune, but the palace is also increasing their scrutiny of him."

"I think that the Minister is rather pitiful," Chen Caichun murmured. "Once the rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is eaten, is it not natural to fear such a fate? Neither the Zhao clan nor the Imperial family really cares whether he lives or dies, only how much use they can extract from him, and the Minister can sense that as well. The only person he can rely on is himself, but he can't even try to increase his power."

Sun Ruhui sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I understand that, but he still has the neutral faction."

"He's no more than a figurehead. The traditionalists will be hard to win over, and the palace pulls the reins of what we do. At the end of all this, he definitely will have to retreat into obscurity," Chen Caichun said heavily.

"Peace is a blessing. If he can live well in seclusion, that's a victory in itself," Sun Ruhui replied. "As long as he can come to terms with that, the Minister will be sure to live a long and happy life. The palace will still treat him well after everything is over."

"Will he survive until then?" Chen Caichun murmured. "The Bureau's investigation this time is strange, none of the investigators are allowed to leave headquarters without permission. Something dangerous is afoot, and I have a feeling that this is only the start."

"The waters are always turbulent in the capital, there's nothing the likes of us can do about it. Even the Emperor can't control what happens," Sun Ruhui sighed. "Let the boat be pushed by the current, fate will decide its destination."

"I understand that, but I'm worried the Minister won't last that long, did you see how on edge he was? I think he's nearing his limit," Chen Caichun said worriedly.

"We can only believe in his fortitude," Sun Ruhui replied wearily. "If he is crushed, there isn't a suitable replacement to head the neutral faction that can embody the backing of the throne to the same extent, which means that the Grand Duke and the princes wouldn't have anything to stop them from attacking relentlessly. The neutral faction will remain in a weak position, and the fight between the princes will only grow more intense. The Minister might not even realize this himself, but right now, his role is irreplaceable."

The two sat silently for a moment, the gravity of the political situation weighing down heavily upon them.

"Then may the heavens smile upon us," Chen Caichun sighed. "We can only hope this will end well."

64-Broken Mirrors

It was almost midday, but Qu Boyong had only just gotten up. The plan was moving forward several times faster than he’d originally hoped for, and making sure a rumor took off also took no small amount of effort. He’d barely gotten any sleep the last two days, and the little rest he did get was disturbed by vaguely discomfiting dreams that left Qu Boyong jolting awake with a sense of tribulation.

Qu Boyong marked it off as nerves, especially now that Ji Fangluo was all set to make her move. Soon, very soon, he would finally receive vindication.

A knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts. Qu Boyong hesitated for a moment, but the knock rang out again. He could sense that there was only a single person there, but not who it was. Whoever it was evidently had no interest in announcing their identity either. He briefly considered refusing to answer the door, but the knock rang out a third time.

It was probably one of the landlord's agents, one of the more unpleasant and rude ones who were always annoyed at having to come to a haunted neighborhood. Qu Boyong sighed and opened the door, angling himself in a way that the visitor couldn’t immediately stab him.

Qu Boyong’s heart skipped a few beats in shock as he saw Hu Qing standing before him.

What is he doing here? Qu Boyong was a little relieved that it wasn’t someone from the Zhao household. From what he’d seen of Hu Qing, the man wasn’t interested in Zhao Wenyuan’s recruitment offers in the slightest.

Hu Qing didn’t say anything, glancing Qu Boyong over with a look mixed with amusement and condescension that had Qu Boyong’s blood boiling immediately. It was only a moment later that Qu Boyong noted the plaque hanging from Hu Qing’s belt. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the bronze plaque of a personal guard assigned by the Imperial Palace. It couldn’t possibly be from the Liang clan, which only left one possibility.

Just what did Zhao Wenyuan sway him with?

Qu Boyong glanced at the expensive sword at Hu Qing's waist, as well where there were more blades hidden in the folds of the man's robes. Had the Minister decided to silence him after all? It wasn’t that he couldn’t beat Hu Qing, but the outcome of a fight between them wasn’t certain either. Qu Boyong calmed himself, giving Hu Qing a cold look.

“How did you find my residence?” Qu Boyong asked icily.

Hu Qing smiled broadly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I asked the Minister, but he didn’t know either. So I looked around a bit, and there you were,” Hu Qing replied. “You didn’t show up to work, so the Minister could only assume you’d either quit or had died.”

Qu Boyong reached for his knife, tensing for a fight.

“Were you too afraid to show your face around after screwing him over? I can understand, but you really should’ve shown up to see the Minister’s face, his expression was priceless,” Hu Qing chuckled. Irrational rage joined the emerging panic in Qu Boyong’s chest.

Qu Boyong had dealt with plenty of troublemakers in his lifetime, but Hu Qing seemed to be the only one who had an aggravating aura so deeply engrained into his bones. Hu Qing reached into his robes and Qu Boyong stiffened even further, but instead of a blade, he pulled out a pouch of coins and handed it over.

“This is your severance pay, no recommendation letter though. The Minister can’t recommend you to serve in another household in good conscience,” Hu Qing said. At Qu Boyong’s frown, Hu Qing sighed and tossed the pouch onto the table. “The Minister only sent me here to give you this, there’s no need for you to be so on edge. He’s not the type to order you to be silenced or something. But then again, you knew that, didn’t you? You wouldn’t have had the guts to do it otherwise.”

“Why the hell would he give me severance pay?” Qu Boyong demanded, ignoring Hu Qing’s jabs.

Hu Qing shrugged. “Didn’t he say something about that when hiring you? I have no idea what he’s thinking, giving you severance pay even after all that, but it’s not my money anyways. Let rich men throw around as many coins as they want, that’s all they’re good for, am I right?” He gave Qu Boyong a curious glance. “But I am curious, did you always plan to screw him over, or did you just grab onto an opportunity as it presented itself? I didn’t think the Minister was so gullible.”

Qu Boyong’s face twisted against his volition. He hadn’t planned on even allowing Zhao Wenyuan to survive a few months ago, but the Zhao heir had completely thrown off Qu Boyong’s plans. For quite a while, even Qu Boyong hadn’t known exactly where he would be going with this. Rather than answer Hu Qing, he went on the offensive instead.

“And why did you choose to work for him? The Zhao clan’s a sinking ship, shouldn’t someone like you be able to tell?” Qu Boyong shot back. “Whatever power and privilege he has today will soon become smoke and ashes, the Zhao clan’s era is coming to an end, and he will go down with them! Wouldn’t you be better off sticking with the Liang clan?”

“So you’ve looked into me,” Hu Qing said with exaggerated surprise. “Wow, did my good looks and winning personality finally pique your interest?”

Qu Boyong shot him a glare. “You’ve figured out where I live and I can’t even figure out who you really are? How incompetent do you think I am?”

Hu Qing shrugged. “You’re not incompetent at all, it’s surprising that you even managed to gain that paranoid Minister’s trust despite being such a shady guy. You’ve left the poor man in quite a pinch.”

Qu Boyong looked at him with suspicion. “Surely you do realize that this situation is completely disadvantageous for you. Why are you joining him at a time like this?”

Hu Qing gave Qu Boyong an infuriating grin that made Boyong subconsciously curl his fists.

“How do I say this? I find him pitiful, amusingly so,” Hu Qing replied. “It makes me want to see how much worse things can get for him from here on.” There was a genuine delight in the man’s voice, enough to make Qu Boyong’s insides curdle.

Qu Boyong shook his head. “You disgust me.”

“Rich words coming from you. Aren’t you the one who wormed your way into his trust and then betrayed him? You have no right to criticize me,” Hu Qing said, his smile only widening as he spoke in a tone that set Qu Boyong on edge.

Qu Boyong couldn’t stop the spasm of guilt that crossed his face.

Hu Qing caught on to Boyong’s expression, his smile taking on a sadistic glee.

“Oh? Could it be that you feel guilty? Here’s a hint for you, buddy. Next time, ask for more money before selling out your employer, that way you can at least tell yourself that it was worth it,” Hu Qing laughed, tossing his head back with impunity.

The last bit of Qu Boyong’s patience snapped like a twig. “I didn’t do this for a few coins, I did it because I had to! And I don’t want his money either, take it back with you or keep it, I don’t care!” He realized immediately he had made a mistake by falling for the other man’s taunts, but Hu Qing didn’t show any sign of catching on to Qu Boyong’s slip-up, taking joy in riling him up instead.

“Oh, I would absolutely love to keep the money! But the Minister insisted, you know, I don’t want to get in trouble so soon after starting my job,” Hu Qing said. “He’s generous enough that I’d earn plenty more than that in the near future anyways. Oh, and here’s his letter for you, it’s supposed to be a written notice or something.”

Qu Boyong frowned at the folded note in Hu Qing’s outstretched hand. “He…wrote me a letter?”

Looking at the small piece of paper, Qu Boyong almost felt a little afraid to read its contents.

“I will drop this if you don’t take it,” Hu Qing warned him. Qu Boyong grabbed the paper, shooting Hu Qing a glare as the man continued to smile, looking extremely entertained.

“Good luck from here on, Qu Boyong. I’d recommend you leave the capital soon, but I’m happy to see what kind of fate you’ll meet if you remain,” Hu Qing said gleefully. He gave Qu Boyong one last smirk before vaulting over the wall to disappear into the night, leaving Qu Boyong to glare after him in the doorway.

After a long moment, Qu Boyong opened the letter, half-expecting a talisman of some sort to activate. The Minister was surprisingly good at using spells for a man who couldn’t use magic, and no matter how laidback the man usually was in interacting with his servants, there was no telling what he could be driven to do by the flames of fury. His magic detection talisman didn’t show anything, but Qu Boyong steeled himself anyways.

The paper unfolded, and it was just a paper. Qu Boyong stared at the neat handwriting on the paper, the discomfort in his chest increasing.

To Qu Boyong,

This letter serves as a written notice to inform you that your employment is terminated as of today, the 5th year of the Xianqing era, the 16th day of May, effective immediately. The reason for your termination is a breach of contract.

You will receive a severance payment in the amount specified in your employment contract, as well as your unpaid wages, which will include payment for your accrued paid time off. In accordance with the employee benefits agreement, you may continue to pay medical bills to my tab until the end of the month, upon which your eligibility will be revoked.

Sincerely,

Zhao Wenyuan, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review

Qu Boyong could feel his head swimming. What kind of letter was this? There wasn’t a single hint of anger in the words, only professional indifference.

He’s still going by the contract? Did the Minister go crazy? Qu Boyong hastily crossed off that possibility. Zhao Wenyuan had always been a little strange in his interactions with the servants and guards. Before Zhao Wenyuan had started going against the Grand Duke, he had been reserved and quiet, rarely voicing any requests or needs to the servants. He would suddenly lash out with inexplicable fury at other times before resuming his subdued demeanor. The sudden flashes of rage always seemed to come after a drinking session with Liu Hongyu and were relatively harmless, usually just a few sharp words in a raised voice while the Zhao heir stormed away from them as though he were fleeing.

After Zhao Wenyuan had inexplicably found a spine overnight, he’d actually become capable of pulling rank properly, even before Housekeeper Wang, whose presence alone used to cause him to deflate. The reticence had also faded, and Zhao Wenyuan started making frequent requests, much to the servants’ delight, as he was a generous tipper. But the strangeness of the interactions persisted. For one, who on earth would ride in the same carriage as their servant? And then there were the overly generous contracts. Any other servant would’ve delighted in their luck to be working for someone so easygoing, but it only put Qu Boyong ill at ease.

The letter didn’t help. It was a written notice stamped with Zhao Wenyuan’s personal seal, sufficient evidence to spare a servant from sharing their employer’s fate, even if the punishment was clan extermination to the ninth degree. That typically implicated the servants for indentured servitude or exile at the very least.

Reluctantly, Qu Boyong opened the pouch of money as well. It was the exact amount promised in the letter, and there were no spells or tricks that he could notice. As the coins clattered onto the table, a small piece of folded paper fell out. Qu Boyong hesitated, not sure if this was the final trap. The magic detection talisman didn’t go off, and there didn’t seem to be any poison powders or needles inside.

He opened the paper slip. A shorter message was written on it, in a much tinier and messier script.

I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but get out of the capital and stay out. There is no honor or glory to be had in the coming fight. If you want to restore your family’s reputation, wait it out and make your move afterward.

A shudder of coldness went down his spine, spreading into his ribcage and veins. For the first time, Qu Boyong was actually afraid of Zhao Wenyuan. Just what is that guy trying to do?

Qu Boyong had an instinctive feeling at that moment that he had been careless in approaching the Zhao heir. The rumors and Qu Boyong’s betrayal were meant to throw off Zhao Wenyuan’s plans and tie him down while they moved forward with the plan, but the letters didn’t give off any sense of outrage or unease on the Zhao heir’s part. It could just be a bluff, Qu Boyong knew that Zhao Wenyuan was good enough at pretending to have the upper hand, but something about Hu Qing’s amused self-assurance and Zhao Wenyuan’s letter threw him off.

He glanced around the house, composing himself as he took in his options. It was time to change bases, and definitely time to revise the plan.

Having rushed over to her second meeting of the day, Kayla wearily chugged almost half a kettle of the strongest tea she could convince the server to brew while waiting for Li Que and Tabuyir to show up. The meeting took place inside one of the offices of the Imperial Investigator Bureau’s affiliated buildings. It was official business, but technically not Bureau business, so the meeting couldn’t be held within the Bureau headquarters. The other unspoken reason was the extensive internal investigation being conducted at the headquarters.

Kayla smiled in greeting at the two senior Imperial Investigators when they entered the room.

“Investigator Li, Investigator Tabuyir, thank you for joining me today.”

The two greeted her before sitting down at the table. Tabuyir subtly exchanged a glance with Li Que. The Zhao heir had noticeably lost weight since their first meeting, or even the last time they’d seen him, which aligned with the general consensus of the court that Zhao Wenyuan’s ruin was imminent. Once the man crumbled under the pressure, the palace would mercilessly withdraw its backing. For someone who most of the court had known as a meek and unimposing coward for several years before suddenly and inexplicably growing a spine, Zhao Wenyuan had lasted surprisingly long already. Kayla didn’t take note of the look the investigators shared, already focused on the task at hand.

Li Que and Tabuyir gave Kayla a quick rundown of their findings, eagerly launching into their summary to avoid any mention of the assassination attempt or the internal investigation of the Imperial Investigation Bureau. Their investigation of the Ministry of Justice did not inspire confidence in the institution, revealing a deeply corrupt staff that should have been completely replaced years ago. As disastrous as it was for the Ministry itself, it was an excellent opportunity for Kayla. The palace had already given its word–Kayla had explicit permission to grab up seats without concern for the princes.

From what Kayla had discerned from the Empress Dowager’s words, the throne’s intention was that Kayla needed to have firm control over the neutral faction. The neutral faction was primarily composed of two types of people; loyalists who supported the Emperor alone, and cowards who were too indecisive to throw their support behind the Grand Duke or one of the princes.

Loyalists were further divided into two different groups. There were the conservatives who went by the book, supporting the Emperor because that’s what an official was meant to do. Hu Weizhi, the Minister of Public Works who had been neutral since becoming an official, counted among this group. On the other hand, there was the tiny group that had emerged with Kayla’s political ascent, strongly guided by the hand of the Empress Dowager. It didn’t have any ideology or guiding philosophy, but if the Empress Dowager was allowing Kayla to choose, then she probably also expected Kayla to shape the development of the faction as well.

“Well, Investigators, what would you recommend?” Kayla asked.

Tabuyir and Li Que glanced at each other before Tabuyir began to speak.

“Minister, there are a lot of positions in the Ministry of Justice that need to be refilled, but perhaps the most important ones are the position of Left Secretariat, as well as three of the Bureau Directors. For those, their compatibility with Minister Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang are also very important factors,” Tabuyir said.

Kayla nodded. “Indeed, the position of Left Secretariat is the one that requires the most care then, since they’ll be seeing each other every single day for hours on end. I remember having some difficulties adjusting to that role at first, someone who deals well with stress and has experience working in both an administrative and investigative capacity would probably be more suitable.”

Sun Ruhui fit that description perfectly, but he wasn’t alone in that category. Kayla badly wanted to drop a more obvious hint that she wanted Sun Ruhui in the seat, but refrained for fear of seeming too eager.

“Minister, do you mind if we speak plainly on this issue?” Li Que jumped in.

“Of course, I’d be grateful for your advice,” Kayla replied.

“The Left Secretariat should be someone who answers directly to you if he is to fight on equal footing with Minister Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang,” Li Que suggested. “And Minister, you need to have more sway over your own people as well. Even if the neutral faction has the direct support of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, it still requires cohesiveness to act efficiently in the long run.”

“It is as Investigator Li says,” Tabuyir chimed in. “It would be to the detriment of the neutral faction if it were seen as disorganized. If I may make a suggestion, I would recommend Chamberlain Sun Ruhui as Left Secretariat of Justice.”

Kayla barely kept herself from smiling. That’s exactly what I needed.

“I have no concerns about Sun Ruhui’s abilities, but I am concerned that this wouldn’t be taken well,” Kayla replied. “After all, he is someone I raised up from the provincial level, I’m afraid his peers will be biased against him and fail to see his true worth.”

Even if the result was exactly what she was hoping for, she needed to feign concern and hesitation. Sun Ruhui would be just fine, as steady and assuring as he appeared, the man was more than capable of handling the conniving old codgers at the Ministry of Justice.

Everyone tacitly understood Kayla’s words as insincere, but it was a necessary part of the process. While no person would want to refuse something beneficial for them, accepting it too eagerly put your character into question, especially in a delicate political situation like this. Kayla was always a little worried that she would run into someone who took her “concerns” at face value and run with it, but she also couldn’t afford not to go through the process when the Empress Dowager was breathing down her neck.

To her relief, the feared scenario did not come to pass. Both the Investigators hadn’t just risen in rank because of their investigative and administrative skills, but also their ability to suitably understand and react to the hidden meaning behind people’s words.

“Your concerns are well heeded, Minister. Chamberlain Sun is lucky to have a superior who cherishes his talents and is so concerned for his wellbeing. However, his transfer to the capital was approved by both the Emperor and the Minister of Personnel, and that will also be the case for this promotion. Even if someone takes issue with his qualifications, how can they question the judgment of His Majesty?” Li Que said.

Kayla nodded, pretending to be assured. “You’re right, Investigator Li. Thank you for enlightening me while I’ve been bogged down by foolish concerns. Chamberlain Sun is a talent acknowledged by the Emperor himself, surely his peers will also keep that in mind.”

“It is as you say, Minister. Then with your approval, we will proceed with Chamberlain Sun,” Li Que offered. Kayla understood that the offer wasn’t to be taken at face value and that Li Que was only offering an expedited pathway out of courtesy.

“Thank you, Investigator Li, but that surely would be too much trouble. How can he be appointed without going through a proper selection process? At the very least, the other candidates deserve fair consideration,” Kayla said, having no intention of allowing anyone else to be fairly considered.

“The Minister is more far-sighted than I am, this subordinate is deeply regretful for his inadequacies,” Li Que replied, not at all regretful. “We have the profiles of the other candidates as well, would it be more suitable for the Minister to take a list and compile the final list of potential appointees for the Ministry of Personnel? We will be happy to forward it on your behalf.”

“Not at all, Investigator Li is too humble. I’m grateful for your thoughtful preparations and will happily follow your advice,” Kayla replied. It was impossible for the Ministry of Personnel to choose anyone else if a list with Sun Ruhui’s name on top came directly from the Investigator’s Bureau. Everyone who made it to the top managed to stay there due to their wits and ability to understand the nuances of the political situation, and anyone who had eyes would be able to tell what the situation was once the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau got involved.

The neutral faction is taking control of the judicial system, with full backing from the throne…what can the Ministry of Personnel do other than comply?

“I will admit, it will be difficult for me to lose such a capable subordinate, though I am happy for Sun Ruhui,” Kayla said, her voice filled with faux regret. She’d gotten Sun Ruhui his seat, and now she needed an excuse to promote Chen Caichun.

“Minister, if I remember correctly, the younger sister of Investigator Chen serves as a Case Reviewer, does she not?” Tabuyir asked. As Li Que was Chen Jian’s direct superior, he couldn’t be the one to make the suggestion without a conflict of interest.

“Indeed, she is extremely talented. She is calm and steadfast despite her young age, she’s sure to do great things in the future,” Kayla agreed.

“That girl was well known as a scribe, and now has a spotless reputation as an official despite being the only female civil official, perhaps she could be a suitable replacement for Chamberlain Sun,” Tabuyir suggested. “Not only would it pave a path for her future success, but it would also serve the Minister well to have fresh blood closer at his side. A young official suits a young institution.”

And there it was, a perfect excuse to use Chen Caichun rather than someone more experienced.

“You make a good point, Investigator. You have more experience in the court than I do, so I’ll humbly follow your advice,” Kayla replied.

Having settled the issue of Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun, the conversation moved on to the remaining personnel choices. It would take incredible effort to swell the ranks of the neutral faction with officials from the capital, including extensive background checks and making sure to raise a better offer than anyone else might. The best solution was simply to import officials from the provinces.

Both Li Que and Tabuyir were skilled and experienced, and the matters were quickly wrapped up.

“Another thing, Minister. Have you heard of the negotiations with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate?” Tabuyir asked as the discussion winded down.

He must have new information to share.

“I have, I believe we’re sending the daughter of an Archduke for a political marriage?” Kayla replied.

“Indeed, that is what has been decided upon. In addition to sending a princess, it seems that there are ongoing negotiations about welcoming a princess to the Wu Dynasty as well,” Tabuyir explained. “Currently, the marriage candidate from the Eastern Turkic Khaganate is the second-youngest daughter of the Khagan, while you are to be her husband.”

Kayla wavered, not sure what to say in response. She'd gotten a heads up long enough ago, and it wasn't as though she could refuse.

“I trust in the Emperor’s decisions,” Kayla finally replied. “How old is this princess?”

“She’s eighteen this year, but she’ll be nineteen in three months,” Tabuyir said.

“That is young,” Kayla said in surprise. “How old is my cousin again?”

“Princess Chengxia is twenty,” Li Que replied. “Minister, is there a problem with the princess’ age?”

Kayla shook her head. “It’s just…the Eastern Turkic Princess is six years younger than me, isn’t she? I was a little surprised is all.”

Eighteen was basically a college freshman. Kayla felt a rush of sympathy for the girl, who likely had as little choice as Kayla did in the matter, if not even less. At least Kayla would benefit from the union, but the princess had little to gain.

“She’s at a suitable age for marriage, though the Minister will have to be a bit more patient and indulgent with her due to her age and status,” Tabuyir said, his voice tinged with sympathy that seemed to be directed more at Kayla than the princess in question.

“That’s fine,” Kayla sighed. “What’s the timeline on that?”

“While both sides have agreed, some details in the peace agreement are still being hammered out. But if everything goes well, the political marriages will proceed as planned after the princess’ nineteenth birthday, while Princess Chengxia will depart for the Khaganate shortly before that,” Tabuyir replied.

Holy shit, in three months?! Kayla instinctively panicked, but quickly forced herself to calm down. Three months was a long time, and a lot of things could happen in the meanwhile. The fact that it was even taking place this quickly said a lot about the urgency of the diplomatic situation, as well as the determination of both sides to proceed regardless of their pro-war factions.

“When will it be announced?” Kayla asked.

“Within a month,” Tabuyir replied.

Kayla hesitated for a moment, mulling it over. “And the rumors flying around right now, would they impact the arrangements in any way?”

“The rumors won’t make it out of the capital,” Tabuyir said confidently. “But if the Minister has any ways to quiet them, then please feel free to go ahead.”

So he wants me to handle it so they won’t have to work overtime, that’s not unreasonable. Kayla grimaced a little as she remembered the solution, hiding her expression with her teacup.

“Of course, I’m deeply aggrieved to have my reputation smeared in this manner,” Kayla sighed. The palace and the Bureau probably already knew whatever they needed to know about the veracity of the rumors at this point, but no one would dare to bring up Liu Hongyu to Kayla now that the situation had become such a mess.

“I do understand, however, that my peers easily misunderstand me because we do not share the same forms of entertainment outside of work. I have always shied away from lively and crowded places, but it wouldn’t do to debase my coworkers by allowing them to unknowingly engage in slander. I have decided to push myself out of my comfort zone in the coming days and reduce the rumors by visiting the entertainment district,” she said calmly.

In other words, it was absolutely their fault that Kayla was forced to do this, and she was in fact extremely righteous for protecting them from themselves. The last thing Kayla needed was to try and clear the rumors only to have the palace start breathing down her neck about proper conduct and the like. It wasn't all that likely but wasn't unlikely either, given that she had a golden plaque.

It certainly didn’t help that the three princes were ridiculously ascetic for such powerful men in a time period where having multiple concubines was extremely common. Xianchun hadn't started to collect a large harem and had no wife or concubines yet, Yunqi still remained single after losing his wife, and Kuang only had his single wife and a deceased concubine who had been the daughter of his nursing maid. In comparison, Wenyuan had already been marred by his bloodline, his obedience to the Grand Duke, and what Kayla’s modern perspective understood to be depression and alcoholism. Being a playboy certainly wasn’t something Kayla wanted to add to the list.

“This one is impressed by the Minister’s gracious attitude towards his coworkers, I hope that your endeavors will result in a greater understanding between the officials of the court,” Li Que replied politely, as though Kayla hadn’t just used a ridiculous amount of moral posturing to announce she was going to a brothel.

Satisfied with his response, Kayla allowed the conversation to flow on to less significant matters, hammering out minor details before the meeting drew to an end. She’d gotten the answers she needed, and the Investigators had confirmed whatever it was they were checking on.

Kayla was also acutely aware that Sir Yang had entered the adjacent room at the start of the conversation, listening in through the thin walls. The elderly eunuch had given Kayla space to speak privately with Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui, who were likely deemed relatively insignificant cogs in the greater machinery of the court, but the Bureau was a different matter. The golden plaque inside her robes felt unusually heavy as Kayla got up at the end of the conversation. It weighed down the silk layers, a constant reminder of the palace's heavy expectations and the eyes on her every move.

65-The Traditionalists

Back in the Zhao household, Hu Qing sprawled over Kayla’s couch as though he owned the place, eating snacks that Kayla had asked him to buy off a plate that had been used as a decoration until about ten minutes ago. He had yet to report on the situation with Qu Boyong, waiting for Kayla to finish her current task first.

Kayla mostly ignored him as she read through the candidate profiles for the Ministry of Justice, silently figuring out legitimate reasons to reject everyone but Sun Ruhui for the position of Left Secretariat of Justice. She had decided that she didn’t really mind Hu Qing’s antics, it reminded her of living in a dorm again, one of the few periods in her life she hadn’t felt suffocated or isolated. The only thing bothering her was that Hu Qing kept humming fragments of different songs in quick succession.

“Could you stick to one song?” Kayla asked.

“Oh, you noticed,” Hu Qing said with a grin. “I was wondering how long it would take you to realize, but you caught on pretty fast.”

Kayla shook her head in exasperation, resigned to letting Hu Qing amuse himself at her expense. “I’m basically done with these for now, tell me about how it went with Qu Boyong.”

Hu Qing shifted into a more formal posture, removing his leg from where it draped over the armrest. “Alright, prepare to be amazed. You’d be surprised at how much I managed to squeeze out of him, an annoying man can get far more information out of someone than an intimidating man could ever hope for,” Hu Qing said smugly.

“I’d bet,” Kayla replied drily. She suspected Hu Qing’s demeanor was constructed in part to anger people into giving themselves away, and in part because he genuinely thrived off of drama and chaos.

Hu Qing gestured with a flourish in the vague direction of the abandoned Xiang household.

“He lives ridiculously close to your house, did you know that? Almost creepily close, I'd almost think he was obsessed with the Zhao clan. He lives alone in the abandoned area near the former Xiang household, and he has a pretty big house. I thought it was strange he would choose to live in this kind of neighborhood, he doesn’t have parents or a wife, wouldn’t it be much better for him to live in a smaller house in a better neighborhood? Especially with that backstory he gave you, if he wants to restore his clan’s honor or whatever, he needs connections. Where the hell is he going to get connections like this? He doesn’t have friends among his coworkers, he doesn’t have neighbors, he doesn’t even visit the entertainment districts.”

“Huh,” Kayla muttered. I wonder if it’s because of the scheduling issues? But still, he’s been living in that neighborhood even before he became my employee, he said as much himself.

Hu Qing belatedly realized the part about entertainment districts applied to Kayla as well but blithely pushed it aside.

“He doesn’t need such a large house for himself, so there must be other people who come by often. But who? I noticed signs of other people crossing the rooftops in his area, someone who usually takes the same route and is skilled enough not to leave scuff marks or break any roof tiles. From the way the dirt is settled unevenly, I’d say it’s probably a man or an unusually tall and heavy woman.”

Kayla’s frown deepened at that, her mind flashing to the internal investigation at the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau. “Could you tell if it’s someone in your trade or an Imperial Investigator?”

Hu Qing shrugged. “Imperial Investigators are trained to move in a way that minimizes any potential disturbances or property damage, but they’re strictly prohibited from moonlighting, so it's not that likely. Then again, there aren’t that many people in my trade who are that skilled, or at least, there aren’t that many who aren’t already dead or in jail. It’s hard to say, I really can't tell.”

Fair enough, this isn’t CSI. Kayla nodded for Hu Qing to continue.

Hu Qing slumped back into his lazy sprawl, having given up on maintaining a semi-proper posture within minutes. “Also, when I gave him the letter, he said a few interesting things. He said that he didn’t spread the rumors for money, but because he had to. And what does that mean? It means he’s got a plot of his own! Not great news for you, but definitely very interesting. And he kept going on about the Zhao family being a sinking ship, which, I mean, we all know that this clan’s going to go down soon. No offense, Minister.”

“None taken,” Kayla said drily. “I’m the one who’s literally getting paid to ensure its downfall.”

Hu Qing leaned forward with a delighted grin. “And there’s the problem–Qu Boyong seems quite certain that you’d also be going down with the Zhao clan, even though that doesn’t make sense. Sure, the Empress Dowager might be fine throwing you around like a piece of dried fish, but as long as you somehow manage to survive to remove the Grand Duke from power, you’re certain to end up in a comfortable position. These rumors flying around also aren’t enough to ruin you, they’re not even enough to prevent your marriage. So why was he so sure? Does he know something, or is he planning something? I’d say it’s the latter, his eyes had the look of a hungry man to them, he’s not just going with the flow here.”

Kayla’s eyes narrowed as she took in the implications of that. “Interesting.”

Hu Qing’s way more observant than I’d thought at first, she noted to herself. But more importantly, what the fuck is up with Qu Boyong? Given how skilled he is, I might really be in trouble if he’s got something up his sleeve.

“But here’s some good news, your understanding of him is way better than his understanding of you. Remember when you were first recruiting me and I broke into your house to vent?” Hu Qing asked.

“I’d prefer you didn’t implicate yourself for a crime so soon after joining my staff,” Kayla shot back. “Can’t you just call it a visit instead of breaking and entering?”

“Whatever, the details don’t matter. You said that Qu Boyong was prideful in a way that you couldn’t quite put your finger on, you were completely right about that. He doesn’t mind blackmailing people or spreading rumors, but he dislikes it when people forget their place and fail to show proper respect–other people, mind you, he doesn’t consider himself subject to that, he manages to think of himself as righteous no matter what he does. I’d bet that he’s from a noble family, it would be the most reasonable explanation for his hypocrisy,” Hu Qing said.

“A fallen noble family? That’s also a possibility,” Kayla thought back to the many families whose demise the Grand Duke had been involved in and felt an uncomfortable tingle at the base of her skull.

“If he’s trying to clear the name of a noble family who was falsely accused, to restore his own household, he’ll have to get rid of the ones standing in the way first. Looking at it all together, isn’t it very likely that he’s targeting the Zhao clan?” Hu Qing suggested.

“That’s a bit of a leap,” Kayla said weakly, despite realizing that it seemed to be the likeliest scenario. The house in a ghost neighborhood right next to the Zhao household, the potential noble lineage, and now the rumors, all of it seemed to be directed against the Zhao clan.

“It may seem like that to you since your work actually requires evidence. But in my line of work, you have to be able to put together someone’s intentions from the bare minimum amount of clues and act before they do. Qu Boyong’s situation is raising every possible alarm, he’s not even being subtle anymore,” Hu Qing said sympathetically. “I’m surprised the Imperial Investigators didn’t figure that out about him.”

Kayla covered her face with her hands, letting out another sigh.

So it’s revenge, isn’t it? It seems that the Grand Duke’s sins condemn me once again.

Whether it was Xianchun, Qu Boyong, or anyone else, the changes Kayla had made still weren’t enough to draw a clear line between herself and the Grand Duke. A sense of despair began to curdle in her stomach.

What am I even doing? No matter how much effort I make, everything is over for me once the Grand Duke is destroyed. They’re all happy to benefit from my fight with the Grand Duke, but even if I win, will I be spared?

It was a suspicion that had been nagging at her for a long time, but Kayla felt increasingly certain that she was really just a chess piece for the palace, one that would be disposed of once it was no longer useful. None of the princes would risk themselves to help her either, they’d gain no benefit by doing so.

“Minister,” Hu Qing called out to her. Kayla jolted to attention.

“Apologies, I was just…ruminating on the situation,” Kayla said stiffly.

Hu Qing frowned at the look on Kayla’s face. “Do you want me to just go and off Qu Boyong after all? I wouldn’t mind doing it, but I might need some backup.”

Kayla hastily shook her head before she could properly think it through, but Hu Qing only smiled in amusement at the reaction.

“Well, cheer up a little, Minister. That guy doesn’t seem to have too good a grasp on your character, he was probably too busy plotting revenge,” Hu Qing said easily.

“That doesn’t exactly bode well, do you know how much information he could’ve collected at my side?” Kayla said, grimacing in frustration. Qu Boyong was extremely clever, just like all her other opponents. Just how much more complicated could the battlefield get? She already had her hands full with everything going on.

“Come on now, Minister. Despite everything, the heavens favor you. The look of despair better suits a lesser man,” Hu Qing scoffed. “They say that to know yourself and know your enemy is the fundamental secret to winning a battle, and you’ve already won in that regard. And no matter what, you’re a Minister of the court while Qu Boyong’s just a servant who’s betrayed his master. If it’s an assassination you’re worried about, you’re paying me to worry about that. If you suspect him of some plot or conspiracy, then can he really best you in a battle of wits?”

Kayla paused for a moment, considering Hu Qing’s words.

“You have a point,” Kayla said. “Rather than worrying about Qu Boyong, there are more important matters at hand. I’m visiting the entertainment districts tomorrow night, could you arrange that for me?”

Hu Qing blinked in surprise at the sudden swerve in direction but accepted the order without question.

“Also, see what you can find out about Qu Boyong. Let’s just assume for now that he’s from a fallen noble house whose demise has to do with the Zhao clan, it should narrow things down a bit. Admittedly, it wouldn't narrow it down by much, but still,” Kayla said. “If he’s confident enough to act against me so boldly, he must have some resources at his disposal. I doubt he’s just from a nameless clan, so let's proceed with that in mind.”

Hu Qing nodded, looking abnormally excited at the idea of digging up dirt on the other man. Looking at the malicious glee on Hu Qing’s face with exasperation, Kayla could feel the leaden weight of immobility lifting from her body as she turned back to her work.

The following day, Kayla was swamped with work. The sun was beginning to set when Kayla finally took a break. She’d been working in the early morning, finally back in her office in the Court of Judicial Review. Kayla had closed her office door to block out her distracting subordinates, who had been incessantly craning their necks to stare at her while whispering amongst themselves about the rumors.

Holding herself back from actively snapping at them, Kayla had politely and firmly told her staff to either focus on their work rather than whatever it was that evidently held their rapt attention, or take an unpaid holiday to get it out of their system. That had the effect of dropping the entire floor into complete silence but didn't make the atmosphere any less stifling.

Kayla rolled her shoulders, wincing as her bones made a crackling noise. Chen Caichun had been tasked with drafting the letter to the Sixth Princess about Captain Jiang Jing in Kayla’s stead, given the young woman’s talents with the written word, and Kayla had no doubts that it would have the desired effect once received by the Sixth Princess.

The personnel list for the Ministry of Justice had also been finalized and would be forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel by the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau. It had taken almost the entire night and left Kayla with only two hours to sleep, but it was worth it. The final arrangements would more or less give Kayla control over the Ministry of Justice.

If all went well, Sun Ruhui would become the new Left Secretariat, and three of the four Directors of the Bureaus within the Ministry of Justice would be officials directly promoted from the provinces. It would have taken them years of tireless effort to get into those positions without Kayla’s help, so they would owe her from the very onset. And with limited connections in the capital, they could only rely on Kayla from hereon. The same applied to most of the other replacements Kayla had decided on. She would effectively be the patron of a good chunk of the Ministry of Justice, wrenching hold of the Ministry from Xianchun into her own hands.

Kayla was a little worried about insulting Xianchun, but it wasn’t as though she could win him over to begin with. Rather than hold back at her own expense, it made much more sense to simply increase her own power and deal with him on equal footing. If he confronted her, she would simply shift the blame to the Empress Dowager.

I need to be in a strong position to save myself if the Empress Dowager can’t help me. But to actually be able to hold my own against the rest of the court, I need to gain control over the neutral faction.

Kayla frowned as she glanced at the list of names on her desk. As of now, she was only a figurehead for the neutral faction. Most of her subordinates had few foundations in court or the capital and lacked the connections needed to actually make things happen. The members of the neutral faction who had those connections didn’t answer to her, and Kayla knew that they viewed her in a rather negative light.

Given how traditional they are, the rumors probably don’t help. Even if I take Caichun’s advice and go to the entertainment quarters, that wouldn’t appease them in the slightest.

That didn’t mean she wouldn’t go, not after having announced it to the Imperial Investigators. It only made her life a little more difficult, and Kayla already felt woefully unprepared for her meeting with Minister Hu Weizhi later in the evening. At least the man had readily agreed to meet with only a day’s notice, showing that he still held Kayla in some regard, even if it were out of respect for the throne’s wishes to make her the neutral faction’s figurehead.

A secretary knocked on the office door, entering to deliver a note.

“Excuse me, Minister. A letter from Minister Hu,” the secretary bowed quickly before stepping outside the office to wait for Kayla’s letter of reply.

It was only a politely worded notice that he wanted to change their meeting location from a private room in a restaurant to a more secluded teahouse, but Kayla was immediately put on edge by it.

Why did he suddenly change the location? The restaurant had security and privacy measures that Hu Qing had been sent to ensure, but the teahouse would be out of her hands.

It looks like our discussion will have an audience after all. Kayla pushed down a twinge of irritation and wrote a letter of acceptance, handing it off to the secretary.

The rest of the evening flew past while Kayla was bogged down in paperwork, completing the final touches that would allow the Court of Judicial Review to start actively launching investigations and interfering with whatever case they wanted to. Chen Caichun had to actively herd Kayla out of the office to make it in time for the meeting.

The teahouse was located a good distance away from the government buildings, in a quiet corner of the city. Hu Qing had already arrived at the teahouse and came to greet her at the entrance.

“Hu Qing, what’s the situation?” Kayla asked in a quiet voice.

“First of all, Minister Hu is a bastard! I was hitting it off with the restaurant manager when he just had to go and change the location-” Hu Qing began to launch into a rant, and Kayla hastily stopped him.

“We can go there another time, focus on the situation here,” Kayla urged him. Hu Qing smiled, looking appeased.

“Well, they’re trying to act like there aren’t any customers, but several of the traditionalists entered in what they must have thought was a discreet manner. They really weren’t, but it’s cute that they tried,” Hu Qing replied. “Guess your conversation won’t be so private after all.”

“Damn it,” Kayla groaned. “Well, at least it spares me the trouble of tracking them down one by one.”

“Are you good at giving speeches, Minister?” Hu Qing asked.

“No, I wish,” Kayla sighed.

Hu Qing heaved a sigh in return, giving Kayla a look that dripped with pity and amusement. Ignoring him, Kayla entered the teahouse. A server guided Kayla to the private meeting room. She did not miss the fact that it was sandwiched by two larger rooms and that the walls were very thin.

“This junior greets Minister Hu,” Kayla said politely as she entered the room.

“Minister Zhao, it is excellent to see you again,” Hu Weizhi replied blandly, not looking pleased to be here. He was a plain-looking man, with creases on his forehead from constantly wearing a disapproving frown. From what Kayla had heard from Consort Zhao, Hu Weizhi’s daughter had inherited her father’s looks and predisposition for frowning, part of the reason why she remained unfavored in the harem.

“Thank you for joining me here tonight, Minister Hu. I’m honored by your presence,” Kayla said.

“Not at all, I must thank you for inviting me. But from what I’ve heard, Minister Zhao is not in the habit of entertaining guests or senior officials except in private settings, to what do I owe the honor of your invitation?” Hu Weizhi asked. Kayla ignored the jab at the rumors surrounding Wenyuan and offered a pleasant smile.

“I apologize for my negligence in failing to show the appropriate respect to a senior official such as yourself, Minister Hu. It is my hope to remedy my previous failings towards you and the other more experienced officials of the court. This junior is inexperienced and fraught with the stupidity of youth, and would humbly seek your advice in going forward,” Kayla replied, offering a roundabout apology for having usurped his de facto position as the leader of the neutral officials in court.

“How dare someone like me offer advice to an esteemed personage such as yourself? Minister Zhao is the shining star of the court, having the Emperor’s favor and the palace’s support. Someone such as myself could only hope to avoid causing you trouble by standing to the side,” Hu Weizhi coldly rebuffed her.

Kayla slowly took in a deep breath, hoping that her smile didn’t look too strained.

“Please, Minister Hu, your words are much too kind. I have only gotten so far thanks to the benevolence of His Majesty the Emperor, where would I be without the experience and wisdom of officials such as yourself?” Kayla asked, throwing the Emperor at him without hesitation. Wenyuan had only become a fourth-rank official so quickly due to nepotism, and Kayla had only become a third-rank official because the political situation required it. There was no point in denying how she’d gotten where she was.

“His Majesty the Emperor is infinite in his grace and benevolence, but the kindness of such a ruler may be twisted by self-serving men. As someone whose judgment can’t compare to the Emperor, I don’t dare to carelessly agree,” Hu Weizhi shot back.

So he's definitely going to be a problem, Kayla held back a groan. She had expected that the traditionalists wouldn’t be pleased with Wenyuan’s upwards trajectory in court, but she had hoped they would be satisfied so long as the neutral faction was also ascendant.

It seems like I was too optimistic.

“That’s exactly why we need a steadfast bulwark such as yourself, Minister Hu. We are all loyal to His Majesty the Emperor, surely we should strive to work together in this regard,” Kayla said.

Hu Weizhi scoffed, openly laughing in Kayla’s face. “And this coming from someone who not only dishonors himself but also the reputation of his Emperor, who has shown ceaseless care and support for him?”

Kayla’s polite smile completely faded. “Forgive me for my lack of comprehension, but what exactly does Minister Hu refer to?”

Hu Weizhi shook his head, giving a characteristic frown. “The sordid details of your private affairs have swept through the entire city by now, if it’s truly experience and advice that you seek from me, then let me say this. It would be better for you to step down yourself than to force the Emperor to remove you from your position, it’s only a matter of time, and you’d do well to spare yourself and the Emperor the humiliation.”

Kayla carefully kept her face blank. “Those are only rumors and falsehoods, what have I to be concerned about? Minister, surely a man as clever as yourself wouldn’t be fooled by them so easily.”

“Only rumors? An empty cave invites the wind, even the most outrageous rumors are based on the truth,” Hu Weizhi replied. “The Emperor has placed his faith in you to head the neutral faction, but your tattered reputation reflects poorly on all of us. If you had any self-awareness or shame, you would step down rather than continue to disgrace us.”

“Those rumors will dissipate soon,” Kayla cut in before Hu Weizhi could launch into a lecture. “I understand your concerns, Minister, but there is no need to fear. Fire without kindling cannot burn for long. Just as quickly as the rumors have begun, they will die down, I can assure you of this.” She couldn’t, but she wasn't going to admit that.

“That’s excellent to hear,” Hu Weizhi said, not at all sounding pleased. “But if Minister Zhao believes that enough to gain my approval as the head of the neutral faction, I must disappoint you.”

Kayla resumed her polite smile. So he wants a deal, at least we’re getting somewhere. Does he want a seat in the Ministry of Justice for someone in his family?

“Of course not, Minister Hu. I’ll be relying heavily on your support and advice, it would be uncouth of me to be reticent in my gratitude,” Kayla replied smoothly.

Hu Weizhi’s frown deepened even further. “You misunderstand me, Minister Zhao. I speak of your fundamental unsuitability.”

Kayla had to physically strain to keep her smile on. “I must plead my ignorance, Minister. Would you care to enlighten this foolish one?”

“The neutral faction has long followed the Emperor’s will and held ourselves to the morals of our forbearers. Of all virtues, filial piety is first. Minister Zhao may have succeeded in terms of loyalty, but you have turned your back on your forefathers, or so they say,” Hu Weizhi said.

Kayla gritted her teeth. In the end, it’s still about vying for leadership. He had no intention of accepting from the start, did he? Damn it, if I can’t bring him to heel, I’ll have to deal with all of the others one by one! If he disagrees, everyone else listening in right now will probably refuse, and where does that leave me?

Minister Hu comes from a family of Hanlin Academy scholars specializing in Confucianism, Wenyuan warned her. He had become even moodier and prone to silence after visiting the Imperial Princess’ villa, to the point where Kayla had worried if his soul was finally beginning to be absorbed by her own. Kayla blinked in surprise at his sudden vocalness but gratefully accepted his information with no small modicum of relief.

That's good to know, I'll keep that in mind, she thanked him.

He’ll definitely have a lot of arguments in his armory, wouldn’t it be better to back down for now and come back more prepared? We’re setting ourselves up for a tongue-lashing, Wenyuan pointed out. Kayla agreed with his observation, but she had no choice but the push forward when the core members of the traditionalist faction were probably listening in, eager for drama.

As tempting as that is, I can’t, not right now. If you cannot force through in one strike, you’ll lose strength with the second blow. This must be about either ideology or benefits, I just have to figure out which one it is. If it’s ideology, then it might be a bit difficult if he really thinks this way. But if it’s about what benefits he can get, then we can just strike a deal. I’m from a late-stage capitalist society, people from my era are uniquely suited for making political deals for personal gain.

“Then what do the traditionalists believe would be a suitable course of action?” Kayla asked.

“It has been said that if a father steals a sheep, it would be suitable for a son to cover the father’s crime. For a father to cover for a son and a son to cover for a father, justice lies therein,” Hu Weizhi said. “I have also heard that even for Emperor Shun of ancient ages, if his father were to commit a crime, he would take his father and flee the country, abandoning his power and prestige as an emperor. Minister Zhao, you are young and have a strong sense of justice, but it is unsuitable to wholly forget the basic tenets of humanity. Rather than strike at your own grandfather, it would have been more suitable to retreat into seclusion.”

“You raise some good examples, Minister Hu. I am reluctant to directly counter the words of great men. But if I recall correctly, Confucius’ original words were that if the country were righteous and principled, one should seek to serve the country, and if the country was not righteous and principled, then one should live in seclusion. Do you mean to say that our current Emperor rules over a country that is neither righteous nor principled? I should remind you that Confucius also said that to be poor in a righteous country is shameful, just as it is shameful to be rich and powerful in an unprincipled country,” Kayla retorted.

Hu Weizhi grimaced. “That and this are two separate issues, Confucius stated that to achieve peace and prosperity in a country, one must first properly unite and govern one’s family-your situation lies on this level, and not on the level of the country. To be led by a man known for his unfilial behavior would tarnish the reputations of the literati, both in this generation and for generations to come.”

“I see that you are a man who values your reputation, Minister Hu. But where you may succeed, you only do so through inaction. You hold power, but you would rather use it to protect yourself rather than protect your ruler and your people, how can that possibly be a virtue? You hold knowledge, but you only use it to criticize without creating change, how can that be wisdom? The future generations will not thank you for the blood on your hands,” Kayla argued. The neutral faction in the original timeline had been more or less inactive throughout, and Kayla was beginning to see why after speaking with Hu Weizhi.

“It may be true that Emperor Shun would’ve chosen to abandon his country rather than his father, but perhaps that is because he is a ruler. A single murder would not shake the foundations of the country, but if Emperor Shun violates his own laws or condemns his own father, it would be a bad example for his people. The best thing he could do for both country and family is to run and preserve both the sanctity of the law and the morals of filial piety. And indeed, justice may lie within the duty of fathers and sons to cover for each other, but that is for the common people, where the reach of the law is superseded by the reach of morals,” Kayla ranted on.

She had no idea if the classic scholars would agree with her interpretation, nor did she care. “Stealing a sheep is not a crime that will rot the foundations of the dynasty, but corruption is. Not to mention, unlike Emperor Shun or the people Confucius spoke of, we are officials. We hold an in-between position that demands we serve both our ruler and his people-whatever their needs, we are obliged to sacrifice as it demands. Whether that requires turning against one’s kin or allowing one’s reputation to come to ruin, we must subordinate ourselves to our duty. I have chosen to prioritize the country’s needs over my own reputation. Minister Hu, what will you choose?”

She was all but accusing Hu Weizhi of caring more about his personal reputation than the country now, and he bristled angrily.

“You are resorting to sophistry,” Hu Weizhi protested. “Confucius never specified that he was referring to commoners, nor was that the reason for his emphasis. Even crows know to feed their aging parents, and lambs know to kneel when drinking their mother’s milk. They say that for a man to abandon filial piety is worse than a bird or beast. Officials uphold the law, but also the morals of society. If the upper column is crooked, so too becomes the lower pillars. Our country may require significant political reform, but does that hinge on your participation alone? You may choose to value personal achievements over virtue, but it is unseemly for you to justify your actions using such twisted reasoning.”

Kayla hesitated for a moment. It was true that she had only started on this path to please the Emperor and Empress Dowager to preserve her life, and that was still her primary motivation. But there had never been a neutral faction in the original novel, and it hadn’t existed for good reason.

The entire playing field is different now, and it's because the Emperor and Empress Dowager have a suitable piece to use. Does he really think any of this would be possible if Wenyuan had died?

He might really think that way. He's rather stubborn, but also thinks very highly of himself, Wenyuan warned her. He probably thinks this chance would have appeared regardless of your involvement, and that he was only passed over for leadership because of Uncle's favoritism.

What a troublesome man. But if that's his problem with me, then that makes my job a lot easier, doesn't it? Here I was worried that the Empress Dowager would push me to my death sooner or later, but if I can use the neutral faction as a shield, then she'll also have to think twice about how she uses this chess piece.

Kayla gave Hu Weizhi a smile, baring her teeth in a mockery of politeness. “I must disagree, Minister. The future of the court does in fact hinge on my participation, haven't you noticed?”

66-Ten-Thousand Feet Abyss

Chen Jian was sound asleep, leaning against the shoulder of the Investigator sitting next to him, a junior investigator who he had squabbled with several times before. The waiting room was full of investigators, some pacing, some sitting, and some catching up on paperwork. A board game was going on in a corner, and an Investigator approached to offer An Haoyang an invitation, backing off when he saw that the young Investigator was trapped by the dead weight of Chen Jian on his shoulder.

An Haoyang grit his jaw, fighting the urge to violently fling Chen Jian off, wary of the eyes watching their every move. The internal investigation at the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau had been dragging on for days now. Only senior Investigators were allowed to leave headquarters, and even then, they had to bring tracking talismans and report on what they were doing every half-hour.

It was nerve-wracking, and everyone remaining within headquarters was being carefully scrutinized, their microexpressions and every movement being analyzed in real-time. Someone like Chen Jian would have been moved to the bottom of the list, especially now that he was drooling onto An Haoyang’s shoulder without a care in the world. As annoying as the heavy weight of the other man was, especially given Chen Jian’s naturally high body temperature, he was inadvertently making An Haoyang look less suspicious as well.

An Haoyang had always been as careful as possible, but the longer the investigation dragged on, the higher the risk of being found out. On his shoulder, Chen Jian grunted in his sleep and shifted his weight, not seeming to be concerned about a potential traitor in the Bureau, or concerned about anything for that matter. He almost envied the man’s ability to have such an empty head.

“Inspector Chen Jian, report!” A higher-ranking Investigator called out, his identity as an Internal Inspection Official announced by the fish design on his robes. Chen Jian jolted awake, all but falling out of his seat. He scrabbled to his feet, using An Haoyang’s thigh to push himself upright. He gave An Haoyang a quick apology as the man squawked in protest before blithely following the Internal Inspection Official out of the waiting room.

The Internal Inspection Official gave Chen Jian a look of exasperation as he hid a yawn under his hand.

“Inspector Chen Jian, you certainly seem to be in good spirits,” the Inspection Official said with a mild note of disapproval. Chen Jian caught it but chose to pretend he didn’t. The internal investigation was long overdue in Chen Jian’s opinion, and the more security concerns they managed to dig up and take care of, the better he would sleep at night. Why wouldn’t he be in good spirits?

“It’s been a while since everyone’s been together in headquarters like this,” Chen Jian replied amiably. The Inspection Official gave an imperceptible shake of his head and said nothing further, deeming Chen Jian a lost cause.

“Wait here,” the Inspection Official ordered after leading Chen Jian into a small room. The door shut, and Chen Jian was left alone in what looked to be a vaguely familiar utility closet, with a door that opened into the hall and a door that opened into a meeting room. The last traces of sleep completely cleared away as Chen Jian realized what kind of situation he was in. He wisely left the two doors alone, doing his best to erase his presence as much as he could.

There was the sound of movement in the adjacent room as several sets of footsteps entered. The shuffling soon faded as everyone settled into their chairs. Investigator Li Que’s familiar voice rang out.

“There’s no need to wait for Tabuyir, I’ll brief him afterward,” Li Que said. “Before we begin, we should all take the oath of confidentiality. In the name of the Emperor, with the heavens as my witness, I swear to protect the confidentiality of this information.” There was a vague hum of energy as the magic oath took effect.

The oath was echoed by several voices, and Chen Jian felt a chill run down his spine. He had interacted with each of the occupants in the meeting room to some extent while following Li Que around to all kinds of meetings. It went unspoken, but it was widely acknowledged that Chen Jian was one of the potential successors for Li Que’s current position when the man eventually reached the seat of Director.

Five of the seven top-ranking members of the core staff were present, excluding the Director and Inspector Tabuyir. Chen Jian could make out the voices of the Chief Internal Inspection Officer Ju Wuhui, Senior Investigator Li Que, Senior Inspector Duan Wuxie, Vice-Director Ke Sitao, and Chief Secretariat Shu Wei. This is a high-level meeting, what on earth am I doing here?

“Where are Tabuyir and the Director?” Senior Inspector Duan asked brusquely.

“Tabuyir’s investigating outside the capital right now, I’ll explain in more detail later. The Director was called into the palace by the Emperor, I expect that neither of them will be back anytime soon,” Li Que said patiently. “I’ll inform Tabuyir, sir, could you kindly inform the Director?”

“Certainly,” Vice-Director Ke replied.

“Well, Li Que? I can only assume that your findings are shocking enough to warrant such a high level of caution. Pray do tell, or would you keep us all waiting? I have an internal investigation to lead,” Inspector Ju asked impatiently.

“Of course, I wouldn’t needlessly kick up such a fuss at such a busy time. Investigator Qin Yang, the fifth Inspector who was on duty that night at the Zhao household has been found dead. It seems he had been killed only a few hours after the assassination attempt,” Li Que explained calmly. Senior Investigator Duan gave a grunt, and there were a few whispers of condolences. Qin Yang had been personally trained by Senior Investigator Duan. Even though the young man proved unsuitable for leadership due to his timid personality, his mentor had been exceptionally fond of him.

“What a pity,” Chief Secretariat Shu murmured.

“Indeed, he was a promising young man. We’re still waiting on the coroner’s report, but it seems that he was killed in a single blow from the front that severed his jugular,” Li Que said.

“Killed in a single blow? It shouldn’t be possible for a man of his caliber to be defeated so easily, not unless it was someone he knew,” Inspector Ju pointed out. “Exactly where was his body found and were there any investigators nearby?”

“That’s the issue,” Li Que said, keeping his voice deliberately level. “He was found outside the capital, on the side of a minor road that heads towards Dengzhou. At the time of his death, all of the Investigators in the area were accounted for after reporting for the alarm. He wasn’t wearing the Imperial Investigator’s uniform, but rather a set of commoner’s robes, and he was carrying five hundred silver. All of it was recovered at the site.”

“You suspect that he was trying to flee?” Inspector Ju asked.

“You’d certainly like that, wouldn’t you? It’d make your job easy enough! I trained that man myself, I know his capabilities. Even if he were the mole, he wouldn’t do such a sloppy job,” Senior Investigator Duan snapped.

"Well, he was leaving the capital in the middle of the night with a large amount of money and in cover clothing," Inspector Ju shot back.

“And what of it? Until we have any proof of his disloyalty, this should be treated as a murder case. Li Que, hurry up and spit out the information already. Do we know when he left his post? How far did he get on the road? Did he move by foot or by carriage? Where did he get his gold, and which of his acquaintances do you suspect?” Senior Investigator Duan demanded.

“You’re too impatient, my friend. What Li Que’s pointing to are the political implications this will have, not the actual case itself,” Chief Secretariat Shu pointed out. “Dengzhou is where several Archdukes currently reside, including Archduke Wei and Archduke Qi. You know how the Emperor feels about them, if there is any hint at their involvement, this will become a mess.”

“That’s the court’s problem! Our work is investigating, and I need to know the details,” Senior Investigator Duan insisted.

“Calm down, senior. I wouldn’t withhold any information from you, but it’s true that the implications of this are worrying. Once the information is released, those who wish to flatter the Emperor will be certain to twist this to point towards Archduke Qi,” Li Que said in an appeasing tone. “But for the matter at hand, the investigator made it to twenty miles outside of Dengzhou.”

Sounds of surprise rang out around the room. Li Que patiently waited for them to quiet down before continuing. Inside the utility closet, Chen Jian held himself perfectly still as the meeting continued, realizing just how much of a mess he was now in. If it was Li Que who wanted Chen Jian to hear this, it would be alright, but if it was a trap, then both Li Que and Chen Jian would be in deep trouble. Chen Jian almost regretted not busting out of the utility closet at the very start, but now had no choice but to continue hiding his presence in hopes that he would go unnoticed. At the very least, his instincts hadn’t gone off at being led into the closet, which hopefully meant that nothing was particularly wrong with his situation.

Even someone who wasn’t particularly astute in politics could tell that the situation was a mess. Qin Yang had evidently traveled a good part of the way by magic carriage, or he would never have gotten so far in just a few hours, but for the final part before his death, he had traveled on foot for at least half a mile, likely in the company of whoever had killed him. The preciseness of the cut suggested someone highly skilled, but judging from the size of the cut and the direction it had been made in, it had likely been the work of a woman or a teenager.

Qin Yang was single and had no family except for some distant relatives living in Shanxi. He worked over twelve hours a day on most days, and as a result, his social circle was primarily composed of other members of the Bureau. So just who would he have fled the capital with? Why did he flee? Those questions remained unanswered, leaving a pit in the stomachs of everyone present.

“Qin Yang studied martial arts under Tan Hui before joining the Bureau, didn’t he? He even received a letter of recommendation,” Inspector Ju pointed out. The observation plunged the room into icy silence.

Chen Jian racked his brain to match the name to a face, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he recalled that Tan Hui had been the head of security for Archduke Qi while the Archduke was responsible for the princes’ education, and had gone back to Dengzhou together with his employer.

“It couldn't have been Archduke Qi. His Grace is not that type of man, I’ve seen plenty of conspirators and all sorts of criminals over the years, that man is far from counting among their ranks,” Vice-Director Ke said heavily.

“Adversity will change a man. We knew His Grace from when the Archduke was well-respected and at the pinnacle of the Emperor’s favor, but we all know that he changed greatly after the deaths of the Sixth Prince and the Fourth…and his adopted son,” Inspector Ju replied. The air seemed to coagulate, almost physically weighted with tension. The topic of the disowned Fourth Prince and Archduke Qi’s rather heavy fall from grace was still a taboo topic in the capital, and the Emperor was still resentful.

“Even so, Archduke Qi has secluded himself in his residence and rarely does anything at all. We have men watching his household every single minute of the day, what could he possibly have to do with this?” Vice-Director Ke snapped.

“Vice-Director, I understand your feelings on the matter, but we have to consider the possibility. Of all the archdukes, Archduke Qi and Archduke Wei are the ones who are most likely to have the motive to stir up trouble in the capital. For Archduke Qi, there is always the matter of revenge, and Archduke Wei was always close with Archduke Qi. After all, they share the same mother. Now, his only daughter is being married off into the Khaganate, who’s to say whether he’d be willing to take extreme action?” Chief Secretariat Shu pointed out. “In any case, we’re not accusing them of anything, we’re just investigating.”

“And what will the Emperor think of that?” Vice-Director Ke asked. “Do you think His Majesty will believe in their innocence even if we don’t find anything?”

“Vice-Director, His Majesty’s thoughts are not for us to guess at,” Li Que said firmly. “But regardless of whether or not those two are at the center of the investigation, much of the court will suspect them no matter what. Rather than allowing things to get out of hand, it’s best that we take the initiative and wrap up the investigation before other people start interfering.”

“This is going to be troublesome,” Chief Secretariat Shu sighed wearily. “The paperwork notwithstanding, handling a bunch of angry Archdukes is not something I’m looking forward to.”

“Oh come on, at least you won’t have to deal with them face to face, unlike us,” Li Que comforted him, trying to lighten the mood.

“Since it has to be done, then there’s no point in complaining,” Inspector Ju chimed in.

“On the bright side, at least Grand Duke Zhao is unlikely to interfere. That damn old codger who refuses to hurry up and die has always been the most troublesome hurdle for getting anything done,” Senior Investigator Duan said, a note of satisfaction in his voice.

“That grandson of his is also a lamp that doesn't save oil,” Inspector Ju remarked. “He wouldn’t get in the way, would he?”

“Minister Zhao’s matters are under my jurisdiction, you don’t need to worry yourself about that,” Li Que said mildly.

“I need to look into that Qu Boyong because of him, so he’s not just your problem,” Inspector Ju shot back. Chen Jian frowned, recognizing the name from when Chen Caichun had mentioned him in passing.

Wasn’t that Minister Zhao’s personal servant? Was he involved in the case somehow?

“The order came from the palace, what do you want me to do about it? The Empress Dowager was the one to give the order, it's not as though I can go and tell her to let me handle it,” Li Que asked in exasperation. “Minister Zhao won’t get in the way of the internal investigation, and that’s what matters.”

“That’s what I’m worried about, from now on, our work will only get more difficult if we have to keep the neutral faction on its feet as well. How long do you expect him to last?” Inspector Ju asked. Li Que gave an audible sigh, and Chen Jian could already picture the older man shaking his head in disapproval.

“That’s enough now, rein in your dissatisfaction, Inspector Ju,” Vice-Director Ke cut in. “Let’s not speculate on such things and focus on the task at hand.” Inspector Ju complied, but not without a displeased huff.

“Then if we can talk about the investigation procedures,” Chief Secretariat Shu suggested. There were murmurs of agreement before the meeting moved on to logistics.

Chen Jian’s frown deepened as he mulled over what he had just heard, once again wishing that he had his sister’s political sensibilities to better comprehend what was going on. He had thought the Bureau was on good terms with Zhao Wenyuan, when had that changed? Chen Jian wanted to ask Caichun but thought better of it. She would certainly keep confidential information confidential, but it would be asking her to actively withhold information from someone she owed a great debt. It was certain to bother her, given Caichun’s personality.

After what seemed to be forever, the meeting ended and the core staff members dispersed. Li Que’s familiar footsteps were the first ones out the door. Chen Jian held absolutely still in the utility closet as the other staff members passed by its door to leave the room. To his frustration, one set of footsteps remained resolutely within the room.

Damn it, who is this? Hurry up and leave! I also want to leave! Chen Jian continued to wait in place. The footsteps finally began moving towards the hallway but came to a stop right in front of the utility closet door. Chen Jian’s eyes widened, his instincts blaring an alarm inside his head. He fought down his urge to burst into the hallway and run, knowing that he couldn’t outrun someone from the core staff, not at his current level.

“Vice-Director, your secretary is looking for you,” a familiar voice called out. Chen Jian held his breath, eyes wide as the footsteps finally moved away.

“Is that so? Thank you for taking the trouble, you should’ve told him to come over instead,” Vice-Director Ke said amiably.

“Not at all, I’m heading back this way to get Duan Wuxie off my case. He won’t stop nagging me even though I haven’t received an update in the two minutes since he last asked,” Li Que said, his voice heavy with unadulterated exasperation.

Vice-Director Ke gave a chuckle and stepped into the hallway. Chen Jian slowly breathed out, carefully keeping his presence hidden until the man left while assuring Li Que that he would get Senior Inspector Duan to calm down and back off. Li Que also left, heading down the hallway in the opposite direction of Vice-Director Ke.

Chen Jian remained in place until he sensed that the surroundings were completely clear before he cautiously slipped out of the utility closet and into the hallway, heading down the same direction Li Que had gone in. Following the corridor, he turned the corner and immediately came face to face with Li Que.

“Sir!” Chen Jian squeaked, the sound coming out a pitch higher than usual.

“Chen Jian,” Li Que said, his voice completely emotionless. “Did you catch all of that?”

Chen Jian nodded, looking at Li Que with wide eyes.

“And? What will you do?” Li Que asked.

“I won’t say a word of this to anyone,” Chen Jian promised. He frowned slightly as he realized that for some reason, this was the wrong answer. Seeing Chen Jian’s look of confusion, Li Que’s face softened slightly.

“And then what would have been the point of having you listen?” Li Que asked gently.

“I don’t understand. The information’s confidential,” Chen Jian said in bewilderment.

“Yes, everyone in the meeting took an oath of confidentiality,” Li Que agreed.

A vague sense of understanding dawned upon Chen Jian. “And I…wasn’t in the meeting,” Chen Jian said cautiously. Li Que nodded.

“But sir, I,” Chen Jian began, trailing off when he couldn’t find the right question or protest to speak. Li Que reached out and patted him on the shoulder, his eyes glittering with something akin to approval.

“Follow your instincts, Chen Jian. Go back to the waiting room for now, you’ll be set to go home soon,” Li Que said, his voice a touch gentler now. Chen Jian nodded wordlessly, bowing his head before heading back in a daze. He meandered back to his former seat, next to his prickly junior An Haoyang.

“Did they call you in for questioning?” An Haoyang asked. Chen Jian shrugged.

“Yeah, just the standard,” he replied. “I’m still sleepy, I should’ve gotten some tea earlier.”

“They have tea right there,” An Haoyang gestured sharply at the table in the corner of the room with food and drinks.

“No thanks, that tea must be from storage, it’s probably over five years old,” Chen Jian grumbled.

“Picky,” An Haoyang grumbled under his breath. Chen Jian ignored him, dozing off again. It was the best thing to do in the situation, it made him look like a man with a clear conscience and stopped people from trying to get information out of him. That, and Chen Jian really was tired from the meeting earlier.

Within moments, Chen Jian was asleep on An Haoyang’s shoulder again.

In a teahouse several miles away from the Imperial Investigation Bureau, Kayla felt her ear twitch, but ignored it in favor of smiling coldly at Hu Weizhi. Their conversation wasn’t going anywhere, but she had finally sensed a chance.

The neutral faction, save for the Imperial Investigation Bureau, didn’t have anyone high up enough to understand the throne’s true intentions. The sole exception was Kayla herself, which meant she was in an excellent position to make what she could of it. It was an opportunity to give a slightly twisted picture of the current political situation, one that would cause the neutral faction to rely on Kayla more than they would have under different circumstances.

“The future developments of the court do hinge on my participation, Minister. In fact, I’m the only one who’s suitable,” Kayla said with a smile.

Hu Weizhi gave Kayla an incredulous look, with the exasperated air of an experienced elder watching an overconfident and arrogant young upstart.

“There have been officials whose loyalties lie with the throne rather than personal greed or gain since before you were born, and there will be plenty even after you reach a hundred years. The power that has been placed into your hands should not be misinterpreted as a stamp of approval for your intrinsic worth,” Hu Weizhi reproached her. “If you are careless, you will succumb to your arrogance.”

Kayla shook her head. “You’re right in saying that there will always be neutral officials and loyalists to the throne. The rivers and mountains produce talents in every generation. But you’ve misunderstood my role in this. Why do you think the Emperor has been so proactive recently? Is it simply because my grandfather’s moment of reckoning has arrived? But if that were the case, why not assign any one of the more experienced and higher-ranking officials he has on hand? Why go through all the trouble of promoting a fourth-rank Left Secretariat and reinstating the Court of Judicial Review?”

Hu Weizhi paused for a moment, taken aback by her questions. “If you commit many unrighteous acts, you will bring about your own demise. The Grand Duke’s merits are no longer enough to shield him from the consequences of his crimes. Regardless of whether or not you were given this role, everything would run its natural course. The sky’s web is vast, one may evade for a time, but not escape.”

“You evade my question. Why would the Emperor promote me and place such heavy expectations on the grandson of the Grand Duke?” Kayla pressed on.

Hu Weizhi shook his head. “It’s a common sentiment of mankind to try and protect their family members. Isn’t it just to shield you from the consequences? The problem is, he is offering out of affection for his nephew, but you shouldn’t be so thoughtless as to accept without regard for the implications it has for the court and the country.”

Kayla stood up, ignoring Hu Weizhi as he stiffened in anxiety. She walked past him to pace back and forth, knowing that the officials were listening in behind the thin wooden walls in the two adjacent rooms.

“That’s one way of seeing it, but you’re only looking at it from the surface level. Your vision, Minister Hu, is locked upon the immediate danger and not the bigger picture, like a man who looks at a leopard through a tube. Surely you can see the true issue at hand, even though it’s only in its nascent stages,” Kayla prompted. “The stability of the country and the right of the people to live in peace and work in joy hinge upon it.”

Hu Weizhi frowned in confusion before grimacing.

“You speak of the princes vying for the seat of heir,” Hu Weizhi said. “That’s entirely unnecessary. Our Emperor is in the midst of his strongest years and is in excellent health. There is no danger of a disaster of the inner walls. If there is a legitimate son, the heir should be him. If there isn’t one, the heir should be the eldest. The Seventh Prince is talented, but in both legitimacy and age, he cannot hope to claim the position of Crown Prince.”

Kayla faltered, looking at him with a small degree of disbelief.

He’s…not serious, is he? Even the Empress Dowager intended for the princes to duke it out, we’re this far in and he doesn’t even consider Xianchun a candidate? Xianchun was the one who actually won in the original timeline!

Belatedly, Kayla realized that she didn’t really know what most of the court thought about the ongoing four-way power struggle. She had the advantage of foreknowledge and the palace’s confidence, but neither of the princes' factions was acting overtly. From an outside perspective, the succession struggle probably only amounted to background din in the face of the palace’s attack against the Grand Duke, with the neutral faction looking more like the Emperor’s attempt to consolidate his own power and fill the vacuum that the Grand Duke’s fall would inevitably lead to.

It would make sense for lower-ranking officials to think that way, but he’s the head of one of the Six Ministries. Can he really be unable to see what’s going on? Or is he just pretending?

“The Seventh Prince may not have the support of his maternal relatives, but he’s also a force to be reckoned with,” Kayla objected. “Within only the last few months, he’s gained control over the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel, and now he has military support in the Southwest as well. I wouldn’t say that he has no chance at all. The ancient greats have said that those with a country and a family are not afraid of sparse resources but unequal distribution, they are not afraid of having a small population, but of war and inner strife. As officials who serve the nation, we cannot afford to overlook possible developments within the country.”

“Control over the Ministry of Justice? Well, I suppose that the recent purge will allow him to strengthen his foothold there,” Hu Weizhi said dismissively. “But still, you are overstating your own importance by exaggerating the situation at hand. The Seventh Prince has no roots in the court beyond the shallow bonds he has formed recently. Your words are no different from inserting a needle when you've found a crack.”

Xianchun won’t be getting too many seats in the Ministry of Justice, Kayla decided to keep that to herself for now as a card for later.

“As for the Ministry of Personnel, his hold there is shaky at best. His so-called military support in the Southwest only consists of a woman and a Vice-commander at that. What can he possibly hope to accomplish? He may be able to temporarily make some gains, but it’ll be difficult for him to achieve anything greater,” Hu Weizhi said. “And allow me to remind you, Confucius has also said that if you do not hold a position, do not interfere in its affairs. As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, you should focus on your own work rather than sticking your nose into the matter of succession.”

Kayla paused, stopping her pacing to stare at him in disbelief.

Is that what it looks like to him?!

I think he’s serious, Wenyuan said flatly. Kayla took a deep breath.

Fine, that’s fair. Xianchun can’t grab much power until the Grand Duke leaves a power vacuum, and he looks down on me as a brat who gained power through nepotism. But still, Hu Weizhi is taking this way too lightly. It made sense, to a certain extent, but Kayla still felt a modicum of disbelief.

No wonder he wants to be the head of the neutral faction, he has no idea how dangerous the job is. Kayla could sense Wenyuan spiritually rolling his eyes.

She hastily collected herself and approached the table to loom over Hu Weizhi. The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Minister Hu, someone as clever as you should surely understand that there are thousands of changes and ten thousand transformations within the court at any given moment. I am not alone in believing that the Seventh Prince will be a strong contender for the seat of Crown Prince,” Kayla said meaningfully.

Hu Weizhi frowned. “You mean to say that the palace is willing to support him?”

“I said nothing of the sort. The palace will not support any of the princes, but they’re taking every precaution available to prevent the court from falling into chaos,” Kayla said, stressing the last few words. She watched Hu Weizhi’s expression carefully, frustrated at the lack of realization on his face.

“Since neither prince is born of the former Empress, should the heir be the eldest or the wisest? That’s surely an issue that the Emperor is deliberating. The Third Prince and the Seventh Prince are both extremely talented, and highly charismatic in their own ways. Their political stances differ, but their ideologies prioritize the nation and its people.” Kayla explained.

Even if Xianchun doesn’t get any opportunities to demonstrate his talents, the Empress Dowager would ensure that he receives a chance. The final decision will be based on the Emperor’s perception of their character and capabilities, while the neutral faction’s here as a moderator to prevent things from escalating too far. If it were really just the two of us here, I could say that outright. But we have an audience, so I can’t even spell it out for him. This is something that can only be tacitly understood, not spoken out loud. Just what will it take to get it through his head?

To her immense relief, Hu Weizhi finally seemed to understand.

“You mean to say that-” He cut himself off, having reached the same conclusion as Kayla that it was better to leave it as an unspoken understanding. Seeing that she had reached the intended effect, Kayla sat down, moving her chair next to Hu Weizhi rather than across from him.

“Minister Hu, if the neutral faction performs well, it will surely be due to the experience and wisdom of senior, experienced officials such as yourself and the other loyalists in the court. If the neutral faction fails to reach the Emperor’s expectations, then it will surely be due to my lack of experience and foresight,” Kayla assured him.

The credit’s all yours, the risk’s all mine. Are you in or not?

Hu Weizhi’s eyes narrowed, and he silently downed his cup of tea to buy time. Kayla continued smiling at him unmovingly, patiently waiting for a response.

”Minister Zhao, your words have given me much to think about,” Hu Weizhi finally said. “Unfortunately, the night is already late, and the court is convening tomorrow. I’m afraid that these old bones need their rest, if it is agreeable to you, shall we continue this conversation tomorrow night?”

Kayla withheld a sigh. So we're going for round two tomorrow? At least he was the one retreating, not Kayla.

“Of course, I must apologize for my thoughtlessness. Listening to your words trumps studying for ten years, I was enjoying my conversation with you so much that I forgot the time,” Kayla replied politely, not at all having enjoyed the conversation. “Shall we meet here again at the same time tomorrow?”

“You flatter me,” Hu Weizhi said flatly. “Let us meet again here tomorrow if Minister Zhao can spare the time.”

“I’d gladly make time for you at any moment, Minister Hu,” Kayla said insincerely. “Then until tomorrow.”

She escorted Hu Weizhi out the door, respectfully seeing him off before leaving herself. Hu Qing waited until they were out of sight from the teahouse’s upper stories before letting himself into the carriage.

“Well, Minister? How’d it go, squabbling with the old man?” Hu Qing asked cheerfully as he entered the moving carriage, ignoring the horseman’s screech of protest.

Kayla sighed, exhausted from the earlier exchange. “He’s difficult to deal with, I couldn't convince him. We’ll be meeting him here again tomorrow night at the same time.”

“Do you want me to prepare some brocade?” Hu Qing asked.

“I doubt he’ll accept it so blatantly, I need to find some excuse to give the gift. Bribing him outright will only offend a guy like that,” Kayla groaned. “What a pain, he’ll probably have more arguments ready by tomorrow, and whatever issues the other traditionalists have with me, he'll have time to draft up their complaints.”

“Good luck,” Hu Qing said, not at all sounding sympathetic. “Shall we head back now, or do you want to go to the entertainment district tonight? It’s not that late yet.”

Kayla hesitated for a moment. If she went now, the rumors of her visit would spread at the convening of the court tomorrow.

“Let’s just go,” Kayla said.

“Don’t sound so reluctant, the ladies will be offended,” Hu Qing said. He was already grinning from ear to ear in anticipation.

“Why are you so eager? You don’t even like women,” Kayla shot back.

“I’ll never refuse a good time,” Hu Qing said. “And they’re good dancers, I can appreciate that.”

“You didn’t even take note of who Qu Boyong was talking with that time you saw him meeting with a maid at night,” Kayla grumbled.

Hu Qing shook his head, sighing a little despite not looking even the slightest bit regretful. “Yeah, in hindsight, that’s actually pretty important, isn’t it? That's too bad.”

He opened the door to the moving carriage, sticking his upper body out to tell the horseman their change of destination, completely ignoring the sensible option of using the window at the front of the carriage. Kayla decided to ignore what was probably a safety violation if not a traffic violation.

Wenyuan, you’ve really never been to the entertainment districts? Do you know what to expect?

I told you already, I never went there before! And what do you mean, what to expect? There’ll be pretty women, what else could you expect?

Kayla sighed at having received zero useful information.

Forget it, I’ll just work with what I find there.

66.5-The Red-light District

Kayla arrived in the red-light district, Hu Qing in tow. Hu Qing had no interest in women, but he did seem to like the general atmosphere and had a certain degree of familiarity with each of the establishments. The district, true to its name, really did have plenty of red lanterns, which Kayla probably should have expected in hindsight, but it was her first time actually seeing the city’s nightlife. She had to admit, that even in comparison to the modern world, it was impressive.

Red lanterns hung from strings that crossed from building to building, creating a veritable canopy of light. The sound of music and laughter emanated from the open doors of each building, accompanied by the sweet scent of incense and perfume. Each building was intricately and uniquely decorated. On the upper floors, young women waved from the balconies, wearing far less than any woman Kayla had seen since arriving in this world.

It’s nice to see that the girls have some meat on their bones, in the period dramas it’s usually a bunch of anorexic girls in the red-light district, Kayla thought to herself.

Of course, plumpness is considered a highly attractive feature, Wenyuan said, sounding perhaps more excited than he wanted to. Similar to, what do you call it in your world? “Thick”?

Kayla held back a chortle at Wenyuan’s attempt to pronounce the English word.

Pretty much, Kayla thought in amusement, politely averting her eyes slightly as they landed on a girl’s extremely low-cut top.

They were in the relatively high-end and exclusive part of the district. Services here were much more expensive and high-quality, and those who frequented the establishments here tended to be of higher status as well. It didn’t escape Kayla’s notice that people were taking note of the well-dressed newcomer.

The mannerisms engrained in Wenyuan’s muscle memory were those of a noble who had been in and out of the palace since childhood, and it was obvious from a single glance that he was no merchant or scholar. It was clear that this was someone with plenty of money to throw around, but the women didn’t crowd forward to pull Kayla over as they would with lower-ranking officials, maintaining some modicum of respectfulness.

Kayla was careful not to glance to and fro too much, focusing on following Hu Qing. Hu Qing led Kayla to a building from which Turkish music was playing.

“This place’s nice, Minister. And the proprietor’s Turkish to boot, it wouldn’t hurt for the rumors to think you prefer Turkish girls, not with the marriage alliance coming up,” Hu Qing suggested. Kayla followed his suggestion without a second thought, not having any better ideas of her own.

They were greeted at the door by two young women who looked to be of mixed ethnicity, dressed in modified outfits of the Khaganate that showcased their figures and a good amount of skin. Kayla kept quiet, letting Hu Qing handle the interaction. He exchanged a few words with the young women, who quickly led them further into the building.

The lobby opened up into a lavishly decorated performance area, a round stage surrounded by sectioned-off tables and floor seating. A mezzanine overlooked the stage, going three floors up, but it was evident that the best seats were the tables right before the stage, covered with richly embroidered cushions and carpets.

Several of the tables were already occupied, many of them by people Kayla had seen at least once or twice in passing at the various Ministries or at the convening of the court. They quickly began to whisper amongst themselves upon noticing Kayla’s entry with Hu Qing, quieting down when the two of them were led to a table by the stage.

“This place is too nice for a strip club,” Kayla muttered quietly.

“A what?” Hu Qing asked.

“Nothing, don’t mind me. Is there going to be a performance?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, this should be the second-to-last performance of the night,” Hu Qing explained. “I recommend you stay for both, that would be enough to counter the rumors even if you don’t stay the night. Not that you can’t, but it doesn’t look good to go straight to the palace from the brothels, but of course you’d know that.”

“That’s right,” Kayla said quickly, glad for the provided excuse.

The musicians who had been quietly playing in the background increased their volume, and the performance began. A dozen beautiful young women in revealing outfits filed onto the stage and began dancing skillfully. Just like what Hu Qing had said, the dancers really were impressive. Kayla clapped politely, watching the performance with fascination.

“Minister,” Hu Qing muttered into Kayla’s ear. She glanced at him, following his gaze to a table diagonally across the stage from theirs. A young teenager, who looked to be of Turkish descent, was glaring at Kayla with unadulterated fury.

“Who’s that?” Kayla asked.

“No idea,” Hu Qing replied. “That kid doesn’t look pleased though.”

Kayla glanced uncertainly at the teenager glaring at her from across the room. The teenager looked to be Turkish, or at least from the steppe tribes from the Northwest, and was dressed in rather expensive-looking clothes.

“That kid’s got quite a few guards,” Hu Qing muttered into Kayla’s ear. “Probably the kid of some rich man or a noble from the Khaganate. But why would a girl come to the entertainment districts dressed as a guy?”

Kayla pursed her lips. The teenager had an androgynous look to them and had rather handsome features, but despite the multiple layers of loose clothing, it wasn’t too hard to tell the teenager was a girl.

“Maybe she likes girls,” Kayla whispered. “Or maybe she identifies as a guy or something.”

“Identify as a guy? What do you mean?” Hu Qing whispered back. Kayla drew a blank for how to explain the concept to someone from Ancient China.

“Y-you know, like maybe she has memories of a previous life living as a man so she doesn’t think of herself as a woman or something,” Kayla replied, scrambling for an explanation that someone from Ancient China could understand.

“Oh, true, that could also be the case,” Hu Qing replied. “But I wonder why she seems to hate you so much? That’s some serious glaring from her end.”

Kayla glanced at the girl again, who was still glowering in Kayla’s direction.

“No idea, maybe she’s heard the rumors? Or maybe she’s a nationalist who doesn’t approve of the political marriage,” Kayla said drily. She hadn’t done anything else that could personally anger a teenage Turkish girl, at least not that she could think of.

“She’s coming over,” Hu Qing warned. Kayla whirled to glance back at where the teenager had been, panicking a little to see the spot empty.

“Damn it, I shouldn’t have listened to Chen Caichun,” Kayla hissed under her breath. “There's always a bar fight, even when there isn't a bar!”

“If there’s a fight, I’ll handle it. No matter what, she’s in the capital of a foreign country, as long as her people take the first swing, we’re fine,” Hu Qing assured Kayla despite not understanding her reference. “Just be sure to duck.”

Kayla shot him an incredulous look, but her attention was quickly pulled away as the teenager reappeared into sight, flanked by a muscular man as she made a beeline straight over.

“You,” the girl snarled before Kayla could even offer a greeting. “You’re that slut from the rumors!”

Excuse me, what? That had not been on the list of things Kayla had expected to hear at a brothel. It had, in fact, been one of the last things she'd expected to hear altogether.

“Excuse me, what?” She said blankly, failing to think of a better response.

The girl plopped down across from Kayla with a glare, not caring as she knocked over the wine bottle on the low table. Thankfully, it was empty, only a few drops spilling out onto Kayla’s robes. Hu Qing and the girl’s escort glanced each other over, assessing the other’s abilities.

“You’re that Zhao Wenyuan, aren’t you?” The girl demanded.

“Yes, may I ask to whom I owe this pleasure?” Kayla replied.

The girl scowled at her. “I guess the rumors are true, you really are an insatiable lecher, are the officials of the court not enough for you that you would frequent such a place?”

Kayla glanced at Hu Qing, who gave her a confused shrug.

“First of all, those rumors are completely untrue,” Kayla said patiently. She had been both a TA and an RA at college before, she was used to incoming freshmen with esteem issues, no critical thinking skills, and unbalanced hormones.

I don’t know if she’s a kid who got radicalized by ultra-nationalists or a repressed lesbian with internalized homophobia, but I’ve dealt with both types before.

“I’ve gained quite a few enemies through my work, and since there’s nothing wrong with what I did, it obviously stands there would be rumors about how I did it,” Kayla explained. "Since I can't divulge confidential details about the investigation process, it gives them an opportunity to attack me."

“If it’s not true, then why is everyone saying it?” The girl shot back. “I pity our poor princess who will have to marry scum like you!”

Why do you sound like a rebellious teenager who doesn’t want a stepdad?!

What the hell is wrong with this girl? Wenyuan was radiating with anger at the girl’s words.

Take it easy, she might be the daughter of some notable person from the Khaganate, Kayla appeased him. A normal person wouldn’t have the guts to approach me like this, much less shout accusations to my face. The most they would do is make sly remarks and talk behind my back. I wouldn’t even be surprised if someone from the Khaganate is trying to gather information about me.

You mean she’s a spy?

Not necessarily, but in any case, she’s a teenager, what are we gonna do? Hit a kid? Whether she’s just a hormonal brat, someone sent to deliberately provoke me, or a spy, it really doesn’t matter. She’s from the Khaganate, it wouldn’t do to start a fight. Honestly, compared to the guys from the court, this doesn’t even piss me off.

Kayla collected herself and gave the girl a calm smile.

“Just because people are saying it doesn’t mean it’s true. For one, the fact that there aren’t any rumors to combat it means that I’ve focused on doing my job properly, not scheming behind people’s backs and gossiping. Doesn’t it strike you as strange that people would start saying things like this only now that the Court of Judicial Review is in a good position to launch new investigations? It’s a common defamation tactic, not only can they discredit anything I find, but they can also shift attention away from their own crimes,” Kayla explained in the same tone she used with older folks who fell for fake news on Facebook or Wechat. “You shouldn’t just believe everything you hear, but contextualize it first and think about who benefits. If it were true, do you think the Emperor wouldn't know about something like this happening right under his nose?”

The girl’s frown deepened, but there was less animosity in it.

“Not to mention, I’m the one who’s into men, not the Minister,” Hu Qing piped in unhelpfully.

Kayla steadily ignored him as the girl turned to stare at Hu Qing with wide eyes.

“These rumors are also only targeting me because I’m being considered for a political marriage that would improve my position in court,” Kayla continued. “Not that there’s anything wrong with liking men. But you really shouldn't blindly trust in rumors without doing some research yourself and critically assessing your findings.”

The girl’s scowl didn’t falter in the slightest, either ignoring Kayla's jab at her critical thinking skills or missing it altogether. “That doesn’t explain what you’re doing in a place like this, you indecent bastard!”

Kayla refrained from pointing out that the teenager was also in a “place like this”. “I’m trying to do my part to quell the rumors so that the political alliance and my own work can progress smoothly,” Kayla replied honestly. She wasn't exactly being subtle, there was simply no point in hiding her true motives. “I usually work overtime, so I rarely come to these places, unlike my peers at court. That also serves as ammunition for the rumors, so I might as well show my face a bit more often.”

“Trying to fool the Khagan? Do you think he’s that gullible?” The girl gave a disdainful sniff.

“Well, it's not just the Khagan whose opinion I need to worry about. In any case, those who can read the situation will sense my sincerity in trying to dispel false slander, and that will be enough for them,” Kayla replied diplomatically. “I don’t have any intention of going around shouting my innocence, but I’d also be a fool to do nothing at all.”

The girl looked a little mollified at that. “At least you’re not a complete idiot,” she grumbled.

“I would hope not,” Kayla said, trying to steer the conversation to either an end or a less interrogative direction. “You must be from the Khaganate then? I didn’t catch your name.”

The girl glanced furtively at her guard before clearing her throat. “My name is Xichun,” she said loftily. “Not that you should ever presume to call it.”

“I won’t,” Kayla assured her. “My name is Zhao Wenyuan, I currently serve as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. It’s nice to meet you, how long have you been in the capital?”

Xichun scrunched up her face and kept her mouth a thin line, expressing her disdain for the small talk.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kayla saw the dancing girls finish their main performance and circle around the tables, spinning gracefully as they welcomed tips from the customers. She frowned a little as a table of men she vaguely recognized from the Secretariat Department forcefully showered one of the dancers with bronze coins. To the dancer’s credit, she kept a smile on even after getting pelted in the face with a hard metal coin.

Kayla shook her head, mildly disgusted at their behavior.

Stingy bastards…Bronze coins? They must be at least fourth-rank officials. Seriously, at least give it to the dancers properly instead of chucking it like that, what if you bruise them? That's the good thing about paper money, it doesn't hurt to get it thrown at your face.

Kayla retrieved some silver coins from her robes, handing some to Hu Qing. Upon seeing that Xichun didn’t seem to have any spare change, or at least wasn't about to retrieve any, Kayla placed the remaining ones into a handkerchief and pushed it over to Xichun, nodding in the direction of the dancers as they circled over. Xichun gave her a look of utter incomprehension.

The dancers arrived at their table, light glinting off the bright ornaments in their hair and skirts. Kayla handed her tip over with a polite smile, Hu Qing following suit. The performers lit up with delight at the reward, which must have been more than the total tips they’d received all night. At Kayla’s meaningful and insistent glance, Xichun flushed and wordlessly handed over the coins as well, not even looking in the direction of the dancers. The teenager’s ears were bright red, as was the back of her neck.

Aw, she’s shy! That’s kind of cute.

I'm starting to buy it that she's into women, Wenyuan admitted, surprisingly seeming to be appeased by his observation.

The dancers showered them with thanks and then showered them with actual flower petals they’d retrieved from somewhere in their intricate costumes, immediately adding an impromptu song and dance routine right before the table before continuing on. Having been shown up by Kayla’s generous tip, the following tables could only scramble to produce larger sums than the paltry amounts they had planned, in order to avoid losing face. Xichun’s face was beet-red at the close-up performance.

“Wha-we don’t have dances like that in the Khaganate!” Xichun protested.

“I think they combined it with moves from other cultures as well to increase the commercial appeal,” Kayla said. “They have to eat, after all. Authenticity matters less than popular appeal in places like this.”

Xichun glared at Kayla. “Why did you make me give them money?”

Kayla smiled back patiently. “Because it’s only good manners to tip after watching a performance, it shows your appreciation. The dancers don’t exactly have it easy, dancing for hours on end like this only for stingy men to throw a few bronze coins into their faces.”

“That’s their job,” Xichun shot back, her face still bright red.

“And they should be paid for it properly,” Kayla said agreeably. “That’s only fair, isn’t it? Plus, most of the girls here don’t get much of a wage at all, without tips, they’ll never save up enough to pay back their bonds or transition into another line of work. And then what happens when they age out of the industry?”

The explanation didn’t seem to calm Xichun down at all. “And this is how you plan to waste your money, spending it on dancers?”

“Only for the time being, I do have rumors to quell. But I have no intention of continuing afterward, this type of entertainment isn’t really my style,” Kayla replied.

The girl wrinkled her nose, glancing Kayla over again and looking like she fully intended to keep flinging insults. Xichun did not disappoint Kayla’s expectations in the slightest. “Everything about you screams weak and pathetic. Why on earth are you in such a high position when you look so unreliable? They’re even willing to marry the princess to you, is the Wu Dynasty really so short of people?”

Xichun’s bodyguard watched for Hu Qing’s reaction, completely ignoring the possibility of Kayla doing anything worth his interference, which was accurate enough but still a little insulting.

“You can’t judge people by their looks,” Kayla said, drawing from the huge reservoir of patience she had reserved for customer service and college freshmen. “And though I’m far from perfect, I would make every effort to do right by the princess. You know more about the Khaganate’s culture than me, do you reckon that would count in my favor?”

Xichun glanced away, looking a little uncomfortable. “What could a man like you possibly do for a princess? I feel bad for her, having a husband like you!” The girl was pouting a little, which significantly softened Kayla’s mood.

Perhaps her father’s also marrying her into the Wu Dynasty? That would explain why she’s acting like this.

That's common enough, Wenyuan agreed. But usually, unless her father's a Khaganate noble, she'd only be a concubine, not a formal wife.

Damn, that sucks, no wonder she's so on edge.

“I’m not sure either, I haven’t met the princess yet. Whatever the princess thinks a good husband should do for her, I’ll try to aim for,” Kayla replied.

Xichun stared wide-eyed at Kayla for a moment before shaking her head, looking a little embarrassed for some reason. “You’re all talk, what can you do when you’re only a Minister?”

“I wouldn’t take any concubines,” Kayla replied without hesitation. “And I do have enough money to make sure my wife can have whatever she needs or wants. As for the rest, it depends on what the princess wants me to do for her. So long as it’s not illegal, I’m fine with doing what she tells me to.”

“Wha–aren’t you embarrassed to say that out loud?!” Xichun flushed bright red, looking even more embarrassed. Kayla felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl. The teenager was far too young to be getting married from Kayla's modern point of view, but she probably didn't have long before getting married off, likely without any of her own input on who her husband was.

“A man who can’t treat his family well is not worthy of respect,” Kayla replied, her mind flashing to the Grand Duke. Subconsciously, her tone darkened as she spoke. “If I’m to marry the princess, it only follows that I should do what I can for her sake. That’s what a husband is for, after all.”

“Whatever, I’m done talking to you,” the girl muttered. She abruptly got up and retreated. Kayla looked on in confusion as the girl left as suddenly as she’d shown up.

“What the hell was that?” Kayla muttered to Hu Qing. The man gave her a look of amusement.

“Who knows? Anyways, who would’ve thought you would get propositioned by a rich girl so quickly?” Hu Qing said gleefully, thoroughly enjoying Kayla’s flabbergasted reaction. "If not for her interaction with you, I really would've thought she was into women."

“She didn’t proposition me,” Kayla said drily.

Hu Qing ignored her. “Oh, and look! Those dancers are making eyes at you.”

Kayla glanced over before steadily averting her gaze, uncomfortably realizing that yes, the dancers were indeed making eyes at Kayla’s table.

“Give them a smile, Minister,” Hu Qing cajoled her. “By tomorrow, there will be rumors about your generosity.”

Deciding that it couldn’t hurt, Kayla glanced over again and smiled at them politely. The dancers looked extremely delighted. Within a few moments, their table was descended upon by several beautiful young women in extremely thin and close-cut robes and expensive bottles of wine.

Resigned to footing a huge bill for the drinks, Kayla could only smile and accept as they practically forced her to order more alcohol. Hu Qing was trying very hard not to cackle, but also seemed mildly disappointed that there weren’t any male entertainers.

Think pure thoughts think pure thoughts think pure thoughts, Wenyuan chanted frantically inside her head as one of the entertainers leaned in to pour a drink, practically draping herself across Kayla’s lap. Kayla was extremely glad for a moment that she was in charge of their bodily functions, not Wenyuan, who would either panic at the bodily contact or panic at the beauty of the entertainers. She felt a rush of annoyance at what Wenyuan was paying attention to.

Calm down! Be respectful! Where the fuck do you think you're focusing on?! Her eyes are up here!

That's easy for you to say! You would understand if you were into women!

Kayla gave up and decided to ignore him altogether.

“Thank you, ladies,” Kayla said in a friendly tone as the pretty young woman refilled her cup. “May I have the pleasure of knowing your names?”

The streets of the entertainment district were flooded with light and music, but the further outwards you went, the quieter it became. In a desolate area, a teenager let out a huff as she stepped from the carriage into the cool night air.

Her bodyguard bowed before the teenager as she pulled her hair out of the stifling top knot to let it fall over her shoulders, a serving maid approached to drape a cloak over the girl as the wind rustled the trees around them. Several plainclothed guards appeared, having wound their way back out of the crowd and into the company of their charge.

“Princess, are you satisfied now that you’ve met him? Surely we can return now,” the teenager's bodyguard asked respectfully.

“So soon? There are still a bunch of things we haven’t seen yet,” the teenager complained.

“Your highness, we’re already in trouble for secretly coming here, we’ll really be done for if you don’t return soon,” the serving maid pleaded. “If there’s anything you want to see, surely you’ll have plenty of time after your marriage.”

“Who says I’m marrying that man?” the princess demanded.

“Are you displeased? He’s not necessarily the only choice, just the one with the highest status,” the serving maid said. "If he really doesn't suit your tastes, perhaps the Khagan could get you a different husband."

The girl let out a sigh, crossing her arms. “Displeased? Of course I am! That’s the man father’s chosen for me?” She pouted, looking more petulant than disappointed as per her claims.

“You didn’t seem to dislike him though,” the bodyguard commented.

The girl harrumphed, turning away proudly. Her bodyguard and serving maid exchanged a look of amusement behind the girl’s back.

“He’ll do,” the girl announced after a short pause. “At the very least, he’ll be easy to handle. But really, such a weak-looking man! And he just lets the court bully him like this? The rumors have already spread to outside the capital and he hasn't even done anything other than getting scammed out of his money by a few dancing girls!”

“Regardless of the Minister's position, the Khagan and the Wu Emperor wouldn’t let you suffer any discourtesies,” the bodyguard assured her.

“I’m not worried, none of those fools from the Wu court can do a thing to me,” the girl declared. “I’ll just have to do something about that man as well. The husband of a princess can’t be easily pushed around!”

Her bodyguard and serving maid exchanged another glance of amusement over the top of the princess' head.

"Very well, princess. I'm sure that your husband will appreciate having your support," the serving maid said. "Now, we really must get going."

She ignored the princess' whine, gently pushing the girl back onto the carriage. The princess protested a little but gave in without much of a fuss. The carriage began discreetly moving towards the city gates, quietly and without attracting any attention.

67-Sleepless Night

Inside the brothel, Kayla set down her emptied cup and smiled politely at the dancer draped over her lap. The young woman looked to have some Turkish ancestry, but not enough that it was very obvious. She was beautiful enough that the proprietor evidently didn’t care.

“Minister, can Lan’er play you a song?” The dancer asked sweetly. Kayla nodded her acceptance. It was sure to add to the already-expensive bill, but Kayla was prepared to throw in as much money as needed. If Wenyuan’s reputation could be fixed by tossing coins at the problem, then it was more than worth it.

Lan’er got up, maximizing physical contact with Kayla as she did so, retrieving a Turkish string instrument. She played a simple melody, the other girls at the table and Hu Qing giving encouraging nods.

“That’s a very nice melody,” Kayla complimented Lan’er, who set down the instrument with a smile.

“The Minister is much too kind,” a voice cut in. “This little wench really does not deserve such praise.” A handsome Turkish woman in her forties had approached during the song, flanked by two young women who were dressed in noticeably more expensive outfits than the dancers. The woman had a domineering aura and radiated charisma that outshone the allures of the younger women around her. Lan’er paled and hastily bowed her head, shuffling away from her spot at Kayla’s side.

“Madam, Lan'er apologizes for her unworthy performance,” Lan’er said in a small voice.

“Greetings, madam,” Kayla said politely. “This is quite a lovely establishment you have here.”

“Such kind words, Minister. This lowly one is Aida, the proprietor of this humble establishment. We’re honored to receive your presence tonight, though I am ashamed for the lackluster performance of my girls,” the madam said, bowing her head slightly.

“You’re much too humble on their behalf, madam. The girls have done wonderfully, I am very pleased with their service,” Kayla replied, knowing better than to take the madam’s words seriously. The entire interaction was obviously staged, but Kayla didn’t mind. Her goal had been reaching the madam from the start, though as a Minister, she couldn’t simply seek out the madam herself.

“The Minister is a man who refines himself in solitude, how can I dare to provide anything but the absolute best that I have to offer? These girls are only an appetizer, please allow me to offer you a private performance,” the madam said smoothly. “I promise you, once you have experienced the sea, you will no longer settle for the water. We will strive to bring you the utmost satisfaction.”

That doesn’t sound good, Kayla’s smile grew a little bit strained. She glanced at Hu Qing, hoping for some help.

“Minister, you truly are fortunate! The fairies of the night are elusive and whimsical, to receive their favor is a one-in-a-thousand chance. Minister, you must accept,” Hu Qing said dramatically. She could tell he was holding back his laughter despite his earnest expression.

Kayla felt a rush of exasperation but gave in at Hu Qing’s encouraging look.

He knows what he’s doing, might as well go along with it.

“Since the madam has already said so, how could I possibly think of refusing your kindness? I gratefully accept,” Kayla said. Hu Qing’s smirk grew wider, and the two young women on either side of the madam approached to pull Kayla to her feet, flanking her as they followed the madam with Hu Qing trailing behind.

Madam Aida led them into a room that was even more lavishly decorated than the performance stage, inviting them to sit. She clapped twice, and the two young women poured out drinks for Kayla and Hu Qing before spinning into a dance.

“What a lovely dance,” Kayla said appreciatively before glancing at Hu Qing, who directed her gaze towards the madam.

“Madam, we appreciate your hospitality,” Kayla said, reaching into her sleeves and withdrawing several gold bars. “Please do accept my token of gratitude.”

Kayla slid the gold bars across the table towards the madam, who placed her hand over Kayla’s.

“Minister, you are much too generous, how on earth can I accept such a heavy gift?

“A proper price is necessary for the proper services,” Kayla said meaningfully.

“Then I must certainly follow through on my end,” Madam Aida replied, catching on to Kayla’s unspoken request. “Tell me, Minister, what would please you?”

Kayla nodded at Hu Qing, signaling for him to take over.

“This is a popular establishment, surely all kinds of whispers find their way through your doors,” Hu Qing prompted. The madam’s smile widened.

“Of course, and is there anything specific that the Minister wishes to know of?” Madam Aida asked.

“The minister commands the Court of Judicial Review and has access to the palace’s confidence, what information could he be lacking?” Hu Qing replied. “I speak of your ability to influence rumors, madam. Your girls contribute to the whispers that flow through the district of flowers, do they not?”

The madam tilted her head curiously. “Minister, with how much the girls enjoyed your patronage tonight, the rumors of your visit are sure to spread regardless of my intervention, please be assured of that. In good conscience, I dare not accept a reward for that which I did not earn.”

“Oh, of course, with such a hefty bill, there’s no doubt that the rumors will spread. But not just on this matter, madam. We wish to acquire a long-term partnership with you,” Hu Qing said with a charming smile.

“You would ask me to spread rumors on your behalf, Minister?” Madam Aida directed the question at Kayla, who nodded back.

“I ensure that it will be a profitable undertaking for you and yours, madam,” Kayla said. “I am reserved by nature, and it is difficult for me to openly engage in discussion with my fellow officials. My words come out stilted and jarring, and it seems that I have a natural knack for grating on the nerves of my colleagues. But I’m sure that what I wish to express would be much better received if spoken by the charming young ladies at this establishment. In light of my own incapabilities, I must humbly ask for your assistance.”

It was true enough that Kayla was ostracized in court, but more importantly, no one could pick trouble with the reasoning Kayla had provided. Even if the madam refused and went around blabbing about Kayla's offer, rather than being accused of spreading conspiracies, Kayla would only be seen as an ostracized official who had trouble getting along with her peers. It might invoke some ridicule but couldn't lead to legal persecution.

Hu Qing’s smile grew even wider at that, his eyes glittering with a gleeful light.

“Minister, you really are much too modest. Who in the capital does not know of the court’s shining star? It is shocking that a man such as you, who is handsome, generous, and accomplished, and furthermore hails from an illustrious line, would struggle to captivate the hearts of your peers,” Madam Aida replied in a flattering tone. “Nonetheless, how can I possibly refuse your request? But it does stand that we are limited in ability and influence, and we dare not promise more than we can achieve.”

“Never mind that, madam. The minister is very generous, and that is something that I can attest to. Your reward will be on the basis of your efforts, not your successes, and you will not be hounded for your failures. In terms of an employer, I can recommend no better man than the one before you,” Hu Qing said. In other words, Kayla wouldn’t abuse her power to screw over the brothel in case they failed to live up to expectations. The madam nodded, looking somewhat assured.

“Then if the Minister is willing to bestow his patronage upon this undeserving establishment, we would be grateful to accept,” Madam Aida said. “Needless to say, our dealings will be confidential, you can be certain of this.”

Once the madam gave her agreement, Kayla held the upper hand.

“I am, we would not have approached you if you were someone with a loose tongue,” Kayla said, careful not to intonate it as a threat. The power imbalance was completely in her favor, if she so wanted, Kayla could repeatedly launch investigations into the brothel until it was brought to ruin. She wouldn’t, but the threat of it would be enough to ensure that the madam could neither refuse nor betray Kayla’s confidence. Unlike Qu Boyong, the madam was tied down by her assets and fortune, all of which would be at stake should she have second thoughts about double-crossing Kayla.

“This lowly one is humbled by your confidence. If I may ask, was there something that the Minister had in mind?” Madam Aida asked.

Kayla nodded. “First of all, I wish to counter the rumors aimed at slandering my name.”

“Of course, if you don’t mind, please leave the specifics of dealing with such a thing to us,” Madam Aida said smoothly. “We are well-experienced in this regard.”

“The madam covers up affairs when necessary,” Hu Qing softly explained to Kayla, while Madam Aida politely pretended that she couldn’t hear him.

“Wonderful, that’s exactly what I needed. As for my second request, it is a bit more specific,” Kayla said. She nodded for Hu Qing to take over.

“We wish to make use of the current rumors to a certain degree,” Hu Qing said. “To customize it, if you will.”

“Of course, please go on,” Madam Aida said.

“The Minister is a man who is reticent and shy by nature, and has focused on his work and scholarly pursuits rather than pleasures of the flesh or cunning plots and entrapments. However, there is some truth to the rumors currently being spread, while the Minister himself refused to engage in sordid transactions of any sort, the Grand Duke has repeatedly attempted to coerce his heir into illicit engagements in order to benefit himself,” Hu Qing said.

Madam Aida’s eyebrows shot up as she realized that they were redirecting the smear campaign to the Grand Duke.

“A bold and unorthodox choice, Minister. But if I have correctly guessed, this is sure to have the intended effect,” Madam Aida said delicately.

“There is another man,” Hu Qing jumped in. “A man by the name of Qu Boyong.”

“Oh? An interesting name. What manner of man is he?” Madam Aida asked.

“A servant, one who was treated with great generosity and trust, but proved traitorous and unworthy of all the favor he has received,” Hu Qing replied.

“Do tell me more,” Madam Aida urged.

“A young man who entered the Minister’s service but foolishly sought to destroy his master in exchange for a promotion that he did not earn or deserve, all while enjoying the handsome salary and benefits that the Minister provided,” Hu Qing said dramatically. “A most faithless and cunning man who attempted to seduce unmarried young serving maids into his bed, ruining their marriage prospects while refusing all responsibility. The Minister was fooled by his show of loyalty and his falsehoods of caring for an impoverished and belittled household, but even upon the betrayal of his most trusted servant, the Minister gave Qu Boyong his severance pay and his wages for the month.”

Hu Qing had come up with an extremely embellished version of the truth, amplifying Qu Boyong's faults while minimizing his virtues, but it was true enough that Qu Boyong wouldn't be able to wiggle out of this. It was a bit of a stretch to turn Qu Boyong's meeting a girl at night into a case of seducing young women, but it was true that no marriage requests had been made, so it could also be interpreted that way.

“What generosity and goodwill towards a most undeserving man! And if I may ask, what is the nature of this man’s betrayal?” Madam Aida asked.

“A cruel and heartless one, he would knowingly spout falsehoods to blacken his master’s reputation, twisting the Grand Duke’s repulsive actions and the Minister’s own righteousness into slanderous rumors in order to discredit the Minister, as well as the Court of Judicial Review,” Hu Qing replied.

Kayla maintained her polite smile, a little amazed at Hu Qing’s performance. What a drama queen, she mentally exclaimed, delighted and horrified in equal measure.

“Terrible, for such a misfortune to befall such a generous man,” Madam Aida sighed, just as performatively. “We would be happy to deal with this for you, Minister.”

“I would be much obliged,” Kayla said politely. The conversation turned towards a discussion of recompense, Hu Qing taking over the negotiations, haggling skillfully until a final deal was reached. A written contract was drafted up and signed, with a copy to be left with each party.

The visit finally drew to an end, with both parties in high spirits. Kayla had gotten hold of a rumor machine, and her private meeting with the madam would likely be interpreted in her favor as well, while the madam had gotten ahold of a rich and powerful client’s promise of a long-term deal.

On the carriage back, Kayla’s good mood slowly wore off, replaced by a feeling of extreme weariness.

“Who do you think that young girl was?” Hu Qing asked.

“Who knows? Probably the daughter of some Turkic merchant, or maybe a noble of some sort,” Kayla replied.

Hu Qing lit up with a wicked grin, looking extremely amused. Kayla glanced at him askance, sensing that he didn’t have anything good to say.

“What?” Kayla asked warily. “What is it? Stop looking at me like that.”

“Did you not hear her self-introduction?” Hu Qing asked gleefully.

“I heard her just fine, didn’t she say her name was Xichun?” Kayla asked in confusion.

“Well, the heavens have their own plans,” Hu Qing said to himself. “Nevermind, Minister. Don’t worry about that and get some rest, let the rumor mill do its job.”

“I do have some doubts about using Qu Boyong in the rumors,” Kayla said. “That guy’s hardly going to sit back and let this happen. If he can stir up the rumors once, he can do it twice, can’t he?”

“We have the advantage in resources,” Hu Qing replied, not seeming worried in the least. “The thing that actually bothers me is that I’m almost certain that Qu Boyong isn’t a real name. I mean, who would name their kid that? Something else from the Chu Poems would make sense, sure, but why the name of the poet’s father?”

Kayla sighed. “Then those rumors will be for nothing?”

“No, it’ll still drag him into the spotlight at a time when he’s trying to lie low. You already got the palace on his tail by dragging in Sir Yang, but this way, you’ll be able to prevent yourself from getting played. After all, the palace only shares what it wants to,” Hu Qing reasoned. “There’s no telling if they’ll let him go on and do whatever if they find him useful, but where does that leave you? It’s better to take matters into our own hands.”

“You have a point. In any case, the Grand Duke will have his hands full. The Imperial Investigation Bureau’s breathing down his neck, and now the capital’s scrutiny will be leveled on him,” Kayla said. “Hopefully, it’ll keep him off and turn public opinion in my favor. The more people think that the Grand Duke is unqualified as a grandfather, the easier it’ll be for me from here on.”

Hu Qing gave Kayla a look of sympathy, tinged with the fascination of someone watching a soap drama. Kayla steadily ignored him, her mind wandering back to Qu Boyong.

“The Chu Poems, indeed, Qu Boyong's name takes after Qu Yuan’s writings. But is that a clue or a false alarm?” Kayla muttered.

“It could be either, maybe even both,” Hu Qing replied.

Kayla’s mind flashed back to the Li Sanjin case and Qu Boyong’s visit to the Zhao household under the cloak of nightfall. Pieces were starting to come together in her head, but she couldn’t quite make sense of it just yet.

“There’s a serving maid who used to be my personal servant,” Kayla said thoughtfully. “Her name is Chujiao. Her original name was Jing Shuyou.”

“Another name from the Chu Poems,” Hu Qing noted. “In fact, it’s a little on the nose. Chujiao? Who even came up with that?”

“My mother,” Kayla replied.

“Nevermind. But it is quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed. What a coincidence.” Kayla’s voice darkened as she thought back to the red jade necklace that had pointed out Chujiao as the servant who betrayed Wenyuan to Xianchun.

Is it really a coincidence? The thought had occurred to Kayla before but had never quite formed into a theory. Now, however, she could no longer afford to overlook any details.

“You said she used to be your personal servant, as in she’s no longer in that role?” Hu Qing asked.

“I removed her on an unfounded suspicion, she works as a secretary in the Outer Quarters these days,” Kayla explained.

“Unfounded? Very interesting,” Hu Qing said. “Should I look into her as well?”

“If you can spare the effort, please do so,” Kayla said grimly.

Chujiao cares enough to try and warn us when the Grand Duke was making a move, but a person can care a lot about many different people, and who knows where we rank on her priorities? Better safe than sorry.

“Sure, I’ll do that. You should just focus on Hu Weizhi for the time being, and whatever political things that require your attention. I’ll deal with Qu Boyong and that servant of yours,” Hu Qing said comfortingly.

Kayla nodded her thanks.

Minister Liang held a letter in his hands, staring at it with incomprehension. He had shut himself in his office at the Liang household, working late both due to necessity and also to avoid his wife, who was in a foul mood after fighting with one of his concubines. The letter he was currently holding had rather disturbingly appeared on the windowsill while Minister Liang was right inside the room, and yet none of the guards seemed to have sensed anything.

“Goddamnit, is there a ghost or something?” Minister Liang grumbled, unrolling the small sheet of paper. He read the words on the paper, stilling as they registered in his mind before he involuntarily gave a shudder.

The letter was a simple message of two sentences, along with a communication talisman that had been folded in. Minister Liang felt cold sweat bead on his neck as he stared at the letter. After a long moment of indecision, he activated the communication talisman with trembling hands.

It connected immediately, a high-class talisman that must’ve cost a hefty amount to procure.

“Who is this?” Minister Liang demanded before the other party could speak.

“Be at ease, Minister. I mean no harm.” The voice on the other end of the talisman was gravelly and had a strange sound to it that hinted at the use of a voice-modification spell.

“Who are you and how do you know about Liang Hongfei?” Minister Liang asked insistently, glancing uneasily at the letter.

“To the son of a concubine who has usurped Liang Hongfei, the rightful heir, I send my regards. If you wish to retain your seat, activate this talisman.” Despite its brevity, it felt like a sharp blade pressed against his neck. The Liang family was extremely discreet and had a high degree of internal cohesion after the disasters that had befallen them in the past when the clan had been persecuted on false charges. No one would have betrayed the clan like this, not even Liang Hongfei himself.

“Why, Minister, there is nothing new beneath the sun. And it’s certainly not as though you pulled it off as flawlessly as you believed you had, the palace knows, do they not?” The voice asked patiently.

Minister Liang hadn't actually been certain of that before but had always suspected it. Minister Liang grit his teeth. “So you’re from the palace?”

“You have no need to fear me, Minister. If you are willing to cooperate with me, your family’s internal affairs will remain a secret, buried beneath the various scandals that emerge every day in this city. More so than that, you will attain merit for yourself and a sharp blade for your prince,” the voice said comfortingly, not at all comforting Minister Liang in the slightest.

“Insolent! How dare you insinuate that I am to be bought? I have no loyalty to anyone but the Emperor!” Minister Liang snapped, his heart pounding in fear.

“We can go with whatever claims you prefer, but you really should consider the offer that I bring. I have no wish to blackmail you, Minister. This was only a greeting gift to show you my capabilities,” the voice said. “Soon, the Ministry of Justice will receive a case that can shift the entire balance of power in the court. Should you pursue this case with your full efforts and discretion, you will have what it takes to end the Zhao clan. In addition, I will give you what you need to end the Shu clan and attack the Xue and Cao clans.”

Minister Liang’s heart skipped a beat.

“Just who are you to offer me this?” Minister Liang asked in a shaking voice. “What case do you speak of?”

“Rest assured, Minister, that you will only be doing this country a service, and persecuting evil as your honor and position demand. I am but a man seeking justice for those who were wronged, and you will not regret helping me. The case I speak of will become evident to you shortly, you will know it once you see it. As for the information, it is best that you do not ask how it was obtained, but know that you will have enough to rout the Third Prince’s faction for good. No tree can live without its roots, and that is the state that the Third Prince’s faction will be rendered to once the maternal families of the princes and the Third Prince’s in-laws are destroyed,” the voice assured him.

Minister Liang gnashed his teeth, feeling frustration and excitement in equal measure. “This is ridiculous! I do not even know who you are or what you are aiming for, how on earth can I trust you?”

“You need not to, Minister. As I said, I have no wish to blackmail you, but I also will not hesitate to stoop to it if necessary. Currently, the ill will of the court and the capital are directed not towards the princes, nor the Ministers, but toward the Zhao clan. But you know how fickle people’s attentions can be, your carefully cultivated reputation will be destroyed should it come to light how you became the head of the Liang clan,” the voice said.

“You bastard! How dare you?!” Minister Liang snarled. “Do you think that you will remain outside of my reach?!”

“Don’t be foolish, Minister. Do you think Liang Hongfei is the only card I have? Not just you, but your prince, and the other members of your faction, I can easily destroy any one of you. If you know what’s good for you, bring my offer to your master and do as I say. You will only benefit,” the voice urged.

“You would threaten the prince?!”

“I would do whatever I deem necessary in order to see justice done. It has been denied to me too long, and I will not be made to wait any longer,” the voice said coldly. “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, do not be stubborn.”

“Even if I am willing, there’s no telling what Zhang Dingyong would do. He is the Right Secretariat, and the Third Prince’s man,” Minister Liang protested.

“I have my ways to handle him. Once we are through, I will give you what you need to destroy him as well,” the voice promised.

“Listen here–”

“Do not forget that I am not asking anything illegal, nor immoral. I only ask that you not overlook the case for fear of the court, and I am more than willing to properly repay you for your courage. I have raised the toast to you, Minister. You should not doubt that I will pour out the punishment drink next, it is up to you which you wish to drink.”

With that, the communication talisman deactivated from the other end, crumbling into dust in Minister Liang’s hands. He stared at the pile of dust for a while before letting it fall through his fingers and onto the desk.

“Good heavens,” Minister Liang muttered with dread. “Another storm has come, and it arrives cloaked in shadows. Just how far will all this go?”

After a moment of blank silence, Minister Liang got up and opened the door, stepping out into the corridor. He glanced around and waved over a serving maid.

“Go tell the horsemen to prepare the carriage,” he ordered. The serving maid blinked at him in confusion.

“Minister, this late at night? It’s almost midnight,” She asked.

“Do I need to say it twice?! Go!” Minister Liang snapped. The serving maid stammered out an apology and bowed her head, scurrying off.

His personal servant approached in a quick stride, hurrying down the corridor to catch up with Minister Liang as the man made his way towards the gates.

“Minister, where are you heading at this hour?” The servant asked, sensing that there was something off.

“The Seventh Prince’s household,” Minister Liang grit out through a clenched jaw.

“Minister, but–”

“This is urgent,” Minister Liang cut him off. “I need to act immediately.”

His personal servant remained quiet for a moment before bowing his head slightly. “Understood, Minister. I’ll fetch your cloak.”

Minister Liang nodded his thanks, letting out a deep sigh as he stepped into the night air. It was destined to be a sleepless night, and even the moon’s forgiving light would not be enough to soothe the worries of those who knew no rest.

68-Left Secretariat

Kuang frowned, one leg folded over the other as he sat in a mahogany chair. It was deep into the night, but the Third Prince had no time for rest. A mysterious person had gotten into contact with Zhang Dingyong, threatening the man to cooperate with Minister Liang and offering the Third Prince's faction dirt on Xianchun, sending Zhang Dingyong into a panic.

Rather than let his retainer rip his own hair out, Kuang had called a meeting with Yunqi and Zhang Dingyong, summoning both of them to his household. Looking at the desperate expression on Zhang Dingyong's face, Kuang let out a soft sigh.

“Calm yourself, Zhang Dingyong. I had pinned you for a more steadfast man. This is nothing we can’t handle,” Kuang said levelly. Zhang Dingyong looked at the prince with wide, frightened eyes from where he knelt on the floor.

“My prince, my sincere apologies, I have no idea how this could have happened, I was much too careless!” Zhang Dingyong said, a desperate note in his voice. “This-this-my family certainly would not have said anything, and my godparents are also sworn to silence!”

“There is no wall that does not leak wind,” Kuang said. “It is not as though we never considered this possibility.”

“Your highness, you are much too kind, I am undeserving of your graciousness,” Zhang Dingyong said, his voice thick with regret. “You treated me with such kindness even though I was born from the union of a criminal and prostitute, and yet my birth has now become a weapon against you!”

“There is no need to flagellate yourself, Right Secretariat. Since ancient times, heroes are not asked about their origins. Third Brother never held your family history against you before, and he would not start now,” Yunqi chimed in from where he sat next to Kuang, perfectly poised as always.

Zhang Dingyong, not trusting his voice to speak any further, bowed his head to the floor and kept it there.

“Enough of this now, lift your head. No trouble will come, whether to you or your adoptive father. I have measures in place to deal with this, it was an investment I had made when I decided to use you as one of my men,” Kuang assured him. “The contingency measures were prepared by Yunqi himself, surely you know better than to doubt my younger brother’s attention to detail.”

“I would not dare,” Zhang Dingyong said, quickly wiping his face dry before lifting his head. “But my prince, that stranger’s offer…”

“We will accept for the time being, though I do not wish to. If he claims to have information to destroy the Seventh Prince’s faction, then I have no doubt that he made a similar offer to Xianchun’s man as well. After all, Minister Liang is the head of the Ministry, there’s nothing that can go through if he is directly opposed to it,” Kuang sighed. "I am curious, however, just what kind of case necessitates going to such lengths? Is he not afraid of the consequences of blackmailing a prince?"

“We have no choice, for if we do not accept, Xianchun might gain an advantage over us. I doubt that the stranger truly has what he offers, or that he would give it to us if he does, but we cannot take the chance of being one-sidedly crushed. If we refuse, he will expose what he has and we will be at a disadvantage. In any case, we will also root out this person during the investigation, and destroy them thoroughly,” Yunqi pointed out.

“Now the question remains if Wenyuan has also received a proposition,” Kuang said thoughtfully. “What do you think, Yunqi?”

“This is not his doing, that is for sure,” Yunqi said. “If he had this kind of information, he would simply use it to keep us from going too far against Xianchun. Not to mention that as the head of the Court of Judicial Review, he could simply intercede and push forward a case rather than going through all this trouble. The most reasonable assumption is either that the one who contacted Right Secretariat Zhang was telling the truth and this is a personal vendetta, or there are other forces at play.”

“My prince, could the recent rumors have to do with this?” Zhang Dingyong asked tentatively. “If Minister Zhao does not benefit from this case, then it’s possible that it would be damaging to him in some way. It seems to me that this stranger wishes for the investigation to remain within the Ministry of Justice, so it stands that there must be a reason for that. Perhaps the case is targeting Minister Zhao?”

“That, or it's something that can completely crush the Zhao clan,” Kuang agreed. “Either they also have something on him, or they wish to keep him out of the way by making sure he doesn't have any attention to spare for a case in the Ministry of Justice.”

“If that is what that man was aiming for, then it seems he’s behind on the uptake. Minister Liang seems to be confident in consolidating the Seventh Prince’s hold over the Ministry of Justice, but the Imperial Investigator Bureau has grown quite close with Minister Zhao over the last few months, the only piece that the neutral faction is missing now is the Ministry of Justice, and they’ll have control over the entire criminal justice system. Even if a chance has appeared, the Seventh Prince wouldn’t be first in line for it,” Zhang Dingyong pointed out, having more or less calmed down. “From my understanding of Minister Zhao, he isn’t someone who would let go of any chance, I am almost certain that he would at least grab hold of the Left Secretariat position. And then what good will threatening us do?”

“How will he spare the effort to mind these matters when he’s already so preoccupied? Unless the palace intercedes on his behalf, it’s unlikely for him to find the time to jostle with the Ministry of Personnel,” Yunqi pointed out.

“I wouldn’t put it past grandmother to do such a thing,” Kuang said, rubbing his chin. “Well, no matter. We never aimed for the Ministry of Justice, to begin with. Rather, this is a chance for us to wrap up loose ends and consolidate our own holdings. The current situation is too delicate for us to think of expansion.”

“Indeed, it would be better to follow our cousin’s advice and gain ground by retreating for the time being,” Yunqi said.

Zhang Dingyong stiffened slightly, understanding that the Third Prince’s faction was going to make a move.

Kuang nodded at him with a reassuring smile. “Zhang Dingyong, you have a good head on your shoulders. Do not worry and keep your eyes sharp. More likely than not, this case will create a huge uproar in the capital, we’ll need to plan accordingly.”

Zhang Dingyong bowed his head. “Understood, your highness. I will do as you command.”

Without any servants to come and rouse her, save for Matron Li who was often too busy to make the trip, Kayla was extremely grateful for Wenyuan’s almost inhuman ability to wake up at the crack of dawn without even an alarm.

It was the morning of the convening of the court, and Kayla was anxious. Not of facing her fellow officials, who would have a lot to say about both the rumors and her visit to the brothel, but because the Ministry of Personnel would be announcing the new personnel for the Ministry of Justice. The officials who had been implicated in the Imperial Investigation Bureau’s findings had been quietly stripped of their ranks and heavily fined or imprisoned, depending on the severity of their crimes. But the quiet manner in which all this was done would have no effect on averting the hungry gaze of the court.

The question was whether the Ministry of Personnel would lower its heads and accept the Imperial Investigation Bureau’s recommendations, or if it would refuse it head-on. She had a small inkling of doubt on the matter. The core members of Xianchun’s faction were just as headstrong as the prince himself, and she wasn’t completely certain that Minister Jun wouldn’t simply grit his teeth, stomp his foot, and send the Bureau’s recommendations right back.

Kayla pushed the thoughts out of her mind and prepared herself before heading out to her carriage. She wasn’t at all surprised that Hu Qing wasn’t there. Unlike Qu Boyong, Hu Qing tended to do what he wanted rather than going through all the proper motions simply to please his employer. More likely than not, he would appear randomly when he felt like it or when he was needed. Her security detail outside of the Zhao household, ironically, was much better than within.

The carriage pulled to a stop outside the palace gates, and Kayla joined the ranks of officials who were filing into the meeting hall. Officials whispered with one another without bothering to be discreet as they openly stared at Kayla. She had no idea whether it was the result of the rumors Qu Boyong had spread or the ones that would have spread from her visit last night, but Hu Weizhi didn’t look too pleased to see her.

“Minister Zhao,” The Secretariat Director approached, a smirk on his face. Kayla pushed down a wave of disdain as she saw him, still holding a grudge from the accusations he had sanctioned during the Li Sanjin case.

“Secretariat Director,” Kayla greeted him politely.

“I’m surprised you were able to make it to such an early court session, Minister Zhao. I had heard you were busy until late last night,” the Secretariat Director said. Some of the bolder officials chuckled in response.

“How could I not present myself for a session of the court? It is my duty and honor to do so,” Kayla replied.

“Is that so? In my many years of experience as an official of the court, rarely have I met a Minister who would dally in a brothel until the early hours of the morning on the night before a court session,” the Secretariat Director said.

What, like it’s better to have five concubines instead? And it's not like you haven't done it before.

“The Secretariat Director’s admonishment is duly noted,” Kayla said.

“Lust and wine will cloud the eyes and ambitions of a young man. Minister, you already over-indulge in alcohol, and now women as well? You must mind yourself before making short work of your career,” the Secretariat Director chided in the voice of a concerned elder, even as his eyes glinted with cruel pleasure.

As a member of the Grand Duke’s faction, of course the Secretariat Director also knew about Wenyuan’s use of alcohol as a coping method. Kayla pushed down her annoyance and made to reply. Before she had a chance to, an unfamiliar voice cut in.

“A man who has fled fifty steps would laugh at a man who has fled a hundred steps? Hypocrisy is unbecoming for you, Secretariat Director.”

The Secretariat Director fell silent, as did the officials who had been chuckling or whispering under their breaths only a minute ago. They shuffled out of the way, edging back to make way as a man approached. Kayla did not immediately recognize him. He looked to be at least in his late fifties and had a solemn air to him that better suited a priest, but his purple clothes labeled him clearly as a high-ranking official.

With some desperate mental clambering, Kayla managed to match the face to a name.

Wei Guang, the head of the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Edict Bearer.

The man had been gone from the court for three years due to the death of his mother, but his seat had been retained for him due to the Emperor’s strong trust in him.

I didn’t think this guy would appear, Kayla thought in wonder. Wei Guang had never had a chance to appear in the original novel, his name hadn’t even been mentioned except for in passing, when Minister Liang had pointed out that Wei Guang had chosen to retire in a timely manner, secluding himself away from the succession battle in the capital.

From Wenyuan’s memories, Wei Guang was a highly respected man in who the Emperor placed immense faith. Even if he was only a third-rank official, he could stand on equal footing with the heads of the Three Departments due to the Emperor’s trust in him. As the Imperial Edict Bearer, Wei Guang was able to meet the Emperor one-on-one much more easily than anyone else in the entire court, even more so than Wenyuan and the Emperor’s own sons.

Even if Kayla didn’t know what Wei Guang was aiming for, it was clear that his re-emergence would have a significant impact on whatever came next. It also meant that if he were to become her enemy, Kayla’s position would become much more difficult than before.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least not yet. Didn’t he just step in on our behalf? Wenyuan pointed out, sounding a little in awe of Wei Guang.

It could be an act, Kayla retorted. We’ll have to quietly watch for any changes.

“Edict Bearer Wei,” The Secretariat Director said politely. Kayla bowed her head in respect, giving her greetings quietly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Hu Weizhi and his gaggle of traditionalists watching them intently.

“Secretariat Director, Minister Zhao, it seems that this one has interrupted your conversation,” Wei Guang said pleasantly.

“Not at all,” The Secretariat Director said coolly. “I was merely exchanging a few words with Minister Zhao on his personal conduct, fearing it would reflect badly on the court.” He determinedly pretended not to have heard Wei Guang’s earlier comment.

“Ah, yes, that part I heard,” Wei Guang chuckled. “Minister Zhao certainly is full of youthful vigor, is he not? In my youth, I never would have managed on so little rest.”

Kayla lowered her head, a little embarrassed.

“I am ashamed for my indiscretion,” Kayla said, making sure to look suitably chastened.

Wei Guang clapped a hand on Kayla’s shoulder, giving it a friendly pat. “All things in moderation, young friend. Show the same energy for your work and you are certain to go far.”

”This junior will be certain to do so,” Kayla replied quickly. She could sense that Wei Guang had taken her side, even if she didn’t know what to make of it yet.

“As for the extraneous noise, do not be distracted by it. Hear my advice, young man, there is no need to mind the whispers of the rabble. Did Confucius not say not to fear that you are not understood but that you do not understand others? If you understand your colleagues, you would know better than to heed their judgment of you,” Wei Guang said.

Unspoken was the quote, “Great men seek from within, while small-minded men seek from their surroundings,” encouraging Kayla while criticizing her peers, a flawless two-in-one that you could not take offense to without seeming petty.

Since when does this guy have such a good opinion of me? Wenyuan never even spoke with him except for in greeting!

Kayla bowed her head further.

“I humbly receive your advice, Edict Bearer. My gratitude for your words of wisdom,” Kayla replied.

He nodded at the Secretariat Director and moved on in the same slow and deliberate pace as before, moving into the spot that had always been vacant before the higher-ranking members of the Hanlin Academy, where he immediately took on a statuesque air of solemn stillness. His presence alone caused the remaining conversations to fizzle out altogether. The other officials all shuffled into their positions in silence.

The Third and Seventh Princes arrived soon after, each heading over to greet Wei Guang as soon as they caught sight of him. Yunqi was still taking a leave of absence, hoping to alleviate the pressure on the Shu family. A while later, the Grand Duke arrived as well, stiffly exchanging a few words with Wei Guang before turning away again. As usual, the Grand Duke didn’t so much as glance at Kayla. The Emperor also arrived within a few more minutes, and the court session commenced.

The Emperor took several minutes to express his joy for Wei Guang’s return, practically radiating with happiness. Wei Guang, in turn, was suitably touched, thanking the Emperor for his kindness. After that, the session progressed normally, with a few minor issues being briefly debated before a conclusion was reached on the spot. Near the latter part of the session, the issue of the Ministry of Justice’s replacement personnel finally came up.

Almost as soon as the appointments were announced, a wave of angry murmurs spread through the court. The Secretariat Director was the first to step up.

“Your Majesty, I must object! Sun Ruhui is only a fifth-rank Chamberlain, and he was promoted to this position from a mere ninth-rank County Magistrate less than two months ago! How can he be made a Left Secretariat when he has yet to prove himself in his current post?” The Secretariat Director argued.

“I concur! Your Majesty, there are plenty of officials who have more experience and more talent, and are better suited for the position of Left Secretariat, why should it be a man fresh from the provinces, who has no notable achievements or virtues to speak of?” The Chancellery Director chimed in.

The Emperor looked at them, still smiling placidly. “Two of the three heads of the Three Departments have spoken, will you not give your opinion as well, Central Secretariat?”

The room filled with a tense silence as all eyes turned towards the Grand Duke. It was hardly an unusual act for the Emperor, but given the current political situation, every single move was treated with caution and scrutiny. Kayla could almost feel the air heating up as all the officials’ brains simultaneously began working in overdrive.

“This subject is getting on in his years, and my mind is no longer as sharp as before,” the Grand Duke said, entirely insincere. “More so than his experience and achievements, what is important is that he is able to demonstrate his competence as Left Secretariat. I must admit to having questions about this. Minister Liang, what do you think of this choice of personnel? As the head of the Ministry of Justice, your opinion should not be discounted.”

Kayla watched as Minister Liang hesitated. It was obvious that he wanted to take the post for the Seventh Prince’s faction, but now that he was put on the spot, he could no longer make any overt moves.

“From the look on your face, I daresay that you’ve never even met the man before,” the Grand Duke said. Without giving Minister Liang a chance to reply, he pressed on. “Then I must ask Minister Jun instead. As the head of the Ministry of Justice, surely something this important would have had your input. Why was Sun Ruhui chosen over the other candidates?”

Kayla could sense that the Grand Duke was trying to imply that the Seventh Prince faction was trying to curry favor with the neutral faction, but the entire affair had gone through the Imperial Investigation Bureau as its middleman, and the Emperor knew every single step of it. Many of the more astute officials could guess the approximate process as well.

No, the Grand Duke would also know that, so what is he aiming for here?

“In response to the Central Secretariat’s question, I will humbly offer my reasoning. I know little of Sun Ruhui, who has not been known to be particularly talented or virtuous. However, I do know that as a County Magistrate, he was able to completely eradicate crime within his county, and was beloved by his fellow officials and the people alike,” Minister Jun said stiffly, the final justification sounding as though it had been forced out of him.

Kayla felt her heart drop as she saw where this was going. She had irked Minister Jun Shao last time with her insistence on the composition of the core staff, and now that she had directly forced his hand on a staff that did not belong to her, he was holding it against her. The fact that the palace wanted this was clear to him, but it was hardly as though he could direct his anger against the Emperor or the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, so the brunt of it was now aimed at Kayla.

Damn it, the Grand Duke is trying to provoke a fight between us! I had assumed Minister Jun would at least go through with it properly to avoid creating overt discord between Xianchun’s faction and the neutral faction, but it seems I’ve overestimated him. Or rather, I’ve underestimated his pride.

“What a ridiculous reason, how can a small county, where crime is rare and the people sparse, possibly be compared to the magnitude of the country itself? The seat of Left Secretariat works in conjunction with the Minister of Justice and the Right Secretariat of Justice in order to manage the criminal justice system of the entire country, can a man who has only proven himself in such a small capacity be approved for such a position?” The Grand Duke asked mockingly.

Minister Jun Shao looked visibly agitated, but couldn’t openly point out that it was Kayla’s fault, not in front of the Emperor, who was still wearing that same placid smile. At this point though, anyone could see that he was against it. Kayla could see that Xianchun’s face was also looking strained now.

“Perhaps we should ask those who have held the position before of their thoughts,” the Grand Duke said.

Oh shit. Wenyuan was the only person present who had served as Left Secretariat of Justice in the past, and he had been there as the Grand Duke’s puppet. Everyone knew that he hadn’t exactly been a competent Left Secretariat.

The Grand Duke looked at Kayla expectantly. “Well, Minister Zhao? Perhaps you could share your thoughts, as the one who served in this position until only three months ago.”

And now it was a pointed jab at the fact she had been promoted to the head of the Court of Judicial Review despite not having accomplished anything, a promotion that had passed over many officials who were superior to Wenyuan in everything but lineage.

Kayla cleared her throat, buying herself a precious few seconds to find the suitable words.

“In response to the Central Secretariat, this one shall strive to provide a suitable evaluation. I believe that Sun Ruhui will be a suitable choice, precisely due to his lack of experience. A spring fountain is able to maintain the clearness of its water because there is constantly fresh water flowing into it. Similarly, for institutions that have a long history, that legacy can in fact become a burden without the timely addition of fresh faces and ideas,” Kayla replied.

Minister Jun did not hesitate to jump in, a mocking smile on his face. “What an interesting notion, Minister Zhao. If I recall correctly, you also took on the seat of Left Secretariat without any experience or achievements to your name and remained in that position for several years. And what do you think, Minister, was the addition of your fresh ideas beneficial to the Ministry?”

He obviously knew that it had not been. In fact, the corruption of the Ministry of Justice had only gotten worse after Wenyuan became its Left Secretariat, the Grand Duke’s faction growing more insolent now that they had a puppet to cover up their guilt.

Both Kuang and Xianchun wisely stayed out of it. If Xianchun rebuked Minister Jun, he could insult his own man, and there was always the danger of being seen as having too much influence over the members of his faction. If Kuang stepped in, it would be seen as an act of attacking Xianchun’s faction while buying the favor of the neutral faction.

Kayla took a deep breath.

Man, I really can’t catch a break. Minister Jun had forced her into a tough spot. Wenyuan’s appointment as Left Secretariat had been the result of the Grand Duke’s efforts and given the old man much more leverage to do as he wished, but the fact remained that it had also been approved of by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Kayla couldn’t admit to Wenyuan’s incompetence without also criticizing the Emperor and risking her current credibility to boot, but if she denied Wenyuan’s unsuitability for the position, she would be effectively siding with the Grand Duke.

She scrambled for a reply, racking her brain for a suitable response.

Fuck it, time to be shameless.

“The ancient greats said that all things depend on three factors, the timeliness of the heavens, the suitability of the earth, and the harmony of the people. This one was originally but an ignorant youth, and only gained the seat of Left Secretariat through the grace and benevolence of the Emperor, and so already had the timeliness of the heavens from the onset. It was due to my own inability that I was not able to make good use of my surroundings in a suitable fashion, and that I could not better promote harmony within the core staff of the Ministry of Justice,” Kayla said, tinging her voice with regret. It was a none-too-subtle reminder that the former Minister and Right Secretariat of Justice were actual criminals who actively abused their power for their own gain, compared to Wenyuan who at worst was just aiding and abetting while getting shoved along without actually knowing what he was doing.

“I am deeply ashamed, that in my fervor to become more competent in my own duties and to shake off the childish ignorance of my youth, I failed to assuage the actions of my former colleagues or persuade them to return towards a righteous path,” Kayla continued. In other words, she couldn’t have really known without an investigation, just as the rest of the court hadn’t been able to latch onto any of their faults. If Wenyuan was incompetent, then at least he had youthful inexperience as an excuse. What excuse did the others have? The Emperor was exempt from this criticism, of course, as a ruler who had to deal with ten thousand issues a day, but not the rest of the court.

Now, it was no longer just Xianchun’s faction that was looking unhappy, but the Grand Duke’s faction as well. Kayla kept her cool, looking at the Emperor with an apologetic expression as she mentally assessed who would still be available to step in and issue a challenge.

“Minister Zhao is correct in mentioning the three factors necessary for success,” an unexpected voice joined the fray. Wei Guang smiled as he jumped in. A single sentence from him was enough to change the animosity in the room into a unified air of apprehension as everyone warily awaited his next words.

“Edict Bearer Wei, I am curious to hear your thoughts,” the Emperor prompted him.

“In response to Your Majesty, all things have a natural rhythm that cannot be forcibly changed. As the ancient greats say, the heavens have a pattern of their own, they will not extend themselves for Emperor Yao, nor self-destruct for Emperor Jie. Minister Zhao is still young and has not seen enough cycles of rise and fall within the court to understand the process that he has been a part of,” Wei Guang said.

Kayla looked on in confusion. Is he criticizing me or praising me?

“It is difficult for individuals to understand their role in the greater scheme of things, and this does not exclude more experienced officials as well. Minister Zhao may not have been able to make use of the favorable conditions he’d been given, but his presence was conducive to creating the current circumstances, where the disharmony within the Ministry of Justice has finally been eradicated. Now, all three conditions have been fulfilled, and the Ministry of Justice, just as Minister Zhao suggested, is poised for making great progress through the inclusion of fresh talent. At a time like this, a man in his strongest years who has both the experience needed to understand cases and the fresh mind of one who has never resided within the capital is indeed the perfect candidate,” Wei Guang finished.

Kayla would never have been shameless enough to say anything like this herself, even having thicker skin than most of the officials present, it would’ve been too much of a hurdle.

Holy shit, he’s going all in, Kayla thought in amazement. She managed to keep herself from showing open delight, showing a suitable look of modesty as the subject of praise.

The Emperor, however, did not withhold his reaction in the slightest. He threw his head back and laughed, his clear laughter echoing throughout the hall.

“Edict Bearer Wei, three years of absence has only made your mind sharper than before! As expected from the most learned scholar of my court, your observations are on a whole other level. I am lucky to have a subject like you!” The Emperor said in a booming voice, his eyes sparkling with delight.

Even without directly stating his opinion on Wenyuan and Sun Ruhui, the praise for Wei Guang was enough to get the point across.

“You are much too kind, Your Highness, I dare not accept praise I do not deserve,” Wei Guang said humbly, bowing his head.

The Emperor waved off his protest, and the matter was decided. The officials who had been preparing to argue against Sun Ruhui’s appointment quietly gave up, and no more was said in objection. The rest of the appointments were also passed without further debate, and the court session soon wound to a close.

After the Emperor left the hall, Kayla quietly approached Wei Guang and bowed her head.

“Edict Bearer Wei, thank you for lending your voice today. This junior is humbled by your kind words,” Kayla said politely.

“No need for such modesty, Minister Zhao. They say that the later waves of the Yangtze push forward the earlier ones, I am relieved to see how much you’ve grown during my absence,” Wei Guang said.

I thought you didn’t know him well before, Kayla thought, slightly puzzled at Wei Guang’s fond tone.

I didn’t?! He’s too scary, even when I had a chance to speak with him up close I wouldn’t take it!

Then why the hell is he talking like a family friend who watched you grow up?

I don’t know!

Kayla lowered her head in a show of bashful modesty. “I am undeserving of your benevolence,” she said humbly.

Wei Guang laughed softly. “There’s no need for excessive humbleness, Minister. It seems that those who come after can be trusted with the court’s affairs, as a man who is drooping into old age, there is nothing that is as reassuring as that.”

Wei Guang’s hand landed on Kayla’s shoulder, the man smiling benignly at her. Unprompted, a chill ran down Kayla’s back and a cold feeling scraped through her veins. Kayla gulped, and the feeling disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

What was that? Kayla thought nervously.

She pushed it aside and respectfully bid goodbye to Wei Guang as he left before approaching Minister Liang to appease him a little. She initiated a polite conversation that was cut short by his stilted replies. Kayla felt slightly discouraged but took heart in seeing that Minister Liang looked less affronted at the end of their interaction. Kayla didn’t even bother chasing down Minister Jun, who had left with Xianchun while she was talking with Wei Guang. She could find an excuse to send him a gift within the next few days and hope that he would be less affronted.

As for Xianchun, Kayla had no idea what she would do about him. Almost seeming to sense that this was the least opportune moment, Kuang approached her with Zhang Dingyong in tow.

Damn it, don’t come over here at a time like this! It’ll make things harder to deal with on Xianchun’s end! Of course, Kayla would hardly put it past Kuang to mess with Xianchun’s relationship with the neutral faction to gain an advantage, but it was just as likely that he was showing goodwill to signal that he hadn’t been behind the rumors targeting Wenyuan.

“This one humbly greets Your Highness,” Kayla said politely before greeting Zhang Dingyong.

“Minister Zhao, congratulations! It’s rare for someone to invoke such praise from the Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kuang said, beaming at her.

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “The Imperial Edict Bearer is a generous man who shows kindness to his juniors, but I am unworthy of such praise,” Kayla replied politely.

“Generous? It’s true you didn’t see much of him before he went into mourning, but the Imperial Edict Bearer has a sharper tongue than anyone else in court,” Kuang said. He gave her a look of amusement. “He must have really taken a liking to you if he gave such praise. If you ask me, I would say that your path will become a lot smoother from here on.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “The Third Prince is too kind, may all progress in line with your fortuitous words,” she replied. “I have not seen His Highness the Fifth Prince in public recently, may I ask if he is well?”

“Yunqi will be happy to hear that you asked of him, he’s doing well, but he’s rather busy with his familial affairs. His cousin Shu Zhengyan was ill-suited to the capital’s climate and suffered from poor health, Yunqi spent a lot of effort arranging for Zhengyan’s return to his family home,” Kuang said. “Now, Zhengyan’s youngest brother Zhengyu is coming to the capital to continue his studies. Zhengyu’s only sixteen, and it’ll be his first time spending so long away from home, so Yunqi’s been paying extra attention to that child.”

“The Fifth Prince truly is a kind-hearted person,” Kayla said. “I’m sure that someone under the Fifth Prince’s tutelage will surely become an exceptional talent.” The conversation ended soon after, leaving Kayla to head back to the Court of Judicial Affairs to announce Sun Ruhui’s promotion.

Sixteen was far too young to do much of consequence, which pacified the Emperor but angered the Shu clan. More likely than not, Yunqi had spent quite a bit of effort convincing his maternal relatives to accept the arrangement. Kayla felt a twinge of sympathy for the beleaguered Fifth Prince, quickening her footsteps as she approached the carriage.

69-Two Sides of the Same Blade

The Grand Duke’s face was a stony mask, but Housekeeper Wang knew better than to think his master was calm right now. When the Grand Duke was angry, he would become destructive and violent. When the Grand Duke was truly furious, he would become calmer and more level-headed than ever, and more dangerous as well. Housekeeper Wang hadn’t had the misfortune of seeing his master react like this in over a decade, having no reason to.

The Grand Duke had controlled the Three Departments and had enough people in the Six Ministries that no one dared to challenge him. Even if there were incidents that caused him anger, they weren’t enough to warrant such cold fury. But now, it seemed like the years in which the Zhao clan contently enjoyed its prosperity were over, and the person to open the gates to the hounds was none other than the Grand Duke’s own heir.

“My lord,” he said hesitantly, gulping and stepping back as the Grand Duke leveled him with a cold glare.

“Speak,” the Grand Duke said. Housekeeper Wang winced at the bone-chilling iciness of the Grand Duke’s tone.

“Sir, I apologize that we failed to gain word of Wei Guang’s return. The Imperial Edict Bearer seems to have returned to the capital secretly through the help of the palace, which is why we could not find out his whereabouts until his appearance today,” Housekeeper Wang apologized.

“That troublesome man has come in hopes of a show, but I’ll drag him right from his seat in the audience,” the Grand Duke said, his voice still cold and calm. “But that can wait, we’ll bide our chance with him. Right now it’s that heir of mine who we need to stomp into the mud before he completely ruins us all.”

Housekeeper Wang lowered his head. The Grand Duke had been infuriated by the rumors that had started spreading since last night shifting the public’s hunger for scandal toward the Grand Duke and away from Zhao Wenyuan. The rumors had started from the entertainment districts, along with rumors about the Zhao heir’s generosity towards the dancing girls, so it was clear enough who was behind it.

“The Imperial Investigators are watching us closely,” Housekeeper Wang cautioned.

The Grand Duke shook his head. “There is no point in trying to kill him again, it’ll only bring the roof down over our heads. I was played for a fool by the Empress Dowager last time.”

“It would seem that the young master was also played,” Housekeeper Wang offered in consolation. The Grand Duke gave a mean-spirited chuckle.

“It would serve him right for biting the hand that fed him. But our priority is to discredit him. I do not know who first spread the rumors against him, but they were on the right track. The palace is using him because of his lineage and the pedigree it brings, but destroy his reputation enough, and he becomes useless,” the Grand Duke said.

“As you say, my lord. What do you wish for me to do?”

“The rumors mentioned that servant of his,” the Grand Duke said.

“Qu Boyong,” Housekeeper Wang offered.

The Grand Duke nodded.

“Find this Qu Boyong,” the Grand Duke ordered.

Housekeeper Wang bowed his head. “Understood, my lord. And as for what to do with him?”

The Grand Duke gave him a disdainful look. “What do you think? Kill him. Mangle him up and toss his corpse somewhere it can be easily found. With the rumors flying around right now, who wouldn’t immediately suspect Wenyuan? The commoners are foolish and easy to sway, once they have a single reason to doubt you, they’ll doubt you all the way to the end. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve helped them before, or what accomplishments you have, it is a one-way road all the way down.”

Housekeeper Wang lit up with comprehension. “I see, once Qu Boyong turns up dead, then the young master wouldn’t be able to explain himself, and popular opinion will naturally turn against him! Truly an excellent plan, my lord.”

“Go on and see to it,” the Grand Duke said. “I want it done as soon as possible. The longer this takes, the less impact it’ll have.”

“As you wish, my lord.” Housekeeper Wang bowed before hurrying off to carry out the order.

Kayla made the formal announcement of Sun Ruhui’s promotion before the entire Court of Judicial Review, eliciting a wave of excitement. Sun Ruhui bowed and thanked her while his coworkers offered polite words of congratulations and well wishes. Kayla gave them a few moments before pulling Sun Ruhui away to her office.

“Minister, thank you very much for your recommendation,” Sun Ruhui said gratefully.

“Not at all, I’m also doing this for my own sake, Case Reviewer Chen also agreed that it was a good move for the neutral faction,” Kayla replied. “But I must warn you, some of the officials at court were against the idea, but the Imperial Edict Bearer Wei Guang has returned from his mourning period, and was very supportive.”

Sun Ruhui smiled. “That is excellent news, Minister. The Imperial Edict Bearer is a very respectable and influential man. If he chooses to give you his backing, you will be like a tiger who has additionally gained wings.”

“Still, be careful when you’re in the Ministry of Justice. The seat of Left Secretariat is not so easy to hold on to,” Kayla warned him. “It’s fine if you don’t make any moves right away, just find your footing first. Don’t let them think that you are located in the Cao encampment but your heart is in Han.”

Sun Ruhui’s smile disappeared, and he stepped back.

Shit, did I hurt his pride or something?

“Don’t get me wrong,” Kayla hastily backtracked, but Sun Ruhui didn’t heed her, solemnly kneeling down.

“Chamberlain! What are you doing?!” Kayla demanded, freaking out a little at Sun Ruhui’s grave expression.

“Thank you for your consideration, Minister. But there is no need for you to trouble yourself in this way, I know full well that I never could have reached the position of Left Secretariat if not for you–I would never have even been promoted into the capital. My role in the Ministry of Justice is to consolidate your holdings, I would not seek to shirk my duties,” Sun Ruhui said seriously.

Kayla winced. The mood in the room had taken an abrupt turn, taking her by surprise.

What kind of situation is this even?!

“I appreciate that, Chamberlain Sun,” she assured him. “Please get up.”

Sun Ruhui ignored her request and seemed to grow even more solemn in response.

“Minister, my life is yours. Even if it were climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a sea of fire, loyalty would not allow me to shrink back,” Sun Ruhui promised. “Even if I go to the Ministry of Justice, at heart I am still a member of the Court of Judicial Review.”

“I understand, Chamberlain Sun. I don’t doubt your loyalty in the slightest, please get up already,” Kayla pleaded, deeply uncomfortable with the situation. Sun Ruhui didn’t move, leveling her with a resolute gaze.

“Minister, please allow me to raise two insolent requests before I comply with your orders,” Sun Ruhui said.

“Please go ahead,” Kayla hastily replied.

Sun Ruhui bowed his head. “Please do not make Hu Qing an official, not even if the occasion arises. Even if you are in dire need of loyal supporters in court, that is the one man who you must never raise into a position of power.”

Kayla started in surprise and mulled it over for a moment. She hadn’t planned on doing such a thing, at least not for the time being, while Hu Qing had no interest whatsoever, but it was true that the thought had crossed her mind. After all, Hu Qing’s ascendance would inevitably weaken the position of Minister Liang, and by proxy, Xianchun as well. It was a move that she had kept in bay for if the need ever occurred.

“What is the second request?” Kayla asked, not immediately agreeing or refusing.

Sun Ruhui did not seem fazed in the slightest by her lack of affirmation. To her relief, he wasn’t disappointed.

“Please do not promote myself or Case Reviewer Chen again within at least three years,” Sun Ruhui said.

Three years? If things go similarly to the original timeline, the succession battle would be over by then! Who knows if I’d even survive that long?!

“May I hear your reasoning for these requests, Chamberlain Sun? It is not that I would deny you, but I wish to be enlightened by your wisdom,” Kayla said, carefully choosing her words.

“Thank you for being open to considering my requests, Minister. First of all, promoting Hu Qing would destabilize the Liang clan. Even though this may appear to be a good way to weaken the Seventh Prince, to do so would only invite your demise.”

Kayla jolted involuntarily.

“I am neutral, I would not carelessly move against either of the princes’ factions,” Kayla objected.

Sun Ruhui lowered his gaze. “Minister, no, my lord, I would speak plainly at risk of offending you. I do not understand why you fear the Seventh Prince, but I know that you are wary of him far more so than you are of the Third Prince.”

Kayla made to object but found that she didn’t have the heart to fabricate a lie for Sun Ruhui.

“Chamberlain Sun, I cannot give you a satisfactory explanation,” Kayla replied.

“It does not matter which prince you lean towards or ward against, that will not change my allegiance to you,” Sun Ruhui said. “My debt is to you, not the neutral faction. I simply wish to advise you on the most suitable courses of action.”

“Thank you, Chamberlain Sun. Please do go on,” Kayla said.

Sun Ruhui bowed his head slightly before continuing. “For Hu Qing’s situation, please keep this in mind. The Liang clan has strong internal cohesion, and still remembers the bitter years of persecution from when General Liang was framed and executed. If Hu Qing were truly to become your sharpened axe, he would only grow to resent you for it. And the Liang clan also would stoop to any measure to see you dead or destroyed, rather than suffer any pain and humiliation because of your actions,” Sun Ruhui said. “Those who have tasted the sharp edge of the culling knife would know better than to go unarmed and defenseless, they likely have many measures prepared, and I trust you would prefer not to experience them.”

“I see, they’ll destroy me before Xianchun can, is that so?” Kayla said thoughtfully.

“It is as you say,” Sun Ruhui replied. “Not to mention that even if they fail to harm you, the palace will come to suspect your motivations, and things will only go downhill from there.”

“That makes sense. And what about you and Case Reviewer Chen? The two of you are talents who the Emperor has personally expressed approval of, why can’t you be promoted?” Kayla asked.

“For this, Minister, there are several reasons. One is that the large tree attracts the wind, if the neutral faction were to become overly bright and eye-catching, we would be targeted with the full force of our enemies before we grow strong enough to withstand the attack. As a faction that has Imperial favor and backing, there is no need for us to be hasty or to aim for bursts of brilliance. Rather, we ought to build up our strength and expand our forces, working carefully and in an orderly fashion, and that is the only way we can gain the advantage in the long run,” Sun Ruhui said.

Kayla nodded thoughtfully.

“The second reason is that promoting Case Reviewer Chen and myself too quickly and too frequently will backfire on you. Not only will you be criticized for only favoring those close to you, it can also be used to discredit and defame the neutral faction. We will also face the hostility and sabotage of those around us, which will make it difficult to serve our needs. As the ancients said, if the name is not proper, the words do not flow well, and thus the task will be difficult to complete. All things must proceed in a justifiable manner, or it will result in failure,” Sun Ruhui continued.

Upon seeing that Kayla fully understood his meaning, Sun Ruhui continued. “And as for the final reason, it is that we will find it difficult to preserve our lives. Minister, you will be endangered as well.”

At Kayla’s frown, Sun Ruhui lowered his head. “As I said, my life is yours, Minister. I am not afraid to die if you need me to, but I want to live. I’m sure that the same goes for Case Reviewer Chen.”

“Of course,” Kayla hastily said. “Do not misunderstand my reaction, I was simply taken aback by the severity of the consequences. I would never fault someone for wanting to survive. Everyone has a right to that.”

“I have long known that the Minister is a kind-hearted person who would choose mercy over ruthlessness when the choice is presented,” Sun Ruhui said. “You spared Zhu Ling’er, even when she had information that could ruin you, and you spared Qu Boyong, even after he betrayed you. I do not say this because I doubt you, Minister, but because I wish you to know my true thoughts.”

Kayla nodded. “I understand, Chamberlain Sun. Promoting the two of you too quickly and too often will make you a thorn in the side of our enemies, of course they would try to destroy you by any means possible. Unlike myself, the two of you do not have the protection of the palace and the Imperial Investigation Bureau, it would put you in too much danger.”

“It is as you say,” Sun Ruhui said.

“If that is the case, then I accept both of your requests. You are a man of great wisdom, Chamberlain Sun. I am grateful that you are willing to impart your insights to me,” Kayla said. “Now can you please get up?”

Sun Ruhui smiled. “Thank you, Minister.” To Kayla’s immense relief, he slowly got up, patting off his robes.

Kayla reached out and took his hand to pull him up. She patted the back of his hand.

“Sun Ruhui, if you run into any trouble at the Ministry of Justice, just let me know, and I’ll do whatever I can,” Kayla said quietly. She had dragged him in, yanking him from the life of a County Magistrate who was more or less guaranteed to live peacefully until retirement into the turmoil of the capital. Kayla couldn’t help but feel responsible.

“I will, Minister. Please take care of yourself,” Sun Ruhui replied. He stepped back and bowed before leaving the office. Kayla watched him leave, remaining where she was for a long time until he had disappeared from sight. After a long moment, she shook herself out of it and called over a secretary.

“Minister,” the secretary bowed his head politely in greeting.

“Please call over the Vice-Directors and Case Reviewer Chen for me,” Kayla said. The secretary quickly hurried off, returning momentarily with all three in tow. Kayla nodded as they offered their greetings, gesturing for the secretary to take the door with him.

Once they were alone in the office, Kayla smiled at them politely.

“Vice-Minister Shen, Vice-Minister Ma, Case Reviewer Chen, thank you for joining me,” Kayla said politely. The Vice-Ministers smiled back politely, holding back their obvious curiosity.

“As you all may have heard, Chamberlain Sun Ruhui has been promoted to the seat of Left Secretariat of Justice, effective immediately,” Kayla said. “Now it stands that the Court of Judicial Review is short one Chamberlain. I called you both here to discuss this matter.”

Both of the Vice-Ministers deliberately held back from glancing at Chen Caichun, who was standing further back with her head politely lowered. Kayla’s intention was clear, but she was pushing the recommendation to them. If Chen Caichun’s appointment was based on Kayla pushing forward by herself, Chen Caichun would have a difficult time wielding authority as Chamberlain. Kayla wanted a unanimous decision, and she had no intention of letting anyone leave before she had one.

Vice-Minister Shen, ever quick on the uptake, caught on and immediately sprang forth.

“Minister, as a newly established institution, surely we cannot leave a seat on the core staff empty for even a moment. I would like to recommend Case Reviewer Chen, not only is she full of youthful energy and enthusiasm, she is clever and level-headed beyond her age,” Vice-Minister Shen suggested. “Though promoting her by several ranks may seem to be excessive, we do have the precedent of Left Secretariat Sun, who was promoted from the ninth rank. Furthermore, such heavy expectations will surely push her to work even more diligently as the Chamberlain, and thus the Court of Judicial Review will benefit.”

Vice-Minister Ma glanced at his colleague uncertainly and then at Kayla, before directing his gaze to Chen Caichun, who carefully averted her eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.

“I agree with Vice-Minister Shen. They say that women are more attentive to detail, that is exactly what we need in a Chamberlain. Moreover, Case Reviewer Chen has received the approval of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and thus is entirely qualified for this position,” Vice-Minister Ma said. “However, that leaves the seat of Case Reviewer open.”

Kayla nodded. “Both of your opinions are duly noted, and I am in full agreement. We will need to find a replacement for Case Reviewer, but that is something I would like to leave to the two of you.” The two Vice-Ministers bowed their heads slightly, understanding the message. They would get to promote or bring in a person of their choice in exchange for promoting Chen Caichun.

Kayla then turned towards Chen Caichun. “Case Reviewer Chen, all three of us are in agreement that you are to be promoted to the position of Chamberlain. Do you accept this promotion?”

Chen Caichun knelt, bowing her head to the floor. “This humble one gratefully accepts, and will strive to repay the benevolence of my superiors by committing myself to my duties with every inch of my life!”

Kayla laughed. “Excellent! I’m sure you will do us proud, Case Reviewer Chen. Starting from now, you will take on the position of interim Chamberlain until the official authorization comes through tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Chen Caichun said. Kayla waved for her to get up, and Caichun slowly got to her feet, bowing to Kayla and the Vice-Ministers in succession. The Vice-Ministers uttered their congratulations with insincere smiles, Kayla sent Vice-Minister Shen to make the final announcement, and the matter was settled.

Left alone in her office again, Kayla let out a deep breath. Her body felt strangely light, and she vaguely recognized it as the buoyancy of success, something she hadn’t felt in quite some time.

Now, we have Sun Ruhui in the Ministry of Justice, and Chen Caichun as a Fifth Rank. Wei Guang’s also backing me up, so Hu Weizhi should fall in line soon enough, as long as I give him a good excuse to give in. Let’s just hope that things go more smoothly from here on.

Wei Guang sipped at his cup of tea, ignoring Minister Hu Weizhi as the man shuffled nervously from foot to foot before him.

“Imperial Edict Bearer, you said that there was something you needed to talk to me about,” Hu Weizhi said uneasily. Wei Guang smiled.

“Why so impatient, my friend? Sit down and enjoy your tea,” Wei Guang said. Hu Weizhi sat down reluctantly, trying and failing to suppress his agitation.

“Imperial Edict Bearer,” Hu Weizhi began, hesitating to continue. Seeing that Wei Guang was serenely pouring another cup of tea with no intention of starting a discussion or allowing him to leave, Hu Weizhi grit his teeth and continued.

“I apologize for my rudeness, but it’s been four hours,” Hu Weizhi pointed out. “As much as I would love to enjoy your company, I do have my duties to attend to.”

Wei Guang continued smiling pleasantly, but with a notably more menacing edge to it. Hu Weizhi’s patience was fraying and he grew increasingly anxious, having been forcibly invited into Wei Guang’s office right after the court session with no warning and made to stay there in confusion while Wei Guang read, drank tea, and basically did everything but bring up the reason for dragging Hu Weizhi over. This, combined with Wei Guang’s naturally oppressive aura, had finally gotten Hu Weizhi into the state that Wei Guang wanted him in.

“A man of your experience and learning should have more patience,” Wei Guang said calmly. “I would have thought you were better at holding still. After all, isn’t that what you’ve done for decades?”

Hu Weizhi glanced at him in surprise, looking slightly affronted. “What? What are you talking about?”

Wei Guang chuckled, refilling Hu Weizhi’s teacup. “It’s only been a few sticks of incense since you’ve joined me, but it’s been several rounds of spring leaving and autumn arriving since you’ve earned your position as the Minister of Public Works and the head of the traditionalists, hasn’t it?”

Hu Weizhi frowned slightly. “It is as you say, Imperial Edict Bearer.”

“And may I ask what you’ve accomplished in this time?” Wei Guang asked pointedly.

Hu Weizhi flushed as he realized where this was going. “I see now that the Imperial Edict Bearer called me here to rally the army in order to accuse me, but though I may be guilty of mediocrity, no one can accuse me of not having fulfilled my duties properly!”

Wei Guang tilted his head ever so slightly, making his doubt and disdain clear with the tiny movement. Hu Weizhi flushed even redder at that.

“And what makes you believe you’ve fulfilled your duties? What kind of world do you think we live in, that a mediocre man would have the right to occupy a seat that he cannot make full use of?” Wei Guang asked.

If it were even possible for Hu Weizhi’s face to get even redder, it would have.

“Imperial Edict Bearer, you go too far with your words!”

“Since ancient times, great men have known to abdicate or vacate their positions in order to promote able talents who could do more good than they could do themselves,” Wei Guang said placatingly. “Do you not understand that our dynasty stands at a crossroads? If we cannot reinvigorate the Wu, we will head into decline and ultimately, devastation. Minister Hu, from the bottom of your heart, ask yourself this. Even if you have the determination to forcefully reverse the tumultuous waves, do you have the ability to become a pillar unmoved by the tides?”

Wei Guang’s tone was gentle, as though trying to reason with a small child. Hu Weizhi shrunk back, looking suitably admonished.

“I have done my best,” Hu Weizhi protested.

“You have,” Wei Guang agreed. “And it is no longer enough, especially now that someone better suited for the role has emerged. Act with wisdom by actively offering up your position and taking on the role of an experienced advisor. In this way, you will be known as a man of virtue rather than suffering humiliation by being forced to relinquish your seat.”

Hu Weizhi’s shoulders slumped slightly, but he still had an obstinate look on his face.

“You wish for me to relinquish my seat to a youngster who still has yellow hairs on his head? If he were a man of great talent or virtue, I would gladly do as you’ve advised, but for Zhao Wenyuan?” Hu Weizhi grumbled.

“Who said it had to be Zhao Wenyuan?” Wei Guang asked.

Hu Weizhi looked at him in confusion. “What? Who else would have the pedigree needed to balance out the princes?”

Wei Guang looked at Hu Weizhi calmly for a moment before he smiled at the man’s mystified expression and shook his head. “Indeed, Zhao Wenyuan is currently the only person present at court who fulfills the necessary conditions. Then if you know this, why are you unwilling? Do you wish to be the one facing the princes and the Grand Duke head-on? You did not even wish to engage in a fight when it was only the Grand Duke, or the traditionalists would not have been marginalized this long.”

He raised a hand as Hu Weizhi grew incensed again. “I do not mean to criticize you. It would have been reckless for you to do so before, with it being no different than striking a rock with an egg. But now, the wind and clouds have aligned, and it is time for the sharpness of the blade to be shown. I understand how difficult it must be to step back when an opportunity has finally appeared, but can you truly withstand the weight of this burden? I fear that you will only find ruin instead of glory, like King Wu of Qin who was crushed beneath the vessel he attempted to lift.”

Hu Weizhi deflated slightly. “It is beyond my ability to dispute the Imperial Edict Bearer’s wisdom. I have nothing more to say. I will submit myself to Zhao Wenyuan’s leadership.”

Wei Guang smiled. “Excellent, Minister Hu. You will not regret this.”

70-Imperial Edict Bearer

Kayla entered her second meeting with Hu Weizhi much more confidently than she had the first. She was careful not to let it show on her face too much, for fear of offending the stuffy old codger, but she felt as though she had things under control. Kayla had the advantage in terms of information, and she’d made sure to let Hu Weizhi know as much last time. Now, the rumors about Wenyuan were rapidly changing direction, and Kayla had received the backing of the Imperial Edict Bearer Wei Guang. Even if Hu Weizhi didn’t want to, he had no reason not to cooperate.

One certainly wouldn’t think as much, given the glare Hu Weizhi shot Kayla as soon as she entered the room.

What did I do now? Does he mind the brothel visit this much?

“Greetings, Minister Hu,” Kayla said politely. The other traditionalists were in the adjacent rooms again, and Kayla had made her peace with that.

“Minister Zhao, you’re positively glowing. Are you that happy about Sun Ruhui's promotion?” Hu Weizhi said coldly. “Truly, success suits you well, does it not?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly, looking suitably admonished. “Minister, I am merely glad for the sake of my former subordinate. He is a talented man.”

Two seconds in and he’s nitpicking? Jesus Christ.

“You would do well to avoid following in your grandfather’s footsteps in only promoting your kin and those close to you,” Hu Weizhi snapped. Kayla frowned slightly, taken aback by the accusation.

“I would not dare, I consulted with various others in the Emperor’s close confidence before going through with this decision,” Kayla said, thinking of Tabuyir and Li Que. To her surprise, Hu Weizhi paled in response and let the topic go.

“In the short time since our parting, Minister Zhao has been keeping busy, I’m surprised you even had the interest in joining this old man here again,” Hu Weizhi grunted.

“But of course. Minister, I do beg your pardon for not reaching out earlier,” Kayla said. Hu Weizhi only shook his head.

“I know what you were waiting for,” he said incomprehensibly. “Forget it.”

Sensing that he wasn’t appeased in the slightest, and in fact, seemed to grow even more annoyed, Kayla tried again. “In ancient times, when the Duke of Zhen apologized to Zhuzhi Wu for not employing his talents earlier, Zhuzhi Wu forgave him and threw his heart into saving the kingdom. Your Excellency, as a man of virtue, would you not accept my sincere regrets and forgive this one for his errors?”

Hu Weizhi let out a huff. “Well, it certainly wouldn’t do to be criticized by my juniors for being an unforgiving man with a smaller stomach than a chicken. Then let’s continue our discussion from last time. Minister Zhao, you mentioned the tension between the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince, would you kindly elaborate on that?”

“Of course, and what would you like to know?” Kayla asked.

“Your plans to deal with them, Minister. What else is there to ask of?” Hu Weizhi asked impatiently. Kayla sensed something strange in Hu Weizhi’s eyes, but couldn’t place a finger on it.

Is he trying to get me to say something damning?

Kayla chose her words carefully. “We won’t so much need to deal with them, per se. Our role is not to meddle, but to moderate. The princes are men of virtue, raised with the teachings of the ancient greats, they themselves are unlikely to escalate their rivalry to the brink, but the hearts of a crowd are difficult to grasp. By moderating, not only should we protect the court’s stability, but we should also protect the princes from being fooled or manipulated by sycophants who pose as loyal supporters.”

“A most thankless task, I assure you. It is far more difficult and dangerous than you realize, not only will each of the princes suspect you for working with the other, all of their supporters will speak ill of you and seek to poison the princes’ hearts against you,” Hu Weizhi warned.

“I understand,” Kayla said placidly.

“It will not only affect you, but us as well,” Hu Weizhi pointed out.

“Then I will have to increase my communication with the princes in order to remedy this,” Kayla assured him.

“That is not enough,” Hu Weizhi snapped. “Do you believe the ties of blood would spare you from their wrath? Would spare us? You think too highly of yourself!”

“It is not my blood that I think they would value, but my objective evaluation of the situation,” Kayla replied. “They are men of wisdom, even if my words are not immediately accepted, they will ponder upon them and judge their worth later on. What can a man do but try his best? I will do just that, and the princes’ virtues will determine the rest. No matter what, I will be at the forefront of all this, their anger will have a clear target.”

Hu Weizhi shook his head. “You say this now, having had no experience of their hostility being actively directed at you. Once you actually face them head-on, you will not be able to withstand it.”

“I have withstood the Grand Duke,” Kayla pointed out. “He has not softened any blows against me.”

“That and this are not the same,” Hu Weizhi stressed. “You are his grandson after all.”

Kayla sighed and shook her head. “Minister, I already promised to you to shoulder the responsibility, did I not? Why is it that you still hesitate in this manner? Could it be that you are afraid?”

Hu Weizhi bristled. “You are the last one who should be calling me a coward!”

Kayla was well aware that she was morally blackmailing him, and he did as well, but the point was to make it clear to the traditionalists listening in from the adjacent rooms, and to make it difficult for them to conscientiously refuse. The whole point of this meeting was to give them a staircase to step down on after having rejected Kayla before. Both parties were well aware of this, but the actual process was more trial and error than anything else. Kayla racked her brain for a moment before finding the right words.

“I went against my own family to do what’s right, but that only damns me in your eyes rather than proving my determination. Minister, it seems to me that you merely wish to avoid conflict. So what if it is a thankless task? Why did Jingwei try to fill the sea? Why did the foolish man try to move the mountain? Their tasks seemed hopeless but they could not abandon them. You can say it was foolish or stubborn, but I say it was duty. Minister Hu, it’s fine no matter what misgivings you have about me, I can accept some and ignore others. But if it’s the role that we have been given that you have misgivings about, then I have no more to say,” Kayla said, turning up the moral blackmailing to max levels.

Hu Weizhi looked at her with relief, signaling that the excuse was good enough that he could now accept without losing too much face.

“Minister Zhao, your words bring me immense relief,” Hu Weizhi finally said after a long silence. “Listening to you speak has cleared the concerns I held, I will bring the old-timers in line.”

The impromptu speech Kayla was partially through clumsily choked back down her throat. She had expected this to drag on quite a while longer, but Hu Weizhi apparently found this to be enough.

“Wait, really?” Kayla croaked, stunned at the unexpected development.

“You are right in saying that I value my reputation,” Hu Weizhi said matter-of-factly. “But I was wrong in assuming you were a useless figurehead pomped up by a sudden show of your uncle’s favor. Minister Zhao, it seems that you are indeed qualified enough for me to entrust my future in your hands.”

Kayla creased her brow in confusion.

“What about the unfilial behavior?” Kayla asked, giving him a chance to cover all his bases.

“That itself does not matter, it was the matter of your qualifications that I was truly concerned about. You entered the court as soon as you’d turned twenty and immediately became a fourth rank official in one of the Six Ministries. Unlike you, I’m from a commoner’s family. My entire clan pooled their resources to allow me to become a scholar, and even so, it took me ten years at the cold window before I even qualified. The year after that, I passed the national exam but was only ranked thirty-sixth. I started out as a low-ranking bureaucrat, and only made my way up to the rank of Minister after years and years of slowly climbing the ranks,” Hu Weizhi recounted. He let out a deep sigh, a faraway look in his eyes.

Kayla let him continue his tangent. It was his turn to provide a moral justification for accepting a deal, to both the traditionalists and to Kayla. Perhaps he even needed to justify it to himself.

“Now, my clan is well-respected not only in our village but the entire region, for having turned out a Minister. I’ve paid for the reconstruction of the ancestral shrines, the creation of a school, and repairs to the waterways, my kin and neighbors live better now than any of our ancestors have before. The younger generation of my family has produced several scholars and doctors. It took me a great deal of effort to get here, with no small sacrifices from my clan. If I remain safely in my position, I do no harm to this country, and greatly benefit my home. But if I were to foolishly throw my lot in with a self-righteous man with plenty of delusions and little else, I risk all of that, and for what? It is not that I refuse to make sacrifices, but that I refuse to make sacrifices for an unworthy cause.”

Kayla slowly took a deep breath, glancing away from Hu Weizhi. The man’s story struck a little too close to home, sounding way too much like that of her own parents for comfort.

“That’s fair,” Kayla said in a measured tone. “Your entire family is relying on your success, and they’ve thrown in more than enough to expect you to take the safe and steady route rather than risk it all for power struggles between the elites. Whatever duties you have as an official, you can’t abandon your duty towards them.”

“It is as you say,” Hu Weizhi replied. “To be honest, I had no intention of cooperating with you. Even if you weren’t the Grand Duke’s grandson, you’re still a young and inexperienced noble who grew up amidst great privilege. You’ve been coddled in court and constantly protected from any attacks upon you.”

Kayla grimaced a little. Wenyuan’s situation had been a bit more complex than that, but it was true that he never had to struggle desperately for political survival the way other officials did.

“But hearing you speak today, it seems that my preconceptions of you have been biased. You have a strong sense of responsibility and are willing to shoulder the risks, but not monopolize the rewards. Most importantly, you have a very clear understanding of your position and your abilities. That’s not easy to find among young men who come to power so quickly,” Hu Weizhi said, reiterating his reasoning for the eavesdroppers. “If you can guarantee that we will not become scapegoats for your sake, I can guarantee that I will fulfill my duty even if it crushes my bones and breaks my body.”

“I promise,” Kayla said without hesitation. “I will never push one of you into the line of fire to serve as my shield, nor will I ask you to make sacrifices that I would not make myself. Just like what I promised before, if we succeed, the merit belongs to you all. If we fail, the responsibility lies with me.”

She repeated her guarantee from last time, emphasizing it for their audience.

“Excellent! Those words are worth more than gold,” Hu Weizhi said triumphantly. “I trust that you will keep the promise you’ve made today, lest you be mocked for going back on your words.”

Words that at least eight people heard, yes.

“I’m willing to shoulder the risk, so I hope you all can show your enthusiasm as well,” Kayla said, giving him a conspirational smile.

“Of course,” Hu Weizhi replied.

“Then, let’s replace wine with tea for this occasion,” Kayla said, refilling Hu Weizhi’s cup first and then her own. “To the neutral faction.”

“And to its new leader,” Hu Weizhi said. The two clinked cups before downing the tea.

“Congratulations, Minister! I’m surprised those old men didn’t come out from the other rooms to give their greetings,” Hu Qing said cheerfully as Kayla finished giving him a quick summary. Their carriage was headed back to the Zhao household, Kayla being more than ready to call it a night.

“They wouldn’t openly declare they were listening in,” Kayla said drily.

“I mean, with how obvious they were being? They might as well have,” Hu Qing scoffed. Their carriage pulled to a stop, and Hu Qing frowned.

“Stay in the carriage,” he warned Kayla before opening the window. “Hey, uncle! What’s going on?”

The horseman gave Hu Qing a quick apology. “A man waved for us to stop, he’s dressed like a nobleman’s secretary so I didn’t think it would be good to ignore him.”

“Well, ask him what he wants then,” Hu Qing said. The horseman waved over the secretary and exchanged a few words with him, not straying too far from the carriage.

After a moment, the horseman returned. “He’s the secretariat of the Imperial Edict Bearer,” the horseman said in awe. “Minister, the Imperial Edict Bearer wants to speak with you.”

Kayla frowned, glancing at Hu Qing. Hu Qing shrugged.

“Doesn’t seem like an ambush. I don’t sense anyone who can fight,” he said.

Kayla nodded at the horseman. “Tell him we’ll gladly accept.”

The carriage changed course, following the secretary who led them on horseback to the Wei household. Wei Guang’s household was different from that of any other official. Clans like the Zhao and Liang had a strong foundation in the dynasty, and thus had their own magnificent complexes in the capital. Others who gained power later tended to gain plenty of money as well and would either buy or construct their own complexes.

Wei Guang’s residence, on the other hand, was gifted to him by the Emperor. Wei Guang had come from a poor family which had also been very large and had spent most of his salary on paying for the dowries of his numerous nieces, the education of his equally numerous nephews, and the care for and burials of his various older relatives. As a result, despite being the head of the Hanlin Academy, he lived in a very small and humble house for years.

The Emperor, upon hearing of it, did not believe it at first and sent men to check if the rumors were true. One after another, they all reported that Wei Guang indeed lived in an extremely humble house, wearing simple clothes and eating no better than a commoner when he was not at work. The Emperor was deeply touched to learn of this, as it not only signaled Wei Guang’s virtue but also his loyalty. As the head of the Hanlin Academy, Wei Guang only needed to say a few good words for this person or that before the Emperor and easily earn enough money to live extremely well, but it was evident that he hadn’t been taking any bribes at all.

The Emperor secretly bought a residence for Wei Guang, and then, according to the rumors, personally brought Wei Guang to view it, asking the man for his opinion of the place. Thoroughly confused, Wei Guang assumed that the Emperor wished to gift the building to one of the princes and advised the Emperor against gifting property in the center of the capital to any one of his sons unless he wished to name them the heir. The Emperor had been deeply amused and burst out laughing, before finally informing Wei Guang that the residence was for him, not for one of the princes.

It did sound like something the Emperor would do, and Kayla had to admit now that she was in the residence, that the Emperor had pretty good taste. She was led into Wei Guang’s private study, Hu Qing waiting outside.

Wei Guang got up from his seat at the desk to greet her. He smiled at her, looking every inch the fond elder rather than the impervious Imperial Edict Bearer.

“This junior humbly greets the Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla said politely, bowing her head.

“Minister Zhao, thank you for joining me at such a late hour,” Wei Guang replied. “Please take a seat.”

“You’re much too kind, Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla said, determined to grab onto the opportunity. “It is an honor to be invited by Your Excellency. This one is junior to you in all accounts, whether it is virtue, experience, or knowledge. If you would not be disdainful, please call me by my name.”

“We are officials who serve in the same court, how can I forego etiquette?” Wei Guang chided in a light tone. “But Minister Zhao’s humbleness impresses me, if you do not mind, I can call you by name in private settings.”

“I would be honored,” Kayla replied.

“You looked to be in high spirits, Wenyuan,” Wei Guang said. “Did something good happen?”

“Your Excellency must have heard of the changes to the neutral faction in the last few months, it is shameful for me to admit, but I was so overwhelmed that I was unable to pay attention to the traditionalists until recently,” Kayla explained. “As such, it was difficult to create a united front.”

“And it would seem you have resolved that?” Wei Guang asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Despite my failings, I managed to convince Minister Hu, who was generous enough to extend his support,” Kayla said, pleased despite herself.

Wei Guang smiled back, an amused glint in his eyes. Something about it tipped her off. Kayla took in his reaction, finally understanding what was going on. She hastily bowed her head.

Ah, damn it. I didn’t convince Hu Weizhi to do shit.

“I see, I didn’t convince him at all, did I? This junior was arrogant, I am grateful to the Imperial Edict Bearer for his help,” Kayla quickly said.

Wei Guang let out a chuckle, patting Kayla on the shoulder.

“You’re quite an astute youngster! Do not overthink this, it is nothing less than what you deserve,” Wei Guang laughed. “I’m surprised that I have not hurt your pride.”

Kayla shook her head. “Not at all, Imperial Edict Bearer.”

Why the fuck would I care as long as Hu Weizhi’s convinced?

Wei Guang nodded approvingly. “It is a good trait to see in one such as you. Most young men in your position, no, even those who are older and should know better, would become proud upon receiving the Emperor’s boundless favor. You, on the other hand, have not become arrogant or careless, but rather have become more like your mother than you ever have before.”

Kayla perked up at the obvious prompt. “Your Excellency, you knew my mother?”

“Knew her? Indeed, I most certainly did! I wrote the celebratory praise for the occasion of her birth, and later I was her teacher for the Four Books and Five Classics when she was a child. I was also the one to write the words for the commemorative plaque for her marriage, and for her memorial plaque after her passing,” Wei Guang said.

“I apologize for my ignorance. Your Excellency truly is someone that my family is indebted to,” Kayla said respectfully.

“There is no debt to speak of, I was only fulfilling my duties as a subject should. It truly is lamentable, your mother was like a night-blooming cereus, her brilliance flashing into existence and disappearing with the blink of an eye,” Wei Guang lamented. “I bore witness to the entire course of your mother’s life, but despite my hopes for her to enjoy a long and happy life, one cannot go against the will of the heavens.”

Kayla lowered her head, not knowing what words to say.

Hey, Wenyuan?!

Don’t ask me! My mother never even mentioned him! I mean, grandmother probably brought it up at some point, but I don’t remember!

“It seems that I have upset you, I apologize,” Wei Guang said gently. Kayla quickly shook her head.

“That is not the case, Your Excellency. I was merely taken aback. I had thought I knew my mother, but I only knew her as a child knows one’s parents, and it is now too late for me to know her any better than I did,” Kayla replied.

Wei Guang gave her a kind smile. “All children have the same regrets regarding their parents. But if you wish to know more about your mother, you may always come to me. I cannot claim to have known her best, but I can answer the questions you dare not ask your grandmother and uncle.”

Kayla bowed slightly. “Thank you, Imperial Edict Bearer. I am grateful for your kindness.”

Wei Guang shook his head. “No need, rather, I should apologize for having failed you. Your mother did not wish to be involved with the court after her marriage, and so I respected her wishes, but that was no excuse for not extending a helping hand towards you when you entered the court.”

Kayla looked at him in curiosity. “You did not owe it to me, Your Excellency. But may I ask why? From what I recall, we’ve scarcely interacted prior to your return.”

Wei Guang looked away from Kayla, his eyes growing clouded. He hesitated for a moment before finally replying. “I admit, it was because I thought you a lost cause. I was disappointed that someone like the Imperial Princess could have raised such a man, but it was a mistake on my part. You merely did not have the right conditions to show your true character, and that was partly my fault as well.”

Kayla jolted, taken aback by the straightforward confession. There was a wave of indignance from Wenyuan, and Kayla quickly lowered her head to hide her reaction.

Is he testing how I’ll react or does he want me to be upset? She frowned at the thought before quickly smoothing out her expression.

“It is my fault for having disappointed you,” Kayla replied politely. “I was rude in asking such a thing, please forgive me.”

Wei Guang carefully evaluated Kayla’s reaction as she maintained a calm expression.

“You do not resent this old man?” Wei Guang asked.

Kayla shook her head. “It was my own failings that caused my mother’s own teacher to turn his face from me. Despite my mother’s teachings and the kindness of my grandmother and uncle, I could not become a man who you would think kindly of, how can the fault lie with anyone but myself? To resent you would be the act of a foolish and cowardly man who does not wish to blame himself.”

Oh come on, Wenyuan was a pretty decent guy. It's your fault for being too picky.

Then again, the last thing she needed was to offend this guy. To her surprise, Wei Guang’s eyes grew misty.

“Your Excellency,” Kayla said in alarm. Why is he crying?! I thought he was just testing me!

Wei Guang quickly turned his face, wiping his eyes dry with a quick movement.

“Pray do not take heed, people grow more sentimental as they age,” Wei Guang said in a thick voice. “I only regret now that I had not chosen to extend a hand to you earlier. For you to have changed so much in the three years in which I was gone, you must have gone through a lot.”

He seemed sincere, but Kayla couldn’t bring herself to immediately trust him. Qu Boyong had once approached her with the same open-handed sincerity, genuine concern written on his face. Chujiao had once smiled at Wenyuan with all her heart, overflowing with affection and love for the man she’d grown up with.

None of it was enough. How fragile were people’s hearts to be trusted with her life? One could feel love and then hatred for the same person with equal vehemency only moments apart, and was Kayla meant to trust in that?

Well, no matter. Even if he’s choosing to help me out of nostalgia, I can still tangle him in with something more. I’ve already gotten a chance, isn’t that much better than nothing?

Reassuring herself, Kayla gently patted Wei Guang’s arm.

“There’s no need for you to think of such things, Your Excellency. To have your help at a time like this is better luck than I would have even dared to pray for,” Kayla said, carefully choosing her words to avoid overdoing it with her flattery.

Wei Guang chuckled, shaking his head. “You flatter me, Wenyuan. I would gladly offer my aid to you if you are willing to accept it.”

“I would be most grateful,” Kayla bowed her head.

Wei Guang smiled at her fondly. “I’m glad to hear of it. The last few days must have been quite a difficult time for you, did you at least enjoy your trip to your mother’s villa?”

Wait, what? Did the Empress Dowager tell him about that?

Kayla carefully watched his face as she maintained a look of polite curiosity. “Your Excellency knows of it?”

“Did you not see the words inscribed at the entrance?” Wei Guang asked in amusement. “It had my signature on it.”

Kayla had not seen them. “I apologize for my obtuse observations.”

Wei Guang chuckled. “No matter, but indeed, I certainly am familiar with the villa.”

Just how close was he to my mother?

Does he mean that he knows about the Imperial Princess’ findings? Or is he trying to get access to that through me?

“Your Excellency, would I be correct in guessing that you were the one who recommended my grandmother to send me there?” Kayla asked cautiously.

“Indeed,” Wei Guang replied. “That villa has been left empty since your mother’s death, your grandmother is getting on in years and has difficulties making trips to visit, and His Majesty the Emperor is much too busy. I thought that you, at least, could benefit from it.”

So do you know or not?!

“Thank you, it was a most enjoyable visit,” Kayla replied. Wei Guang leaned in closer.

“I hope that it wasn’t just enjoyable,” Wei Guang said meaningfully. “Your mother was a genius, in both magic research and the affairs of the court, she was more able than ten men combined. It would be a pity for you not to gain benefit from that.”

He knows. Or does he? Kayla decided to play it safe, despite her quickening heart rate and blaring instincts telling her that yes, Wei Guang knew, and probably knew way more than Kayla would ever find out about.

“I was able to look through some of my mother’s research,” Kayla said, fighting to keep her voice calm. “It was a most educational experience. though I may not be a magic user, I benefited greatly nonetheless.”

Take that how you will, I can’t trust you this easily. Kayla wanted to, very badly, but something told her that would be a bad idea. Don’t be reckless. Play your cards carefully.

“Her magical research was beyond brilliant, it had the potential to change the world as we know it,” Wei Guang sighed. “It is a pity that it came to a stop.”

“Did no one take on the research after her passing?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang shook his head. “She had several assistants and fellow researchers, but they all disappeared or died, one by one. Perhaps it’s simply the will of the heavens.”

Kayla lowered her gaze. That’s…weird.

Yeah, that doesn’t seem like it could just be a coincidence, Wenyuan chimed in.

That too, but also, he didn’t mention the investigations at all. Either he thinks we’re ignorant and isn’t bringing it up, or he doesn’t know of it.

“How terrible,” Kayla murmured.

“Sometimes fate cannot be defied, how small is a person that they could withstand a higher power that wishes for their demise? Even if they believe what they’re doing is right, not everyone would agree with that,” Wei Guang said, his eyes taking on a far-off look. He shook himself out of it, giving Kayla a look of apology. “Never mind me, I’m speaking nonsense. I must be tired.”

“I apologize for taking up so much of your time,” Kayla quickly replied, sensing her cue to leave.

“Not at all,” Wei Guang gave a few more words telling Kayla to get home safe, rest early, and assuring her of further support, before sending her off.

Kayla left Wei Guang’s household, her head swimming.

“Well, Minister?” Hu Qing asked with excitement as he closed the carriage door. “Did it go well?”

“Yes, fine, just a lot to think about,” Kayla said, still mulling over their conversation. Something had bothered her about what Wei Guang had said.

Not everyone would agree with that? A higher power that wishes for their demise? Kayla played back the words in her head.

Kayla? Wenyuan asked uneasily. What’s wrong with what he said?

Didn’t you feel like he wanted to say something but held back? Or was pretending to do that while trying to get us to form our own conclusions?

I don’t know, Wenyuan admitted. I couldn’t tell.

The way he said it, it doesn’t sound like he believes it’s merely fate or a coincidence, Kayla pointed out.

Wenyuan paused for a moment. Then…grandfather?

No, that’s not it. He said the will of the heavens. The Grand Duke doesn’t qualify for that.

You mean the palace?! That doesn’t make sense!

I hope I’m just overthinking it, Kayla replied. If he were referring to a higher power with divine will that doesn’t agree with your mother’s research but was actually referring to a person rather than luck or fate, then the throne might just fit that description.

You must be overthinking it, Wenyuan insisted.

Maybe, I hope so. Kayla replied.

She turned her thoughts away from it for the moment, giving Hu Qing a tired smile.

“So the Imperial Edict Bearer grants his support?” Hu Qing said. “Congratulations, Minister.”

“Thank you,” Kayla replied. “With this, hopefully things will definitely go more smoothly from hereon.”

71-Contender

The officials chatted with each other as they milled out of the bureaucratic buildings, heading back to their respective homes at the end of the day. The degree to which officials made attempts to be discreet reflected the degree to which they respected, or disrespected, a person.

Their voices were loud and clear as they discussed this or that lower-ranking official’s slipups, but the conversations slowly decreased in volume as they moved on to the hottest topic in the capital, Zhao Wenyuan.

“I’d have thought it was almost over for him once he was actually promoted into a position where he had to get things done through his own ability,” an official said softly to his bearded colleague.

“Not very generous of you, was it? I did tell you that he had something up his sleeve. It looks like he’ll be rising even higher now.”

“Indeed, didn’t you hear? In the last session of the court, the Imperial Edict Bearer lauded him with praise, and now Minister Hu and the traditionalists are also siding with him.”

“He’s got a ministry and the Hanlin Academy on his side now, plus the Court of Judicial Review and the Imperial Investigation Bureau, that’s nothing to scoff at,” the official stroked his beard with a frown.

“One and a half ministries, you mean. His former Chamberlain, that Sun– Sun, what was it?”

“Never mind his name, but yes. Now that guy’s the Left Secretariat of Justice, isn’t he? And several of the Directors under the Ministry of Justice were nominated by him as well.”

“What, really? I thought it was just Sun Ruhui!”

“That’s what they want us to think, but just look at Minister Jun and Minister Liang’s reactions and you can tell from the sour looks on their faces.”

“Who would’ve thought? Those officials who have been crawling and rolling around in the court for decades to gain their current power would be played by a youngster.”

“What can you do? He’s a relative of the Imperial Family, and worse, he actually has enough ability to get things done, how can they compete with that given their backgrounds?”

“Minister Liang has a niece in the palace though.”

“Which one of the Ministers does not? And yet none of them have grandchildren in the palace, and that’s what matters. The rumors badmouthing him have also died down, and the Grand Duke and that servant of his are now the ones getting spat upon, really, from the looks of it, Zhao Wenyuan really is going to become a veritable force to reckon with. ”

“You’re saying that like you didn’t believe in the rumors the first time around,” the first official rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t,” the bearded official protested. “But really, who wouldn’t have their doubts? It was reasonable at the time. From the looks of it now, even if it was true, there’s no point in thinking anything of it, not with how much further Zhao Wenyuan is set to rise.”

“I wouldn’t say that too soon,” a third official jumped in, scooting in closer and nearly stepping on the hem of his colleague’s robes. “I doubt the Seventh Prince is happy with him, grabbing up the seats the prince had wanted so badly.”

“And what of it? The Seventh Prince isn’t exactly doing well enough to be a threat,” the bearded official pointed out.

The third official shook his head. “Is that really what you think? No matter what, he is a prince. One of three, I may add, and the Fifth Prince isn’t even in the game. Who’s to say what will happen? Offending someone who may very well end up on the throne is nothing to be happy about.”

The first official scoffed. “You’re talking nonsense!”

“No, he has a point,” the bearded official said. “The Third Prince used to have the support of Liu Hongyu, but now he doesn’t have anyone who heads the Three Departments supporting him. The military loves him, but he doesn’t really have the Ministry of War either. Unlike the Seventh Prince, who at least has the Ministers of Justice and Personnel, the Third Prince doesn’t have any of the Three Departments and Six Ministries solidly in his grasp.”

“He has way more supporters,” the first official protested. “Plus, the Seventh Prince’s grasp on those Ministries is so shaky that he might as well not have anything. In any case, the Seventh Prince's mother was only a maid, how can he become the Crown Prince?”

“You’re an idiot,” the third official said plainly. “Look, do you really think Wei Guang and Hu Weizhi, those prideful guys whose hearts are higher than the sky, would suddenly throw their support behind an inexperienced youngster like Zhao Wenyuan unless they thought they needed him? Don’t try to understand it with your silly little brain, just look at what the smartest people are doing. The major players all know that the Grand Duke is done for and that the princes are about to start fighting, and that’s why they’re acting like this.”

“You’re just spouting conspiracy theories,” the first official shot back. “What do they need Zhao Wenyuan for? They’re just siding with him to maximize their own benefit and siphon off the Emperor’s favor for the Zhao heir.”

The bearded official and the third official exchanged a glance of exasperation.

“There’s no point in trying to explain it to him. My friend, what do you think?” The third official asked.

“I agree with you. We’ll have to keep a careful eye on how things develop,” the bearded official said.

“Hey, now don't just start talking over my head,” the first official made to protest, and the three continued onwards out of the Outer Palace, still squabbling with each other.

Meanwhile, Kayla was still in her office. There was plenty of work now that the Imperial Investigation Bureau was launching an investigation that the Court of Judicial Review had no choice but to get involved in.

The assassination attempt at the Zhao household had turned into an internal investigation at the Imperial Investigation Bureau, which had then turned into an inter-regional case that could potentially implicate several Archdukes. Not wanting to be the only ones responsible, the Imperial Investigation Bureau wasted no time in dragging the Court of Judicial Review in as well.

The death of an Imperial Investigator, one of the five who had been on duty at the Zhao household the night of the assassination, had stirred up quite a few waves, and now all of the nobles and persons of influence in the relatively quiet city of Dengzhou were considered potential suspects.

It wasn’t impossible, or at least Kayla didn’t think it was. In the original novel, several Archdukes had been murdered and their families either exiled or stripped of their noble status in the last phase of the succession crisis, but Kayla had never figured out if Xianchun had done so for legitimate reasons, personal grudges for past slights, or was just cleaning house to ensure his monopoly on political power once he became Crown Prince. The story focused a lot more on the final showdown between Xianchun and Kuang as tensions escalated to the point where only one party could emerge alive.

But why try to kill me?

Kayla couldn’t figure it out, but she also couldn’t find a legitimate reason to refuse the Imperial Investigation Bureau’s attempt to drag her in to share responsibility. They were still a newly established institution, the stronger their bonds with the Bureau, the better.

She looked over the documents, feeling a twinge of unease as her eyes landed on familiar names.

Archduke Qi and Archduke Wei are at the top of the list, she noted uncomfortably.

Of course, Uncle wouldn’t be satisfied unless their residences were turned upside down.

Archduke Wei is about to marry his daughter into the Khaganate and they still won’t give him face?

It’s not like he wants to marry his daughter into a foreign country, only nobles who don’t have enough political power to make other arrangements would be subjected to something like this, Wenyuan pointed out.

And what about Archduke Qi? Last I’d heard, he’d become a complete hermit.

Yes, the rumor is that he's gotten an illness that consumes his heart, he often stares into space for long periods of time without moving or saying anything and has even tried to hurt himself multiple times.

Sounds like dissociation and depression to me, Kayla noted. Would he even have the capability to plan something like this? Why the hell is he on the top of the list?

Uncle still hates him, Wenyuan replied. Why else?

I don’t know how I feel about this, Kayla complained. But I suppose that they would be blamed unless proven innocent, so perhaps it’s better to trouble them a bit than allow the situation to fester into something more dangerous.

Letting out a sigh, Kayla signed the documents and stamped her seal on them.

The residence of Archduke Qi was usually extremely quiet. There weren’t many servants, and the Archduke didn’t have any concubines. While he was still residing in the capital, he had two sons who had died in infancy, and a daughter who died before she reached the age of ten. The Fourth Prince had joined them in the Dengzhou residence for an extremely painful two years before passing away, and now, it was only him, his wife, and a small number of household staff.

As such, the household was currently the noisiest it had ever been. Imperial Investigators marched through the corridors and spilled into the rooms, leaving no corner untouched and no drawer unopened as they thoroughly searched the entire residence.

The husband and wife sat on the bed inside their private chambers, Archduke Qi wearing a look of resigned weariness on his face. He was in his late forties, only three years older than the Emperor but looking ten years older. Most of his hair was white, and if not for the gauntness of his face, he would have been rather handsome. The same went for his wife, who looked to be in better health, but no less affected by the years of humiliation that had withered away the jade-like beauty of her youth.

“My lord, look at what a mess they’re making!” Archduchess Qi wept onto her husband’s shoulder. Archduke Qi’s eyes were glazed over and unfocused, and he barely seemed to notice the chaos around him. His hair was still undone, draped over his back and shoulders.

“My lord! Please focus already, what on earth shall we do?” Archduchess Qi asked, shaking his shoulder.

Archduke Qi seemed to come back to himself but only shook his head.

“Let them do their job,” he replied before falling silent again. The room was filled with his wife’s soft sobs. They were in Archduke Qi’s bedchambers, which had been left alone for the time being out of a pretense of respect.

The sanctuary didn’t last for long, and an Imperial Investigator barely knocked before barging in, eliciting a startled shriek from the Archduchess.

“Stop! You can’t do this!” Archduke Qi’s retainer Tan Hui rushed in from the corridor and moved to block the Investigator’s entry.

“Apologies for the intrusion, Archduke, Archduchess,” the Investigator said curtly before moving forward again. Tan Hui stepped into the man’s path, glaring him down.

"Get out," Tan Hui snarled.

"Are you interfering with the investigation?" The Imperial Investigator shot back, evidently itching to make an arrest.

“That’s enough,” Archduke Qi called out softly.

Tan Hui glanced back at his lord in distress. “But my lord!”

“Let them do their job,” Archduke Qi repeated wearily. Tan Hui deflated, shooting the Investigator another glare as he reluctantly moved out of the way.

The Investigator gave Tan Hui a triumphant smirk before aggressively yanking open the closet and pawing through its contents, ignoring the Archduchess’ indignant screech. Archduke Qi patted his wife’s hand, sighing helplessly as the room continued to be turned upside down. After strewing things all over the floor, the doors and dressers tauntingly left open with items spilling out, the Investigator turned his attention to the bed the Archduke and his wife sat on.

“Get up,” he ordered. He quickly remedied his tone. “Please get up, your grace.”

“You’re going too far!” Tan Hui snapped. Archduke Qi raised a hand to stop him, seeming to have already expected this. It wasn’t his first time going through this, he knew all too well the lengths that subjects would go to humiliate him to curry favor with the Emperor.

“It can’t be helped,” Archduke Qi said, slowly getting to his feet. The Archduchess followed suit, but not without shooting a glare at the Investigator, who only smirked back. The couple stepped into the courtyard at the center of the residence to avoid the Investigators striding purposefully through the corridors, sitting down on the stone chairs under a camelia tree. Tan Hui and the Archduchess’ serving maid joined them with grim expressions.

It was more peaceful in the courtyard compared to elsewhere, but it also provided a perfect view of the chaos being wrought in the corridors on all four sides of the small clearing. They were surrounded by sounds of harshly shouted orders as well as crashing noises from furniture and porcelain decorations being “accidentally” broken. The worse the damage, the better it would look on the Investigators' part. Archduke Qi couldn't even find it in himself to hate them, not when he knew it was really his younger brother's resentment they were channeling.

The scene was painfully familiar, and the Archduchess wept piteously into her husband’s shoulder. Archduke Qi’s eyes grew increasingly unfocused, and he stopped responding altogether. Seeing the familiar symptoms take effect again, his wife wept even more fiercely. Tan Hui also looked away uncomfortably, helpless to do anything against the Imperial Investigators.

“Which bastard is in charge of this?!”

Tan Hui and the Archduchess both jolted in shock, lighting up as they heard a familiar voice angrily shout at the Investigators. The Investigators didn’t come to a stop, but almost instantly gained several degrees of restraint and began to look a little cowed.

“You piece of shit! I gifted that case to Archduke Qi myself, how dare you smash it?! Can you pay it back? I’ll wring it out of your pathetic salary, you little turtle-necked bastard!”

The Investigator that Archduke Wei had whirled upon hastily backed up, bowing his head.

“Brother-in-law!” Archduchess Qi cried out in relief, rising to her feet as Archduke Wei came into sight. Archduke Wei stormed into the courtyard, his robes flapping as he whirled around, glaring down at every Investigator who came into sight. He looked almost identical to Archduke Qi from before the man had fallen from grace, part of it being that he was almost ten years younger, and carried himself with the prideful bearing of a member of the Imperial family, his demeanor bordering on arrogance. Alight in fury, he was quite a sight to behold, and none of the Investigators dared to approach.

“Brother, sister-in-law, what on earth is going on here?!” Archduke Wei asked.

“They just suddenly came in, saying that it was an official investigation, and…” Archduchess Qi’s voice dissolved into sobs, her husband still staring blankly into the distance.

Archduke Wei took note of his brother’s state, and his rage visibly intensified.

“Which bastard is in charge?! Get over here!” He shouted.

The Investigators glanced at them nervously before one of the higher-ranking ones approached.

“This one humbly greets Your Gr-”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Archduke Wei demanded.

“Your Grace, we’re under orders to investigate the residences of the nobles residing within Dengzhou,” the Investigator replied, his voice slightly smaller.

“And you take this as a chance to smash up my brother’s house?! You insolent bastard! Do you think you can get away with treating an Archduke with such disrespect?!” Archduke Wei shouted.

“Apologies, Your Grace, but this is on orders of the Emperor, we had no intention of causing unnecessary trouble to Archduke Qi,” the Imperial Investigator said with a trembling voice, knowing full well that they had intended exactly that. His superior approached, shooing away the younger man.

“Archduke Wei, this one humbly greets Your Excellency,” Investigator Tabuyir said, bowing his head.

Archduke Wei glared at Tabuyir, shifting to block Archduke Qi entirely from his sight.

“And to what do we owe this rude intrusion?!” He demanded.

Investigator Tabuyir hesitated, glancing at Archduke Qi, who stared blankly at the scene before him, unresponsive to the chaos being invoked in his household.

“Your Excellency, perhaps we can speak elsewhere?” Tabuyir suggested.

Archduke Wei’s rage was so palpable that it seemed to raise his hair on end.

“You sly bastard, say what you want to say right here!” Archduke Wei snarled, glaring at Tabuyir as though he wanted to tear the man apart with his teeth. He did, and it wasn't Tabuyir's rank that held him back but the fact that Archduke Wei knew he couldn't win the fight.

Tabuyir lowered his head. “I apologize for any offense I’ve caused you, Your Excellency, but perhaps you should return for now. After all, this is related to Archduke Qi, not yourself. As the father of Princess Chengxia, perhaps you should be…more pragmatic,” he said in almost a whisper.

It took Archduke Wei all his effort to not punch Tabuyir in the face, and the Senior Investigator knew it, from the apologetic look on his face.

“My sincere apologies, Your Excellency, but the wood has already been crafted into a ship. Nothing can be done at this point,” Tabuyir said regretfully.

“I don’t need you to teach me how to act,” Archduke Wei snapped. “Get out of my sight!”

Tabuyir bowed his head apologetically. “I will do as you command, Your Grace. But I’m afraid that–”

“What, that I’m next? I know that! Let me tell you this, if you dare do disturb my wife or intrude on the privacy of my soon-to-be-wed daughter, I’ll skin you all alive!” Archduke Wei shouted.

“Of course,” Tabuyir said diplomatically. “We would not dare disturb the princess.”

He backed away, waving for the Imperial Investigators to leave the Inner Quarters. They left, carrying various documents with them. It was a pitiful amount since Archduke Qi had already had most of his letters and documents either confiscated or burned after his fall from grace. Archduke Wei glared fiercely at each of the Investigators as they left, several of them shying away from his gaze out of either fear or guilt.

Finally, they were left alone again, the Archduchess weeping piteously as her serving maid quietly shed tears while comforting her mistress. Tan Hui stood with his head lowered and his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles white. Archduke Qi seemed not to notice any of this, sitting still with his shoulders slumped.

“Sister-in-law, wipe away your tears, I’ll call over some servants to help put this back into order,” Archduke Wei comforted her. “I’ll send my wife over to keep you company as well.”

The Archduchess tearfully gave her thanks.

Archduke Wei nodded to the serving maid. “What are you doing? Hurry up and escort your mistress inside to rest,” he said gently. The women left, and Archduke Wei placed a hand on his brother’s back protectively.

“Tan Hui, go gather the servants and get them started, and tell my horseman to call over as many servants as he can to help out,” he urged the man, gently whacking Tan Hui’s sturdy arm. It reached its desired effect, and Tan Hui relaxed slightly, his fists no longer clenched so tightly.

“Understood, Your Grace. My deepest gratitude for your kindness. Then, I’ll leave my lord in your care,” Tan Hui said, bowing his head before leaving as well.

Archduke Wei sighed as they were left alone again, finally turning his attention to his older brother.

“Brother,” Archduke Wei called. Archduke Qi gave no response, and Archduke Wei briefly felt as helpless as a lost child. He lowered himself onto one knee, taking Archduke Qi by the arm.

"Look what a mess they've made, but don't worry, my servants will take care of all of it," Archduke Wei assured him, despite knowing that the man wasn't listening.

"I'll also have them write up a damages report, we'll make the Bureau pull the money out of their pockets. How dare they be so rude? Really, you'd have thought they were trained by bandits rather than the Imperial Palace!" Archduke Wei continued on, patting his brother on the back. He continued talking for a while longer, hoping to get some sort of reaction from the older man. After a while, his voice died down. Seeing that Archduke Qi was still completely unresponsive, Archduke Wei's indignant expression faded into a weary look of melancholy.

“Brother, how did things become like this?” Archduke Wei asked quietly, the question directed as much towards himself as towards his brother. “We were loyal, weren’t we? Why does the capital keep pressing forward for every step we take backward?”

He looked at Archduke Qi expectantly, disappointment slowly clouding his gaze as the silence dragged on. After giving a heavy sigh, Archduke Wei moved to his feet, pulling Archduke Qi up with him and guiding the man into one of the relatively undisturbed rooms. Archduke Qi followed compliantly, allowing himself to be led down the corridor and situated on a chair.

Archduke Wei sat down next to him, watching with concern. After a long moment in which Archduke Qi remained unresponsive, he let out another sigh.

“My residence is next, the wife and kids will definitely throw up a fuss about it. I'd like to see if they dare make such a mess again! At least they’ll take more care with the women’s quarters now that Chengxia is engaged, but what good does that do compared to the damage?” Archduke Wei rambled on, speaking more to himself than to Archduke Qi. “And it doesn’t help that they’re only showing some restraint because Chengxia’s going to the Khaganate in only a few months, I still can’t believe this is happening! Just one order from the Emperor and my poor daughter’s fate is sealed, even I, her father, can’t do anything about it.”

He glanced at Archduke Qi again with hopeful eyes.

“Brother, do you think she’ll be happy there? They’ll treat her well, won’t they?”

Archduke Wei shook his head, answering his own question. “Sure, she’ll have some degree of prestige attached to her, but neither the Khagan nor the Emperor would hold back on hostilities just because she was sent there as a hostage. And then what?! She won’t be able to return, not even if her husband dies! Once she crosses the Jade Door Pass, she’ll never come back. That piece of shit Emperor, I swear I’ll make him pay for this one day!”

That was impossible, given their current political position. Knowing this, Archduke Wei glanced helplessly at his brother. Almost desperately, he tugged on Archduke Qi’s arm.

“Brother, say something!” He pleaded. To his relief, that actually seemed to shake Archduke Qi out of his unresponsive state, and he slowly stirred back into reality.

Blinking tiredly, Archduke Qi glanced around, looking wearier than anything else. He finally took note of Archduke Wei’s hand on his arm and gave it a lethargic pat.

“Weiji, when did you get here?” Archduke Qi asked, his voice hoarse.

Archduke Wei swallowed his emotions and forced a smile. “Just now, brother. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” Archduke Qi replied. “Really, you shouldn’t have come, why drag yourself into this trouble?”

“I’m glad that Brother is feeling well enough to scold me,” Archduke Wei said flatly before softening his tone. “Don’t worry, it’ll be alright. The servants will be finished cleaning up soon, I sent for some from my residence as well. Once they’re done, you can go ahead and get some rest.”

Archduke Qi gave a minuscule smile, but the sliver of affection was enough to soothe Archduke Wei’s worries.

“Alright then. You’ve always been so considerate,” Archduke Qi praised him before looking around. “Where is your sister-in-law?”

“She went to get some much-needed rest,” Archduke Wei replied. “Shall I walk you over?”

Archduke Qi shook his head. “No need, let her vent in peace for a bit,” he replied, the words tumbling out slower than before. Sensing that his brother’s energy was spent, Archduke Wei fell silent as well.

Outside the room, there was the sound of shuffling as the servants laboriously cleaned up the mess that had only taken a few moments to make.

72-Magical Research

Kayla stepped through the entrance of Wei Guang’s residence, feeling no less trepidation on her second visit than she did on her first.

What on earth did he summon me for this early in the morning? The rays of sunlight peeking out from the east had yet to fully illuminate the sky, but that evidently wasn’t an issue for the Imperial Edict Bearer. Kayla didn’t want to know how early this man usually got up.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla bowed her head in greeting as she reached Wei Guang’s study.

“Come on in, no need for formalities! Thank you for joining me at such an early hour,” Wei Guang greeted her, waving Kayla into the room.

“Not at all, it’s my pleasure.”

“Now, it wasn’t exactly urgent, but I thought it would be best for you to have this sooner rather than later,” Wei Guang said, handing Kayla a scroll. She unrolled it curiously, looking through its contents.

“That one includes detailed information on the members of each faction who are currently in the capital, including their current positions. This one here,” Wei Guang said, pulling out a second scroll and handing it over. “This details the allegiances of the provincial and county-level officials. Most of the people listed in these are relatively low-ranking officials, in seemingly insignificant positions, but everything significant under the heavens is decided by details. If you know thyself and thy enemy, in a hundred battles you will gain a hundred victories.”

“I’m deeply grateful,” Kayla said sincerely. She had a general sense of the capital, but not to the extent detailed in the scroll, which included everything from secretaries to security personnel.

“No need to be so polite, doing this much is natural. If Hu Weizhi had the ability to gather this information, I’m sure he would have done this for you,” Wei Guang said smoothly. Kayla ignored the strange feeling at the back of her mind at the joking jab.

The palace should have had the ability to do so, shouldn’t it? She squashed the thought as it emerged, forcing herself to focus on the conversation.

“Your Grace, may I ask how you managed to gather such detailed information while away from the capital?” Kayla asked, being sure to sound suitably impressed.

“I still have some old contacts here, I’ve been an official in this city for decades now, it’s not too hard to stay up to date,” Wei Guang replied.

Is that why he didn’t show up in the original timeline? He knew things had gone to shit and decided to take to the hills?

“Of course.”

“Some of my old friends are officials, and there’s a few who are magical researchers, focusing on some rather niche and unorthodox topics. Somehow, they’re always the ones who are best informed,” Wei Guang chatted on casually, but Kayla could sense bait when she saw it.

“I believe my mother also did some unorthodox research,” Kayla cautiously prodded at the topic.

“Indeed, she most certainly did! Some of the things were hidden carefully away from the public eye, simply because some might conflate it with witchcraft and stir up a fuss, you see,” Wei Guang said.

Kayla nodded along, hoping Wei Guang would say more. This wasn’t the topic he had called her over for, and Kayla knew it as well, but she’d be damned if she let go of an opportunity to wheedle out information from him. Of course, the opposite was also true, and despite the seemingly friendly and trusting conversation going on, both of them were strategically choosing their words, as well as what information to reveal.

“What kind of research did my mother do?” Kayla asked. She wondered if he knew about the evidence the Princess had found. He had hinted at it, but that wasn’t an answer. Kayla certainly wouldn’t be the one to take that risk, if they were going to broach this topic, he would have to be the one to talk.

“She was exceptionally talented, she could easily grasp theories regarding every type of magic,” Wei Guang said. “Your mother directed the multiple research projects going on simultaneously, connecting them to each other and synthesizing them.”

“I wish I could have seen her at work, it must have been quite a sight,” Kayla lamented.

Wei Guang patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Most of the projects involved rather delicate magic, it wouldn’t have been safe to involve a child,” he explained.

“Delicate magic?” Kayla prompted.

“Indeed, very delicate. One of your mother’s fellow researchers specialized in divination magic, she was quite an impressive woman,” Wei Guang said.

“Divination?” Kayla perked up at that.

So like Asian-geomancy?

No, divination magic is much more high-caliber than that!

Alright, alright. Kayla swallowed her internal skepticism at Wenyuan’s indignant tone.

“Indeed, she was much more accurate than the divinators and astrologers of the court. She often worked with the soul magic expert, and if I remember correctly, they were collaborating on a research project around the time of your mother’s passing. Nothing came of it in the end, and now both of them are gone.”

“They’ve both passed away?” Kayla asked in surprise, suspicion tugging at her gut.

“That’s what one would suppose, they’ve both vanished without tracks or shadow. But since their bodies haven’t been found, it’s hard to say,” Wei Guang admitted.

“What a shame, to lose such talented people.”

“Indeed, if your mother had only lived a little longer, this country would have been transformed beyond what you could imagine, even the heavens and earth would have been shaken,” Wei Guang lamented. “But alas, it was not to be. Perhaps the heavens simply felt that the time was not right.”

Kayla once again sensed that Wei Guang was trying to hint at something, but didn’t dare to jump to conclusions based on his words alone.

“Were their findings so surprising?” Kayla asked.

“Everyone’s findings were surprising, especially those two. Lady Lin, the divinator, theorized that time is not linear. Instead, time is like a writhing mass of chaos that moves forward and backward simultaneously, constantly splintering apart and folding in on itself,” Wei Guang said, the scholarly air about him increasing. “Apparently, that is what she uncovered by looking too far into the future.”

Kayla tried to picture it, shaking the image of puff pastry dough from the dessert-making videos she used to watch out of her mind.

“That…doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Kayla admitted.

“Think of it as this, every second you have a large number of choices as to what to do, what to say, what to think within the next second, do you not?” At Kayla’s nod, he continued. “But not all of the choices make sense or have a high likelihood of coming true. Of those that do, they splinter off temporally, into parallel paths for the future. But this does not occur for you, but for everyone, meaning that there are more splinters in any given second than there are sands in the Ganges river.”

Oh, that is so cool! Wenyuan’s enthusiasm for his hobby was practically oozing out. Kayla ignored him, narrowing in on the parts that didn’t make sense.

“That’s a lot of splinters,” Kayla said uneasily.

“Exactly, hence the folding in on itself. Most of those splinters, despite being the most likely options for a single person, have too little compatibility with the others in their proximity, or those that they will interact with now or further on in the future. Those splinters only exist for the fraction of a second, creating parallel realities in which that splinter was the only truth, before being sucked back into the flow of time,” Wei Guang explained. “And so time itself is an all-encompassing entity of pulsing energy, one that is constantly creating and destroying possibilities, paths, and choices.”

Kayla nodded slowly, still trying to wrap her head around it. “Then what about time going both forward and backward?”

I went backward, didn’t I?

“Lady Lin couldn’t explain that, but Sir Ji believed that he could eventually get to the bottom of it. He studied souls extensively, and some of his findings supported her theory. You see, he was steps away from confirming that reincarnation is real,” Wei Guang explained.

I knew it!!!!

Kayla nodded thoughtfully, ignoring Wenyuan’s excitement.

I mean sure, if two souls can cohabit a body, it makes sense that this would also be possible.

“Amazing,” Kayla murmured.

“Indeed, but that was not all. Remember that time is not linear, then how does reincarnation work? Sir Ji theorized that there were multiple worlds that co-exist within the expanse of time, each of them close to the others, separated by the thin parchment of fate,” Wei Guang said.

“Parallel worlds,” Kayla said in realization.

“An interesting way to put it,” Wei Guang remarked. “But mind you, the worlds are not fixed in their positions. This is a very simplified explanation, but think of it like a sphere, containing several liquid forms, each a different color perhaps, all within an oil solution that prevents them from merging into each other. They swirl around each other in undetermined patterns inside a sphere that is also constantly spinning in random directions. Now, those liquids would be the worlds, while the sphere is time.”

Like a round lava lamp?!! Seriously?! That's the true face of the universe?!

Is that how it works?!!!

“So the worlds would be at different points in time, but souls can travel between them via reincarnation regardless of which temporal reality they hail from?” Kayla said thoughtfully.

“You’re getting there,” Wei Guang said approvingly. “Don’t worry if you don’t understand it all, two experts worked on this for decades and still didn’t have full knowledge of it.”

Things started making a lot more sense to Kayla, but she could also tell that Wei Guang was done amusing her.

He’s given me a lot of information, and now it’s his turn to get what he wants. She wanted to learn more, but that could wait for a different time.

“Thank you for your guidance, Your Grace. Truly, I have benefited greatly,” Kayla said, bowing her head slightly.

“Not at all, rather, I should thank you for indulging an old man’s ramblings,” Wei Guang replied. “But I digress, we’ve strayed from the topic I wished to discuss.”

Kayla politely waited for Wei Guang to continue.

“Wenyuan, now that you have some control over the neutral faction, it’s time to cement your hold,” Wei Guang said.

“This foolish one asks for Your Grace’s advice,” Kayla replied.

Of course he’d want to have sway in the faction. Unlike Hu Weizhi and the other traditionalists, Wei Guang’s role was more similar to that of an investor who came in with a large amount of money, he brought influence and prestige. He even strengthened the neutral faction’s ties with the Emperor by virtue of his long tenure as an advisor. Kayla was also willing to make concessions to keep such a person on her side rather than to make an enemy out of him.

“The Ministry of Revenue,” Wei Guang said simply.

Kayla looked at him in surprise. Noticing her reaction, he chuckled softly.

“Are you surprised? You must have expected that the most reasonable course of action right now is to strengthen our hold in the judicial system first, no?” Wei Guang laughed. “Unfortunately, we’ve reached the upper limits of what we can accomplish there within the short run. It is outside of our abilities to interfere with the Bureau, and you cannot gain any more ground in the Ministry of Justice without openly ousting Minister Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang, and that would only gain us the animosity of both princes and their factions.”

Kayla mulled it over for a moment. “I see the wisdom of your words, but why the Ministry of Revenue? Given its importance, I can understand, but it’s the subject of such intense contestation that we would be better sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight.”

“In many cases, the one who strikes first will be able to control others, while those who act later will face many restraints, but there are also situations where those who enter later gain the upper hand. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can gain the fisher’s benefit in every situation where you can chase the tiger to have it devour the wolf,” Wei Guang warned her. “It might work in your favor when it is related to Grand Duke Zhao’s faction, but do not forget that all under heaven belongs to the Emperor, the princes have more claim than we do.”

“I apologize, this one was foolish. So is it Your Grace’s opinion that we should strike first and restrain our competitors’ movements?” Kayla quickly replied.

Wei Guang nodded. “Do you understand why?”

Kayla mulled over it, the gears in her head turning at top speed. Putting the importance of the Ministry of Revenue aside, if they were trying to establish a more well-rounded power base, the weakened Ministry of Rites would have been ideal. After Liu Xiu, the nephew of Liu Hongyu, had been demoted into a remote province, the Ministry of Rite’s new leader had struggled to keep everything running smoothly. Asserting the neutral faction’s influence in such a place would have been easy, compared to dealing with the solid defenses of Dong Shiqing, the long-standing Minister of Revenue.

Or is Wei Guang so confident because he knows the Imperial Princess has dirt on Dong Shiqing? Does he mean for me to bring that out?

A few moments later, Kayla was still mulling it over with a frown.

“You wouldn’t know of this, but the Ministry of War is about to be in trouble,” Wei Guang prompted her gently.

Kayla’s eyes widened with realization. “That uncle of mine has dealings in Dengzhou?”

“An astute deduction,” Wei Guang agreed.

“Then the Third Prince will surely gain control of the Ministry of War,” Kayla said cautiously. Her tone grew more confident as she assessed Wei Guang’s stoic expression. “If the Emperor would allow him to manage the dynasty’s army, then he must not also be allowed to gain control of its purse. Your Grace does not believe that the Seventh Prince could gain the Ministry of Revenue?”

Having both an army and a bank meant Kuang had the power to revolt. It didn’t matter whether or not Kuang ever would do such a thing, but the mere threat of it could have disastrous consequences given the Emperor’s overly emotional approach to familial affairs.

Wei Guang shook his head. “I have no doubt that he would eventually manage, especially if the Third Prince was actively refraining. However, what would that entail?”

“An army cannot fight without its purse,” Kayla said in realization. “Perhaps the Seventh Prince wouldn’t actively withhold war funds during a national emergency under normal circumstances, but if he saw himself to be in a desperate position, there is no guarantee he would not take extreme actions and threaten the safety of the dynasty. Is that why the Ministry of Revenue must be in the hands of the neutral faction?”

“Exactly. But you should not be seen as snatching it away from the Princes, that would only invoke their rage,” Wei Guang said. “Instead, bind them to this arrangement with ties of gratitude, then they will be unable to interfere.”

“This foolish one asks for further guidance,” Kayla prompted.

Rather than answer, Wei Guang smiled, posing another question. “How do you think this should be done?”

Realizing that Wei Guang was trying to train her rather than test her abilities, Kayla felt slightly relieved. If he had taken it upon himself to mentor her, she would make the most of the opportunity.

“I should not give them a chance to demand a favor of me, so it stands that I must do them a favor,” Kayla said hesitantly.

“That would be difficult to arrange, would it not? It would not inhibit their hankering for the Ministry of Revenue. Rather than create an imbalance, it would be wiser to ensure that everything you start is ended properly,” Wei Guang said, nudging Kayla towards the solution.

“So making a deal with them…I suppose that since the Third Prince is already certain to take the Ministry of War, pushing the boat along the current would not hurt, but what for the Seventh Prince?”

“The Ministry of Rites. It’s ripe for the taking, and the new Minister would be easy to win over, especially with our help. You’ve wrested a Ministry from him, so now you must give him a new one. For most subjects, politics are about how to maximize their power and benefits, but your role is different in that you must act as an extension of the Emperor himself. And what does the Emperor need?” Wei Guang said.

“For the factions in court to balance each other out,” Kayla replied.

“You understand correctly,” Wei Guang said encouragingly.

Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you for your guidance, Your Grace.”

“It is merely my duty as your senior,” Wei Guang waved off her thanks. “Focusing on the bigger picture of the court is important, but you must not neglect your duties as the head of the Court of Judicial Review either. Even if it does not make any waves in the short time, it holds a great deal of importance in the long run.”

“It is as you say, Your Grace,” Kayla said politely. She had a feeling that Wei Guang was only now getting to the actual topic he wanted to talk about.

“How has your work been going?” Wei Guang asked. Kayla wasn’t fooled by the mundanity of the question.

“It has been going well, Your Grace. I’m afraid that I still have much to learn, but with the support of my subordinates and the benevolence of the Emperor, I will strive to become worthy of my position,” Kayla said.

“I see, that’s good to hear.”

“Your Grace, if it would not cause you too much trouble, may I consult with you on some of the Court of Judicial Review’s affairs?” Kayla asked.

Surely that’s what he wants, influence in the judicial system.

To her surprise, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“I also lack experience in terms of criminal investigations, but I will do my best to advise you where I can. Since you’ve brought it up, there is something I wanted to speak to you about regarding an investigation,” Wei Guang said.

“Please go ahead, Your Grace.”

“Surely you’ve heard of the situation in Dengzhou by now,” Wei Guang said serenely, knowing full well that Kayla was the one who signed off on it.

“Yes, the residences of several nobles were searched, including those of Archdukes Qi and Wei,” Kayla replied, keeping her tone polite.

“Those two, their political position is rather…sensitive,” Wei Guang said. “Do you think they might be involved?”

Kayla shook her head. “I don’t think so at all.”

Wei Guang tilted his head slightly, the unspoken question hanging in the air.

“I believed it for the best to sign off on the Bureau’s arrangements,” Kayla said carefully. “Because of their precarious political situation, it’s better to have the Bureau investigate and formally remove their suspicion rather than allowing sentiments to fester.”

“And you are aware of how they are likely to be treated by the Bureau?” Wei Guang asked pointedly.

Kayla bowed her head slightly. Even officials aligned with the Grand Duke made no small amount of effort to curry favor with the Emperor, it went without saying that the Imperial Bureau who directly answered to him wouldn’t hold back at all.

“I understand that even if the investigation is ordered without giving any extra instructions, it will likely end up being a very stressful situation for the Archdukes,” Kayla said, cautiously toeing around blatantly calling out the Bureau. “But the Bureau may cause them some distress and alarm, but ultimately, I have faith in the Bureau’s ability to conduct an objective investigation. If there was no evidence, they will not turn up evidence. The same could not be said of others who may become involved should things be allowed to develop unhindered. Should someone in the court catch wind of this, they can use it to destroy the Archdukes without even a fair investigation.”

Wei Guang raised an eyebrow before shaking his head with a chuckle.

“I see, you’re choosing to take care of it while the situation is under your control,” Wei Guang mused. “Not a bad choice. I was worried that you had stepped onto the wrong path, but it seems I was worried for nothing.”

Kayla hastily bowed her head. “I dare not, Your Excellency. Abusing my power to wreak havoc upon innocent men, simply to curry favor, such things are not within the extent of my abilities.”

Wei Guang chuckled, looking rather pleased. “Good, good. As expected of the Princess’ son.”

“Your Grace, are you familiar with the Archdukes?” Kayla asked.

“I taught them along with your mother,” Wei Guang replied.

Before Kayla could ask anything else, a servant scuttled into the courtyard and approached the study.

“Please pardon me, my lord, Minister Zhao,” the servant greeted them.

“What is it?” Wei Guang asked. The servant glanced at Kayla, looking slightly hesitant.

“Minister, the Grand Duke has summoned you,” the servant said politely. “His housekeeper is waiting outside the gates.”

Kayla’s eyes narrowed.

Summoned? She wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or worried that he was addressing her as a lower-ranking official rather than a family member of the younger generation. Neither put her in a great position, but she didn’t have enough information to analyze which would be worse.

“I see,” Kayla replied, before turning to Wei Guang. “Your Grace, I must apologize for cutting our conversation short, but it seems that I am needed elsewhere.”

“Of course, it wouldn’t do to keep the Central Secretariat waiting,” Wei Guang replied.

So it’s Central Secretariat and not ‘your grandfather’? Perhaps it’s to my benefit that the Grand Duke summoned me as an official after all.

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Grace. I take my leave of you,” Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“Go ahead, I hope to see you again shortly,” Wei Guang said. In other words, the exchange wasn’t done yet. He still had more to squeeze out of Kayla.

She left with the servant, Wei Guang’s information and the Grand Duke’s sudden summon rattling around inside her head.

What on earth does the Grand Duke want?

A teacup shattered a foot away from the door just as Kayla stepped into the Grand Duke’s study, Housekeeper Wang hastily beating a retreat. Frowning, Kayla glanced at the seething old man.

“What on earth is the matter, grandfather?” Kayla asked calmly.

“You bastard, do you know what you’ve done?!” The Grand Duke snarled.

“What now?”

“That goddamn investigation in Dengzhou will be the death of us all! Do something about it or I swear to the heavens I’ll wring your neck with my own two hands!” The Grand Duke raged. His desk was already devoid of objects to throw, its former contents strewn across the floor.

Unfazed, Kayla stared at him impassibly.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you with this.” She was almost a little incredulous he was asking her to help. Did he still think Wenyuan was someone he could bully into submission?

“You’ve been a member of this clan for twenty-five years, you won’t ever be able to break free from these ties,” the Grand Duke snarled. “Even enemies on the battlefield are willing to cooperate when the lives of both sides are threatened, and you can’t even lift a finger to help your own clan?!”

“I’m telling you that my hands are tied,” Kayla hissed. “You tried to kill me the other day! And now you want my help?!”

“Get over it, how many assassination attempts do you think I’ve protected you from? Even the Imperial Palace has tried to eliminate you before, and right after your mother’s funeral no less!” The Grand Duke snapped.

Kayla jolted back in surprise. He snorted at the flicker of shock that she failed to disguise.

“You didn’t even know, did you?”

Kayla hastily gathered herself, not having the time to ruminate on that revelation at the moment. “I appreciate what you’ve done for me. But our sides are already chosen, and the pieces are already stationed on either side of the Chu-Han boundary. The wood has already been shaped into a boat, I have to stay on my path, just as you have to stay on yours. I can’t help you.”

“You fool, we’re about to lose the Ministry of War!” The Grand Duke snarled.

Yes, I know. It’s already a given that it’ll be Kuang’s, what can we do even if we hang on to it tooth and nail?

“You’re about to lose the Ministry of War,” Kayla corrected him. “My uncle was involved with some noble in Dengzhou, wasn’t he? I haven’t heard of the details yet and I can already guess that he made deals for exchanging positions. There’s no coming back from that, grandfather. If he at least used his subordinates to see it done, he can still escape the death penalty.”

“No, you idiot! You really won’t shed tears until you see the casket, is that it? Look at the situation you’re in! You’re the heir of the Zhao clan, do you really think that conniving old bitch in the palace would spare you once she’s done with me? The Ministry of War is our strongest line of defense, without it, we’re like a fillet of fish while the palace is like a knife, we can be slaughtered at any point in time!” The Grand Duke shouted angrily.

Oh. So it’s because he thinks we’re on the same boat that he’s asking me.

To be fair, it definitely wouldn’t help Kayla’s current position for the other Minister Zhao to publicly meet his demise, not when she didn’t have enough cards to control the fallout yet. The situation would be infinitely more to her favor should the Ministry of Revenue fall under the neutral faction’s influence, but that was still a long way coming.

“Then you’ve misplaced your piece,” Kayla replied in an even tone. “Let’s speak plainly between us now, the truth remains that the Emperor can crush any individual official however he wishes, it’s a faction that he can’t carelessly move. But once a faction is in the open, then he has the upper hand. The Emperor has the legal, moral, and political justification to crush any faction that steps into the light, you should know from your ample experience that the only way a faction can survive is either through gaining official authorization to exist or by remaining formless and unofficial. The latter is how you’ve survived this long and gained so much power, isn’t it? By not giving the Emperor any excuse.”

The Grand Duke’s scowl grew fiercer, but he stayed silent and allowed Kayla to continue.

“Now, we all know that the Ministry of War has been under your faction’s control, but that’s exactly why you can’t make a move right now. If you do, it will be acknowledging that your faction exists, and also that you’ve dared to meddle with the military. Even if it’s true and everyone already knows all this, there’s a very large difference between it being a tacit understanding and it being a publicly announced truth. Once you try to save our relative, the Emperor will have the excuse he needs to launch a full-out purge,” Kayla said calmly. “As you said, I am also a member of the Zhao clan, and so it doesn’t particularly benefit me for that to happen. But you should also understand by now that it is only a matter of time before the Emperor crushes your faction. It’s time to transition, grandfather. Salvage what you can and step down, disband the faction yourself, and you can still save face and preserve the lives of our clan members.”

The Grand Duke’s face twisted, his rage reddening his neck.

“Never,” he spat. “Do you think I would destroy with my own hands that which I have shed blood and sweat to build up? You little brat, you’ve never known what it is like to be without power, to have your life in the hands of a master that could crush you like an ant at any time! I’d rather fight to the death than place my fate in the hands of the Emperor!”

Kayla sighed, sensing that she wouldn’t be able to convince him.

If I can’t force him to retire, then there’s really only one other option. She pushed that line of thought aside and focused on the Grand Duke’s angry face.

“I won’t waste my words on trying to convince you,” Kayla said placidly. “But if you really want to save our clan, you’d let Zhao Wei resign. He can claim ignorance and admit guilt for being unable to properly discipline his subordinates, and perhaps actively accept responsibility for one or two of the lighter crimes. As long as he himself chooses to step down from the post, the palace will probably allow him to do so without pressing the matter too far since they also don’t want the princes to start fighting over the Ministry of War before they can make the necessary arrangements to contain their actions.”

“And then the Ministry of War goes to the neutral faction,” the Grand Duke laughed coldly. “How well you’ve arranged all this!”

“You give me far too much credit, I would never be able to set all this up myself, nor is my appetite big enough to devour the Ministry of War. But I do understand what our best options are right now. Let Zhao Wei be charged for incompetence, and have him offer up his wealth and leave the capital. That is the only way to temporarily stay their blade,” Kayla sighed wearily. “If not for your pride, you would surely agree that this is the Zhao clan’s best option.”

“Curse you! This is only the beginning, you’ll be the death of us all!”

Kayla shook her head. “You’re the one who caused all this, what could you possibly want me to say? Cool your head and think over what I’ve said, you’ll see that the option I’ve given you is the best we can hope for under these circumstances.”

Without giving the Grand Duke a chance to find something else to lob at her head, Kayla slipped out the door and left.

Chujiao sighed, setting down the finished paperwork. It had been another long day, alone in the Outer Quarters without the tenuous friendships she had managed to make through her long years as a serving girl in the Inner Quarters, and without even a glimpse of the man she loved.

There was still no word from her cousin even after his last stunt, which she was honestly rather disapproving of, but Chujiao was used to struggling alone without the support of her family at this point. Truth be told, she wasn’t so much interested in restoring the family’s prestige or getting revenge as she was duty-bound to see her parents’ names cleared.

Chujiao had a chance to break all her ties once, to sever the chains binding her and start life over as a nameless face in the crowd, a chance that the Imperial Princess had quietly offered and that she hadn’t accepted. In the silence of her empty office, she often thought back to the turning points in her life, wondering how things would have turned out had she made a different choice. Perhaps the young lord would still look at her with the same soft gaze as before, rather than the distant look that he used now.

She furiously shook her head, forcibly clearing her mind of the melancholy that threatened to blanket her thoughts. Chujiao closed up the office, preparing to go get dinner with Matron Li and chat with the older woman. She locked the doors and turned around, gasping in shock as she was greeted by an unfamiliar face. Chujiao backed up into the wall, staring at him with wide eyes as she shakily fumbled for the sharp hairpin in her sleeve. Her movements stilled as she took in the man’s physique. Even if she tried to defend herself, she would only be overpowered instantly. The man moved closer, and Chujiao flinched away from him.

“I apologize for frightening you,” the man said, a smile on his face that set her on edge. “You must be Chujiao. Nice to meet you, this one's name is Hu Qing.”

73-Crumbling Cliff

It was the middle of the day, a time when criminals and professionals of adjacent occupations tended to err on the side of caution, restraining their impulses to avoid attracting attention. This was evidently not the case for the men vaulting over walls with reckless abandon and no fear of being seen.

Qu Boyong jumped off the roof, heart pounding in his ears. He landed in a roll, ducking down an alley and whirling about-face, tightening his grip on the blade. His pursuers turned into the alleyway as well. It was a narrow dead-end, easy to defend and hard to attack. The masked men before him had little to no space to maneuver, and could only attack one by one.

He wasn't even trying to gain the upper hand anymore, only to disadvantage his enemies as much as he could. These were professional killers. Qu Boyong could have taken them in a one-on-one, but not when he was outnumbered to this extent. Though he had never caught sight or sound of them before, he instinctively knew that they were from the Zhao household.

“Come on, you bastards!” Qu Boyong snarled, liquid rage pulsing through his veins. The assassins didn’t hesitate in the slightest and lunged forward with a coordinated precision that shaved away at Qu Boyong’s spatial advantage.

The first assassin’s blade connected with Qu Boyong’s, a jarring clash that sent tremors down the arm of both men. Before Qu Boyong could strike again, the assassin lowered his head, the man behind him vaulting over his back to strike.

The blade missed by a fraction of an inch as Qu Boyong hastily ducked, nearly losing his footing. Gritting his teeth, he dodged the flurry of blows but found no chance to land an attack of his own. He continued to retreat back into the dead end until he was cornered. A cold shock jolted down his spine as he finally hit the stone wall behind him.

I might actually die here, Qu Boyong realized. A strange sense of calm came over him, the world seeming to move slower. He threw his blade with deadly precision, the assassin moving to block the knife from lodging in his heart. Qu Boyong took that chance to run, jumping straight up to scramble onto the roof and start creating as much distance as he could.

The precious few seconds losing his weapon had bought Qu Boyong wasn’t quite enough, the assassins once again fast on his tail. Giving up on the idea of taking them on alone, Qu Boyong dashed towards the bustling street without regard for the tiles that shattered under his feet, exchanging speed for subtlety.

He crashed onto the pavement, eliciting a screech of surprise from several passersby. Qu Boyong ignored them, sprinting down the street. He charged straight into a familiar restaurant, knowing it to be crowded at this time of the day, moving faster than the employees at the door could react. By the time they shouted at him to stop, he had already made his way inside

Surely they wouldn’t burst into a place like this!

He was wrong. Qu Boyong’s heart caught in his throat as the masked man followed him in with impunity. Belatedly, he also realized that the restaurant was not at all bustling, as it should have been at this hour.

There was the distinct sound of an expensive blade as it sliced through the air and stopped at Qu Boyong’s neck. It hadn’t drawn blood, but he almost felt as though it had already sliced into his jugular.

Sweat dripping down his face, Qu Boyong glanced down at the blade, carefully keeping still as he looked out of the corner of his eyes. A guard in a high-quality uniform was glaring at him, itching to kill. Before Qu Boyong could react to that, his attention was dragged away by the commotion at the door. He watched with wide eyes as several highly-trained guards emerged out of seemingly nowhere to intercept the assassins, crushing them ruthlessly. One of them was struck with a lethal blow, his body dragged away as the others quickly fled, realizing the situation had spiraled out of control.

Qu Boyong had no attention to spare to the scene below as the blade at his neck pressed into his skin, a thin red line appearing beneath its sharp edge.

Good heavens, Qu Boyong couldn't hold back a gasp that came out sounding more like a whimper.

“How dare you,” the guard snarled in a low voice. Qu Boyong’s fear escalated and jumped several levels as he realized that he had gone from being pursued across the open ground by a few highly-skilled professionals to bursting into a building full of them.

“I-I apologize,” Qu Boyong hastily suppressed his killing intent, doing his best to appear innocent.

“Who the hell are you?” A second guard demanded, his blade pressing into the side of Qu Boyong's ribcage, positioned to plunge straight into his heart.

“Don’t waste your words and disturb the young master’s meal, just arrest him,” a guard called from behind them. Qu Boyong couldn’t turn his head to look, but the authority in the man’s voice told him that it was the guard commander.

Which family’s men are these? Qu Boyong wanted to curse out the heavens but wisely refrained.

Keeping himself very still to avoid the swords at his neck and side, Qu Boyong made to speak.

“Sir, please forgive this lowly one for having eyes but not recognizing the Tai Mountain! It was an honest mistake!” Qu Boyong pleaded, easily slipping on the persona of a frightened commoner. It did absolutely nothing for the highly-trained guards who could sense Qu Boyong was trained in martial arts.

“That’s enough,” a voice called out, sounding much younger than the others. The blades moved away. He was roughly grabbed by the arms and shoved onto his knees.

A teenage boy in expensive robes stared at Qu Boyong with wide eyes, sitting at the solely occupied table in the restaurant. The boy looked to be about fifteen or sixteen and didn’t seem to be very tall. He had fine features that looked strangely familiar and an almost childish air of innocence. A muscular man with a somber face, who Qu Boyong assumed was the guard commander, stood next to the table, flanked by a middle-aged woman who watched the scene impassively.

“Apologies, young master. We will see him removed immediately,” the guard commander bowed slightly. Qu Boyong was roughly dragged to his feet.

“Wait, don’t be so rough,” the teenager protested. The hands on Qu Boyong's shoulders immediately loosened.

“Are you alright? You’re dripping with sweat,” the teenager asked, glancing at Qu Boyong curiously.

Thanking the gods for the young master’s naivety, Qu Boyong hastily bowed his head, forming a story on the spot.

“I apologize, young master, this lowly one deserves death for intruding on your meal!” Qu Boyong said. “I truly did not mean to, I was just in such a panic that I didn’t realize until it was too late!”

The teenager frowned slightly. “What on earth has got you in such a fright? Were those men after your life?”

Qu Boyong hastily bowed. “Sir, please take pity on me! It was an honest misunderstanding! I accidentally offended a noble, and now he is out for my life. I did not mean to insult him in the slightest!”

It was a weak excuse that might fool the young master, but not the guards around him. Thankfully, they only seemed to want Qu Boyong out as soon as possible, not interested in whatever he was involved with.

“Young master, please don’t waste your time on this man,” the guard commander cut in. “It is not safe to allow this man to remain.”

Qu Boyong held his breath as the teenager appraised him for a moment before the boy nodded.

“Alright then. Since it was an accident, let him leave in peace,” he said, before glancing over at Qu Boyong. “You should be careful on your way out, go through the back exit.”

“My deepest thanks to the young master for his graciousness!” Qu Boyong bowed his head lower.

One of the guards stepped toward Qu Boyong menacingly until he quickly scuttled out of the room. There was another guard standing at the entrance to the kitchen, and likely another one at the back exit. Ducking his head, Qu Boyong entered the corridor reserved for staff and servers, which had been left alone by the teenager's security force.

A young master surrounded by guards who were definitely trained in the Imperial Guard… Qu Boyong cursed his luck upon realizing the identity of the teen he had just met.

That must be the kid from Shu family.

Which meant the Fifth Prince would hear of this. At least none of the guards seemed to recognize him. Qu Boyong decided not to test his luck, making his way through as quickly and quietly as he could. Still calming down from his near brush with death, he instinctively ducked behind a pillar as a server stepped into the corridor, belatedly realizing that there was no need to do so. He watched from his hiding spot as a server carrying a stone serving bowl passed, hissing in pain.

“Damn it, the soup bowl is too hot, why can’t we just put this damn thing on a tray? Who the hell thought of this?!” The server mumbled under his breath as he walked past. Another server hurried into the corridor after the first one, quickly catching up with him.

“Here, let me! You’ll spill it all before you get to the front room!” The second server quickly took the bowl. The first server gladly acquiesced.

“Careful, it’s hot,” he warned.

The second server rolled his eyes. “Oh please, not everyone has such delicate hands. Get going, I could carry this with one hand!” He proceeded to do so.

“Goodness, how impressive,” the first server said sarcastically, but turned around and went back to the kitchen. Qu Boyong was now left alone with the second server, who came to a stop a few feet away from the pillar. Qu Boyong held his breath, but the server didn’t notice him at all. Instead, the man retrieved a small sachet of powder from his sleeve and dumped it into the bowl before continuing on his way.

Poison? Qu Boyong watched warily as the server turned the corner and disappeared from sight. He narrowed his eyes, mulling over the situation.

Forget it, it’s not my problem. His guards will figure it out.

Slipping out from behind the pillar, Qu Boyong went down the corridor and left the building. His pursuers were nowhere to be found, having scattered after realizing they might have just run into a member of the Imperial Family. Letting out a sigh of relief, Qu Boyong stepped into the crowd, letting them hide his tracks as he headed back towards his new residence.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes watched sharply as they tracked his movements through the throngs of people. Quietly moving across the rooftops with enough skill to avoid any kind of attention despite being in broad daylight, Investigator Chen Jian followed Qu Boyong’s movements until the man disappeared into a small house. He observed the surroundings a moment longer before silently taking his leave.

Chen Jian walked down the familiar streets to his house, feeling exhausted in spirit and body alike. It was evening, and the elongated shadows on the street seemed to cast a shadow over his mood as well. He had been among the first batch of Investigators who had been cleared in the internal investigation, just as Li Que had suspected.

He probably should have headed back right away after he had been released, but the thought of the discussion he needed to have with Chen Caichun, as well as the nagging suspicion at the back of his mind, had sent him in pursuit of the elusive Qu Boyong instead.

It had bothered Chen Jian for a while now, why didn’t they have a file on Qu Boyong? Somehow, despite his extremely suspicious activities, the man had managed not to raise any red flags with the Bureau that would have had him under observation. The Bureau had the entire country to monitor on behalf of the Emperor, it wasn't possible to watch every single person. Instead, they followed a checklist of sorts to determine whether someone was a threat who required monitoring, investigation, or even elimination. The checklist was extremely thorough and made life much easier for the Bureau.

Why is this man not on our watchlist? Why did Minister Zhao have to actively cue the Imperial Palace to investigate him?

It was almost as though Qu Boyong knew exactly what the Bureau watched for, as though Qu Boyong had insider knowledge. Chen Jian had a feeling that his suspicions were true. Qu Boyong wasn’t just some opportunistic backstabber, he was a man with resources and connections. His observations this afternoon confirmed that as well.

I’ll have to tell Investigator Li, hopefully, they’ll take him more seriously.

He arrived before his house, smiling as he finally returned after being away for days.

“Caichun, your brother’s back,” Chen Jian called as he pushed the door open. The house was empty.

“Right, she must still be at work,” Chen Jian muttered. Until a few weeks ago, Chen Caichun was always home when Chen Jian returned, usually working on copying scrolls for her clients. He hadn’t yet gotten out of the habit of expecting her to be there.

He went to wash up first and was still drying off when he heard Chen Caichun at the door. She saw the extra pair of boots at the entrance and immediately burst into the inner rooms.

“Brother, you’re finally back!” Chen Caichun called joyfully.

“Hold on, I’m getting dressed,” Chen Jian called back. Chen Caichun obediently remained outside the door.

“I’ll go make some noodles for you,” Caichun said, and her footsteps disappeared down the hallway again. Chen Jian finished wiping off his face and got dressed, heading back into the main room. Chen Caichun glanced up as he entered, leaving her pot on the fire as she ran over to him. Chen Jian squeezed her into a hug, lifting her up and spinning her around.

“I’m back!” Chen Jian said gleefully.

Chen Caichun laughed happily as he set her down, straightening out the folds of Chen Jian’s messy robes.

“They finally cleared you from the investigation?” Chen Caichun asked.

“That’s right, they actually cleared me two days ago, but didn’t want to release me before anyone else, so they held me back until the first batch was released together,” Chen Jian said.

“It’s a good thing. Your path is still long, it’s best not to attract too much animosity or attention from your peers until your foundation in the Bureau is stronger,” Chen Caichun replied.

“You’re right,” Chen Jian agreed. A thought flared up but dissipated just as quickly. There was no need to worry about Chen Caichun while she was under Zhao Wenyuan, he instinctively knew that the Zhao heir would take good care of Caichun.

“You must be tired,” Chen Caichun said. “Have you been eating well? Your color doesn’t look so good.”

“The food wasn’t so bad, but their tea was terrible. Not only were the leaves musty, but it was also badly brewed,” Chen Jian replied. The food had actually been even better than Chen Caichun’s cooking, not that Chen Jian was about to say so.

“Well, you’ll have to make up for what you missed,” Chen Caichun said cheerfully. She started and rushed back to the pot, lifting the lid before it could boil over.

“I made some extra in case you were hungry, it’ll be ready in just a moment,” Caichun called from over her shoulder. Chen Jian’s mood slowly fell, congealing until it settled in his stomach as a heavy lump.

“Caichun, I need to talk to you about something,” Chen Jian said, nervous despite himself.

Caichun glanced at him, extinguishing the fire as she moved the pot aside.

“Alright, let me get your noodles out first,” Caichun said, deliberately keeping her voice even, but Chen Jian could tell that his younger sister was affected by his mood.

Caichun set out two bowls of noodles at the table and the siblings sat down. Chen Jian nervously fiddled with his chopsticks before quickly taking a few bites. Caichun ate slowly, discreetly watching her brother.

Chen Jian finally set down his chopsticks and took a deep breath, Caichun following suit.

“Go ahead, brother,” Caichun said.

Chen Jian hesitated for a moment longer before his words tumbled out in a rush. Like his sister, he had an excellent memory that bordered on being photographic, and he more or less recounted the entire meeting between the Bureau’s core staff to Caichun word for word.

Caichun stared at him in shock as he finished telling her about the core staff’s suspicions about the Archdukes, their mixed opinions on Zhao Wenyuan, and Li Que’s meaningful words to him.

“Well?” Chen Jian asked uneasily.

“Do you know why Investigator Li had you tell me this?” Caichun asked, her tone unusually grave.

“He said I should follow my instincts for what to do, and I thought I should tell you,” Chen Jian replied.

“And the Vice-Director, would he suspect you had learned of this? If he thought he sensed something in the utility closet but was then called away by Investigator Li, then he would surely be suspicious and continue to mull the matter over in his head. A man of his position cannot afford not to be careful, are you absolutely certain that you’re fine?” Caichun asked insistently.

“I think I am,” Chen Jian answered. “I don’t have anything to support that, but I just know it. The internal inspector who led me into the utility closet probably falsified records of where I was during that time. Even if he suspects something, Vice-Director Ke wouldn’t think of me.”

“If you believe that, then I’m sure it is so,” Caichun said in relief. “But now, you have to become Investigator Li’s successor. If you do not, then you’ll become a target for elimination. You know that, right?”

“Don’t worry about that, I don’t think there will be any problems. Investigator Li is only ‘considering’ other candidates because it’s still too early to declare me as his successor,” Chen Jian said confidently. “Out of everyone, I’m the only person that he acknowledges.”

Caichun nodded, relaxing a little.

“Caichun, what do you think about the investigation so far? I don’t know much about Archduke Wei and Archduke Qi, but would they really be behind this? What good would killing Minister Zhao do them? He was still a kid when the matter with the Sixth Prince happened,” Chen Jian asked.

Caichun sighed. “From my understanding, people’s actions are not always motivated by reason alone. Emotions, desires, urges, all of these may fester and drive plans forward, regardless of whether they’re doing the right thing, or even what best benefits them. It is not necessary that their revenge must burn the one responsible rather than someone they can get their hands on, the kindling of any pile burns just as strong. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Archduke Wei and Archduke Qi are already in such a precarious position, even if they wished to move irrationally, their friends and family would restrain them and persuade them otherwise.”

“But they’re the prime suspects right now, is the Bureau wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Caichun said honestly. “Objectively speaking, Archduke Wei might still gain some benefit from killing Minister Zhao, but it would be minimal. In fact, it might even backfire, and surely he would’ve thought of that as well.”

At Chen Jian’s confused frown, Caichun patiently began to elaborate. “Archduke Wei’s daughter Princess Chengxia will be marrying into the Khaganate, where she is highly unlikely to return. Even if her husband dies, she will be married again to one of his relatives. She’ll be all alone in a foreign land, save for her serving maids, but even those who follow her into the Khaganate will largely be sent by the palace, so she can’t fully trust them either. Archduke Wei dotes on Princess Chengxia, how could he possibly be fine with that?”

“Then why did the Third Prince recommend Princess Chengxia?” Chen Jian asked. “I thought he was trying to curry favor with the Archdukes.”

“Princess Chengxia is known for her fierce personality, if you had to think of someone who could survive alone in a hostile environment, among the princesses there is not a second person who could match her. In any case, Archduke Wei shares a mother with Archduke Qi, so his favor doesn’t bear much political weight. He’s someone that the Third Prince can afford to offend,” Caichun explained.

“Huh,” Chen Jian muttered. “I guess that makes sense. But even then, killing Minister Zhao won’t stop Chengxia from getting married. We’ve been marrying princesses into other countries since the Han Dynasty. Why would this be any different?”

“That’s why it’s very unlikely,” Caichun agreed. “But then again, there would be no benefit that Archduke Qi and Archduke Wei can gain from killing Minister Zhao, at least not at the moment. Unless they were aiming at completely throwing the court into chaos, in which case they would have succeeded brilliantly. That might give them some room for maneuver, there’s a much larger chance that the Emperor would take the opportunity to eradicate them during the turbulence.”

“So it’s not them,” Chen Jian said uncertainly.

“What do you think?” Caichun asked.

Chen Jian wavered, looking down at the bowl of noodles before him.

“I’m not sure. I feel like…I just think that it’s more complicated than a straightforward yes or no, but I don’t really get it either,” Chen Jian replied.

Caichun nodded. “I don’t doubt that the situation is much more convoluted than the Bureau will be able to uncover, no wonder Investigator Li wanted me to notify Minister Zhao to be wary of the Archdukes. But as for the Bureau’s opinion of Minister Zhao, there’s not much that we can do other than try to curry favor.”

“They don’t like him because he’s talented at politics, but that’s what he relies on to feed himself,” Chen Jian said bluntly. “I don’t think trying to curry favor with them would help.”

Caichun sighed. “The smarter a person is, the more they prefer simple and pure-hearted individuals. It must bother them that they couldn’t sense his abilities earlier.”

“Most talented people who could hide their abilities don’t have a direct channel to the palace,” Chen Jian pointed out. “He’s gone from being practically unnoticeable to someone that the Bureau has to answer to, even if he’s technically ranked lower than the Director, of course, they would be wary of him. I don’t think he’d gain any ground in the short run, even if he kept trying to flatter them. If anything, it might make them more suspicious.”

“It can’t be helped,” Caichun murmured.

“Caichun, I think you should leave the service of Minister Zhao,” Chen Jian said after a short pause.

Caichun frowned. “Why? He’s only just gained the backing of Imperial Edict Bearer Wei, and he’s solidifying his power in court. His career should be like a sun rising from the east, why do you say such a thing?”

Chen Jian shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “It’s just a feeling, this is going to get very dangerous. It can result in astonishing success or devastating failure, but the chances are almost fifty-fifty and hinge on decisions that can easily go in either direction. It’s just too much of a gamble. I don’t want you involved in all this.”

At Caichun’s frown, Chen Jian shrank back.

“I know this is a difficult chance to obtain for you, but I’m worried,” Chen Jian said quietly. “I followed Qu Boyong today, and that man is no servant.”

“That’s true, he is rather talented,” Caichun noted. “If he hadn’t insulted the Minister like this, he would have received a position sooner or later. But what does this have to do with my job?”

Chen Jian shook his head. “That’s not what I mean, Caichun. That guy, Qu Boyong, definitely isn’t from a normal background. I don’t know if he’s from a family of organized crime, or if he’s secretly a noble, but I think he has a man in the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau.”

Caichun looked at him in shock. “Qu Boyong does? But that means–”

“It means Minister Zhao let a guy like that stay at his side for months, trusting him with important secrets, and now that man is certain to weaponize that,” Chen Jian said somberly. “I saw Qu Boyong being pursued by assassins today, and he showed far more skill than a normal guard should have. Yet he isn’t known for being martially skilled. He’s hiding his abilities, just as Minister Zhao was. Whatever this Qu Boyong is aiming for, it does not bode well for Minister Zhao, nor for you.”

Caichun lowered her head. “Do you think Minister Zhao will be able to deal with him?”

Chen Jian sighed “As I said, it can go either way, with equal likelihood. You know how bloody things can get when it comes to political power, it’s better to be safe than sorry. As long as the green mountain remains, there will be no shortage of firewood. You’ve already become an official once, and you can do it again. Just not under Minister Zhao.”

Caichun mulled it over, staring blankly at the table for a bit.

“I’m sorry, brother. I can’t agree to that,” she finally replied. “Minister Zhao has bestowed upon me honor and opportunity far beyond what a second woman throughout this entire empire could claim to. It is thanks to his protection that I have gained the respect of my peers, and now this chance for promotion. As someone who has received this degree of favor, if I should run at the first hint of danger, it would be an excuse for everyone else to abandon him as well should there be the slightest problem. I can’t make a decision that is inhumane and disloyal to one who has treated me so well.”

“I am also sorry towards Minister Zhao,” Chen Jian argued. “But these men are all fighting for their own power out of selfish motivations, why should you join them in digging your grave?”

“Brother, I also have my own ambitions,” Caichun interjected. “Why should I not take power where I can find it?”

Chen Jian blinked in surprise. “Oh.” His brow creased as he realized the missing piece. "I see."

“Remember how grandfather used to say that if I had been born a man, I most certainly would have brought glory to the ancestors and achieved great things? If I hadn’t run off to join you here and stayed in Shandong instead, I would probably have a child already. I don’t want to be a wife, I want to be an official. Which one of my colleagues am I less talented than? I want power as much as they do, brother, and I’m grateful to Minister Zhao for giving me this chance,” Caichun said patiently. “Now that you’ve warned me, I’ll have to take more care in strategizing for the Minister and in advising him, but there’s no reason for me to step away from what I’ve finally managed to grasp.”

“I thought you were happy as a scribe,” Chen Jian said weakly.

“I was. It was much better than any of the other options, and a rather prestigious one too. It’s just that this is even better, of course, I’d choose to be an official over being a scribe,” Caichun said.

“Oh.” Chen Jian said again, still feeling a little stunned.

Caichun anxiously watched her brother’s face for a reaction. Their family hailed from one of the most traditionalist areas of their province, where it was considered unvirtuous and outrageous for a woman to desire power and titles. She doubted Chen Jian would feel that way, but she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

“Well, if that’s what you want, then I’ll support you. As long as Minister Zhao does well, you’ll also do well, so I guess we have to make sure he doesn’t fall from grace,” Chen Jian finally said after a moment of mulling it over.

“Really?” Caichun asked, lighting up with joy and relief.

“Of course, my little sister wants to be an official, then she should be an official. If I’d known it was that important to you, I wouldn’t have suggested otherwise,” Chen Jian assured her. “This way, our generation will have one in martial service and one in civil service, isn’t that a good arrangement?”

Caichun’s face broke into a smile, and she scurried around the table to throw her arms around Chen Jian. He hugged her back, fondly patting her head as though she were still a child.

“Alright, now tell me more about Qu Boyong,” Caichun said, slipping back into strategist mode as she stepped away. Used to his sister’s ability to switch gears at a moment’s notice, Chen Jian willingly obliged.

74-Disloyalty Without Betrayal

Kayla returned to Wenyuan’s rooms, worn out after arguing with the Grand Duke over the Ministry of War.

Seriously, how could I possibly help him out with that? I feel like he just wanted to throw a tantrum and was looking for an excuse. Other than the Grand Duke’s arrogance, there was also the new bombshell he had dropped on her.

Did the palace really try to kill Wenyuan after the Imperial Princess died? The Grand Duke could just be lying, but after Wei Guang’s repeated hints that the Imperial Palace had some degree of involvement in either killing the Imperial Princess or her fellow researchers, Kayla wasn’t so sure.

As soon as she stepped in, Kayla was greeted by Hu Qing nonchalantly sprawled across the wooden couch, tugging at a loose thread in one of the cushions.

“Don’t tug at that, it’ll just make it looser,” Kayla chided him almost instinctively. Hu Qing got up from his position, giving her a look of absolute innocence.

“Hello, Minister. I don’t know what you’re talking about, I was just looking at it,” Hu Qing said.

Kayla tried and failed to resist rolling her eyes.

“Whatever, but if it comes apart, you’ll have to sew it back up. Heavens know that no one else will do it,” Kayla said flatly. “Anyways, what’s going on?”

Hu Qing beamed at her. “I brought you someone.”

Kayla frowned, glancing around the room. It was empty save for the two of them. “Someone? Not something?”

“Yup, I have them tied up,” Hu Qing said innocently.

“What do you mean you have them–did you kidnap someone?!” Kayla hissed, feeling her blood pressure shoot straight up.

“No, I caught them on your behalf,” Hu Qing said. “Plus, the ropes are pretty loose, it’s not like they’ll get hurt from it or anything.”

“Hu Qing! You unbelievable little–who is it? Who the hell did you grab?” Kayla demanded.

Hu Qing bit back a chuckle of amusement at her reaction, nodding towards the closet.

“Why don’t you see for yourself? Don’t worry, no one saw me bring her in.”

“You kidnapped a girl and shoved her into my closet?!”

“Just take a look,” Hu Qing insisted. Kayla groaned and complied, for lack of a better option. What was she going to do? Hu Qing had already kidnapped whichever poor girl he’d grabbed, there was no coming back from that. Hopefully, the girl wouldn’t be too traumatized and would be willing to be compensated with a large sum of silver and brocade in exchange for her silence and troubles.

I need to set some ground rules, this fucker is going to drive me insane if he does something like this again!

Kayla pulled open the closet door and froze.

“Chujiao?!” She stared at the girl in shock for a moment before whirling on Hu Qing, who raised his hands defensively.

Chujiao?! What the fuck?! Is she okay?! The all-consuming flash of Wenyuan’s panic threatened to drag Kayla under. Gritting her teeth, Kayla gave Hu Qing a glare that could pierce stone.

“Young lord!” Chujiao called from where she sat, quite comfortably, on a pile of clothes that hadn’t been there before. Her hands and feet were loosely bound so that she could not move about without great difficulty, but also would not bruise or chafe her.

“Look, she’s not hurt or anything! I didn’t even gag her, it’s all fine and good, I even made sure she was comfortable!” Hu Qing hastily defended himself, realizing that Kayla was seriously angry with him.

“It’s just as he said,” Chujiao jumped in as well, speaking up for Hu Qing for some ungodly reason. “He was just doing his job.” Kayla looked between them with disbelief.

“Really? Because I don’t recall instructing him to kidnap a woman and shove her into my closet!”

Hu Qing stepped forward, stretching his hands out placatingly.

“My lord, I get that you dislike this type of thing, but you should know that I did this for a good reason,” he said, serious for once. Kayla stiffly nodded, a little taken aback.

He’s never called me by ‘my lord’ before, it was always ‘Minister’, she noted in surprise, not quite sure what that meant.

“This woman, whom you have been known to greatly favor, is not loyal to you,” Hu Qing continued.

“What do you mean?” Kayla asked.

“Ask her about the ‘father’ who sent her into the service of the Zhao clan, my lord. Ask her about how this so-called Jing patriarch was paid two hundred silver to pass her off as his daughter,” Hu Qing urged. Kayla looked at Chujiao, who lowered her head guiltily, avoiding Kayla’s gaze.

“Well?” Kayla asked, her voice coming out much more gently than was perhaps appropriate.

Chujiao shook her head, tears silently dripping down her face.

“I’m sorry, young lord.”

Kayla took a deep breath. Wenyuan’s soul seemed to be curling in on itself like an injured animal, the pangs of pain and denial emanating from him sinking into Kayla’s own emotions like barbed hooks.

“Speak clearly,” Kayla said with an edge in her voice. Chujiao devolved into quiet sobs. Hu Qing glanced between the two of them uneasily before stepping between them.

“This woman is not who she claims to be,” Hu Qing told Kayla. “She entered the household under false circumstances and has lived under a false identity, though I do not know her true identity or purpose, I know that she is a threat to you. If you would permit, I would see her removed.”

“You are not to harm her!” Kayla snapped, Wenyuan’s knee-jerk reaction kicking in to defend Chujiao.

“I wouldn’t,” Hu Qing said, his tone so unusually serious that it grounded Kayla’s skittering mind. “But I would have her blindfolded and packed into a carriage, and not allow her to get off until it’s reached a far-away city from which she would have quite some difficulty getting back. If you fear for her fate, then pack her some silver as you did for Qu Boyong. That would be mercy enough.”

Kayla had to fight back the instinctive urge to refuse, to keep Chujiao safe and close and somewhere within reach, an urge that she now recognized as engrained in the very muscle of Wenyuan’s body.

“Let her speak her case first,” Kayla said in a heavy voice. Chujiao looked up at her, teary but hopeful.

“I don’t recommend that,” Hu Qing warned her. “This woman’s lied every single day for years, and you would give her a chance to craft her words before you? Do not think of her as a hapless young maiden, but an opponent as cunning as yourself.”

Kayla knew Hu Qing was right, but couldn’t steel her heart to do it. More accurately, she couldn’t steel Wenyuan’s heart to do it.

“I trust you to parse her words for me,” Kayla said. “Chujiao, this is your last chance. Speak truthfully, or this will be our last meeting within this lifetime.”

“Young lord!” Chujiao protested. “I have no right to beg your forgiveness, but please believe me when I say that I have never betrayed you, nor have I ever wished you harm!”

She instinctively wanted to believe Chujiao.

Damn it, Wenyuan, you foolish man. Why did you give your heart to a woman like her?

“She’s not lying,” Hu Qing said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s the full truth.”

Kayla glanced at him, almost a little surprised.

So she meant it?

I believe her, Wenyuan insisted.

“It’s easy not to betray someone if you’re not loyal to them in the first place, isn’t it?” Kayla said instead.

“That’s not it! Young lord, I may not be loyal to the Zhao household, and I would admit that without hesitation, but I was always loyal to you! Nothing on this earth could ever induce me to do wrong by you, not even if it crushes my bones and scatters my ashes!” Chujiao declared. Hu Qing gave Kayla a small nod.

“But I am also not the only one you’re loyal to. Who is the other man?” Kayla asked. Both Hu Qing and Chujiao’s expressions grew stiffer.

“I…I’m sorry, young lord,” Chujiao said in a tiny voice.

“So you’re still protecting him?!” Kayla shouted.

“My lord,” Hu Qing cut in, his expression grim. “If I may speak with you for a second?”

Kayla allowed him to drag her into another room, out of Chujiao’s hearing.

“My lord, you have a list of names, do you not?” Hu Qing asked.

“I have multiple lists, you need to be a bit more specific.”

“A list of people who have a grudge against the Zhao clan, the one from the–” Hu Qing lowered his voice even further. “From the villa.”

“I do, what do you plan on doing?” Kayla asked.

“Who are the potential parties that would’ve had the motive to send a child into this household?”

Seeing where he was going with this, Kayla tiredly rubbed her face.

“You think she’s here for revenge?”

“Most likely. Children are extremely unreliable, the only reason they would send her is that they don’t have anyone else they can use. Either all the adults are dead, or they’re all too well-known to sneak in. Does that narrow it down a bit?”

Kayla nodded. “Alright, I’ll give you a few names.”

They returned a few moments later, Chujiao patiently waiting for them in her spot. She evidently hadn’t struggled or resisted capture, a pragmatic choice given that she was facing Hu Qing. Kayla didn’t doubt that Hu Qing was much more skilled than he claimed to be, but was pretending otherwise to avoid getting assigned difficult tasks.

“Young lord, I-” Chujiao began but was cut off by Hu Qing.

“Sima clan of Qingzhou,” he said flatly. Chujiao blinked at him in confusion.

“What?”

“Lu clan of Fanyang.” At Chujiao’s growing confusion, Hu Qing continued to rattle off clans that had been victimized by the Grand Duke. The young woman only looked at him uneasily, not sure of what he was trying to do, or the connection between those seemingly unrelated clans.

Kayla watched tensely as Hu Qing went through the long list of names. He neared the end of the list, still watching Chujiao with intense scrutiny as he read in her microexpressions.

“Wang clan of Taiyuan. Dugu clan of Guanlong. Dou clan of Fufeng. Xiang clan of Chu. Wu clan of Hedong. Yang clan of Hongnong.” He finished the list.

Chujiao’s expression hadn’t changed throughout the entire process, but Hu Qing nodded and stepped back, looking satisfied.

“Minister, I believe this woman is related to the Xiang clan of Chu in some way,” Hu Qing said gleefully. A spasm of panic flashed over Chujiao’s face, matching the panic curling into Kayla’s chest.

Holy shit, the Xiang clan?! The one that got exterminated?! What the fuck?!!!!!

Wenyuan’s emotions devolved into a complete mess, no coherent thoughts emerging from the pulsing shreds of shock that he was emanating.

“Yeah, you see that? She just confirmed it for me as well,” Hu Qing pointed to Chujiao’s face.

At the sight of Kayla’s expression, Chujiao paled several shades.

“Young lord, that–I can explain!” Chujiao pleaded.

“Don’t bother denying it, you weren’t exactly subtle with the naming choice,” Hu Qing shot back. “Speaking of, there’s another man with an interesting name wandering around, isn’t there? What’s your relation to Qu Boyong?”

Chujiao’s stared back at him in confusion. “Wasn’t that the young lord’s servant? I’ve only ever heard of him.”

Hu Qing nodded sagely at her response. “I see. Minister, that’s the other man you were asking about. Guess we know what family he’s from as well.”

That really doesn’t bode well for me at all!

Hu Qing turned back to Chujiao. “And who is Qu Boyong? The Xiang clan’s young master?”

She kept her face completely blank this time, but Hu Qing nodded as though he had been confided in.

“I see, I see. And you, you’re his sister? No, his fiancee? So not that either. One of his cousins? Ah, so a cousin of the family.” He glanced at Kayla. “My lord, what do you think?”

Kayla swallowed past the lump in her throat with some difficulty, meeting Hu Qing’s steady gaze.

"One as my serving maid and one as my personal guard, well played," Kayla said as calmly as she could manage.

"Young lord!" Chujiao pleaded.

"Indeed, it was quite a good arrangement, but you two should've been a bit more careful," Hu Qing chimed in mockingly. "If the two of you hadn't gotten into the habit of meeting up at night, right within the Zhao household at that, I probably wouldn't have found out so quickly."

Chujiao's face visibly paled in response to that. Kayla watched Chujiao's reaction, her heart slowly sinking.

How the fuck did I miss this? I can't just let her stay here anymore. The feeling of helpless rage congealed into a steely edge inside her stomach.

“I have a few things to say about that,” Kayla said. Chujiao looked at Kayla forlornly, her tearful face truly fitting the image of pear blossoms in the rain. If it were Wenyuan in her place, Kayla just knew that he would have softened at the sight. Kayla pretended to, the stiff look of controlled rage melting into a tender look of sympathy.

“You were only twelve when you entered the household, weren’t you? It must have been difficult, alone in the lair of the enemy,” Kayla said quietly. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, you were too young even to have an actual choice.” She spoke with heartfelt sincerity, channeling Wenyuan’s emotions into her words.

Chujiao’s face crumpled at that, looking more aggrieved than Kayla or Wenyuan had ever seen before. Kayla watched on as Chujiao’s emotional defenses broke down.

I can’t blame her for trying to take revenge, especially given what happened to her clan, but Wenyuan didn’t have a choice either. Everything was already decided, what could he have done?

Over Chujiao’s weeping form, Kayla glanced at Hu Qing, her eyes cold. He assessed her expression for a moment before nodding in understanding.

Kayla schooled her expression, speaking in a gentle tone. “Chujiao, you know that I care about you deeply. I have always told myself that you felt the same way, but I see now that it was only a one-sided delusion on my part. I’m very sorry if I’ve caused you to feel uncomfortable.”

“That’s not it! Young lord, I have always admired you from the bottom of my heart, the heavens can attest to the depth of my feelings for you!” Chujiao protested, shuffling forward with a desperate look in her eyes. Kayla slowly approached, getting down on one knee to speak with her at eye level.

“Truly?” Kayla asked, taking on a hopeful tone.

Chujiao nodded, carefully extending her bound hands, afraid of being rejected or pushed away. Kayla took them into her own, gently stroking a thumb over the back of Chujiao’s hand.

“From the bottom of my heart, I have always wanted you to be safe and happy,” Kayla said. “It’s much too dangerous for you right now to continue on like this. If my men could uncover your identity, then so could others. In fact, the Grand Duke has probably already caught wind of this. If you stay on here, you'll surely be killed. The capital is a veritable battlefield right now, a storm of bloodshed can be unleashed with even the smallest spark. Most of this is behind the scenes, civilians like you wouldn’t be made aware of it, but the things I know keep me up sleepless at night.”

“Young lord, I’m truly sorry,” Chujiao said tearfully. “Even though I lied to you, how can you still be so kind towards me?”

“Neither of us had a choice in how our lives were shaped. The forces of fate are so strong, how can a weak young girl resist it alone? I know you’ve suffered greatly over the years, and I don’t want you to suffer any more than this. Chujiao, please just accept this one request of mine, don’t get involved anymore. At this point, no one can control what happens next, all that I can do is make sure you don’t get hurt,” Kayla urged her. “If it’s Qu Boyong you’re worried about, I promise that I will leave one side of the net open for his affairs, on account of your relationship with him. I know that my grandfather has greatly wronged your clan, and you’re well aware that I am working to rectify his injustices. Let me shoulder this burden for you, why should a maiden like yourself carry it alone?”

Kayla could see Chujiao wavering. The young woman had truly been in love with Wenyuan, who had always been too timid to show any kind of initiative. These words of affection and assurance must have been something Chujiao had longed to hear for the lonely years she had spent in enemy terrain.

Now, Qu Boyong was missing, but Wenyuan was here, offering Chujiao everything she could have hoped for. The Wenyuan before her eyes wasn’t just treating her as a childhood friend or as a favored servant, but a young maiden he wished to care for and protect. Kayla watched confidently as Chujiao’s final line of defense crumbled. The young woman nodded, signing off on her own fate.

“Thank you, Chujiao. Right now, many eyes are on your cousin, whether it’s the Imperial Palace or the Grand Duke. If anyone were to learn of your true identity, you would be in great danger. I’ll arrange for you to stay somewhere safe,” Kayla assured her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. You’ll be protected and provided for, and I’ll come to visit you as well. Once everything is over, I’ll take care of the next steps. I'll make sure everything works out.”

If Chujiao had been any less smitten, any less desperate to trust in the one chance of happiness she had, she would have refused.

“I will follow the young lord’s arrangements,” Chujiao said softly.

“Wonderful,” Kayla said warmly, gently squeezing Chujiao’s hands. “I’ll have you stay in the residence we rented for Sun Ruhui for the time being. He’s a married man, and there’s an old matron who stays there to take care of the house, so it’ll be fine if you live there. Most importantly, you’ll be safe. We’ll pass you off as his niece for the time being, and I’ll provide all the living expenses for a comfortable stay. Is that alright with you?”

Chujiao nodded her assent. Kayla gestured for Hu Qing, who bowed his head.

“My lord, if that is your wish, then I will make the necessary preparations right away,” Hu Qing said. “Young miss, if you would please.”

He stepped forward and removed Chujiao’s bonds. Chujiao gave Kayla one last look before following Hu Qing out at Kayla’s assuring nod.

Holy shit. Kayla stood suspended for a long moment.

Kayla, what did you do? Wenyuan asked, his voice filled with dread as he only just realized Kayla’s intentions.

Calm down. As I said before, I don’t intend to harm that woman. Even if she weren’t the one you loved, she would still be someone who had been coerced into extreme danger at a very young age. She’s not guilty for not having had a choice.

Kayla!

I’ll treat her well, as I promised. I’ll release her afterward and arrange for her safety and well-being, as I promised. Stop worrying, Wenyuan. Sun Ruhui’s a good man, and he’ll keep an eye out for her on my behalf.

You mean he’ll keep an eye on her for you! You’re keeping her as a hostage!

A very well-treated one. And she agreed to it herself, didn’t she?

She didn’t, you know she didn’t! She was already so scared, and then you-you went in there acting all romantic and-and–you bamboozled her into it!

Wenyuan, I hope you understand that we are facing the very likely possibility of getting killed by Qu Boyong! And it’s not untrue that Chujiao is in danger, do you think the Grand Duke wouldn’t notice what’s happening in his own house? What would happen to her then? She would never be allowed to leave this house alive at that point, at least now she’ll be safe, and so will we!

You’re taking advantage of her. Kayla, you're taking advantage of someone who trusts me! It's not you that she has faith in, it's me, and you're just going to-to trap her with that?!

Kayla didn't have anything to retort with. It was true, and she did feel bad, but what else could she do? Quietly ending the conversation with Wenyuan, Kayla sent a quick message to Sun Ruhui through the communication talisman to explain the situation. Wenyuan was a man in love, and this was the childhood friend he had spent almost every single day of his life with. She couldn’t exactly expect him to support this decision.

I’m sorry. But this is the best decision I can make in this situation.

Ignoring Wenyuan’s continued protests with great effort, Kayla began cleaning up the room as she waited for Hu Qing to return. He arrived when she had finished putting all the clothes back where she had found them.

“My lord, it’s arranged for. Chamberlain Sun knows what he’s doing. I’ll arrange for the house to be watched around the clock if you give your permission,” Hu Qing said.

“That would be for the best. Make sure the men you hire are discreet,” Kayla replied.

“Of course, my lord. They’ll never be traced back to you,” Hu Qing assured her.

“You’ve never called me by ‘my lord’ before, why the sudden change?”

“I’ve decided to become your retainer."

At Kayla's look of astonishment, Hu Qing shrugged, looking at her innocently.

"It just seems like that’s the best arrangement for us both now that I’ve kidnapped someone and you’re keeping a hostage,” he said. Kayla couldn’t help but give a dry laugh, shaking her head.

“What a mess,” she muttered.

“Heroes always struggle to pass the trial of beauties, you’ve made the right decision,” Hu Qing said, once again unusually serious. “Qu Boyong won’t be able to move recklessly against us if we have one of his people. I suppose we shouldn’t call him that anymore though, what’s your cousin’s name?”

Kayla blinked, processing that sentence. Right, he’s technically related to Wenyuan. What the fuck? Was he behind Chujiao’s betrayal in the original timeline?

“I…don’t remember too clearly. Was it Xiang Dao…Dao something, there were two characters,” Kayla replied. “Shit, what was his name?”

“That should be easy enough to figure out, the question is how you plan on dealing with him,” Hu Qing pointed out.

“I can’t kill him, that much is certain. Even if the palace is willing to turn a blind eye to all this, they could always use it against me later, especially since he’s still related to the Imperial Family,” Kayla said. “I think we need to discuss this with Caichun and Sun Ruhui.”

“...and in any case, just because they’re implicated doesn’t mean they’ll be removed, and there’s always the possibility that the Emperor will make another appointment instead of following the line of succession,” Zhang Dingyong was arguing with several of Kuang’s other supporters in the prince’s sitting room. Kuang listened to them patiently, not expressing approval or disapproval as he observed their thinking patterns and arguments, taking note of their abilities for later usage.

“Perhaps the Right Secretariat is unaware, being too busy with affairs of the Ministry of Justice, but the Ministry of War isn’t a place where a random appointment can be made, we don’t even have the same structure as the other ministries!” Yao Gongzhuo protested. He was the Director of Logistics within the Ministry of War, and was currently the most likely person to become its next Minister.

“But the Right Secretariat has a point, the Left Secretariat of Justice was single-handedly elevated into that position even though he was only a County Magistrate a few months ago, who’s to say the same thing can’t happen again?” Another official jumped in.

“Do you think military men are as soft-tempered as you civil officials? They won’t accept someone they don’t trust,” Yao Gongzhuo insisted.

“The officials they’ve trusted so far have all been proven to be corrupt, wouldn’t that change their minds?”

They began to argue again, hashing out their conjectures and predictions. Unnoticed, a servant slipped in and whispered his message into Kuang’s ear. There was a subtle shift in Kuang’s expression that melted away again as soon as it had appeared. He raised a hand, and the conversation quickly fell silent.

“My friends, it seems that I am needed elsewhere,” Kuang said with a smile. “Feel free to stay and continue amongst yourselves.”

“Of course, your highness. We apologize for taking up your time,” Yao Gongzhuo said sheepishly.

“No such thing,” Kuang assured him. “As much as I enjoyed this conversation, there is an urgent matter I must take care of.”

He took his leave of them, his supporters getting to their feet and bowing as Kuang left. Once they were a good distance away, Kuang waved for the servant to come closer. He was a man that had served Yunqi for many years, having been hired when the Fifth Prince first moved out of the Imperial Palace.

“What happened?” Kuang demanded. “You said it was an emergency, did something happen with Yunqi?”

The servant lowered his head nervously, avoiding Kuang's gaze.

“In response to Your Highness’ question, it...well, it seems that young master Shu was poisoned.”

Kuang turned towards him, his anger filling the air with its suffocating presence.

"What did you just say?"

75-Tipping the Scale

Kuang whirled towards Yunqi’s servant, who hastily lowered his head.

“What did you say?” Kuang said in disbelief.

“My prince, it seems that young master Shu was poisoned,” the servant said in a small voice.

“How is his condition?!” Kuang demanded. “Where did it happen? Did they get the culprit?”

“He’s alive and stable, but it was a close call,” the servant said, lowering his head further. “The young master had gone for his first outing in the capital, and was poisoned at a restaurant. We…we didn’t manage to apprehend the culprit. He committed suicide on the spot.”

Kuang waved over his steward.

“Tell my wife to send one of her family healers to the Fifth Prince’s residence immediately,” Kuang ordered. “And have the guard captain accompany me with a few of his sharpest men.”

The steward accepted the orders without question, hurrying off to carry them out.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Yunqi’s servant bowed his head deeply.

“No need for that. More importantly, how’s your master holding up?”

“His Highness was...rather shocked, he had taken extreme care to arrange the security for the trip, it was unbelievable that something like this could end up happening despite the levels of caution we took,” the servant replied. Kuang nodded. Yunqi was always reserved in expressing his emotions, if his shock was noticeably visible to observers, then he must have been extremely distressed.

Kuang’s face darkened, rage curdling in his stomach. An attack on Shu Zhengyu was an attack on the Shu family, and an attack on the Shu family was an attack on Yunqi. Whichever bastard had dared to do this, Kuang intended to rip their guts out.

There was a sharp jab of worry in his heart. Yunqi’s wife had died of illness so quickly and suddenly that it was almost obviously poison, and now, when his mother and maternal relatives were under such intense scrutiny, there was another poisoning attempt on Shu Zhengyu. Kuang didn’t know what thoughts were flying through Yunqi’s mind right now, but he could already guess his younger brother’s panic.

Even pushing aside the trauma of reliving that nightmarish scenario again, if Shu Zhengyu recovered without any complications, the Shu family wouldn’t sit still. After sending back Shu Zhengyan, Yunqi had spent immense effort trying to keep his headstrong and martial-minded maternal relatives from doing something that would result in a serious political blunder. Now that this had happened, Kuang had no doubt that the Shu family would boil over.

As if I would let that happen. Kuang got onto his carriage, nodding for his guard captain.

“Have some men on standby who can act quickly and discreetly,” Kuang ordered him. The guard captain bowed and hastened off.

They arrived at Yunqi’s residence in record time. It helped that the two princes lived rather close to each other, especially compared to Xianchun who lived on the other end of the city. Kuang got off without waiting for a servant to open the carriage door for him, briskly walking into Yunqi’s residence.

It spoke to Yunqi’s careful management of his staff that despite the shocking incident, the residence was operating with the same steadiness as usual. Any other household would have been thrown into chaos, or at least there would be whispers flying about, but Yunqi’s residence was prepared for any kind of scenario, even one where the palace ordered the Fifth Prince to drink poison. Kuang was also prepared for such a thing, having seen tragedies play out within the Imperial family all too many times to not consider the possibility, but certainly not to the morbid extent that Yunqi was.

“Your Highness!” Yunqi’s steward rushed over and greeted Kuang.

“Where is my brother?” Kuang asked.

“He’s in the young master’s quarters right now, watching over the healers,” the steward said in a small voice. “The prince has been in there ever since the young master returned.”

Kuang drew in a sharp breath. Yunqi had stepped away for a short time when the healers had examined his wife, only to return to a corpse. Kuang quickened his footsteps.

There was no need for the steward to guide him, the two brothers knew each others’ residences all too well. Kuang reached Shu Zhengyu’s carefully arranged quarters, his concerned gaze latching onto Yunqi as soon as he entered.

“Brother!” Yunqi rose to his feet, face taut with worry and distress.

Kuang closed the distance, glancing at the healers that bowed and stepped out of the room. Shu Zhengyu was laying on the bed, breathing steadily and looking to be in a stable condition. If not for the pallor of the boy’s face, one would have thought him merely asleep.

“What on earth happened?” Kuang demanded as.

“Zhengyu was poisoned at a restaurant,” Yunqi said tightly. "I had arranged for the security ahead of time, but that might have ended up tipping them off instead." Kuang placed a comforting hand on Yunqi’s shoulder, glancing at Zhengyu with sympathy. The younger Shu boy was much milder in temperament compared to his older brother. While not particularly talented, he was steadfast and kindhearted, with a natural ability to garner the kindness of those around him.

Swallowing his rage at whichever bastard was responsible, Kuang spoke softly.

“How is he?”

“There's no mortal danger, thanks to sister-in-law. If she hadn't reminded me to ensure there was a healer in the escort party, Zhengyu probably would've died. Thankfully, he’ll recover in due time, the healers said there won’t be any long-term damage. He just needs a few days of rest,” Yunqi said. He let out a weary sigh. “The one time he goes out in the capital and this happens.”

“It’s not your fault. Other than you and Shuyi, no one else would have even thought of keeping a healer within arm's reach at all times,” Kuang hastily assured him, knowing all too well where his brother’s thoughts were turning to.

Yunqi shook his head despondently. “Zhengyu is so well-behaved, and he agreed to only follow the set route I arranged for him, but this still managed to happen right under my nose! Should I have just refused him? How in the heavens did I let this happen?!”

“You’ve already done everything you could, and it’s not like you could keep a teenage boy cooped up inside this serene residence of yours, especially not one who grew up in a military camp! Well-behaved or not, boys of this age need some excitement and freedom, if you hadn’t given it to him under a controlled environment, he would have sought it out himself and been in much more danger,” Kuang comforted him.

Seeing that Yunqi didn’t seem convinced, Kuang pressed on. “You’ve taken excellent care of him, the fault does not lie with you, but with the vile scum who would attempt to kill a boy. I’ll do everything I can to help find the culprit.”

“The server who poisoned him committed suicide on the spot, we didn’t get a word out of him!” Yunqi said in frustration.

“We’ll figure something out, I’ll have my men find out what they can.”

“At least Zhengyu is still alive, but how on earth will I explain this to his parents? I’ve already sent back Zhengyan, and now Zhengyu has been forced to take a journey to the gates of death.”

Seeing that Yunqi’s hands were shaking, Kuang sighed and sat down next to him.

“It’s not your fault, they can’t push this onto your head. Don't worry, I’ll make sure they don’t do anything foolish,” Kuang said. “Right now, our priorities are Zhengyu’s recovery and rooting out the mastermind who ordered the poisoning. The Bureau wouldn’t help us on this, and the Ministry of Justice is unlikely either. Wenyuan might be willing to extend a hand, but this is an attack directed at us, personally. I want to dig out the person responsible and end them with my own hands, but right now, that might actually be the worst thing I could do for your family.”

“Indeed,” Yunqi said wearily. “But speaking of Wenyuan, the guard captain did mention that there was an incident before the poisoning. That former servant of his, Qu Boyong, burst into the restaurant only a few minutes before the assassination. He was being pursued by several professional killers who were bold enough to follow him into a crowded area. They didn’t want to startle Zhengyu or get him involved in the politics of the court, so the guards let Qu Boyong leave through the servants’ exit without indicating they'd recognized him.”

Kuang frowned. “Do you think he was involved?”

“I don’t know, it's unlikely that someone whose abilities were acknowledged by Wenyuan would make such an obvious attempt, but one can never be sure. Wenyuan’s already cut ties with the man though, so I doubt he would know much.”

“It doesn’t hurt to ask,” Kuang suggested. “He surely bears some enmity towards Qu Boyong as well, and Wenyuan also seems to have a soft spot for you. I have no doubt that he would extend goodwill, and it would give us a chance to repay him and better our relationship in the process.”

Yunqi nodded. “Then I’ll give it a try.”

“Let my men handle the rest,” Kuang said, his presence solid and certain at Yunqi’s side. “We’ll find the culprit no matter what.”

“Alright.” Some of the tension drained out from Yunqi’s shoulders.

“And let me handle the Shu clan, even if they’re angry, they’ll have to give me face,” Kuang emphasized.

Yunqi hesitated before nodding. “That…would be for the best. Especially now that the Ministry of War is up for grabs, we can’t be taking any chances.” The last time someone from the Shu family had taken a chance, they had nearly brought the clan to its destruction. The time before that, the great General Shu had ended up stripped of his post and his titles before being forcibly transported to the Southwest provinces.

It wasn’t just the Shu clan at stake either, Yunqi’s fate hung in the balance, and Kuang’s unwillingness to give up on his younger brother meant it could even affect his chances for the throne. Sensing Yunqi’s growing unease, Kuang gave him a reassuring smile.

“Just leave it to me.”

”Thank you, brother. I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble with all this when I can’t even be of use,” Yunqi sighed, looking incredibly frustrated.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re the wisest and most capable of my advisors, aren’t you? Just having you on my side is worth more than anything else,” Kuang comforted him. “Come on now, Yunqi. Push these thoughts away, they’ll only cloud your mind with needless concerns. It’ll all work out.”

“Yes, I hope so,” Yunqi replied. “I really hope so.”

Kayla glanced between Chen Caichun, Sun Ruhui, and Hu Qing. They were all in a small townhouse in a quiet neighborhood. Hu Qing had asked Kayla for money to procure a safehouse a few days ago, and she’d approved the funds without asking for any details. To her surprise, he had actually gotten it set up rather quickly, having even mapped out the most discreet routes to get here from each part of the city.

The safe house was tidy and clean, but decorated in what Kayla could only call a quirky style, no doubt Hu Qing’s handiwork. She couldn’t help but focus on the various details of the place in an effort to calm her own racing thoughts. Kayla had just recounted the events surrounding Chujiao’s new living arrangements and was anxiously awaiting their responses.

“Please be assured that I will make sure Miss Jing has a pleasant stay and not to let her suspect anything,” Sun Ruhui was saying. Kayla forced herself to pay attention to the present, quashing down the rage and panic emanating from Wenyuan.

“Wonderful,” she choked out.

Once Chujiao figured out what Kayla’s true intentions were, the young woman’s love for Wenyuan would turn into hatred. It hadn’t been the first time Kayla had acted in a way that made Wenyuan uncomfortable, but it was the first time she had done something that crossed his bottom line. She was also belatedly starting to panic to the point where it was growing obvious, both at having effectively manipulated a more-or-less-still-innocent young woman into a hostage situation and at having angered her most trustworthy ally in this world.

“Minister, I believe that this is the best decision we can make at this point in time,” Sun Ruhui added gently, having sensed Kayla’s barely-contained unease. “It wasn’t as though you could let her go or allow her to stay in the Zhao household, your only other option would have been to silence her permanently. In comparison, I would think that this is the better choice.”

“I agree, Minister. I have new information that suggests Qu Boyong is much more dangerous than we previously supposed,” Caichun said. “My brother was recently released from the Imperial Investigation Bureau after being cleared of suspicion, but during his stay, he gained access to some rather startling news.”

At Kayla’s encouraging nod, Caichun cleared her throat and launched into a detailed report of what Chen Jian had overheard, his tailing of Qu Boyong, and the role Investigator Li Que had in arranging all this.

It seems I have a stauncher ally in Li Que than I may have expected, Kayla thought to herself in amazement. I doubt the palace asked him to set this up for me. That the rest of the Bureau didn’t like her much wasn’t something Kayla needed to worry about at the moment. They were tied together by political entanglements that weren’t about to come undone anytime soon, personal enmity would not be enough to invoke any foolish actions.

“So we do know where Qu Boyong lives, that certainly makes my life easier,” Hu Qing chimed in. “My lord, if you’d allow it?”

“Be subtle, he’s quite good himself. It wouldn’t do to beat the grass and startle the snakes,” Kayla said, tacitly approving the request to put Qu Boyong under surveillance.

“Of course,” Hu Qing bowed his head slightly.

“Once the Imperial Investigation Bureau steps in, have them withdraw,” Kayla added.

“If I may, Minister, that might not be the best decision,” Sun Ruhui interjected. At Kayla’s curious look, he continued. “If Qu Boyong’s true identity is Xiang Daozong, then he is your cousin.”

Kayla nodded encouragingly even though he was stating the obvious.

“That means he is also a nephew of the Emperor, and that if his rank were to be restored, then he could become a serious threat to your current position, my lord,” Sun Ruhui explained. The change in how Sun Ruhui addressed her was enough to signal that this was not for the sake of the neutral faction or the court, but for Kayla’s own survival. Something seemed to click in Kayla’s mind as it suddenly occurred to her exactly how much of a threat Qu Boyong was.

Kayla drew in a sharp breath. “I see.”

“I apologize for my rudeness,” Sun Ruhui bowed his head slightly.

“Not at all, I know full well that the palace already sees me as disposable. If they further see me as replaceable, then my life will become like a candle in the wind,” Kayla said drily. “So we should watch the watchmen and make sure the palace doesn’t secretly start building him up as a backup, is that right?”

“My lord is astute,” Sun Ruhui said.

“I believe it is not enough to just keep an eye out for him,” Caichun pointed out. “It is better to disqualify him before he can be considered as a candidate. We have to destroy his career at the starting line.”

“Chamberlain Chen has a point,” Sun Ruhui said. “He’s already committed a taboo by meddling in the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, which answers directly to the Emperor. We can certainly make use of that to pin him down with a sentence. Even if his identity comes to light and he is granted a pardon, it would disqualify him for participating in court politics.”

“I don’t claim to understand politics too well, but the Minister is the heir to a criminal while Qu Boyong is the son to a war hero who was framed by said criminal, if the palace really wanted to rehabilitate Qu Boyong’s reputation at the cost of the Minister’s, it wouldn’t be impossible,” Hu Qing cut in.

“Of course, there’s also that,” Kayla said grimly. “Any ideas?”

Caichun replied without hesitation. “Align him with one of the princes. He can’t become the head of the neutral faction if he’s not neutral.”

“And how do you propose we make that happen?” Kayla asked.

“There’s no need to let Qu Boyong know exactly who has his cousin hostage, is there?” Caichun said conspiratorially. “Why not let him think Miss Jing was taken by one of the princes? He can’t come to you for help, so either he’ll have to try to get into the good graces of that prince, or seek help from the opposing faction. Once he’s made enough overtures, we can make sure it becomes publicly known that your former servant has entered the service of one of the factions. All you would have to do is act magnanimous and forgiving, and not only will public opinion side with you, but it would also become impossible to make Qu Boyong the head of the neutral faction.”

Kayla looked at her with amazement. I would not want this girl as an enemy.

“A good idea, Chamberlain Chen. But this relies on many moving parts, most of which we will not have the ability to monitor or control. It could just as well backfire if Qu Boyong decides to go in the opposite direction of what we’ve intended,” Sun Ruhui replied. “Not to mention that all three princes are extremely sharp-witted, none of them are oil-saving lamps. I doubt they would take kindly to being part of our plans. And we certainly wouldn’t be doing the Minister a favor by potentially exposing damaging information to the Seventh Prince.”

Kayla hadn’t completely disclosed what she knew about the Grand Duke’s involvement in the Xiang clan’s destruction, but they had likely guessed his role already. Regardless of what their personal senses of justice might demand, neither Caichun nor Sun Ruhui seemed inclined toward pushing Kayla into ruin.

“We could just nail down some of the moving parts, couldn’t we?” Hu Qing pointed out. “Whether it’s the Seventh Prince or the Third Prince, we have enough information to guarantee a small favor of this scale, especially if we keep Qu Boyong's identity a secret.”

Kayla frowned in confusion. We have Shu Zhengyan’s little mess to hold over the Third Prince’s faction, but we don’t have anything on Xianchun, do we? There’s Hu Qing’s bloodline, of course, but I’ve promised both Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing himself to leave that alone.

“And what did we have on the Seventh Prince again?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing smiled. “You know that I’m bound by customer confidentiality for previous jobs and employers.”

At their nods, he continued with a smile that grew more delighted with every second.

“I’m not bound by customer confidentiality for the Seventh Prince.”

Kayla stared at him blankly. “What are you talking about?” Hu Qing had been working for Minister Liang, and Minister Liang answered to Xianchun.

“Can’t say much more without breaking customer confidentiality,” Hu Qing replied with a shrug.

Oh. Ohhhhhh, I see. That’s really not better, Xianchun’s still relatively hinged right now, that guy’s just always this dangerous.

“How interesting,” Kayla said with a calmness she did not feel. “So it was Liu Boyue.”

“I’m surprised you know that name, but I neither confirm nor deny anything,” Hu Qing said.

“I’ve had the…” Kayla bit back the word misfortune. “Pleasure of meeting him before, when he infiltrated the Zhao household. He was too handsome to be a normal servant, so I chased him out, but I didn’t let on that I knew who he was.”

“Very perceptive, my lord. And speaking of that, I did find some rats in your household when I was looking for Miss Jing. I mean, there are plenty of spies already, but these guys are new. You know, it’s probably a good thing the servants all avoid you, it spares me a lot of work,” Hu Qing replied. “Anyways, that’s beside the point. I’m not sure who sent them, but I can do something about it if you want.”

Kayla felt a twinge of anxiety. Whether it’s the palace intensifying their efforts or Xianchun or whoever else, it doesn’t bode well for me.

“It can become a threat to you, Minister. If the Grand Duke’s downfall is not on your terms, then there’s no guarantee of your safety, or even the stability of the neutral faction,” Caichun chimed in. “More likely than not, it's either the palace or the Seventh Prince."

"That's most likely," Hu Qing interjected.

"If that's the case, perhaps you could hand them back in the guise of doing him a favor," Caichun continued unpertrubed.

Kayla leaned forward, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes.

“Interesting, and how do you propose I carry that out?”

An Haoyang held back a sigh of relief as the winding line shuffled forward. They were finally getting processed for release, having been cleared in the internal investigation. The investigation tended to eliminate those with little to no suspicion first, the annoying investigator Chen Jian having been cleared in the first round. After that, those who were most suspicious were singled out, with the investigators who fell somewhere in between being slowly processed in the background.

The investigation in the provinces had ended a while ago, with scrutiny on Investigators in the capital being much more intense. Still, the process hardly left the Bureau short-staffed. Internal inspections were in fact a constantly ongoing process, unseen and unheard of until someone was abruptly arrested for some crime or another. As such, a good chunk of the Bureau's forces had already been vetted within a three-month window when the full-out internal investigation was launched and was thereby cleared for duty.

He wasn’t too sure exactly where he fell along the scale. It should’ve been somewhere in the middle, but the timing of his release, as one of the last batches to be cleared, suggested that either An Haoyang hadn’t cleared his own tracks as well as he would have liked to think he did, or that he was simply so unimportant in the Bureau that they didn’t mind keeping him in limbo for this long.

“Next in line,” the Internal Inspector processing releases said in a bored voice. An Haoyang stepped forward, presenting his plaque.

“Seventh-rank Investigator An Haoyang,” he reported.

The Internal Inspector ran his eyes down the list and nodded after spotting the name.

“Fill out the form and sign your name at the bottom,” the Internal Inspector pushed forward a scroll. An Haoyang picked up the brush and began to fill it in, making sure not to rush or proceed too slowly. The Internal Inspector reached into his robes, glancing at his plaque. He frowned before shooting to his feet.

An Haoyang looked at him, startled and bewildered as the Internal Inspector made a hand signal to his colleagues, who immediately sprinted off.

“You can stop now,” the Internal Inspector ordered. “Go back into the waiting room.”

“What?!” An Haoyang squawked.

Murmurs went up along the line, investigators and staff members glancing at each other nervously.

Raising his voice, the Internal Inspector sternly swept his gaze across the room.

“There’s been a new development, the release of all Investigators in this batch will be postponed until further notice. Please proceed back into the waiting room in an orderly fashion,” he announced.

There was a wave of groans and protests.

“I don’t make the decisions,” the Internal Inspector said, his voice weary and annoyed. “Everyone go back!”

An Haoyang groaned, shaking his head in disbelief. “Sir, could you at least tell me what’s going on? I was one step away from getting to go home and sleep in my own bed,” he complained in a petulant tone, hoping that it would make his question less suspicious.

The Internal Inspector looked just as frustrated as An Haoyang felt. “Apparently we missed something, so now we have to take a closer look,” he grumbled. “They think there’s an inside man for a suspect.”

There was a sudden flash of fear in his stomach, even though An Haoyang knew he had covered his tracks well enough. “What? For a suspect?” He said in disbelief, hiding his own unease.

“Yes, some noble’s servant or something. Anyways, it’s to do with court politics, so they’re making us all work overtime for this,” the Internal Inspector complained.

“Hang in there,” An Haoyang said sympathetically, resisting his instincts to sprint away.

“Thank you,” the Internal Inspector sighed. “You as well, get going.”

An Haoyang obeyed, an icy pit growing in his stomach. A noble’s servant? A suspect? Thoughts swarmed through his mind, and he could barely keep his facade of confused disgruntlement up to blend in with the reactions of the Investigators around him.

It can't be the young lord. Surely they wouldn’t know to look for the young master of a clan long thought to have been exterminated. Surely they wouldn’t know to look for An Haoyang.

76-Bargain

“....so with that settled, then what we really need to worry about right now is the Ministry of Revenue,” Kayla concluded. “Any objections?”

The meeting had more or less run its course, and everyone had their fill of conspiracy for the day. Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun both shook their heads, and Hu Qing shrugged, already looking bored.

“Alright then, that concludes everything we needed to discuss,” Kayla said, taking that for unanimous agreement. “Thank you all for taking the time to gather here today.”

There were some murmurs and shuffling as everyone began to pack it up, when Chen Caichun suddenly stopped halfway, reaching into her robe sleeves with a frown. She took out a communication talisman, her frown deepening.

“What is the matter, Chamberlain Chen?” Kayla asked.

Caichun looked up, a grave expression on her face. “There’s been a new development, Minister. The Fifth Prince’s cousin, Shu Zhengyu, has been poisoned. Investigator Li Que asked my brother to pass on the news.”

“Excuse me, what?” Kayla demanded. “Good heavens, is the poor kid alright?”

“Don’t worry, Minister. It seems like Young Master Shu is alive enough. No one can say that the Fifth Prince isn’t paranoid, he takes caution to a level of art. He sent an entire retinue of guards and even a healer to accompany his cousin to a restaurant, I’m not even sure that I’ve seen anyone other than the Emperor go to that extent before,” Caichun remarked.

There was a collective sigh of relief from everyone in the room. If the Shu clan were actually to be pushed to the brink, there was no telling how things would spiral from there. Would the Seventh Prince take the chance to drop a rock after the Shu clan fell into the well? Would the Third Prince retaliate with the support of the military? Kayla, along with most of the civilian population, would rather not learn it the hard way.

“Just because he’s still alive at this moment doesn’t mean we should let our guards down,” Caichun said, a grave look on her face. “There’s always the chance that Young Master Shu could still pass away, whether the palace decides to make use of this chance to provoke the Shu clan into a fatal error, or if one of their rivals wants to grab this opportunity.”

Kayla stared at her in horror for a moment, trying to piece together the situation as fast as possible. After a few seconds of complete silence, Kayla shot to her feet.

“We need to get in contact with the Third Prince right now before the palace summons me,” Kayla said, cursing softly under her breath as she paced the room. “If the timber has already been crafted into a ship, they won’t be able to freely manipulate the situation as they like, but if they limit my options, then we could be left in a disadvantageous position.”

“It is as you say, my lord. The most urgent matter at hand is to establish some influence over the reactions of both factions before the palace can issue a directive,” Sun Ruhui replied. “If the Empress Dowager blames you for acting in haste, perhaps you should push the responsibility onto Imperial Edict Bearer Wei.”

Kayla stopped mid-step, looking at him with curious surprise. “On the Imperial Edict Bearer? Is that wise? He is our strongest political support among the officials right now.”

“My lord, I believe it to be the most pragmatic choice. The Imperial Edict Bearer is a point of contention between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. His Majesty will always protect the Imperial Edict Bearer, and the Empress Dowager cannot pursue the matter any further with him, but she can do so with you,” Sun Ruhui explained, bowing his head slightly.

Of course, how did I miss that? Wei Guang was the teacher of the previous generation of the Imperial Family, but the Empress Dowager never mentioned him throughout Wenyuan’s childhood. That must mean that he was appointed by the previous Emperor and not the Empress Dowager. He must have been meant to balance out the Empress Dowager’s political influence when the current Emperor came into power.

Kayla nodded, quickly running through the options in her head. Wei Guang was definitely in a much more stable position than Kayla was in herself. There was no harm in making use of that.

“Excellent timing, Minister. There’s a message from His Highness the Third Prince,” Hu Qing announced, holding up the communication talisman from the Third Prince’s household, a new one that they had received a few days ago. Kayla had chosen to leave it in Hu Qing’s care until he could ascertain that there was nothing sinister with it.

Kayla cursed under her breath, pacing back and forth at a higher frequency. “What did he say?”

“He wishes to meet.”

“Then we’ll do so,” Kayla finally said. “This is a rush against time, we don’t have the leisure to go back and forth on this.”

“Please be mindful not to make any grand promises, my lord,” Sun Ruhui reminded Kayla. “And be careful not to let the Third Prince push you into any agreements you’re not fully sure of.”

“Understood, thank you, Left Secretariat. Have a good day, both of you,” Kayla said, nodding at Sun Ruhui and Caichun before departing.

Left alone in the safe house, Sun Ruhui and Caichun glanced at each other. The silence hung over them heavily.

“The Minister seems fearful,” Caichun said quietly. More fearful than he should be was what she really meant, her matter-of-fact tone allowing the unspoken words to linger in the air.

Sun Ruhui gave her a reassuring smile. “It doesn’t appear to be affecting his judgment now, and I doubt that it will in the future. He works well under pressure.”

Caichun hesitated, swallowing any further questions, but Sun Ruhui continued without her needing to ask any further.

“He seems to be in a bit of a rush, doesn’t he?” Sun Ruhui said. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. In fact, he’s right to be worried. If he weren’t concerned for his fate and the fate of his clan, then I would despair at being in debt to such a man.”

“Left Secretariat Sun thinks the situation is that bad?” Caichun asked, frowning slightly.

“With the way things are going now, the Minister is set to do just fine and continue rising in power and position. Then again, when you live to my age, you know that things don’t tend to go the way we want them to, or even how we could reasonably expect. Given Chamberlain Chen’s intelligence and depth of knowledge, you surely know of the Han Dynasty official Huo Guang?” Sun Ruhui said.

“Of course,” Caichun nodded. “He’s practically the symbol of extremely powerful officials, he had the court completely under his control from the death of Emperor Wu of Han until Huo Guang’s own death during the reign of Emperor Xuan. He was even powerful enough to control who could take the throne.”

“As expected of Chamberlain Chen, you’re well-versed in history. Then surely you also know what happened to Huo Guang’s clan after his death,” Sun Ruhui replied.

Caichun took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I see.”

“Certainly, the Grand Duke is not as powerful as Huo Guang was, and the Minister is in a much better position than Huo Guang’s sons were. But if a man commits murder, he will be widely condemned, while an Emperor could exterminate clans and still be known as a wise ruler by later dynasties. Individuals mean nothing in the face of imperial power, how could the Minister not be afraid?” Sun Ruhui pointed out.

Caichun nodded. “I can understand that well enough, but what I can’t understand is the way he’s choosing to deal with it. Minister Zhao is dragging himself over the most difficult path available to him. The palace won’t help him with the Zhao clan, but he should at least be able to preserve himself. Why go through all the trouble?”

“It seems that the Minister feels responsibility towards them,” Sun Ruhui replied. “There may be quite a large number of corrupt and incompetent fools among them, but they are his clan after all.”

“No, I mean, why does the Minister insist on going through all this trouble to deal with the Grand Duke through political means? Surely the correct answer is clear by now,” Caichun said insistently.

Sun Ruhui stilled, his steady gaze flickering at Caichun’s words.

“That’s not an easy decision for someone to make,” Sun Ruhui pointed out.

“I doubt he has any other choice. He doesn’t get along with the Grand Duke either, nor are they actually grandfather and grandson. Is it truly so difficult for him? Or is it just that he does not wish to be the one to suggest it?” Caichun asked. “The palace won’t make it easier for him by offering it as an option, there’s really only the neutral faction to say it.”

Sun Ruhui let out a sigh. “It is a last resort, especially for a man like the Minister. He would not consider it unless there truly were no other paths.”

“I would say that he’s already at this point, the Ministry of War is done for. A fallen leaf tells of autumn arriving throughout the country, at this point, the complete destruction of the Grand Duke’s faction is already an unstoppable force. The Minister’s time to take action is running out,” Caichun said.

“I can bring it up to him, but I doubt he can accept it at this point in time,” Sun Ruhui sighed, conceding the argument.

“I would do so myself, but your words may bear more weight with him,” Caichun said.

“The Minister highly values your advice,” Sun Ruhui interjected.

“But you have sworn your loyalty to him personally, while I am still loyal to him as the head of the neutral faction,” Caichun pointed out. “That matters quite a bit to a man as paranoid as the Minister.”

Sun Ruhui fell silent, tacitly accepting the situation. Both left the room with heavy hearts, awaiting the next turn of events that would shape their fates.

Kayla entered Kuang’s study, greeting him politely. She had managed to get here in record time thanks to Hu Qing, who had been careful to choose a route that would minimize the chance of getting intercepted by a summons to the palace. The Empress Dowager probably wouldn’t use a communication plaque unless she was certain of who else would take note of it, and that would be difficult to ascertain if she wasn’t sure of where Kayla was.

Thankfully, Kayla made it to Kuang’s residence without incident or interruption.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Kuang said, taking Kayla’s hands with a look of relief. It did not ease Kayla’s nervousness in the slightest.

There was a tenseness in the air that Kayla couldn’t quite pin down. Kuang never acted in a dominating manner with any of the officials, and never threw around his temper as Xianchun did. His natural charisma was enough to incite feelings of respect from those around him, and the less Kuang asserted his will in a forceful manner, the more well-liked and respected he became.

The Third Prince before Kayla right now was different from usual. He still spoke and acted pleasantly, but there was a subtle edge to his demeanor that seemed to loom over Kayla with a suffocating presence. Belatedly, Kayla realized that this was the first time Kuang was approaching her as a potential threat or opponent.

What the fuck is going on? The fuck did I do?

Kuang smiled at her. It wasn’t reassuring in the slightest.

“Not at all, Your Highness. Thank you for taking the time to indulge my worries. I wanted to go directly to check on Fifth Cousin, but in the aftermath of such a situation, I’m not sure if I would only create more work for him by dropping in unexpectedly,” Kayla bowed her head slightly.

At her expression of concern, the mood of the room seemed to lighten somewhat.

“That’s very considerate of you,” Kuang replied. Despite the expressions and body language he was projecting, Kayla couldn’t sense what he was really thinking. She took a deep breath and pushed forward.

“How are Young Master Shu and Fifth Cousin doing?” Kayla asked.

Something in Kuang’s demeanor softened a little, and he let out a sigh.

“Shu Zhengyu is alive, the healers say he’ll make a full recovery in due time. And Yunqi is doing fine, he was quite shocked, but he’s alright now,” Kuang said.

“It is good that Young Master Shu is doing alright,” Kayla said, genuinely relieved at the news. “I hope for his speedy recovery.”

“We appreciate your kind thoughts,” Kuang replied. “Wenyuan, we’re all cousins here, so I hope you won’t mind if I open the door to the mountain.”

Kayla’s heart stuttered and skipped a beat as Kuang’s tone became somber. There was a subtle shift in his body language that made Kayla feel like she was sitting on the other side of an interrogation table. Oh shit. What does he want? I thought I had appeased him a little!

“Please go ahead.”

Kuang glanced at Kayla, his gaze open and free of suspicion. That only made Kayla even more nervous.

“Wenyuan, my dear cousin.”

Oh shit. “Yes?” Kayla squeaked.

“When I say this, I say it without suspicion or reproach, merely concern. I hope that you understand that,” Kuang said in a measured tone.

“Of course.” Please just get on with it!

“Shortly before Shu Zhengyu was poisoned, there was a small ruckus at the restaurant he was eating at. A young man burst into the building, with several highly-trained individuals in pursuit. The pursuers were chased off, and the young man was allowed to leave through the servers’ exit,” Kuang said. Kayla felt a cold knot forming in her stomach. She had no idea what this was about, but it definitely wasn’t good.

“Is he a suspect?” Kayla asked.

“Not so much a suspect as he is a key witness,” Kuang admitted.

“If you give me a description, I can issue a directive to bring him in for questioning,” Kayla offered.

Kuang hesitated, and Kayla’s heart dropped. That’s not good.

“I appreciate that, but the young man’s identity may pose a bit of a problem.”

Kayla gulped. “How so, my prince?”

Kuang met her eyes with an unreadable gaze. “That man was Qu Boyong.”

“What?! Qu Boyong was placed at the scene of the crime?” Kayla frowned in disbelief.

What the hell is that guy playing at now? The Shu clan has nothing to do with the Xiang clan’s downfall, they didn’t even benefit from it.

“Indeed, it seems that it was a coincidence that he entered the building since he was fleeing for his life, but I suspect he knows something about the incident that we may not,” Kuang said, maintaining a neutral tone.

“I did not make an attempt on his life,” Kayla promised. “I’m not sure who the trained killers were, but I did not send them. As for Qu Boyong’s involvement, I will not attempt to protect or shield him simply because he used to work for me.”

“Excellent, I’m very glad to hear of that.”

Kayla’s mind was racing at breakneck speed. Qu Boyong…the Third Prince wants his head. Do I even need to go forward with the plan to reduce his eligibility at this point? It’s guaranteed that he can’t take this role any longer. I just need to make sure the Third Prince’s enmity towards him becomes public knowledge. And before that, I need to make sure that enmity is amplified. But that might just push Qu Boyong to Xianchun, and who knows what’ll happen if those two team up? They both hate the Zhao clan.

Kayla decided to shelve that for the moment. Even if she still had the favor Yunqi owed her to call on, Kuang would probably be more willing to accept if she opened up with an offer for the Ministry of War. The Third Prince was no longer evaluating Kayla with his previous scrutiny, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down and gain his ire right after managing to appease him.

“While he used to serve me, the ties between us no longer exist. If he is involved in this, I will not show any mercy out of personal feelings,” Kayla promised. “My prince, my offer still stands. If you need to question him or arrest him, I’m happy to help.”

“Thank you, Wenyuan. There’s no need to arrest him since I doubt he was behind this, but I do have some questions for him,” Kuang said gravely.

“You don’t think he was behind this?” Kayla repeated, faking a look of surprise.

Kuang paused, giving Kayla a thoughtful look. “And does my cousin think otherwise?”

“I had merely thought…well,” Kayla stopped, pretending to be hesitant. “Never mind, it is merely my own conjectures.”

“You are a sharp-minded man, if you have reason to feel doubtful I would be glad to hear of it,” Kuang prodded.

“It is merely my own guess, and I would not wish to be thought of as saying this out of spite for someone who left my service under less-than-ideal conditions,” Kayla said.

“One would not think such a thing of you, cousin. You have taken no action for revenge, not even to blacklist Qu Boyong. That should be proof enough of your magnanimity,” Kuang assured her.

Satisfied at having established her own objectiveness enough, Kayla started in on Qu Boyong.

“Qu Boyong had attempted to besmirch my reputation, as you may know of, and that is why I ended our contractual employment. I had assumed it was to gain the favor of the Grand Duke, but it seems that this was not the case. I then assumed he would attempt to enter the service of either you or Xianchun, seeing as he had voiced aspirations for power and position before. I had expected him to either approach one of you with information on me or to gain your attention through some other achievement,” Kayla said. She stopped and spoke no further. It wasn’t necessary, Kuang was already coming to his own conclusions.

“In any case, I’m happy to help in whatever capacity you need. The Court of Judicial Review can assist in investigating or issuing warrants as needed,” Kayla offered.

“Thank you, Minister. I’m grateful for your generous offer,” Kuang replied.

“Not at all, this is simply what I should do. Fifth Cousin doesn’t deserve to be put through all this, and neither does a sixteen-year-old boy,” Kayla said.

Kuang smiled, seeming to be genuinely pleased. “We’re greatly touched by your concern. Should you need any assistance, we would certainly be happy to help as well. Trust and assistance should go both ways, should it not?”

“I’m touched by your kindness, my prince,” Kayla replied.

“Don’t be so formal, we’re all family, aren’t we?” Kuang said cheerfully. “You must be quite busy, with everything going on at the Ministry of Justice. I heard that the current Minister of Rites has also been accused of dereliction of duty?”

He’s offering me the Ministry of Rites in exchange for my help, Kayla realized. She grabbed onto the chance, making a counteroffer in turn.

“That is what I have heard as well, but it seems that will be a rather simple open-and-shut case that the Ministry of Justice will be taking charge of. Thankfully that means I won’t have to add more to my workload. I’m already bogged down with the investigation in Dengzhou,” Kayla faked a look of relief as she began to drag the negotiation in a different direction. Kuang indulged her, both out of curiosity and obligation, going along with the back-and-forth.

“Yes, I’ve heard of that. It’s a co-investigation with the Bureau, isn’t it? I heard that it had become quite a complicated situation once the nobility of the city got involved,” Kuang said.

“You could certainly say that! Unfortunately, even some of my relatives have been implicated. My relative Zhao Wei will likely be resigning soon, and the Right and Left Secretaries of War will probably have to follow suit.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kuang said sympathetically. “It must be quite a blow for your family.”

“Thank you for that, but what can I do? There are no personal feelings before the law. If there has been wrongdoing, then it serves that there should be punishment. In any case, that means there will need to be a new Minister of War, along with new Right and Left Secretaries,” Kayla sighed. “And off the record, I have an inkling of suspicion that the Ministry of Revenue will get dragged into the whirlpool as well.”

Kuang managed to maintain a casual air of curiosity, as though he weren’t about to fight tooth and nail for the Ministry of War. “Even the Ministry of Revenue? Good heavens.”

“Indeed, the Six Ministries certainly are in need of some bloodletting. The Ministry of Revenue is the lifeline of the economy and the treasury, its Minister certainly cannot be a man whose heart contains a secondary fealty,” Kayla said.

Kuang smiled, razor-sharp gaze alight with ambition. He was in his element, and it showed. “Then it seems that my dear cousin will have quite a difficult task to deal with.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “If I may be presumptuous, I believe that things have the potential to proceed smoothly for both of us, should we cooperate with one another.”

“I would certainly be willing to lend a hand to you with the Ministry of Revenue, though I doubt you would need it for the investigation,” Kuang said, giving her a thoughtful look. “But if there is a way I can be of more use, then I will gladly hear of it.”

“Your Highness is most generous. It is true that there are a few difficulties in the investigation itself, but it is the aftermath that I worry about. To speak plainly, it will be arduous to wrestle the Ministry of Revenue into shape if I cannot do so unimpeded.”

Kuang nodded. “Competition for the positions would certainly add to your burden, would it not? If that is the case, you have nothing to worry about from my end, and I will gladly help to clear the playing field for you.”

Having finally gotten the guarantee that she wanted, Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you, my prince. Your help would be greatly appreciated.”

Kuang waved off her thanks. “And if I may, Wenyuan, what are your plans for the Ministry of War?”

Here we go. Kayla steeled her nerves, proceeding cautiously now that she was working with something that Kuang had more-or-less claimed for himself.

“Given that the Director of Central Command has also been implicated, then four of the top-ranking members of the Ministry of War would be removed from their posts. Following tradition and institutional policy, then it serves that the next highest-ranking member should serve as the interim head of the Ministry until a formal appointment is decided upon. If I recall correctly, then it should be Yao Gongzhuo, the Director of Logistics,” Kayla replied.

“But a Ministry this important surely cannot be left without a formally appointed Minister for long, can it?” Kuang prodded.

“Certainly, but going by precedent, the seat should most certainly go to the interim head, who would have vastly more experience as a member of the core staff compared to a fresh face,” Kayla said.

“I wonder if the Ministry of Personnel would agree, Minister Jun Shao can be rather persuasive when he wants to be,” Kuang noted.

So he’s still warding off Xianchun, Kayla thought to herself. And probably warning me off while he’s at it. He wants assurance, and he has every reason to, the Ministry of War is hardly easy to take hold of.

Kayla nodded slowly, buying time to formulate a response.

“My prince, I would not worry about that as much as I would the Emperor’s opinion. This brings to mind a quote by Lao Tze, though I must admit my memory of it has dulled,” Kayla said carefully. “If I remember correctly, he said that one cannot understand the world just by observing oneself, that not stubbornly persisting in one’s judgment will show one’s virtue and talent, that not praising oneself will allow one to succeed in gaining merit, that avoiding pridefulness will allow one to continuously improve…I can’t recall what comes after that…if the prince would kindly remind me?”

Kuang stared intently at Kayla for a tense moment before bursting into laughter.

“‘If you do not vie against others, no one under heaven can compete with you.’ Is that not what you wanted to say?” Kuang said, eyes sparkling with amusement. “So your advice remains the same as before, to stay still is to gain the upper hand.”

“Your Highness is astute,” Kayla replied, bowing her head slightly. “As you surely know, more so than anyone else, the military is an extremely important arm of the state. As has been repeatedly stated over the course of history, the military is where life and death are decided, where a country’s existence is determined, a matter that cannot be ignored. For something this important, what kind of person would the Emperor wish to entrust the military to?”

“Of course it would be a person loyal to himself,” Kuang replied without hesitation. “I suppose that you agree?”

“It is as you say, my prince. The Emperor wishes for someone loyal, but how does he judge that? It is not enthusiasm that he wishes to see, but a dutiful man with no great ambition,” Kayla pointed out. “My prince only needs to show a magnanimous heart that prioritizes the well-being of the nation. There is no need for your man in the Ministry of War to do anything other than his job, and the seat will naturally fall to him.”

“And how do I know a more dutiful man with even fewer ambitions won’t emerge as a suitable candidate?” Kuang asked. Kayla smiled conspiratorially.

“I doubt there are any such men in the capital. The Court of Judicial Review has the right to investigate any nominations from the Ministry of Personnel, even if they are good enough at pretending, are they good enough to pass a thorough background check? ” Kayla said. An appointment to the Ministry of War would definitely require an in-depth investigation into every potential candidate, and where would the investigation take place other than at the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau and the Court of Judicial Review? Kuang returned the smile, eyes glinting with approval.

“Surely not,” Kuang replied. “With someone like you keeping a watchful eye, whether or not someone is truly trustworthy or not will surely become clear.” There was always something in an official’s past that could be amplified and twisted into a good reason not to appoint them.

“I’m honored by your trust,” Kayla bowed her head.

“And certainly, I’d be happy to help in any way that I can in regards to your goal of the Ministry of Revenue,” Kuang said.

“I’m grateful that you are willing to indulge this one’s foolish notions,” Kayla replied.

“Nonsense, if the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review believes there is a problem, then there certainly must be one,” Kuang said. “I’m happy to keep my hands off of the Ministry of Revenue, but I can’t allow my youngest brother to grab hold of it either.”

“Of course, I will negotiate with the Seventh Prince,” Kayla replied, giving him a meaningful look. Kuang’s smile broadened, looking all the more assured.

“Then I’ll leave it in your capable hands, Wenyuan.”

Kayla bowed her head again, simultaneously gearing up to toss out another offer.

Qu Boyong is difficult to deal with, and there are already so many parties involved that I no longer have enough control over what happens next. In that case, then I need to add new pieces to the board. Kayla had every intention of turning Qu Boyong from her problem into everyone’s problem, or a little more realistically, she would at least make him the Third Prince’s problem.

“I’d like to ask another favor of you, my prince,” Kayla said.

“Please go ahead, I’m happy to help.”

“I’m grateful for your magnanimity. My request is related to the situation regarding Qu Boyong. As you might know, I also have my own reasons to bear enmity towards him,” Kayla explained.

“Of course, distaste for an unfaithful man like him is well-deserved,” Kuang replied, his eyes glinting with interest.

“I hope that his involvement in this will not be buried,” Kayla said meaningfully. “But also that this does not then open other routes for him.”

The task was better handled by Kuang and Yunqi than left in her hands.

Kuang’s face curled into a smile, his eyes crinkling with approval. “Of course,” he replied. “I’d be happy to do so.”

Kayla smiled back, satisfaction slowly curling through her veins. “Thank you, my prince. I’m glad we have an understanding.”

77-Revelations

Going behind the Empress Dowager to strike deals with the Third Prince was one thing. Kayla was fine with that. But facing the Empress Dowager right after did require some mental acrobatics, especially when a summons arrived less than two minutes after she had left Kuang’s residence.

Walking into the palace, Kayla looked calm on the surface while her mind was racing at full speed.

The Empress Dowager was worried about her hold over me last time when I requested to replace the Grand Duke’s position, that’s not a good position for me to be in. I have to make her feel as though I’m under her control, even though I only just went over her head to make a deal with Kuang.

As she approached the Empress Dowager's quarters, Kayla decided to proceed with Sun Ruhui’s plan and throw Wei Guang under the bus.

He’s the least likely to take a hit from it, she reasoned to herself.

Kayla greeted the Empress Dowager, who quickly ushered her into a seat. The kindly smile on the old woman’s face didn’t make Kayla feel more at ease in the slightest, and her instincts proved correct once the Empress Dowager opened up the conversation.

“I see that you’ve been to see your cousin,” the Empress Dowager said casually. “I had sent a messenger to the Zhao household, but couldn’t find you there. Imagine my surprise when you were at Kuang’s residence instead.”

Oh boy, here we go.

“I apologize, grandmother. I simply thought it best to offer my support in the wake of such a shocking incident,” Kayla replied.

The Empress Dowager sighed. “Well, that’s certainly an admirable thing to do. It’s good that you care so much for your cousins.”

Kayla bowed her head further.

“It is only what I should do for my family members,” Kayla said. The Empress Dowager nodded slowly.

“And how do you plan to help?” The Empress Dowager asked. Kayla wasn’t fooled for a second by the gentle inquisitiveness in the old woman’s voice. She chose her words carefully, stepping around the deal regarding Qu Boyong.

“Fifth Cousin can’t leave his cousin’s side right now, but such a crime clearly cannot go unpunished. Third Cousin has requested my assistance in searching for the culprit, though I would have gladly done so even without his words. After all, this is also part of my duty as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review,” Kayla said, bowing her head.

“And is that all?” The Empress Dowager asked pointedly.

“I dare not lie, grandmother. Third Cousin is a man of honor and follows the etiquette of gifts being exchanged rather than unilaterally given. He has agreed not to lay his hands on the Ministry of Revenue,” Kayla replied.

“In exchange for just your help on an investigation?”

Kayla lowered her head further. “I also agreed not to interfere with his affairs in the Ministry of Rites.”

The Empress Dowager nodded thoughtfully. “How unexpected, I had thought he would go for the Ministry of War.”

Time to carry out my end of the deal.

“I am sure that he wants it, just as Seventh Cousin does,” Kayla said carefully. “But Third Cousin’s maternal relatives are a military clan, so it only follows that he, more so than others in the court, would understand the significance of such an institution and why it cannot be vied and jostled for. He is not a man who would jeopardize its security and stability for the sake of personal gain.”

The Empress Dowager gave a noncommittal hum. “It seems our Wenyuan has quite a high opinion of him.”

Kayla gave a sheepish smile. “I am only making an objective observation, grandmother. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, if I do not understand the characters of those in the court, how am I meant to work with them efficiently?”

The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly. “Well done, Wenyuan. But I do wonder, you’re usually a man of caution, yet you rushed straight to the Third Prince’s house as though you were on fire.”

Kayla gulped nervously. Here we go.

“It was almost as though you were trying to speak with him before I could speak with you.”

“Certainly not, grandmother,” Kayla protested.

Of course I would?! We all know you would force the conditions to skew towards the palace’s benefit otherwise, and then where does that leave me?! Who’s to say Kuang won’t shoot the messenger?!

The Empress Dowager smiled benevolently.

“Whose idea was it?” The Empress Dowager asked, the cotton-like softness of her voice hiding the sharp needles beneath.

Kayla gulped. It doesn’t make sense for me to immediately throw Wei Guang at her, I need to act as though I’m covering for him first to make it believable.

“This one is deeply ashamed of his error. It was my idea, grandmother,” Kayla said, bowing her head.

“Oh?” The Empress Dowager asked. “Are you sure?”

Kayla held back a wince, making sure the micro-expression was just noticeable enough.

“Grandmother…” Kayla said hesitantly.

The Empress Dowager leveled Kayla with a stern frown. “I’m asking you one more time, whose idea was it?”

Kayla shifted a stuttering gaze away from the Empress Dowager, shrinking her shoulders in on herself in a show of being backed into a corner.

“Grandmother, I made the decision,” Kayla replied, evading the question.

The Empress Dowager let out an angry huff. “The decision, perhaps. But you didn’t come up with the idea, did you? Was it Wei Guang? Is that what has you so reticent?”

Kayla lowered her head. “Grandmother, I apologize, all the fault lies with me! I only–”

“Enough, it’s hardly your fault. That viper can be very persuasive when he wants to, not to mention that His Majesty wants Wei Guang to support you. You did no wrong by following his advice,” the Empress Dowager replied. There was a note of annoyance in her voice, but it didn’t seem to be directed toward Kayla.

“Thank you for your understanding, grandmother,” Kayla replied, looking suitably contrite.

“Wei Guang’s reputation exceeds his abilities, you would do well to keep that in mind,” the Empress Dowager said, her voice dripping with distaste. It was the most obvious show of dislike Kayla had ever seen from the old woman, even when the subject of conversation was the Grand Duke or Liu Hongyu.

“I will be sure to do that,” Kayla said, doing her best to hide her astonishment. Thankfully, the topic seemed to have completely shifted away from Kayla’s culpability. The Empress Dowager’s eyes softened a little.

“Of course, it is always good to have the support of such a man, and you would certainly benefit from his advice,” the Empress Dowager said, once again calm and infallible. “It is merely in your best interests to avoid allowing him too much influence over your decisions.”

“I understand. Thank you for your concern, grandmother,” Kayla said obediently.

She waited, but the Empress Dowager did not elaborate.

Oh come on, Kayla silently grumbled to herself. Can’t she be a little less stingy with her information? The complete lack of response from Wenyuan left her feeling even more unsettled. The ongoing cold war between them, mostly one-sided from Wenyuan while Kayla continuously tried to appease him, was such a stark contrast from her previous surety of his presence that it left her ill at ease.

“Grandmother, the Imperial Edict Bearer mentioned that he had been my mother’s teacher?” Kayla prompted, cautiously watching the Empress Dowager’s expression.

To her relief, the Empress Dowager only scoffed.

“Indeed, the previous Emperor had a very high opinion of his abilities. But it was not as though he were her only teacher, nor was she his only student, he taught almost all of the Archdukes and Princesses of your mother’s generation in some capacity,” the Empress Dowager said dismissively. “While your mother was rather fond of him, it was mostly out of a misguided sense of obligation towards her teacher.”

“I see, I was just a little surprised that he seemed to know so much about my mother. I barely had any interactions with him before his mourning period began, but it turns out that he even wrote the inscription for my mother’s villa,” Kayla said, carefully intonating it as an off-handed throwaway remark.

The Empress Dowager took the bait, shaking her head disapprovingly as her mask cracked again. “Of course he wouldn’t hesitate to boast about it, and yet my husband and son both see him as a humble man! There’s certainly nothing for him to be proud of regarding that, he shouldn’t have encouraged a married woman to spend so much time outside of her residence, tolling away at magic the way that she did. It didn’t diminish the greater standing of her position, but it certainly wasn’t his place to have fanned the flames.”

It was such a marked departure from the old woman’s usual attitude of cold confidence, being in control of everything that happened next, or at least good at pretending to be, that Kayla had to lower her gaze to avoid raising her eyebrows.

Does she really not know? Deciding to take a bet, Kayla continued.

“Last time I went to the villa, I saw that she had done quite a lot of research,” Kayla cautiously remarked.

“Indeed, she was rather taken with magic after your father died,” the Empress Dowager said, her eyes softening with sympathy. “Becoming a widow at such a young age, it’s no wonder she would need something to devote herself to.”

But the Grand Duke mentioned the palace trying to kill Wenyuan right after she died though. Was it that the Empress Dowager is just an Oscar-worthy actress? Or just that she can’t control everything that is carried out in the name of the palace? Of course, all of it could also just be a lie by the Grand Duke.

Kayla nodded, making a suitable expression of conflicted sadness.

Inside, Kayla’s mind was flipping itself in circles. She…doesn’t know about the investigations? How? Is that even possible? But I’ve brought it up and she hasn’t said a thing, she hasn’t even tried to prod me about it either!

It left only a single reasonable conclusion. Wei Guang knew, and the Empress Dowager didn’t.

Looks like I’m overdue a confrontation.

The conversation turned to more mundane matters, before eventually fizzling to a stop. Kayla was dismissed, and bowed to the Empress Dowager, making to take her leave.

“I know you’ve been very busy, and your uncle’s also insisted on giving you time to focus on your work, but do remember to visit your uncle, won’t you? He rather misses being able to spend time with you,” the Empress Dowager said, stopping Kayla in her tracks. She turned back and bowed.

“Of course, grandmother. I’d gladly do so,” Kayla replied. “I apologize for having been so negligent.” There must be something he needs to talk to me about.

“No matter, you’ve had your hands full. But your uncle also has some things he wishes to speak with you about regarding your plans for marriage,” the Empress Dowager continued. “Have lunch with him tomorrow.”

I knew it.

“I understand, I’ll be sure to go and pay my respects,” Kayla said. She bowed again, repeating her goodbyes before leaving.

Kayla’s request to meet with Wei Guang was approved before she had even gotten halfway back to the Zhao household. The carriage changed routes, once more bringing her to the gates of the Imperial Edict Bearer’s residence.

Hu Qing peeled off to do whatever else, and Kayla entered alone. Wei Guang’s servant guided her in before leaving with a short bow. The Imperial Edict Bearer was in a small, well-kept garden this time, with a sense of design that Kayla immediately recognized as similar to the Imperial Princess.

"Wenyuan greets the Imperial Edict Bearer, apologies for visiting on such short notice," Kayla said politely.

Wei Guang greeted her with a broad smile. “No such thing! I’m glad to have you seek me out, your company is always welcome.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace. I only just came from the palace, after having met with my grandmother,” Kayla said conversationally.

“Oh? I hope that Her Highness is in good health?”

“Indeed, she is faring well,” Kayla replied, kicking the ball back into his court.

“Then, for you to come directly here after leaving the palace, I suppose there must be a matter of some importance you wish to discuss,” Wei Guang prompted.

Satisfied that she had been invited to speak rather than immediately forcing the topic onto Wei Guang, Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“If Your Grace wouldn’t mind, I’ll directly open the door to the mountain.”

Wei Guang nodded. “Of course, please go ahead.”

“Imperial Edict Bearer, how much do you know about my mother’s research?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang looked her over with an evaluating gaze, as though ascertaining what she was asking about. He briefly nodded to himself and met Kayla's eyes without a shred of hesitation. “Everything. Including those investigations that she carried out after the death of your father.”

Kayla jolted, a cold shock running through her body. “You–”

“Why so surprised, Wenyuan? I had thought you simply did not discover it, but it seems that you were merely a man of extreme caution. I’ve hinted at it multiple times, but you’ve refused to rise to the bait. I suppose I’m not very trustworthy in your eyes, am I?” Wei Guang asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kayla reared back, taking in a deep breath to try and calm her scrambling thoughts. It didn’t work.

What the–how the fuck–

“The Empress Dowager doesn’t know?” Kayla demanded.

“She does not.”

“How? Why? Is that even possible?!” Kayla shot the questions in quick succession.

Wei Guang looked at her, completely serene even as Kayla’s composure began to crack into pieces.

“She would not be able to see anything but the magical research written in those books, because she has the magical key to undo the enchantments,” Wei Guang said calmly.

Kayla narrowed her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“Your mother gave her the key to undo the enchantments,” Wei Guang repeated. “So your grandmother will never be able to see the true information recorded there. Or perhaps, because you were nullifying the spells, you could not sense that there were two layers of enchantments?”

Kayla shot to her feet, her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

“What in the heavens are you talking about?! Please don’t speak nonsense, Imperial Edict Bearer!”

Wei Guang nodded slowly. “You still don’t trust me, that’s alright. We have time enough to help you understand my sincerity.”

He slowly let out a deep breath, looking at her wearily. “Wenyuan, there’s no need to deny it. Your mother and I placed two layers of enchantments on those books. One can be undone with a magical key, to show the second layer of enchantments, which showed the information as your mother’s research on time and soul magic. The second layer of enchantments is undetectable and has no way to be deactivated. The only way to access the hidden information is if the enchantment was nullified.”

Kayla felt the ground wobble and rise up beneath her. She slumped into the chair, grabbing onto the table with shaking hands.

What the fuck? Just what the hell– There was suddenly, once again, the feeling of being a fly in a web, a chess piece on a checkered board. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t escape the eyes that could see her every move or push her in the direction decreed by fate.

“Why?” Kayla managed to grit out the question in a steady voice.

“Because you are a nullification mage. This information was meant for you to begin with, of course you should be the only one to access it,” Wei Guang explained.

“How the hell would you even have–I wasn’t even a nullification mage before!” Kayla stopped, not knowing how to explain anything. Did Wei Guang know who she really was? Was all of this part of some plan?

To her horror, Wei Guang chuckled. She stared at him with blank confusion, cold sweat beading on her neck.

“What are you laughing about?!” Kayla demanded.

“What a silly thought, how can someone suddenly become a nullification mage? You were born one, just like any other magic user,” Wei Guang laughed. “This is a secret, of course. The only ones who know are your parents, me, and now, you.”

What the fuck?!

“Excuse me,” Kayla said, forcing herself into some semblance of calmness. “What are you talking about? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Calm down, he doesn’t know anything, you’ve faced worse than this before! Stay calm! Kayla repeated the words like a mantra in her head, willing her mental turbulence into a more manageable state.

Wei Guang’s face grew somber. “Indeed, you were not meant to know of it. A child should not be given such a burden. Nullification mages are rare, far too rare. We feared that you would become the weapon of the powerful, whether it be the Grand Duke or the palace, and suffer greatly as a result. To protect you, we sealed your abilities when you were still a swaddled infant, and your parents were meant to tell you the truth when you became twenty-five, upon which you could then decide what choice to make. Your parents have already passed, so it falls upon me to do so. To my surprise, you had already uncovered your own abilities. I do not know what had undone the seal, but it must have been a very powerful magic shock.”

Right, something like time travel and soul magic should’ve done the trick. Kayla felt like she was swimming through a garbled mess of thoughts. She couldn’t tell if Wei Guang was telling the truth, but at this point, it didn’t seem like he had any reason to lie. He had kept this secret for twenty-five years, and the secret of the Imperial Princess’ investigation as well.

“I…I don’t know what to think,” Kayla said, buying herself some more time to think things through.

Wenyuan doesn’t know about this, the Grand Duke and the palace don’t seem to know either, is it true then? Or is it a trap? I can’t verify the truth about the first layer of enchantments, but the Empress Dowager seems to really think that it’s just the Princess’ magical research.

“I can understand your surprise,” Wei Guang said sympathetically. “It is my fault for not having eased you into it, I should have started a long time ago.” His look of pity grated on her nerves.

“Why didn’t you?” Kayla asked, carefully maintaining a neutral tone. “You never approached me after my mother’s death, all the way until you left for your mourning period, you didn’t so much as show any sign of knowing I existed. Was it truly just because you thought me hopeless at politics?”

“That was a mistake on my part,” Wei Guang lamented.

One that lasted for years, evidently, Kayla kept that to herself, silently listening as Wei Guang continued on.

“For one, I didn’t want the palace or the Grand Duke to suspect anything. The less exceptional you were, the more likely you were to survive. That, and there was the problem of your disposition. I had thought that given your personality, you would be better off not knowing anything.”

Kayla said nothing, patiently waiting for him to elaborate. Seeing that she wasn’t about to budge from the topic, Wei Guang sighed.

“There were two major concerns I had for how you would turn out,” Wei Guang said in a heavy voice. “One was that as a member of high nobility, you would grow arrogant and overconfident, and be unable to withstand humiliation. That would make it impossible for you to achieve anything, and further, it would make it difficult for you to survive the fall of the Zhao clan. As for the second concern…”

He trailed off, stroking his beard pensively.

“Please go on, Your Grace. There’s no need to mince words for my sake,” Kayla said politely.

“The second concern, which later grew to be my main worry, was that you would grow into a weak-hearted man who took humiliation as favor. In many ways, that would be even worse than the first option,” Wei Guang said.

Humiliation as favor? Is that what you thought of Wenyuan? Kayla stared at him in disbelief for a moment before hastily collecting her expression.

Kayla stomped down on the ragged edges of rage growing inside her stomach.

“And did Your Grace believe me to have such qualities?” Kayla asked. She kept an expression of thoughtful curiosity, careful not to seem offended.

Wei Guang gave a deep sigh, looking away from her. It was answer enough.

Wow, seriously, you old $%^&*%R! Kayla gave a garbled stream of curses inside her head, letting out a dry laugh.

“What a bunch of bullshit,” Kayla mumbled in English.

“What was that?” Wei Guang asked, creasing his brow.

Kayla looked up at him innocently, giving a small smile. “Oh, it’s nothing. But rather, please allow me to ask you this, Your Grace. What makes you think I’m suitable now? You even gave me access to the fruits of my mother’s arduous labor, and now you’re willingly offering me such important information.”

“As I said before, it was because you gained the ambition and the spine necessary to achieve great things,” Wei Guang replied. He paused, looking at Kayla’s frozen expression of polite friendliness. “It seems that I’ve upset you, I apologize.”

“Not at all, Your Grace. But I have to admit, I find this situation a little laughable.” Kayla said calmly. There was a quiet bubbling inside her chest that she vaguely recognized as protective fury.

Rather than fight it down, Kayla chose to go along with it. Wei Guang was sentimental, that much she was certain of, there was just the issue of how to grab hold of that in order to solidify his support. Kayla needed a powerful backing she could rely on, someone who wasn’t the cunning and ruthless Empress Dowager or the affectionate but unreliable Emperor.

I’m just getting Wenyuan what he already deserved, Kayla assured herself.

“It’s not that I just suddenly gained these qualities that make me worthy of your approval, I was always this kind of person,” she said calmly.

Wenyuan was always good enough, you asshole.

“It was merely that no one ever thought to tell me that it was alright for me to go against the Grand Duke, against the man I’d thought was my grandfather for my entire life. No one taught me that I was allowed to combat evil wherever I found it, even if that was my own household.”

No one ever taught Wenyuan it was alright to fight back, that he was allowed to resent the Grand Duke. Even the palace would look the other way when he was abused, what the fuck does this guy even think Wenyuan could have done?!

“My parents, my teachers, everyone only ever told me to have filial piety, to respect him, to forgive him all his wrongs. Even when he was violent, even when he used me as a tool and a puppet, I always thought that I had to forgive him. I had to be brought to the brink of death before I realized that no one would protect me, that for me to live, he would have to die.”

Wei Guang’s face changed several shades at Kayla’s last sentence, opening his mouth before firmly closing it shut. Kayla ignored him and went on, determined to argue Wenyuan’s case.

“I’ve never taken humiliation for favor. I’ve always known it for what it was, it was everyone around me who kept telling me that it was my due share. I do not mind if you berate me for my current faults, but you should not misunderstand my past mistakes. The Zhao Wenyuan I was back then was a far better person than I am now,” Kayla said.

Wenyuan was the better person, she was the better politician. He had more virtue and she had more vigor. It didn’t exactly speak well of Kayla’s character that she was the one who was more welcome among the vipers of the court, and Kayla had never doubted that.

After a long silence, Wei Guang met her gaze with a look of regret.

“I see. It is as you say, much of this…” Wei Guang sighed again, shaking his head. “I admit that my negligence played a great role in all this. Should you have had my support from the start, who knows how far you would’ve gone by now?”

Kayla carefully watched his reaction, ascertaining that he was genuinely remorseful. She breathed out shakily, giving him a stair to step down on. It was time to start reeling in the line.

“I spoke rudely, Your Grace. I do not mean to blame you, there are many people who could have intervened, and not a single one did so. It is not fair to place the fault at your feet. Rather, unlike those who use me for their own purposes or those who would gladly see me dead, you have approached me with generosity and an open heart. If anything, I am grateful to have your support.”

The palace, for one, should’ve done something a long time ago.

Her words had their intended effect. Wei Guang looked even more guilty than he did before, and his eyes shone as he looked at her.

“You’ve suffered great injustices,” Wei Guang murmured.

Kayla didn’t respond, lowering her head as though to hide an aggrieved expression.

Wei Guang shook his head sadly.

”I've left you to drag yourself down this difficult path alone until now, but you’ll have my full support from here on,” Wei Guang promised. “And whatever answers you seek, I will respond with complete honesty. I swear this on the honor of my ancestors and my entire clan.”

Kayla decided to drive it home. She stared at him with an expression of disbelief and slowly got to her feet as though in a state of shock. After a beat, Kayla acted as though she had only just processed the words being said and dropped to her knees, bowing her head.

“Your Grace, this kindness is far beyond what I deserve. This junior is deeply grateful!”

Wei Guang hastily grabbed Kayla by the arm, pulling her up.

“Don’t say such things! I have no children, but from now on, I will help you as I would my own son. Would you be willing to accept?” Wei Guang asked, his voice taut with emotion.

“Your Grace, I would be eternally grateful to honor you as a teacher and father,” Kayla replied.

Wei Guang looked at her, evidently touched. “From now on, there’s no need to use any titles between us. You can just address me as your godfather when we’re in private.”

Jackpot. Kayla bowed her head.

“Godfather, then this one will be in your care from now on.”

77.5-Extras: Meme Collection

Apologies to my dear readers, we do not have a chapter release today. Work and life have been extremely hectic, so between a bunch of deadlines and a health scare, I’m a little behind with the writing schedule. Here is a collection of memes that I’ve been saving up in lieu of a full chapter, and we will be back on track with the next scheduled update. Captions are above each image.

Kayla and her bad luck:

Kuang, Cao Shuyi, and their son:

[For context, the following meme is a set of photos famous on Chinese social media where a mother is lecturing her child, the father tries to interfere and also gets yelled at.]

Chen Jian carrying Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui back in Chapter 46-Shame and Honor, when they were looking for a witness so Kayla could blackmail the Grand Duke:

Kayla acting as the primary obstacle to Wenyuan and Chujiao’s romance:

The Grand Duke when the Empress Dowager politely nudges him to be less violent towards Wenyuan:

[For context: This is based on a popular meme in China from a period drama about harem intrigue, in which one of the ladies hits her primary rival. When confronted about it, she says “我打你就打你还要选日子吗？/If I hit you, I hit you, do I need to choose a day?”]

Kayla and Qu Boyong:

Hu Qing annoying Kayla on a daily basis:

A continuation of the 40-foot sword meme from last time:

[For context: The forty-foot sword is a meme based on a typo in a news report on a man attacking someone with a 40-cm knife, which was printed as a 40-meter knife, inspiring a bunch of photoshopping challenges.]

Kayla enjoying the fallout from the Grand Duke’s faction crumbling into pieces:

Kayla reacting to the information she found at the Imperial Princess’ villa:

Liu Boyue and Xianchun plotting together in just any random corner of the palace:

Yunqi being the third wheel to Kuang and Cao Shuyi:

Kayla trying to save Wenyuan’s career after transmigrating:

Kayla’s attitude towards Wenyuan vs. towards the Grand Duke:

Investigators Li Que and Tabuyir:

Yunqi scolding Shu Zhengyan after he fucks up:

Wei Guang forcing/convincing the traditionalists (Hu Weizhi’s clique) to support Kayla:

Kuang and Xianchun:

[For context: This is a meme from a Chinese television show set during the Civil War between the Communists and the Kuomingtang. In a fight between two soldiers, the first man’s shirt is torn, revealing a red dudou, an inner shirt similar to a halter-top. It is often worn by children. His opponent laughs at him for wearing a dudou despite being a full-grown man, and the first man states that his wife made it, mocking his opponent for being single, eliciting the famous response: “你有病啊！你找死！/What the fuck is wrong with you?! You must want to die!”

It is also important to note that Kuang is married to Cao Shuyi and the two of them are in a loving relationship and have a son, while Xianchun is still single at this point, since Kayla’s presence forces him to focus on politics so much that he can’t gain a harem.]

78-Moonlit Encounter

Night had fallen upon the capital when An Haoyang was finally released from the Bureau. Thankfully, Qu Boyong’s constant reminders to be careful, careful, and even more careful had paid off, and An Haoyang was cleared of suspicion.

An Haoyang let out a deep sigh. The days he had spent under internal investigation were crucial to the timing of the young lord’s plot. If anything was to go wrong, it would be at this point. He made his way across the rooftops, heading to the rendezvous point. Qu Boyong’s new base of operations was further from the Bureau and went through routes that An Haoyang usually never took.

There was a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye, and An Haoyang instinctively threw a knife in its direction, whirling around with his sword drawn. A masked man blocked the knife with an expensive sword, stumbling a little as he caught his balance.

“Hey, what the hell? I’m not doing anything!” Hu Qing protested, his irritation radiating through his facial coverings. An Haoyang frowned, glancing the stranger over. Not recognizing him and unwilling to dally further, An Haoyang gave a cold dismissal before moving to take his knife back and leave.

To his surprise, the masked man didn’t leave even after running into an Imperial Investigator while committing what was clearly a speed limit violation for rooftop travel but rather moved to block his path.

“What do you want?” An Haoyang demanded.

Hu Qing snorted. “You were the one who threw a knife at me! What the hell do you want?”

“You surprised me, what else did you expect me to do?” An Haoyang asked irritably, side-stepping Hu Qing.

“Alright, fine, but hold on a minute, would you?” Hu Qing protested. An Haoyang ignored him and went to grab the knife. Hu Qing hastily stepped before him.

“Something about you seems a little familiar,” Hu Qing said, insistently blocking An Haoyang’s way.

An Haoyang threw him a stony glare. “We’ve never met, I’m certain of it.”

“Oh, that’s for sure,” Hu Qing agreed. An Haoyang gave him a look of disbelief.

“Then what the hell is your problem?”

Hu Qing smiled. “Something about you reminds me of another person, a rat I’ve been wanting to hunt for a while now. I wonder if it’s just a coincidence?”

“It must be, now leave me alone. I have places to be,” An Haoyang snapped, making to leave. Hu Qing blocked his way yet again, raising a hand to stop him.

“Don’t be like that, won’t you entertain me for just a second now? You’re an off-duty Investigator, aren’t you?” Hu Qing asked.

“If you know that, then you should know better than to be blocking my way like this! You’re lucky I don’t arrest you right here and now!” An Haoyang shoved away Hu Qing’s arm.

The other man laughed, a crisp sound of genuine amusement that made An Haoyang turn back to give him a wary look. Hu Qing met his eyes, smiling uncannily.

“Hey, since you’re an investigator, then do you know who Qu Boyong is?” Hu Qing asked.

An Haoyang’s blood ran cold.

Who the hell is this man?

“I’ve not heard of that name,” An Haoyang said with a frown. Hu Qing tilted his head.

“You haven’t?” Hu Qing chuckled, rankling An Haoyang’s nerves. “But you don’t strike me as a servant of the state, you seem to have a different master.”

“A baseless accusation! You speak to offend, one more word and I’ll arrest you,” An Haoyang grit out.

“You could’ve done so a while ago. The only reason you haven’t is that you’re in a rush to get somewhere, aren’t you?” Hu Qing asked, stepping closer. “To your master, perhaps?”

Just who the fuck is this annoying bastard?!

An Haoyang drew his sword, its sharp sound echoing in the night air as the blade scraped out against the scabbard. “You piece of shit, I’ve had enough of you!”

Hu Qing wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. “Oh no, are you going to fight me? I’m so scared!” He playfully raised his hands in mock surrender.

An Haoyang swung his blade, anger bubbling up unbidden. Hu Qing jumped back, pulling out his own sword with a grin as An Haoyang launched a second attack. Hu Qing barely attacked, completely on the defensive as he blocked and evaded An Haoyang. They crossed several rooftops as Hu Qing continued to be driven back, until he was finally forced to land heavily on a newly-tiled roof, breaking one of its tiles.

The two glanced at the broken tile and then at each other before launching into a high-speed chase. A sound that loud would have been noticed, and their only way of continuing the fight would be to make distance from the disturbance as fast as possible, trying to gain an upper hand against their opponent as they did so.

An Haoyang pursued confidently, never ceasing his attacks even as they dashed across the rooftops. His opponent wasn’t a match for him, and it was only a matter of time before An Haoyang could defeat him.

Hu Qing made a sound of distress as he dodged a blow by a hair’s width, eyes wide with the blank horror of facing an untimely death. But the next second, the look was replaced with a feral grin. Hu Qing’s sword came up, knocking away An Haoyang’s sword and nearly slicing off his arm.

Startled, An Haoyang leaped back. His mask fell, having been knocked loose by Hu Qing’s sword. An Haoyang glared with disbelief at Hu Qing’s smirk.

“You bastard,” An Haoyang hissed. “You were just messing around?!”

This man’s seen my face, there’s no way I can let him leave alive anymore, An Haoyang thought grimly to himself. The problem was whether he would be able to kill his opponent without incurring serious damage himself.

Hu Qing straightened, rolling his shoulders with an air of self-assurance.

“Interesting fighting style, at least I know who your sparring partner is now,” Hu Qing said with a look of unbearable smugness.

“What?”

“That Qu Boyong isn’t as strong as you, but he certainly has better techniques,” Hu Qing said. “Hey, are you guys related or something?”

An Haoyang moved so fast his motions were a blur, his sword slashing at Hu Qing’s neck. The blow never landed, Hu Qing leaped back lightly with a confident grin.

“How much money does it take to buy an Imperial Investigator? Seriously, tell me how much they’re paying you so I can squeeze more out of my master as well,” Hu Qing said with mock curiosity.

“Piece of shit!” An Haoyang succumbed to rage, moving to attack again.

“Seriously, who is it? The Grand Duke? The Third Prince? Fifth Prince? Seventh Prince?” Hu Qing asked, his voice unaffected even as he fled. The two came to a full stop as Hu Qing suddenly whirled back and blocked An Haoyang’s blow with a forceful strike, facing each other across a roof.

“You fool, you don’t know what’s good for you! Daring to attack an Investigator, you must have eaten a bear’s heart or a leopard’s gall!” An Haoyang snarled at him, his heels digging into the rooftop.

Hu Qing tilted his head curiously. “No way…is your master Qu Boyong?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I’ve never heard of that man!” An Haoyang snapped. “I’ve had enough of you, die!”

He knows of the young lord…could he be the one who the young lord met last time? The man from the Liang clan?

If this was Zhao Wenyuan’s personal retainer, then it was even more reason why he couldn’t be allowed to leave alive.

Across the roof, Hu Qing regarded him with amusement.

“No way, it’s actually Qu Boyong? That guy?” Hu Qing asked, barely suppressing his laughter.

An Haoyang bristled at his tone. It was enough confirmation.

Hu Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, just enough to convey his amused disdain.

“Oh, so that’s the lord you’re sworn to?” Hu Qing asked, mockingly entertained. He bit back a chuckle. “Alright. Well, that’s certainly quite a choice.” Hu Qing failed to restrain his second burst of laughter.

An Haoyang bristled in rage.

“You bastard, I’ll seriously kill you!”

“As if you could!” Hu Qing crowed, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The two clashed again with a flurry of blows, their blades flashing with moonlight as they furiously aimed for each other’s vitals. Slowly but surely, Hu Qing was gaining the upper hand. He wasn’t dodging any of the non-vital blows, allowing them to land without flinching to avoid slowing down his attacks.

An Haoyang leaped back from a swing of the sword that nearly lodged into his upper arm, only to immediately take a dagger hilt-deep in the shoulder as Hu Qing pulled out a second weapon seemingly from nowhere.

He let out a grunt of pain, stumbling over his steps. An Haoyang only barely blocked Hu Qing’s stab at his neck. Panic was beginning to set in. Hu Qing had numerous injuries, but they were all minor ones, while An Haoyang was off his balance and had lost momentum. Between the two of them, it was beginning to seem that Hu Qing would be the one to leave on his feet.

It was obvious that Hu Qing knew this as well, but there was no glint of triumph or smugness that An Haoyang could take advantage of, only steely eyes that flashed cold with killing intent.

“Shit!” An Haoyang lost even more ground, and Hu Qing continued to attack without pause. He stumbled again and crashed onto the roof with a heavy thud, several roof tiles crunching beneath him. It was only by instinct and sheer force of will that An Haoyang managed to throw himself into a shoulder roll and dodge Hu Qing’s sword as it swung down on him.

An Haoyang braced himself for another attack, but both of them came to a stop at a familiar sound in the distance that sounded like a bird call. Hu Qing glared down at An Haoyang, knowing that it was over. He wouldn’t have the time needed to completely wear down An Haoyang’s defenses, not without getting caught by the soon-to-be incoming Investigators.

Hu Qing threw his hands up in exasperation before swiftly yanking out the dagger in An Haoyang’s shoulder to tuck back into his own belt, eliciting a pained yelp from his opponent.

“You little-”

“Oh, look, it’s the Bureau’s Night Watch,” Hu Qing said, sarcastically acting surprised as he gestured dramatically into the distance. “Guess they noticed because you’re too fucking loud!”

“As if you’re any better! You were clomping all over the rooftops!” An Haoyang hissed.

“Yeah, whatever man. Fuck you.” Hu Qing’s adrenaline-fueled rage was dissipating already, leaving An Haoyang stewing alone in his anger. They both stepped back, increasing the distance between them while keeping a watchful eye on the horizon for the Bureau, which would inevitably start giving chase if they stuck around any longer. Each activated a talisman to clean up the scene as they moved backward.

An Haoyang grit his teeth, pressing onto the bleeding wound on his shoulder.

Hu Qing kept his sword trained on An Haoyang with none of the usual amusement he held in store for bantering with his opponents.

“If we meet again, I’ll kill you for sure,” Hu Qing said. An Haoyang glared back.

“Bastard, the same goes for you!” An Haoyang snapped. The two watched each other in tense silence for another moment before they simultaneously took off in opposite directions, An Haoyang grabbing his discarded throwing knife as he left.

By the time the Imperial Investigator got to the scene, there was nothing but a few freshly-repaired tiles on the roof.

The night was deep and the building quiet, but Kayla was still in her office. She had been scheduled to meet with the Emperor that noon, only to be told after getting there that the Emperor was no longer available. The head eunuch had been awfully apologetic, and from his slightly harried expression and meaningful glance, Kayla guessed that something had probably gone down in the Inner Palace.

I just hope it wasn’t related to Consort Zhao. Kayla gave a silent prayer of gratitude that she hadn’t transmigrated into a concubine or consort, where she would have been doomed to deal with harem politics even more convoluted and deadly than the court.

Respect to the ladies, but I would not want to be you.

Between heading over to the palace and making her way back, Kayla had taken quite a while in the middle of the workday, so she had no choice but to do overtime.

I’m doing extra hours even more than I did back in my world, Kayla complained to herself as she tried to focus bleary eyes on a scroll she had to stamp and approve. A knock on her door provided a welcome distraction. At this point, only a few stragglers were left, including Chen Caichun.

“Apologies for the disturbance, Minister,” Chen Caichun’s voice called.

“Come on in,” Kayla said. The door swung open, and Caichun stepped through.

“Minister,” she greeted him politely.

“Chamberlain Chen, what’s the matter? You should really head home, it’s too late for a young girl to be walking through the streets alone,” Kayla said.

“Thank you for your concern, Minister. My brother’s getting off his shift soon, so he’s picking me up,” Caichun replied. “There’s a guest hoping to see you.”

Kayla frowned. “What, at this hour?”

Caichun bowed her head slightly. “It is Left Secretariat Sun, it seems he forgot to fill out a few forms before he left and needs your stamp on them.”

Kayla immediately realized it was an excuse.

Sun Ruhui is a careful man, but he’s coming straight to my office? It must be important.

“Understood, please let him in,” Kayla said. Caichun bowed her head and left, returning soon after with Sun Ruhui in tow.

“This one humbly greets the Minister,” Sun Ruhui said politely, bowing his head. Caichun quietly took her leave, closing the door behind her.

“No need for formalities, how can I help you?” Kayla asked as she got up from the desk to slap a variety of privacy talismans everywhere. Most of the talismans were primarily used by young women or bathhouses, having been supplied by Caichun. Sun Ruhui quickly moved to help. Once they were satisfied with the protective measures, Kayla nodded for Sun Ruhui to speak.

“My lord, I fear that I come bearing bad news,” Sun Ruhui said gravely.

Kayla sucked in a deep breath. “Go on.”

“There is currently an ongoing case at the Ministry of Justice involving a pregnant woman by the name of Ji Fangluo, who is petitioning for the wrongful seizure of her father’s property by members of the City Guard,” Sun Ruhui said.

Kayla gave him a curious look. “Is there something strange about it?”

Sun Ruhui nodded somberly. “The strange thing is that Minister Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang are working together on this case, very closely, without any sign of discord. And more importantly, I have been excluded completely from anything regarding this case.”

“The Left Secretariat has clearance for anything in the archives or current dockets,” Kayla said. “Why are they keeping this case from you? Is it related to the Zhao clan?”

Sun Ruhui shook his head. “No. I managed to piece together the basic gist of the case, and none of it seems to be related to the Zhao clan, at least not yet. From what I’ve observed of their countenance while whispering about this case, I would say that both of them are under pressure to investigate thoroughly, but none of them know what they’re going to find.”

“Both of them are under pressure? Could it be the palace?” Kayla asked.

“If it were truly from the palace, they would be fighting openly or secretly even more than usual. How could they allow their faction’s merit to be divided with their opponents?” Sun Ruhui pointed out.

“I trust your observation skills, but what does this mean?” Kayla began pacing the room as she spoke, unable to stay still.

Sun Ruhui bowed his head. “I did some of my own digging, my lord. And Ji Fangluo’s father is Ji Yantao. Do you recognize that name?”

“I’ve never heard of him.”

“Ji Yantao was an accountant for the Xiang clan,” Sun Ruhui replied. Kayla froze mid-step, whirling to face him.

“Qu Boyong,” she hissed. “Damn it! So this was what he was aiming for, everything else was only a smokescreen!”

Kayla had expected some sort of plot to reveal the Grand Duke’s crimes, but hadn’t realized Qu Boyong would go through the Ministry of Justice. It was possible for her to foil a plot, but there was only so much she could do to intervene in an investigation, especially when Sun Ruhui was being locked out of it.

“What do you think we should do? It’s clear he has some sort of hold over both Minister Liang and Right Secretariat Zhang, but surely both of them would have sought their faction’s help?” Kayla asked.

“We suspected Qu Boyong of having help from the Imperial Investigator’s Bureau, did we not? Perhaps his hold is over the princes and not their men.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do?” Kayla asked.

“That is not the case. First, rooting out Qu Boyong’s man in the Imperial Investigation Bureau and publicly tying Ji Fangluo would force the case to be re-evaluated, and the Court of Judicial Review would also have an excuse to step in. Second, the princes may still be convinced if they believe that you would cover for them. However, if it is not that they were threatened but rather promised something, then this will not be possible. The final option is the most important one, and one that I would recommend to you regardless of whether Qu Boyong was present or not,” Sun Ruhui said.

He sighed, steeling himself. “The Xiang clan’s case has forced me to bring it up to you earlier than I originally wished to, but I hope that you can hear me out and know that I mean no offense.”

Kayla looked him over with an evaluating glance, frowning at his words.

“Please go ahead,” Kayla replied after a moment of thoughtful silence.

“You have done what you can with the brush, now it is time to raise the sword,” Sun Ruhui said.

“I can’t kill Qu Boyong,” Kayla protested.

“I didn’t ask you to kill him. Rather, you ought to turn the sword against your true enemy,” Sun Ruhui replied. Kayla felt her stomach twist as she realized what he really meant.

“Are there any other options?” Kayla asked. “I have his cousin as a hostage, will he really ignore that?”

Sun Ruhui bowed his head. “As I mentioned, this is an option I would have recommended regardless of whether Qu Boyong had acted or not. It is the only path that leads to the survival of the Zhao clan.”

“You mean to say I have no way out of this without bloodshed?!” Kayla demanded.

“It is not that you have missed a chance or made a wrong decision, but that this situation could never have been resolved without bloodshed from the start,” Sun Ruhui patiently explained. “The only question is whose blood should paint the path to your future.”

“Say no more,” Kayla said, her voice coming out sharper than she had intended as she cut Sun Ruhui off before he could get to his point. “I understand your meaning very clearly.”

“My lord,” Sun Ruhi began to say, falling silent as Kayla held out a hand to stop him.

“The Grand Duke must die, that is what you wish to say, correct? It is not as though I have not thought of it myself, but you must understand that this is not an easy choice to make,” Kayla said, her voice deceptively calm.

“I understand, my lord,” Sun Ruhui replied. “I know that my words upset you, especially since you were raised under his roof, and bear the greatest risks of this act. To kill one’s family is not a task that should be asked of any man, but what other choice do you have? Do not blame me for my forwardness, as Confucius said, ‘If you love someone, how can you not labor for their sake? If you are loyal to someone, how can you not advise them against mistakes?’ Even if it distresses you, I must still say my part.”

Kayla’s expression softened. Sun Ruhui was one of the few people who was genuinely invested in not screwing her over.

“It is not that I disagree, Left Secretariat. I know you’re saying this for my sake. Thanks to my ineptitude, the situation has progressed to the point where I must choose between morality and the survival of the Zhao clan. At least within this Emperor’s reign, my own survival is already spoken for, but once there is a change on the throne, then the Grand Duke’s crimes can sign my death warrant,” Kayla said. “Truth to be told, I have been turning this issue over in my head for some time.”

“And what do you think, my lord? This is a decision that only you can make–and that only you should make. Something of this level must not be handed off to a subordinate, no matter how tempting it is to do so,” Sun Ruhui cautioned her. “Once you do it once, there will never be an end to it. Even as I myself may stand to benefit from your trust, this is something I must warn you about. If you give someone the right to make a major decision without your input even a single time, they will feel qualified to continue doing so, and resentful if you retract that right. Just as it is between Emperor and subject, so it is for masters and their retainers, more so since you do not have the layers of rites and the mandate of heaven to protect you from the consequences.”

“I know, he must die, and I must be the one to order it,” Kayla sighed. “But it goes against every code of morality to murder one’s kin! I will be condemned for it!”

“To refuse to kill a single man only to take the life of hundreds cannot be said to be a wise decision,” Sun Ruhui warned her. “If he does not die, the entirety of the Zhao clan must. And do you think that those seeking power and profit would not take advantage of the chaos to drag their rivals under by claiming they had connections with the Zhao? Once the bloodhound is unleashed, you cannot quench its lust for death. It will be completely outside of your control by then. You may emerge unscathed, but at what cost? This can be done quietly, just as Hu Qing’s rightful position was taken from him without so much as a ripple. If there is enough benefit to be gained, the court will not say a thing.”

Kayla stilled, pausing her pacing as she looked at Sun Ruhui with an evaluating glance. “So you think I should do it.”

Sun Ruhui nodded. “I believe that is the right decision. A man of your ability should not limit himself to small rules and in doing so fail to accomplish greater achievements for all under heaven. But what is your stance on this?”

Kayla took a deep breath. “It’s the only option I have. Assassination is not the way to go, that’s for sure. It needs to be a way that gives everyone enough face so they’re willing to leave things be. That is, he must die by his own hand.”

Sun Ruhui nodded. “That is what I think as well.”

“The problem is that he will not kill himself, he has no shame. He would rather destroy the entire clan than let himself suffer even the slightest disgrace,” Kayla said in exasperation. “He only lives for himself, he will not die for anyone’s sake.”

Sun Ruhui shook his head with a wry smile. “How many concubines willingly follow their husbands in death? How many consorts drink poison of their own volition after angering the Emperor? So long as you have enough control over the circumstances, then it is suicide.”

Kayla raised her eyebrows, giving Sun Ruhui an impressed look. “Sun Ruhui, I’m glad you’re on my side.”

Sun Ruhui bowed his head with perfect propriety.

“When should I act and how should I do it?” Kayla asked. “I cannot involve any outsiders in this, there are only so many resources available to me, and so much available to the Grand Duke.”

“The chance will come, my lord,” Sun Ruhui assured her. “In the meantime, you must turn the rest of the clan against him and the others who bear guilt.”

Kayla silently accepted her fate and sat down, gesturing for Sun Ruhui to sit next to her.

“Alright then. Tell me more.”

79-Act of Mercy

Kayla’s secretive conversation with Sun Ruhui lasted almost an hour longer. Chen Caichun left in the meantime with her brother. From Kayla’s office window, the two of them watched with amusement as Chen Jian effortlessly crossed the rooftops with Caichun comfortably sitting on his shoulders before turning back to their morbid topic. They eventually decided to cut the discussion short so that both of them could get at least a little sleep before morning, Kayla feeling both greatly assured and deeply unsettled as she walked away from it.

Guess I've finally gotten to this point, Kayla lamented to herself. She was almost glad that Wenyuan was electing to completely ignore her, afraid of how he would react otherwise.

Sun Ruhui took his leave after seeing Kayla onto the carriage, his etiquette impeccable as always. By the time she arrived at the Zhao household, Kayla was already half-asleep.

She groggily entered her room, which was completely dark by now. Kayla sighed and lit the lamp, jumping in surprise as Hu Qing waved at her.

“What the fuck?!” Kayla yelped. She glared at him as Hu Qing laughed jovially from where he was sprawled on a couch.

Hu Qing threw his head back, shaking with laughter. “The look on your face!”

“You little shit,” Kayla said with annoyance. “Are you that bored?! Do you want more work?”

She moved closer, stilling at the sight of his ripped clothes.

“What the fuck happened?” Kayla demanded. Hu Qing smiled cheerfully, removing his feet from the cushions.

“I ran into an Imperial Investigator and fought him,” he said innocently. “I would’ve won, but the Night Watch started noticing.”

Kayla frowned, leaning closer to check his condition. “Why didn’t you go to a healer?!”

“I’m a healer,” Hu Qing said, sounding affronted. “Kind of. Even if I’m not that good, it’s more than enough! Look, the wounds are all healed up!”

“You call that healed?! What kind of–” Kayla threw her hands up in exasperation. “Here, use these!” Kayla reached into her sleeve and pulled out a stack of several dozen healing talismans. Hu Qing obediently used them as Kayla watched with her arms crossed.

“Any other injuries? Twisted tendons? Broken bones? Dislocated joints?” Kayla asked. Hu Qing shook his head.

"Tell me about the Imperial Investigator, do I need to be sending out any messages to clean up?" Kayla asked him.

“Nothing you need to worry about, my lord. He wasn’t that good, I only got injured because I wanted to kill him in as short a time as possible,” Hu Qing explained. “I fought with him a bit, so I could tell, that was Qu Boyong’s man in the Bureau.”

Kayla drew in a sharp breath. “Are you sure?”

“They have a similar air to them, and both of them use standard fighting styles, but everyone has small tics and variations. Two people who have trained together over several years would have similar habits. He and Qu Boyong differ a bit in how they use their strength, but the way they throw their knife and the way they resheathe their sword, it’s almost a mirror image,” Hu Qing explained. “I didn’t catch his name, but I did see his face. I also stabbed him in the shoulder, but that's less important.”

Kayla gave him an impressed nod. “As expected of you, did you rile him up into a temper? No, don’t answer that, of course you did.”

Hu Qing grinned broadly in response. “I drew his face, do you want to take a look?”

Kayla didn’t expect much but nodded anyways. She nearly did a double-take at the incredibly realistic drawing Hu Qing proceeded to pull out.

“Were you trained in art?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing nodded. “A good subordinate should be able to capture unfamiliar faces that his employer might recognize,” he explained. Kayla carefully peered at the drawing. It was familiar, but she couldn’t immediately place her finger on it. Suddenly, it clicked into place.

“I know this man, he worked with me during the re-investigation of Governor Yue’s case!” Kayla exclaimed. “I remember him quite clearly because he questioned why I arrested the people I did, shit, what was his name again?”

Hu Qing leaned forward, looking intrigued. Kayla closed her eyes, trying to recall it.

“Something…something related to the Chu region, I remember thinking that it was quite coincidental that there were so many Chu-related names around me,” Kayla muttered.

“Of course they’d choose something Chu-related,” Hu Qing scoffed.

“Something from the Chu Poems,” Kayla continued.

Hu Qing rolled his eyes. “Of course. Are they even trying to be creative?”

“I’ll ask Li Que for a roster,” Kayla concluded. “I’m sure I’ll remember once I see his name.”

She turned her attention back to Hu Qing. “Great work, now go and get some rest. Make sure to disinfect properly and eat some blood-replenishing foods.”

Hu Qing nodded obediently, getting up from the couch. He took a step towards the door before exaggeratedly acting as though he remembered something important. Kayla watched his antics warily, not sure what he was up to now.

“Oh, wait! I nearly forgot, I brought someone for you,” Hu Qing said with a sweet smile.

Kayla leveled him with a look of disbelief. “You what?! We’ve talked about this!”

Hu Qing gave her an innocent look. Kayla groaned, shaking her head in exasperation.

“Where?” Kayla demanded. Hu Qing circled around her to Kayla’s desk, reaching underneath to drag out a bound and gagged man in servant’s robes. There was a talisman on the man’s robes that Kayla recognized as having an effect of temporarily inducing a state of blindness and deafness. Hu Qing carelessly plucked it off.

Kayla stared at the terrified man, then Hu Qing, then back at the man again.

“You’ve trussed him like a pig!” Kayla said in outrage. Hu Qing shrugged, unsheathing his sword and cutting the bounds open before yanking off the gag.

“Caught this little rat snooping around outside your quarters on my way back,” Hu Qing said disdainfully, dropping the man before Kayla like a sack. “One of the little…inconveniences who joined the household recently.”

The man paled even further, trembling as he tried to stand on wobbly legs, only to be shoved onto his knees again by Hu Qing.

Kayla frowned, looking the man over. He was of average weight and height, with an unremarkable appearance. Kayla glanced at Hu Qing, who shrugged.

“He’s not very well-trained,” Hu Qing said.

Something clicked in Kayla’s head. “Who sent you?” Kayla asked.

The man shrunk in on himself. “I-I don’t…know what you’re talking about.” He stumbled over the weak excuse.

Kayla sighed. “Do you know who I am?”

He nodded, shrinking even smaller.

“Then do you know what situation you’re in?” Kayla asked him.

The man looked veritably miserable as he nodded reluctantly.

“It is in your best interests to tell me what I want to know, at least that way you’ll be treated leniently. If you insist on holding your tongue, then there’s no reason for me to be merciful either,” Kayla warned him. “Even if I were to beat you to death right here and now, who would say anything of it? Do the smart thing, what need have you to die a dog’s death?”

The man cowered, before finally opening his mouth. “M-my lord, please have mercy, but I really don’t know!”

Kayla leaned forward, watching him with an unreadable look. “What do you mean?”

“I-I was out of money, and a masked man offered me a large amount of money if I could spy on you for him, but I don’t know who he was! Please believe me, I know it sounds ridiculous, but that’s the truth!” The man pleaded.

Kayla maintained her neutral expression. “Where did you meet him?”

The man lowered his head. “Outside the market. I had no money, the business I invested my savings in went completely bankrupt while going through the desert on their way back from the Western Regions, and even my stall was forced to close because I couldn't make the fees. He called to me from an alleyway and I went over.”

“You went over to a masked man in an alleyway? Alone?” Kayla asked.

The man flushed slightly. “When a man is down on luck, he’d try anything that gives him hope. I just thought that I might as well take my chances, even if it were a robber, there wouldn’t be anything for them to take from me.”

Kayla nodded. “How tall was he? Was he fat? Skinny?”

“I couldn't tell. H-he was…he was sitting,” the man said, flushing even further as the story grew more ridiculous. “Behind a curtain.”

“A curtain in an alleyway?” Hu Qing jumped in, an eyebrow raised.

The man’s face was now bright red. “I-I swear it’s the truth!”

“What did his voice sound like then?” Hu Qing asked. The man hesitated.

“It was smooth, and…mysterious sounding. Youngish, I think,” he said. Hu Qing carefully swept his eyes over the man’s face, observing every twitch of the muscle.

“My lord,” the man pleaded. “Please have mercy! That really is the truth, I was wrong for accepting and doing such a thing, but I didn’t mean any harm, I was just desperate!”

So he’s the canary in the mine.

Kayla evaluated him for a moment. “I believe you.”

The man jolted in surprise, evidently not expecting his frankly ridiculous story to be accepted so easily. Kayla exchanged a small glance with Hu Qing before turning her gaze back to the man kneeling before her.

“Did you know there were other spies like you in this household?” Kayla asked.

The man froze, his brows creasing in confusion. “What?”

Kayla nodded. “Spies. Highly trained ones. People who wouldn’t be nabbed snooping around so blatantly. Tell me, Mister–what was your name again?”

“Feng Yi,” the man replied.

“Tell me, Feng Yi, do you realize that you’re just bait?” Kayla asked him. “You were never expected to leave this place alive, you were literally meant to be caught.”

“What? I don’t understand!” Feng Yi protested.

Kayla heaved a sigh. “Let’s say it like this. I’m suspicious there are spies. The Grand Duke is suspicious there are spies. We both think there’s someone afoot but we don’t know who it is and we can’t relax until we’ve caught them. And then there you are, snooping around so obviously. If we catch you and hear that story, we think you're just good at holding your tongue. This convinces us that you're the spy we're looking for, we kill you, we feel reassured that we’ve found the rat and let down our guards, and the other spies know to either stop their activities or to be more discreet. You’re just an alarm bell for them.”

Feng Yi looked at her with wide eyes, a wronged expression on his face. “But why would they do that to me?! I never offended anyone! I mean, I’ve angered a few people in my youth, but-but not so much that–If I had known, I wouldn’t have accepted!”

“Of course you wouldn’t have. They wouldn’t choose someone who could tell what situation they were in to begin with,” Kayla explained patiently. She leaned back, letting out another sigh.

“Forget it, you were just taken advantage of. How much money were you promised?” Kayla asked.

The man lowered his head. “100 bronze.”

Kayla reached into her robes, pulling out one of the pouches of money she kept in store and tossing it to him. Feng Yi caught it in shaky hands, nearly dropping it before steadying his grip.

“There’s 300 bronze and 10 silver in that, take it and go. Live honestly from now on. You’re not suited for illicit activities in the slightest, it’ll only be the death of you,” Kayla said.

Feng Yi glanced between the money and Kayla in disbelief. “My lord, you mean it?!”

“Are you sure?” Hu Qing demanded.

Kayla nodded. “Let him leave. He doesn’t know anything, and he was just sent here to die. Why help out his master?”

Her mind flashed to the night with the assassin under the moonlight, the golden plaque vibrating with magic, and the belated arrival of the Imperial Guard, a leaden weight growing inside her chest.

“Thank you so much! Thank you!” Feng Yi stumbled to his feet, bowing his head repeatedly as he scurried out, Hu Qing watching him disdainfully.

Kayla took a deep breath to relieve the heaviness nestling around her lungs. There was the sound of footsteps, and Feng Yi re-entered the room to the incredulous looks of Kayla and Hu Qing. Feng Yi hesitated at the doorstep for a moment before stepping through and crossing the distance to stop before Kayla.

Wordlessly, Feng Yi met Kayla’s eyes with a look she couldn’t make sense of, before kneeling and bowing his head to the floor. He got to his feet and bowed again, before leaving the room for good. Kayla and Hu Qing both watched him leave, shocked into silence.

“What was that?” Kayla asked after a moment of staring at the empty doorway.

Hu Qing smiled. “Don’t worry about it, it’s of no harm to you. By the way, do you actually want him to live?”

“Yes,” Kayla replied.

“Then I must take my leave,” Hu Qing said smoothly. “There was a talisman on his body that activated once he was caught, it burned itself away before I could take a better look. Even if he leaves this place, someone will be waiting to kill him.”

Kayla reared back. “That is a meticulous person behind this.”

“Indeed, brings to mind some people I’ve worked with before,” Hu Qing chuckled.

“Liu Boyue,” Kayla muttered.

“Most likely. I’ll go and keep that poor little fool alive now, shall I?” Hu Qing said.

“Go ahead,” Kayla waved him off.

Feng Yi shuffled down the street dejectedly in his threadbare outer robes. The pouch of money over his chest seemed to be both scorching hot and ice cold at the same time. He felt incredibly foolish and ashamed, like a scolded child who knew he was in the wrong but couldn't help feeling aggrieved regardless.

He was dragged out of his thoughts by a soft swooshing overhead. Feng Yi squinted, his night vision failing him as it always did.

“A bird?” Feng Yi muttered uncertainly. He made to continue, freezing as something dropped lightly to the ground behind him with barely a thud. Almost afraid to see what it was, Feng Yi whirled around.

“Who is it?!” Feng Yi cried in alarm. An unfamiliar figure dressed in all black loomed over him, face covered. The man didn’t reply, but Feng Yi immediately realized who it was.

“It’s you! You bastard, you threw me in there as bait! I could’ve died!” Feng Yi accused him.

“If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for having been a fool,” the masked man replied, in the same smooth and mysterious voice that had lured Feng Yi into the Zhao household. “Should it be of any comfort, know that you’re dying for a greater cause.”

He drew his sword, the blade making a soft whooshing noise as it emerged in a flash of silver, catching the refractions of moonlight amid the shadows.

Feng Yi paled, backing away. “Wait, hold on! Don’t kill me! I-I don’t even know who you are, it’s not like I could give you away, there’s no reason for you to do this!” He begged, holding out his hands as though they could fend off the cold steel of the stranger’s sword.

The masked man ignored his plead, moving so quickly Feng Yi could barely react. The sword plunged straight into his chest, making a strange clanging noise instead of plunging into soft flesh. Feng Yi gave a squeak, torn between pain and shock. There was a clear ringing sound as a bronze coin hit the ground, followed by a rain of coins that clattered across the street as they rolled in every direction.

The masked man stared at Feng Yi with genuine surprise, drawing back his sword only to see that there was indeed no blood on it. Feng Yi stared at him with wide eyes, just as shocked. From the tear in his rough cotton robes, a strip of high-quality brocade was visible.

“A money pouch?” The masked man said in disbelief. He quickly shook off his surprise, preparing to strike a second time as Feng Yi scurried backward.

“If he’s survived the first time, then it means he wasn’t meant to die tonight. Why not go along with the will of the heavens?” A voice called from the rooftop. Feng Yi whirled around at the familiar voice, relief blooming on his face.

Hu Qing jumped off the roof, landing between Feng Yi and the masked man. He raised an eyebrow, an amused smile on his face.

“Breaking into your savings to cancel out a disaster, isn’t this quite fitting?” Hu Qing asked, waving a hand at the masked man. “You can have the money if you want, but leave the man.”

He and the masked man stared each other out for a moment. The masked man finally gave a curt nod before jumping back onto the rooftop and disappearing into the night.

“Ah, really, he even came in person,” Hu Qing muttered. “He's such a paranoid bastard.”

Feng Yi finally came to his senses, bursting into tears of relief from the near-death experience.

“Thank you so much!” Feng Yi blubbered.

Hu Qing looked at him, thoroughly amused. “Thank the gods of fortune instead, who would’ve thought you could’ve survived that?”

Feng Yi stopped crying at that, still shaking as the shock wore off. “Ah, the coins!” He quickly bent down and started picking them up.

Hu Qing threw his head back, roaring with laughter. Feng Yi gave him an affronted glare, tearfully gathering up the scattered coins in between sniffles.

“Stop laughing!” Feng Yi protested in an aggrieved voice.

Hu Qing wiped at his eyes, giving Feng Yi a friendly smile. “I mean no harm, but who would’ve thought that this pouch of money would save your life?”

Feng Yi lowered his head, his movements slowing to a stop. “Indeed, who would’ve thought?” He looked down at the shining coins in his hand, letting out a deep sigh. “It seems I owe the Minister a life twice over, one for sparing me and one for saving me.”

Hu Qing regarded him with great interest. "You snuck in as a spy for a hundred bronze coins, but now you regard the Minister with gratitude. Who would’ve thought that you were a man of such loyalty?”

Feng Yi let out a sharp sigh. “What man with a better option would choose to do such a dishonest thing? I should’ve been beaten for it at the very least if not outright killed, but not only was I unharmed, I was given the money I needed. It makes me feel all the more ashamed.”

Hu Qing watched Feng Yi’s miserable expression for a moment before stepping over to pick up the last few coins, dropping them in Feng Yi’s hand.

“If you can feel that way, then the Minister was not kind to you for nothing. You won’t be bothered anymore, so don't get involved in shady things like this again,” Hu Qing advised him.

Feng Yi nodded. He got to his feet, thanking Hu Qing twice more for good measure before walking off into the night. Hu Qing turned away, ready to head back to Wenyuan’s rooms when Feng Yi scurried back into sight.

“Mister Guard!” Feng Yi called. Hu Qing gave him a curious look.

“What is it now?” Hu Qing asked. “Is there an ambush or something?”

Feng Yi shook his head. “That’s not it, please pass on a message to the Minister for me. If there’s ever anything this one can do to be of use to him, I will see it through no matter what!”

Hu Qing laughed, shaking his head. “Stop trying to throw yourself into danger, you fool! Go home!”

Feng Yi gave him an affronted look. “I’m serious!”

“Sure,” Hu Qing called over his shoulder as he jumped onto the roof.

“Pass it on for me!” Feng Yi insisted.

“Alright,” Hu Qing agreed. Feng Yi bowed his head in thanks and left a second time. Hu Qing chuckled softly before heading back.

80-Imperial Bestowment

CONTENT WARNING: Suicidal ideation, mentions of depression.

After Hu Qing left to go after Feng Yi, Kayla was left alone with her thoughts. The look on the man's face when he realized he was only an alarm bell had reminded Kayla of herself. She sighed, absently pulling out the new golden plaque she had been issued after her near brush with death last time. The dented one was still in her desk, a constant reminder of how callously she had been played by the palace.

It must have been worse for Wenyuan, Kayla lamented. At least I don’t have any familial attachments to them.

Kayla jolted, shock jarring through her bones as Wenyuan responded, breaking his lengthy silence.

I’m glad you understand, Wenyuan said, sounding incredibly weary.

Wenyuan! Kayla fumbled for what to say first, a little at a loss.

By the way, thank you for saying those things to Wei Guang, Wenyuan said with a small hint of happiness. I’m glad you got some use out of it as well.

I–yeah, that’s fair, but I really did mean those words, Kayla protested.

I know. You just have a way of making the most of what you have, Wenyuan replied.

I’ve had lots of practice since even before I came here.

Kayla didn’t know what to think about Wenyuan’s pensive tone, but she was just glad he was willing to speak at all.

I’m really sorry for the whole situation with Chujiao, Kayla repeated her apology one more time for good measure.

It can’t be helped, Wenyuan replied. It seemed as though it were an expression of reconciliation, but there was something off about it that rankled Kayla’s instincts.

Wenyuan, if there’s anything else bothering you, you only need to say the word, Kayla prodded.

There was a long stretch of silence, and Kayla disappointedly accepted that Wenyuan wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation. She sighed, leaning back into the couch.

I don’t want to do this anymore. Wenyuan’s words startled Kayla into sitting up straight.

What? Kayla asked in alarm. What are you talking about? We can’t exactly extract ourselves from this situation without playing the long game.

Not the situation at court. I mean that I don’t want to exist anymore.

Kayla’s mind went numb.

What–

My mother’s magic should’ve merged our souls a long time ago, it was your nullification magic that’s kept it from happening. You did it subconsciously from what I know.

Wenyuan, what the hell are you talking about?!

I knew it all along, I just didn’t say anything because I still wanted to maintain my self-awareness. But now…I don’t want to continue anymore.

Kayla frowned, her mind spinning as she took in the ramifications of those words. Between Wenyuan's suicidal tendencies and her subconscious use of magic, Kayla felt as though she had been hit in the face. Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus back onto the main point at hand.

What are you saying?! How can you think that?! We’re doing better now, aren’t we?!

Kayla shot to her feet, nearly upending the chair. Panic was beginning to set in as she realized Wenyuan wasn’t joking.

You want to kill my grandfather.

I–I’m not going to actually murder him or anything! I just– Kayla stopped, realizing what she was planning to do wasn’t any better. We don’t have any other choice! And it’s not like he’s actually your grandfather, not to mention that he’s always treated you like shit!

For you, it’s a reasonable choice. For me, it’s parricide. I can’t do it, and I can’t condone it! Do you really want to force me into a position of being unfilial and disloyal?

Wenyuan, we can discuss this, Kayla pleaded. If you're really against it, I can try to find another option.

It’s not just that. I’m tired. I thought that even though I was useless, there were still some people who genuinely cared about me, people I could actually trust. But grandmother’s more than happy to toss me at the enemy like a scrap of bait, uncle has always looked the other way, and now Chujiao…Chujiao’s family and mine are generational enemies. There’s nothing left for me. I don’t even have any control over what happens.

Kayla pushed herself away from the couch, slowly pacing through the room. Belatedly, she realized that her hands were shaking.

I can’t deny any of that, but we’ve found other allies. Look how well Matron Li treats you! And-and there’s Caichun, Sun Ruhui, and Hu Qing, it’s not like we’re completely isolated without help, Kayla argued.

Those are your allies. Not mine. I never could’ve gotten them to help me, they only would have looked down on me or pitied me. You’re the one who they’re willing to support.

That’s not true, Kayla protested. It was, which really didn’t help her case.

Kayla, I’m scared. I don’t want to die again.

“That’s not happening!” Kayla snapped. She breathed out in an angry huff, hastily silencing her voice.

That’s not happening, haven’t I been working all this time to get us out of that mess?!

Wenyuan was silent.

You–you would rather stop existing than stick around?! You have me here to fix things, don’t you?!

Kayla’s speed increased as she indignantly went back and forth across the room.

I’m of no more help to you. All you have to do is remove the block you’ve placed on the spell, and it will proceed as it’s supposed to.

So you won’t be convinced?! Kayla whirled around, frantic and without a channel for her frustration.

It’s not easy for me to come to a decision like this, Wenyuan said heavily.

I’m not doing it. Kayla’s jaw was clenched so tightly she could hear her teeth grinding against one another.

It’s not up to you!

Enough already! You don’t even know what you’re asking of me!

You don’t have the right to refuse my choice, Wenyuan replied. Unless you’re willing to grant my wish, there’s no need for further words between us.

Wenyuan!

There was nothing but silence, leaving Kayla startlingly alone. She gave an angry snarl, grabbing a cushion from the sofa and hurling it at the wall.

“Fuck!” Kayla shouted.

The cushion hit the wall just as the window opened to Hu Qing’s confused expression.

“Are you alright?” Hu Qing demanded. Kayla paced back and forth, running a hand over her face as she tried to calm herself.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “Just having a moment. Don’t mind me, go and get some rest.”

Hu Qing didn’t move. “Are you sure? You don’t look so well.”

Kayla finally managed to get a grip, stilling as the panicked rage faded away.

“I’m fine,” she repeated. “Thank you. I think we just both need some rest.”

Hu Qing nodded uncertainly. “Alright then, if you’re sure. Feng Yi’s safe now, Liu Boyue came after him but left once he saw me.”

Kayla gave him a grateful smile. “Good to know. I’ll think of how to make use of this, thank you”

Hu Qing decided to back down instead of continuing to push. He nodded and took his leave.

Exhausted now that the mess of emotions had washed over her like a riptide, Kayla dropped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Wenyuan, Kayla tried calling to him, but there was no response.

Feeling even more alone than she did before, Kayla sighed, resigning herself to a sleepless night.

After whatever harem fiasco had caused the Emperor to miss his meeting with Kayla the day before, the time was moved to the morning of the following day.

Kayla could feel the weariness in her bones after the high stress levels of last night, and dealing with an impending marriage with a kid who was barely the age of a college freshman was the last thing she wanted.

She got onto the carriage sent by the Imperial Palace, Hu Qing joining her with a carefree wave at the stoic Imperial Guards. She leaned back in her seat as the carriage set off, letting out a tired sigh.

“Your face is rather pale, my lord. Are you alright?” Hu Qing asked, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

Kayla sighed, rubbing at her temples. “I’m fine.”

Hu Qing creased his brow, not convinced in the slightest.

“My lord, is this about Qu Boyong?”

“I fucking wish it was about Qu Boyong, at least I’d know how to deal with it,” Kayla bit back. She paused, catching sight of Hu Qing’s raised eyebrows. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“Not at all, I don’t mind. But is there anything at all that I should be preparing for or worrying about?” Hu Qing asked. He paused. “Or do you need a doctor?”

“No, I’m fine. The Grand Duke doesn’t want to look at me, much less bother to raise a hand against me,” Kayla replied. She let out a deep sigh. “It’s…nothing you need to worry about. I’m just a little out of it, some private matters from the past.”

“Alright, but it is the Emperor you’re meeting with. Try to move your thoughts away from those things and gather yourself,” Hu Qing pointed out. He frowned, reaching over to smooth out a fold in Kayla’s outermost robe. “Did you dress yourself?”

“Why, are my robes a mess?” Kayla asked, glancing down.

Hu Qing shook his head. “Your robes are fine. But you should really get some servants of your own, or they won’t have any seniority in the household once you're married. The palace will definitely supply a whole bunch, and so will the Grand Duke, you’ll be at a huge disadvantage without your own people.”

Shit, I didn’t even think of that.

“Good thinking,” Kayla said. “But they won’t last in the Zhao household.”

“No one said they have to stay there. Don’t you have any other properties? If not, just give me some money and I’ll rent a small place and keep them there. The title of seniority is what matters, not if they’ve actually served you. It’s about time we started preparing,” Hu Qing warned.

“Indeed,” Kayla muttered, shaking her head. “Speaking of, have you found Xianchun’s rats?”

Hu Qing nodded. “They’re pretty careful, good at covering their tracks to boot. But you can find them if you know what to look for. I actually realized who they were because they were cleaning up their act after Feng Yi was caught last night. Shall I just uncover some of their tracks to expose them?”

“Yes, but make sure to time it right. If we mess up and they get killed before I can swoop in and snatch them away, then the Seventh Prince will be furious,” Kayla said, letting out a sigh.

“Easy enough. I’ll take care of it, make it nice and dramatic,” Hu Qing replied gleefully.

Kayla wryly shook her head, but couldn’t withhold a small smile at that.

“Do what you want.”

The carriage pulled to a stop outside the Inner Palace. Kayla got off, heading in while Hu Qing waited outside.

“Wenyuan humbly greets His Majesty the Emperor,” Kayla bowed as she entered the Emperor’s study.

“Wenyuan, come on in! No need to be so formal, sit down and let’s talk. You’ve been busy recently, haven’t you? Look at you, you’ve lost weight,” the Emperor said with a fond smile.

“Not at all, uncle. Thank you for your concern,” Kayla replied politely.

The Emperor waved off her thanks. “Wenyuan, you know of your upcoming marriage to the princess of the Eastern Turkic Khagante, don’t you? It’s time we cemented the plans.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “Wenyuan will follow uncle’s arrangements.”

The Emperor chuckled, eyes squinting as he smiled broadly. “The princess is rumored to be rather pretty, and comes with a dowry of quite a few horses. Of course, the bridal gifts have been covered by the Treasury, since this is a matter of state.”

Kayla nodded along politely as the Emperor continued to animatedly describe the plans.

He came to a pause, letting out a soft sigh. “Despite its political significance, this feels more like I’m arranging a marriage for one of my sons.”

Kayla’s heart jumped a beat in surprise. “I am deeply grateful for Uncle’s kindness!”

The Emperor beamed at her. “But of course! They say a maternal uncle and his nephew are like father and son.”

She bowed her head slightly. “Indeed, Uncle has always treated me with infinite benevolence beyond what I can possibly repay.”

The Emperor chuckled, shaking his head. “What’s this talk of repayment between family? There’s no need for all that! Wenyuan, you’re about to become the man of your household, you’ll be the pillar of your family as a husband and a father, but know that you can always turn to your uncle here. The palace will also provide the residence, there’s no need for you to worry about any of the details. Well, how are you feeling? Excited to have a wife?”

Kayla bashfully avoided his curious look. “I…I’m hoping that I will be able to fulfill my role as a husband properly,” she replied. “After all, I’ve never been married before.”

The Emperor threw his head back and laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls.

“As expected of you! Don’t worry, you’ll do just fine. What girl wouldn’t be lucky to have my nephew as a husband? Tell me the truth, are you worried the Turkic princess will be too wild for you?” The Emperor asked teasingly.

Kayla let out a sigh. “Uncle, please don’t mock me! I’m nervous enough as it is!”

The Emperor devolved into another bout of laughter.

“What have you to be nervous about? Your mother wasn’t half this nervous before her wedding, much less during her engagement!”

Kayla shook her head dejectedly. “I’m afraid that my courage does not measure up to my mother’s in this regard.”

“It’s because she’s a princess, isn’t it? Don’t worry about it too much, with your personality, you’re sure to be capable of dealing with her. Remember, before she is your wife, she is a political representative of the Khaganate. Even if you’re inexperienced as a husband, are you not experienced as a politician?” The Emperor asked.

“Thank you for your reassurance, Uncle,” Kayla replied. It did, in fact, help to think of the princess as a political actor rather than a marriage partner. Power over family, calculations over trust, it was a familiar dynamic that she knew how to navigate, just packaged a little differently.

“But I suppose your sentiments are understandable. She is a princess, after all, it won’t do for you to be at a disadvantage in the marriage,” the Emperor said.

“I will do my best to establish a proper relationship,” Kayla promised.

The Emperor shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. You have the blood of the Imperial family, how can I let her look down on you? This is not just a matter of husband and wife, but also a matter of the state. Do you understand?”

Kayla lowered her head. “May I humbly ask for Uncle’s advice?”

“As you are, there’s nothing for her to turn her nose up at. Whether it’s personality, looks, or talent, you’re the cream of the crop. In terms of bloodline, you’re not at a disadvantage either. But you have no title of your own, and your relationship with the Imperial family is on your mother’s side,” the Emperor said. “I plan to remedy that.”

Kayla glanced up at him in confusion.

“I plan to bestow upon you the surname of Zhou,” the Emperor announced.

Oh shit.

Kayla stared at him with wide eyes before hastily collecting herself and bowing her head.

“How dare I accept such an honor of which I am undeserving? My virtue is insufficient to receive such a blessing!”

He’s really going for the kill. The Zhao clan’s done for! And what the fuck happens to me if I get that fucking surname?! Not a single one of the princes will be happy with it, the balance I’ve worked so hard to create will be destroyed right away, and I’ll become the target of all of their wrath!

“Don’t be so humble, Wenyuan. I would not bestow this upon you if I thought you ill-suited. Your grandmother also agrees with me on this,” the Emperor said encouragingly, oblivious to the growing panic in Kayla’s chest.

“Uncle, I am truly grateful beyond what words can describe! Even if I serve as your cattle or horse for several lifetimes, it would still be insufficient to repay the kindness and generosity I have received. But an Imperial bestowment is not a matter of small consequence, it also has ramifications for the political affairs of the state. If I accept it due to the personal benefit it will bring without considering the larger consequences it would have for the Wu Dynasty, that would be too ungrateful!” Kayla hastily protested in a quavering voice.

The Emperor frowned, the joviality fading from his face. “Why, Wenyuan, I would’ve thought you to be pleased at the news! What need have you of these needless concerns? You would refuse this?”

Kayla hesitated. Shit, should I just accept? Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky and this really is the way out.

She immediately dismissed that possibility. Not with my luck, that’s for sure. It’s impossible. But can I even refuse him? What the Emperor does not give you, you can’t desire, but what he gives you, you can’t refuse. If I piss him off, the Emperor’s intentions could still become known to the court, and then I’ll have insulted everyone. But accepting it signs the Zhao clan’s death warrant, and it could be the end of me as well, if they really see me as a serious threat to their chances for the throne, even Kuang’s magnanimity will have its limits!

Kayla wanted to bash her head against the stone floor.

“Uncle and grandmother have shown me immense care and kindness throughout my life. After my mother’s passing, you were the ones who offered me comfort and shared in my grief, the depths of my gratitude and respect are like the ocean itself. My only wish is to serve you as your nephew and subject until the very end of my life,” Kayla said.

The Emperor’s eyes softened, and Kayla pushed on. “Even if I never received any titles or compensation, I would be grateful that you have allowed me to remain at your side. Uncle, my mother always told me that as a descendant of the Imperial family, I must always think for the good of the Emperor and the dynasty before my own needs. Grandmother and uncle are willing to bestow such an immense honor upon me due to their affection, but I have yet to achieve any accomplishments to make me worthy of such a thing. If I accept, those who have received a bestowment due to their merits will be dissatisfied and question uncle’s judgment.”

Kayla paused, hastily grasping for a way out.

Right, there’s my new godfather. If I drag him into this, the Emperor won’t be offended, and that’ll buy me more time as well!

“As the ancient greats said, if the name is not proper, it will be difficult to justify. If the explanation does not make sense, then the matter will not proceed smoothly. Though I do not dare to reject Uncle’s generosity, may I humbly suggest that this matter is further deliberated?” Kayla said. “The scholars of the Hanlin Academy may be able to find a way to justify the bestowment in a way that satisfies the court and allows Uncle’s benevolence to be properly understood.”

The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. “A good idea, Imperial Edict Bearer Wei should also be consulted on this matter.” His gaze flicked back to Kayla, glinting with approval. “Wenyuan, I’m deeply reassured to see how much you’ve matured. To think that the child who used to tug at my sleeves is now such a steadfast and thoughtful young man! Your mother’s soul in the heavens would certainly be comforted by your growth.”

Kayla bowed her head. “Any progress I’ve made is thanks to grandmother and uncle’s education by example and your careful guidance!”

Thank god, that buys me some time.

It was clear now that the Grand Duke had to go, permanently. There was no longer room for hesitation, not with Kayla’s dwindling options.

“Wenyuan, I admit that it is not just for the sake of your marriage that I wish to bestow the surname of Zhou upon you,” the Emperor continued. At Kayla’s curious look, he gave a small smile. “I want you to keep my sons alive.”

Kayla’s heart stuttered, skipping a beat. What?

“It is my duty as a subject to serve and defend the Imperial Family,” Kayla replied.

The Emperor shook his head. “Not like that. I mean to keep them from killing each other.”

Kayla felt the world slow down around her. “Uncle,” she began uncertainly, not knowing what to ask.

“Each one of my sons is brilliant, prideful, and more ruthless than you might know,” the Emperor said heavily.

Oh trust me, I know. If anything, I’m surprised that you’re aware. You certainly didn’t seem to be in the original timeline.

“I fear that neither Kuang nor Xianchun will truly accept the other’s victory, and that it will end in fraticide,” the Emperor continued. “You have a kind and loyal heart, and the ability to navigate the murky waters of the court, it is my hope that you will serve for my sons what Wei Guang served for me and my brothers.”

With a burst of realization, Kayla understood exactly why the Empress Dowager despised Wei Guang now. He had been the moderator of the previous round, and now she was getting pushed into the same role.

If you do well, you gain long-lasting respect and power. If you fail, you die. Kayla wanted to protest that Xianchun was much more bloodthirsty than anyone in the Emperor’s generation, but stopped herself before blurting it out.

“This one does not dare compare his abilities to the Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla said, neither accepting or refusing.

“Indeed, Wei Guang was more experienced than you are now by the time he acted as a force of temperance for my generation. But you have your advantages, and will have the surname Zhou to give your actions more weight,” the Emperor said encouragingly, taking her noncommittal statement as acceptance. “I will discuss this with Wei Guang and see how to proceed, he will also be there to support and advise you.”

Shit, his heart is steeled to see this through. But it’s no wonder, with the situation the three princes are in right now. This Emperor barely had to compete at all, of course he didn’t need to kill his brothers.

Seeing that there was nothing more she could do at the moment, Kayla bowed her head with a heavy heart.

“Thank you, Uncle. I’m deeply grateful for your faith in me.”

Cultural Notes

赐姓/Bestowing Surnames: A practice for rewarding subjects who have achieved great merits, often seen in Ancient China. Several important generals during the Tang Dynasty were given this treatment. In Wenyuan's case, the Emperor is already his 舅父/Maternal Uncle (sometimes understood as your father figure from the maternal line), so if he also gains the Zhou surname, the Emperor would more-or-less also become his 义父/Godfather, which would make Wenyuan too much of a threat in the eyes of Xianchun.

亲舅如父子/A maternal uncle and his nephew are like father and son: A Chinese saying that refers to the closeness and cooperation between maternal uncles and their nephews, often even more so than with paternal nephews (especially if you were wary of their fathers). In the Han Dynasty, the famous general Huo Qubing was the maternal nephew of Emperor Wu of Han, and was veritably doted upon by his uncle (for good reason). Similarly, Ming dynasty general Li Wenzhong was the maternal nephew of Emperor Hongwu of Ming. Many Emperors also relied heavily on their maternal uncles in gaining the throne.

一家之主/Master of the household: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the patriarch of a family, but can also be used to refer to a matriarch who shoulders the household's responsibilities, often after being widowed.

驸马/Prince Consort/Husband of a Princess: If Princess Consort is the wife of a Prince, then Prince Consort is the husband of a princess. This was an honored position that came with great benefits, but it also often meant a power imbalance within the marriage that privileged the wife, a rare subversion of the usual expectations for a wife to submit to her husband. In some dynasties, the son-in-laws of the Emperor were given important responsibilities since they were considered trustworthy as "part of the family", while in others, they were prevented from taking important posts or from participating in politics altogether (looking at you, Song dynasty and Ming dynasty).

和亲/Heqin Political Marriage Policy: A common diplomatic measure used in Ancient China, usually with a princess marrying out. Usually worked with varying degrees of success, but rarely ended up with lasting peace. In the Qing Dynasty, this often happened the other way around, with Mongolian women marrying into the Manchurian Imperial family with high ranks as a way to cement the Mongolian-Manchurian alliance.

当牛做马/Serve as your cattle or horse: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the determination to repay someone, even if it were as their cattle or horse (hyperbole).

悉心关照/Extremely attentive care: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

一无所取/Have not gained a single accomplishment: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

受之有愧/Would be ashamed to accept: An Ancient Chinese proverb that usually refers to considering oneself unworthy of accepting an honor, position, or reward that one considers themselves undeserving of.

名不正则言不顺，言不顺则事不成/If the name is not proper, it will be difficult to justify. If the explanation does not make sense, then the matter will not proceed smoothly: A quote by Confucius referring to the importance of doing things the proper way and the importance of using the right justification to go about it.

萧墙之祸/Disaster of the inner walls: An Ancient Chinese proverb from the pre-Qin era referring to conflict within a household over power and succession.

恩深似海/Kindness as deep as the ocean: An Ancient Chinese proverb. The 恩/kindness here is actually better translated to moral debt, an important concept in Ancient China where one was expected to have gratitude for and to repay kindness and help in kind.

81-Expanding the Playing Field

Xianchun and Liu Boyue sat together in the prince’s study, Xianchun furrowing his brow as he listened to his right-hand man’s report.

“Wenyuan has entered the palace again?” Xianchun said in surprise.

“This is the third time in as many days that Zhao Wenyuan has entered the Imperial Palace, which one of the Princes is permitted to enter with such frequency?” Liu Boyue said. “And now Wei Guang and all his resources and connections have been thrown behind him as well. The rumor has it that Wei Guang has even gone so far as to take Zhao Wenyuan as his godson.”

Xianchun’s frown deepened. “As his godson?”

“That doesn’t bode well for us,” Liu Boyue pointed out.

Xianchun shook his head. “It’s of little consequence to us, it’s the Grand Duke who should be worrying. Enough about Zhao Wenyuan, is there anything from Third Brother and Fifth Brother?”

Liu Boyue bowed his head slightly. “They’ve remained completely motionless since the poisoning of Shu Zhengyu, and the Shu clan also hasn’t so much as uttered a squeak.”

Xianchun let out a sharp sigh, getting up in a brisk motion. “The two of them can certainly hold their poise! Fifth Brother and the Shu clan can withstand a slap in the face without so much as a squeak when General Shu used to fly into a thunderous rage at the smallest slight. I find it difficult to believe that they can stay like this for long.”

He gestured into the distance, in the vague direction of the palace. “And Third Brother, he’s much too calm. The Ministry of War is about to reach the breaking point and he’s not doing anything?”

Liu Boyue patiently regarded his master’s uneasy irritation. “No. Rather, he seems to have even withdrawn his sights from the Ministry of Revenue and is focusing on the Fifth Prince’s household affairs.”

Xianchun shook his head in disbelief. “I suppose I should thank that boy, he really was poisoned at an opportune moment for me. But to think he would back off from the Ministry of Revenue that easily, and even retreat from the Ministry of War!”

“It is not a good thing for us, my prince. The Emperor would never allow the Third Prince to have both the treasury and the military, we would have gained the fisherman’s benefit simply by waiting until he had worn down the Ministry of Revenue to step in,” Liu Boyue pointed out. “Our chances of taking on the Ministry of Revenue alone are slim.”

Xianchun made a sound of annoyance. “Jun Shao’s subordinates are either allied with the Grand Duke or with Third Brother, and the Ministry of Justice was all but lost to us. The scholars are beginning to flock over, but they flock to Third Brother much more frequently, and if not to him, then to his father-in-law. We had great momentum at the start, but we’ve yet to gain significant ground, while Third Brother seemed to have retreated but has only increased his reputation and influence. What on earth do we do now?”

Liu Boyue grimaced. “It is as Your Highness says, with the Grand Duke’s faction holding so many positions in court, new opportunities only arise when they step down or are removed, and that’s not happening quite fast enough. Unless the Grand Duke suddenly dies and leaves us a power vacuum, we can only work with what we have, or otherwise, fight tooth and nail to gain even the smallest advantage.”

“We don’t have the strength to do the latter yet,” Xianchun reluctantly admitted. “That bastard, he’s the most long-lived member of the Zhao clan within three generations!”

“Since our greatest obstacle is still nowhere near death, then we can only work with what we have,” Liu Boyue replied. “There’s the Ministry of Rites, for one. Furthermore, we can’t take the Ministry of War from the Third Prince, but we can impede his efforts.”

Xianchun gestured for him to go on.

“So long as he acts, there will be something we can make use of. Given the Shu clan’s precarious position and the Third Prince’s own maternal clan, anything can become a crucial error that could be fatal to his career,” Liu Boyue explained.

“Then our only worry will be that he does not make any moves,” Xianchun replied.

Liu Boyue stilled, glancing at Xianchun curiously. “Not make any moves? When the Ministry of War is right within his grasp? Why does my prince believe that would be the case?”

Xianchun took a deep breath. “Wenyuan once warned me that inaction is the greatest form of action in the fight for the throne, that retreating was in fact the best way to make gains, and he admitted that he told Third Brother the same thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Third Brother ended up listening to him. In hindsight, Wenyuan’s approach was incomplete, but it wasn’t wrong either. It certainly applies to the Ministry of War, Third Brother’s popularity with the military means the Ministry’s his in all but name. Father’s distrust is the only thing that could change the game, and it would not come to pass if Third Brother simply doesn’t make any moves.”

Trying to stir up trouble between the Emperor and Kuang also wasn’t an option for Xianchun, whose only support in the harem was Consort Liang, a woman too virtuous and kind-hearted to take part in an act of sabotage. Xianchun himself also wasn’t close enough with the Emperor to try anything without inviting trouble upon himself. If there was anyone who could have sway over the Emperor’s moods and decisions, it would be Wenyuan.

Liu Boyue’s face twitched slightly, unnoticed by Xianchun. Even though Xianchun had come to see Zhao Wenyuan as a potential threat, it wasn’t enough in Liu Boyue’s eyes. The fact that he had run into Hu Qing the other night hadn’t helped matters either. Liu Boyue had no idea what Zhao Wenyuan’s next move would be, or if he even knew how to put the pieces together. Hu Qing was bound by customer confidentiality and couldn’t give away Liu Boyue’s identity as Xianchun’s strategist, but he was never a fan of leaving things to chance.

“Given that Zhao Wenyuan met with the Third Prince right after Shu Zhengyu’s poisoning makes one wonder what other advice he might have imparted,” Liu Boyue said pointedly. “It’s been a while since he has reached out to you, has it not?”

Xianchun looked visibly displeased at that. “Indeed, it has.”

“That certainly says something about his inclinations,” Liu Boyue muttered, just loud enough that Xianchun could hear him. “Perhaps the Third Prince’s remarkable restraint is due to a guarantee of his success regarding the Ministry of War.”

“Would Zhao Wenyuan do such a thing?” Xianchun demanded.

Liu Boyue sighed. “It’s hard to say, my prince.”

“Then you would have me seek him out?”

“You are a prince, and he is only a Minister. He should be the one seeking you out,” Liu Boyue protested. “But if he does not, then that certainly says something about which way he leans.”

“Indeed,” Xianchun said darkly. “We’ll see soon enough which path he chooses to walk, and how neutral he truly is.”

Wei Guang patiently listened with a fond smile as the Emperor finished explaining. Internally, he wanted to sigh at the Emperor’s way of thinking. It was commendable that his former student could both sense the strategic importance of creating Zhao Wenyuan as a central figure in court politics and was able to perceive the sharp fangs of his sons, but the Emperor was forgetting both the actions the palace was undertaking to undermine Wenyuan’s clan as well as the jealousy his sons would inevitably be stirred to.

“It’s good that Minister Zhao considers the dynasty above his own glory,” Wei Guang said in response to the Emperor. “He is certain to be a pillar of the state.”

The Emperor smiled, happy to hear his favorite nephew praised. “Indeed, but what do you think about this? Can it be done?”

Wei Guang thoughtfully stroked his beard. “I will admit that despite the short time I’ve known him, I’ve grown very fond of Minister Zhao.”

“Yes, I heard that you’ve taken him as your godson,” the Emperor replied. “I’m glad to hear of it, I had hoped you would not only support him but instruct him in how to act for my sons as you did for me and my brothers.”

Wei Guang nodded slowly. “It is as you say, Your Majesty. I chose to claim him as a godson, precisely because I knew what role you had in mind for him. His standing in the court is quite good as it is, and I believe he can succeed in this role. But that’s exactly why you should not rush to bestow the Imperial surname upon him at this time.”

“How so?” The Emperor asked.

“There are two reasons. The first is the relationship between Minister Zhao and the princes. The princes have hearts big enough to encompass the nation. But are their hearts big enough to encompass another Zhou, especially one who is related to them by blood?” Wei Guang asked.

The Emperor frowned pensively but nodded for Wei Guang to go on.

“The second is his marriage. Your Majesty will be formally announcing the Imperial Edict for the marriage alliance very soon, who among the court would not understand the connection between Minister Zhao’s new surname and his new bride? If his surname is gained thanks to his wife, then how will he navigate his relationship with her in the future? With his accomplishments and his bloodline, it would be no surprise even if he became a Duke in the future, but the order in which things happen shapes our perception of them. People would give the credit of his achievements to his fortuitous marriage, rather than his own merit,” Wei Guang pointed out. “For the daughter of one of the Khagan’s innumerous concubines, and one of low birth at that, a nephew of the Emperor is more than good enough as a match. Why should a bestowal be given to merely compensate the princess?”

In fact, Wei Guang thought Wenyuan was likely to at least attain the rank of an Archduke if things went well, though the other side of that was facing certain death if things went wrong.

“You have a point on both parts,” the Emperor agreed. “But it is precisely the relationship with my sons that I worry about. Looking at them now, I feel I do not recognize my own children. I never fought so fiercely with my brothers, nor did I ever claim the entire court as my battlefield the way they do. If Wenyuan tries to interfere, would they not resent him for it? He needs to have something to protect him.”

“Then you must allow him to gain an achievement first, and then reward him. In doing so, no one will be able to say anything against the matter,” Wei Guang advised.

“And what achievement would be suitable?” The Emperor asked.

Wei Guang smiled. “Your Majesty, please just leave that to me. When the time comes, all you need to do is throw your full support behind Wenyuan, and everything else will come to fruition.”

The Emperor regarded Wei Guang with narrowed eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Wei Guang, you still love riddles as much as ever! Very well then, I know that no harm can come of listening to you, I’ll let you take charge of this.”

Wei Guang bowed his head. “Thank you for indulging me, Your Majesty. I most certainly will not disappoint you.”

An Haoyang watched anxiously as Qu Boyong paced the room. Even after worrying all night, they still did not have a concrete plan for how to deal with An Haoyang’s unfortunate encounter.

“Young lord, what do we do now?” An Haoyang asked.

“If that was Hu Qing, then there’s no telling how things will go from now on. I’ve heard rumors of how sharp-witted that man was, there’s no doubt that he’s certain of our connection now,” Qu Boyong said. “If that’s the case, it’s only a matter of time before you’re exposed. Just why have we been cursed with this misfortune?! I can’t get in touch with my cousin either, and Ji Fangluo’s case hasn’t progressed half as quickly as it should’ve. They’re working much slower than they would otherwise, all because that Sun Ruhui became the Left Secretariat!”

An Haoyang lowered his head nervously. “Then what do we do? We’ve lost our point of contact with the Zhao clan, if I also leave the Bureau, it’d be all the more suspicious!”

Qu Boyong whirled towards him, eyes flashing. “We can’t fail! Have we not worked countless years to succeed in this, or is it that you are reluctant to give up your position as an Imperial Investigator?”

An Haoyang sat up straight at the question. “Of course not! I would not forget the blood debt that demands repayment, I haven’t let it slip from my thoughts for even a single day! I’m just worried about how things are going is all, especially now that Hu Qing knows of me. If he’s trained in profile drawing, it’s very likely that Zhao Wenyuan will recognize me by my face.”

Qu Boyong calmed down, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Then we’ll just have to take action on our own terms.”

He nodded at An Haoyang. “If the chessboard is full of dead-ends, then we must simply expand the playing field. Let’s go.”

An Haoyang gave him a look of surprise. “Where?”

“It does not matter, so long as we are seen leaving the capital separately. You should head towards Dengzhou, the place where the Bureau has been investigating most recently, and I will head towards my father’s hometown. Once we have made a conspicuous exit, we should then make an inconspicuous entrance,” Qu Boyong explained.

An Haoyang lit up with realization. “To redirect their attention!”

Qu Boyong nodded. “Exactly! Once we return, we will follow a new playbook. Ji Fangluo’s case is taking too long, we need to act before the Grand Duke learns of the investigation. We will find the evidence ourselves.”

An Haoyang frowned. “The Zhao household is hard to infiltrate, especially with that Hu Qing present.”

Qu Boyong took a deep breath. “Then we will have to distract him. And what better to do that with than with the life of his master? If he’s not there, it also would not be impossible to enter by force.”

An Haoyang nodded slowly. “As expected of the young lord!”

Qu Boyong patted him on the back. “Alright then, let’s get going.”

Qu Boyong grabbed two emergency packs from under his bed, handing one to An Haoyang. They each changed into simple traveling robes with sturdy but rough cloth, fixing their appearances until they looked no different from normal travelers. The two of them did a quick sweep of the small house to make sure nothing was left behind before exchanging nods.

“Be careful. We’ll meet again shortly,” Qu Boyong said

“Be safe, young lord,” An Haoyang replied. With that, they each headed off in a different direction. An Haoyang began to move openly after making it a safe distance away, not bothering to cover his face or hide his actions. After retrieving his horse, he got on and quickly headed over to the City Gates, passing through the West Gate among the sea of travelers and merchants.

The guards barely gave him a cursory glance, but An Haoyang knew that there were always Imperial Investigators at each gate. He went on with bated breath, acting as though he were trying to be discreet while leaving enough traces to be both suspicious and traceable, a delicate act he balanced with care, but no one stopped him as he set off on the road heading Southwest.

As soon as he was a short distance away from the gate, An Haoyang quickened the pace. He dug his heels in, and the horse began galloping in the direction of Dengzhou.

Meanwhile, Qu Boyong navigated the streets toward the South Gates with much more difficulty. Not only did he need a horse, but he also needed to stay discreet. It was too risky to go and retrieve his own horse from the neighborhood stable, especially since there would then be witnesses and records.

The Third Prince and Fifth Prince’s men were looking for him, and while they didn’t have a warrant, they had enough authority to pull him in for questioning even without one. The rooftops weren’t an option in the middle of the day, and the small alleyways were too dangerous. Though Qu Boyong hadn’t been pursued by professional killers again since the Shu Zhengyu incident, he knew they were still looking for him.

Taking a gamble, Qu Boyong blended into the crowd and made his way down the street until he saw an empty carriage-for-hire at the side of the street.

“Hey there, are you taking passengers?” Qu Boyong asked the horseman. The ruddy-faced man gave him a friendly smile.

“That’s right, I am. Where are you heading towards, youngster?” The horseman asked.

“The horse exchange outside the South Gates,” Qu Boyong replied. The horseman looked over Qu Boyong’s robes.

“It’ll be quite a sum, young man. You might be better off catching a ride with a cart headed in that direction,” the horseman suggested, not unkindly.

“My uncle’s paying for the trip, I’d rather not be late,” Qu Boyong explained, pulling out a string of coins. The horseman raised an eyebrow.

“That’s a generous uncle you have,” he said.

“If one of my rich relatives suddenly decides to be gracious, I don’t see any reason not to accept it while my luck lasts,” Qu Boyong said ruefully. The horseman chuckled.

“Alright then, get on in,” the horseman gestured at the enclosed carriage. Qu Boyong scrambled in and the carriage set off. Despite the high fees worth almost a quarter of Qu Boyong’s monthly rent, the carriage was a simple one with hard seats and creaky wheels, making for a bumpy ride, nothing like the comfortable and luxurious ones Qu Boyong saw every day at the Zhao household. It was exactly what he needed, a carriage that people didn’t deem worthy of their attention.

Qu Boyong left the windows and curtains closed, just in case someone would glance in and catch sight of him. He knew the city’s roads like the back of his hand, the movements of the carriage were enough for him to discern where they were going.

They passed through the South Gates without incident, and the carriage came to a stop.

“Alright, here we are!” The horseman called over his shoulder. Qu Boyong got off, glancing around the horse market. To his relief, there didn’t seem to be any assassins or guards.

“Thank you,” Qu Boyong paid the horseman before peeling off into the scattered market. After looking around a bit, he bought a horse from a tired traveler coming up from Huainan to live with his son’s family.

“I’m coming right back down the way you came up, so at least the horse will know the path,” Qu Boyong said jokingly. The traveler laughed, shaking his head.

“Indeed she will, the poor thing! Youngster, you’re also from Anhui?” The man asked.

Qu Boyong shook his head. “I’m also from the Chu region, but my family’s from Hubei,” he replied. The older man nodded.

“It’s rare to hear a youngster refer to himself as being of the Chu these days,” the older man remarked. “Your ancestors must have a long history in that region.”

“You could say that,” Qu Boyong agreed. They completed the exchange, the traveler gifting Qu Boyong some of his leftover wine for the journey as an add-on for being from the same region. He bid his goodbyes and swung onto the saddle, heading off toward the Southeast. If anyone tried to track Qu Boyong’s movements, they would trace him back to the Anhui traveler and follow the trail towards Hubei, leaving Qu Boyong free to act covertly in the capital.

Galloping down the road, Qu Boyong greedily drank in the wind tearing through his hair. The rage and disappointment of failure were congealing into something harder and sharper, a blade eager to be unsheathed. Glancing over his shoulder as the walls of the capital grew smaller behind him, Qu Boyong bared his teeth in a feral grin.

Eat well and drink well while you can, Zhao scum. Your death date is approaching.

Cultural Notes

沉得住气/Can hold their poise: A Chinese saying that means someone can keep their cool even when things have gone south.

雷霆暴怒/Thunderous rage: An Ancient Chinese proverb comparing someone's rage to a thunderstorm.

渔翁之利/Fisherman's benefit: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain benefit simply by sitting and waiting (like a fisherman).

有所行动就会有所破绽/If you make a move you will make a mistake: A Chinese saying meaning that no matter how careful you are, every action leaves a trace, or that nothing can be perfect [and thus will leave mistakes for your enemies to grab onto].

按兵不动/Hold down your soldiers and refuse to move: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to bunker down and wait rather than charge in and start swinging, usually in order to gain benefit.

以退为进/Retreating to make gains: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to gaining benefit by taking a step back. For example, an aging tycoon's kids are all desperately fighting over inheritance even though he's still alive, and he grows disgusted with their greed. At this point, if there's someone who isn't trying to gain the inheritance but rather takes a step back and focuses on caring for their parent instead, the tycoon would likely feel more inclined towards giving that kid the most money, feeling that they are the least greedy/care about the tycoon the most.

国之栋梁/Pillar of the state: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to an official who is extremely trustworthy and holds great influence in court, to the dynasty's benefit.

先入为主/What comes first becomes the master: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is generally used to mean that what we first learn about something shapes our biases about them.

邓州/Dengzhou: A city to the Southwest of Luoyang, in the modern-day province of Henan.

安徽/Anhui: A province in the Eastern part of China, chunks of it used to belong to the Kingdom of Chu.

湖北/Hubei: A province in the Central-slightly-closer-to-the-East part of China. One of the former capitals of the Kingdom of Chu, 郢都/Yingdu, is located in Hubei province. 郢都 later became known as 荆州/Jingzhou, which fans of the Three Kingdoms era might recognize. Due to its strategic geographic position, it's always competed for during times of inner strife.

Hometown solidarity: China's quite big, and in Ancient times, travel was very inconvenient, so it was common for travelers from the same hometown to take extra care of one another out of solidarity. Qu Boyong's stretching the concept a bit to include the entire Chu region (spanning several provinces), but since the traveler from Anhui is a nice man, he's going along with it and extending hometown solidarity by giving Qu Boyong some wine for the journey.

82-Favors and Exchanges

Character Index

Yunqi: Fifth Prince, currently inactive at court due to his maternal clan’s politically precarious position.

Kuang: Third Prince, one of the main competitors for the throne.

Zhou Chengqian: Grandson of the current Emperor and son of Kuang and Cao Shuyi.

Cao Shuyi: Wife of the Third Prince, her maternal clan is famous for producing healers and educators.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan, he formerly was responsible for doing the dirty work for the Liang clan and now works for Kayla, mostly for entertainment. A big fan of chaos and stirring up trouble, he is nonetheless a highly skilled person to have on your side.

Chen Caichun: A talented young woman who currently serves as a Chamberlain in the Ministry of Judicial Review, having served as a Ministerial Case Reviewer prior. She was recruited by Kayla and is an important member of the neutral faction, highly valued for her intellect.

Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and former main character, he was responsible for the OG Wenyuan’s death in the original timeline. In the current timeline, he has yet to learn of the culprit behind his mother’s murder.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man, he has been secretly acting without Xianchun's permission in what he believes is in the Prince’s best interests. He has met Hu Qing before, having contracted Hu Qing's services through Minister Liang for a variety of purposes, including an attempt to recruit Qu Boyong.

Kuang bounced his son on his knee. “Qian’er, don’t pull on my collar,” he said mildly as the boy tugged at Kuang’s immaculate robes, rumpling them from their pristine state. “Your mother will be angry with me if my robes get messy.”

The boy made a sound of disappointment but desisted, nestling into his father’s arms.

“Third Brother, Chengqian,” Yunqi greeted them as he entered.

“Yunqi, you’re here! Qian’er, hurry up and greet your uncle,” Kuang prodded the boy, who slipped down from his father’s lap to bow politely toward Yunqi.

“Chengqian greets Fifth Uncle,” the boy said. Yunqi laughed, scooping the boy up.

“Look how fast you’ve grown! If you have a sprout, you need not worry that it will not grow,” Yunqi said. Chengqian giggled, turning his attention to Yunqi’s hair crown.

“Qian’er, stop that,” Kuang admonished, an indulgent smile on his face.

“Qian’er! Stop bothering your uncle!” Cao Shuyi scolded him as she swept into the room. Chengqian quickly stopped, withdrawing his hands and stuffing them into his sleeves.

“Sister-in-law,” Yunqi greeted her. “It’s no trouble, you need not admonish him for it.”

“Yunqi, it’s good to see you here,” Cao Shuyi said, waving for the small child to get down. Chengqian scrambled down from Yunqi’s arms and padded over the floor to stand politely at his mother’s side.

“Children need some modicum of discipline, or how will they ever grow to become good men?” Cao Shuyi said. “Chengqian, go with your nanny now.”

The boy went over to grip the sleeves of the older woman in the doorway, politely giving his goodbyes before following her out.

“Sister-in-law knows best about education,” Yunqi agreed with her.

It was no secret that while the Third Prince was the master of the faction, Cao Shuyi was the master of the household’s internal affairs. Kuang beamed pridefully at the praise for his wife.

“How is Zhengyu doing?” Cao Shuyi asked.

Yunqi sat down next to Kuang at his brother’s beckoning.

“Zhengyu’s doing much better now, it seems he’ll recover without any complications,” Yunqi said, his voice dripping with relief. He turned towards Cao Shuyi. “I really have to thank Sister-in-law for this, if you hadn’t mentioned the importance of having a healer on hand for Zhengyan, I never would’ve arranged one for Zhengyu.”

Cao Shuyi waved off his thanks. “You’re exaggerating now, it’s just that my clan produces so many healers that it’s a habit for me to always have one around,” she said.

“Does Zhengyu remember anything?” Kuang asked.

Yunqi sighed, the smile dropping off his face. “He remembers being startled by Qu Boyong bursting in and the details of their conversation, but he doesn’t seem to remember the server bringing him the soup, or even drinking it.”

Both Kuang and Cao Shuyi frowned at that. “Seems like Qu Boyong left quite an impression on him,” Kuang remarked.

Yunqi clenched his jaw, a hint of anger in his eyes. “Qu Boyong seemed to have spouted a bunch of lies to my cousin. That bastard took advantage of Zhengyu’s naivety to get rid of his pursuers.”

“We’ll catch him and get him to spit out what he knows,” Kuang assured Yunqi. “Zhao Wenyuan is also quite unhappy with his former servant, and we’ve come to an understanding that Qu Boyong will not be allowed to find shelter with Xianchun either.”

Yunqi nodded. “If he left through the staff corridor, he’s probably a key witness. But enough about him for now, sister-in-law said she had something important to tell us?”

Cao Shuyi beamed at both of them. “That’s right. Your Sixth Sister suddenly returned to the capital yesterday morning, I only learned of it when I went to visit your mothers earlier today,” she announced.

“Mingda came back to the capital?” Kuang asked in surprise.

“Is she in poor health?” Yunqi added.

“She’s doing no worse than usual,” Cao Shuyi assured them. “She even went around and made a round of visits, I actually ran into her while visiting the Wise Consort.”

Yunqi nodded. “I’m grateful she thought of my mother.”

“Indeed, she is quite considerate. To my surprise, she had returned not for any other reason, but to matchmake for her personal serving maid’s sworn sister,” Cao Shuyi said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It seems that a palace maid serving in the kitchens had secretly developed mutual feelings with Captain Jiang of the Imperial Guard, but the palace maid hadn’t been old enough when the last batch of palace maids was released from service and didn’t know how many more years she would be waiting at this rate. She wrote to her sworn sister in despair, and the Sixth Princess happened to catch her serving maid weeping in sympathy. The Sixth Princess then came back to ask Father-in-law and the Empress Dowager to conduct another round of dismissals and to ensure that palace maids were ensured enough severance pay to make for handsome dowries, especially if they were almost past the age of being marriage material.”

Cao Shuyi’s smile broadened as she went on. “Father-in-law was deeply pleased by her generosity and benevolence, and immediately drafted an edict that will take effect by tomorrow, providing for all palace maids between the ages of twenty and twenty-five to be granted the option for release from service and given severance pay. They’ll also receive a plaque proving their tenure. All the young palace maids were rejoicing about it when I got there, and Father-in-law’s even considering repeating the measure once every ten years.”

Kuang chuckled. “An excellent idea! If it were me, I would have it edified in law. I wonder what other ideas Mingda has in store?”

Yunqi smiled at Kuang before turning back to Cao Shuyi. “I suppose Captain Jiang must have received a marriage decree as well then.”

Cao Shuyi beamed at him. “Indeed! The Sixth Princess even provided a dowry for the girl so she wouldn’t have to enter his household empty-handed. Rumor has it that he was so grateful he cried. Could you imagine that? ”

Kuang chuckled. “That must have been quite the sight!”

“He’ll certainly owe Mingda quite a hefty favor now,” Yunqi commented.

Cao Shuyi’s smile took on a hint of craftiness. “Indeed, but that’s not the full story.”

Kuang and Yunqi raised their eyebrows in unison. “How so?” Yunqi asked.

“She mentioned to me that she would like to meet with Zhao Wenyuan during her time in the capital,” Cao Shuyi said. “I wonder why that is?”

All three of them exchanged knowing looks. The sworn sisters story was probably false. How likely was it that a girl working in the kitchens would be such good friends with a personal maid of the Sixth Princess? The difference in status notwithstanding, the Sixth Princess’ long-term absence from the capital made it highly unlikely. The most probable scenario was that someone had offered a chance for the Sixth Princess to boost her reputation and peddle out a large number of favors to a lot of people all at once, and given her sudden interest in a cousin she had barely spoken with before, that person was likely Wenyuan.

“So he’s aiming for the backing of the Northern nomadic tribes,” Kuang said thoughtfully. “It makes sense strategically, he’s already set to have the support of his Khaganate in-laws, enjoining the Northern tribes would strengthen his position greatly.”

“We might as well push the boat along the current,” Cao Shuyi suggested. “It doesn’t hurt to keep the exchange of favors going, especially when Mingda’s given us the opportunity.”

Kuang nodded. “Might as well,” he echoed. “It’s decided then. We’ll help Wenyuan secure Mingda’s support.”

Hu Qing watched with narrowed eyes as Kayla sighed dejectedly, looking forlornly at her paperwork. As he watched, Kayla stamped her seal on a document and pushed it aside, with the exact likeness of an affronted cat pushing aside its food. Unable to hold in his curiosity, he moved closer to the desk.

“My lord, why are you moping?” Hu Qing demanded.

Kayla looked up at him in bewilderment.

Why? I wonder why. My best friend’s suicidal because he thinks so little of my chances, how the fuck would I be in a good mood?

“I can’t help but feel uneasy these days,” Kayla admitted.

I can’t really blame Wenyuan, there’s no telling what happens from now on.

Hu Qing gave her a strange look before chuckling. “What are you so worried about? No matter what happens from now on, I’m sure you’ll find a way to benefit from it. You have talented people such as Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun on your side, Senior Investigator Li Que’s supporting you way more than he was probably meant to, and you got yourself a new godfather. It’s good you take potential dangers seriously, but it is also meaningless to undervalue the advantages you have, isn’t it?”

Kayla sighed. “You have a point,” she admitted. “Don’t mind me, you know how paranoid we politicians tend to be. More importantly, how far along are you on the whole thing with Xianchun’s spies?”

Hu Qing lit up with excitement. “Ah, yes, the grand reveal!”

Kayla gave him a look of exasperation.

He ignored her and nodded to himself, a smug grin on his face. “I’m ready to move when you are, my lord. There are a few steps we should take ahead of time to make sure it works out, but here’s what I’m thinking. We need the official paperwork to be ready with the Court of Judicial Review, but we also need to be able to destroy it at any time."

"You mean to write official warrants? Well, that's doable. Chamberlain Chen can take care of that," Kayla replied.

"That's not all," Hu Qing added. "Tomorrow morning, you should write to the Seventh Prince.”

Xianchun waved off his servants, waiting until he was alone in the study to open the message from the Zhao household.

He frowned at the letter. The scroll was stamped with Wenyuan’s personal seal and had been wrapped with an anti-tampering talisman, leaving Xianchun expectant for some important information. Rather, it was a message that left him deeply confused.

My prince, do you recall offering to lend me guards should I ever need them? If you would be so willing, please send a few guards to the Zhao household as soon as possible, I have need for their assistance. Should you be so generous as to agree to my request, please send them in plainclothes. The letter was short and to the point.

“What in the heavens?” Xianchun muttered.

“What is it, my prince?” Liu Boyue asked from the doorway.

“Wenyuan asked me to lend him a few guards,” Xianchun replied.

Liu Boyue came closer, taking the message to read it through. “At the Grand Duke’s household? My prince, surely you aren’t thinking of going through with it, this is most likely a trap.”

“If he wishes to implicate me, it’s more than easy enough for him to do so. He has control over the judicial system, if he wished to use such methods, it would be as easy as turning one’s hand over,” Xianchun said thoughtfully. “Rather, I’m curious what that man’s up to this time.”

Liu Boyue grimaced, lowering his face to hide his expression. He had a bad feeling about the request, but Xianchun seemed to have made up his mind.

“Then please take caution, my prince. You should send the most sensible of your guards and instruct them to adjust to the situation accordingly,” Liu Boyue suggested.

“Of course, I’ll leave that to you. Choose a few men you think are suitable,” Xianchun replied. Liu Boyue bowed his head and left, a dark look on his face as soon as he was out of Xianchun’s sight.

Kayla quietly waited in the alcove, out of sight from the small inner courtyard.

To think they had all been caught in one swoop…Kayla bit back a smirk. As expected of Hu Qing, he really gets the job done.

The man’s flair for drama was evident in the scene before her.

After Feng Yi had been caught, Hu Qing waited until Xianchun’s spies had hidden anything that might implicate them, including communication talismans, plaques, and anything else that might uncover them should their belongings be searched. Once they felt secure in their subterfuge, Hu Qing proceeded to uncover everything they had just hidden away, leaving it out in the open. They freaked out, as expected, and a series of well-timed incidents and accidents forced all of them into the same place at once, an abandoned courtyard used for storage.

Coming face to face with one another, they began discussing the situation amongst themselves, not realizing that a series of carefully machinated incidents had also led Housekeeper Wang and a few conveniently stationed guards to pass by the courtyard. Kayla shook her head in wonder at Hu Qing’s thoroughness, having had to set everything up without alerting the Imperial Investigators watching the household.

If Hu Qing were in the modern world, he would be perfectly suited for either directing slapstick comedies or pulling off elaborate bank heists. Knowing him, he would probably do both.

With the guards piling into the courtyard, no one noticed as Kayla quietly entered the alcove through the connected building, a route that Hu Qing had excitedly introduced to her ahead of time.

“Please, sir, it’s not what you think! We’re innocent!” The spies were pleading with Housekeeper Wang now, having been forced onto their knees by the guards.

“Silence! Do you think I’m deaf?! I heard the lot of you loud and clear! You bunch of two-faced ingrates and white-eyed wolves, I’ll see to it that you’ll pay the price for your actions,” Housekeeper Wang snarled, livid at their excuses.

Kayla smiled to herself, shaking her head slightly. Housekeeper Wang was just as sadistic and violently tempered as the Grand Duke, what on earth did the spies think their paltry excuses could do in this situation?

“My lord, be sure to wait until they’re in serious danger before you act,” Hu Qing had repeatedly insisted on that point. “Heroes saving the beauty only have appeal when they swoop in at the last second. Granted, there aren't any beauties in the lot, but that’s not the point.”

“Sir, it’s not what you think! You’ve misunderstood us!” One of the female spies tearfully protested.

“Enough of these excuses! Guards, drag them out and beat them to death as an example to the others!” Housekeeper Wang ordered.

“Please have mercy!”

“Housekeeper Wang, we’re innocent!” The spies cried out fearfully, increasingly frantic as they realized the severity of their plight.

“Silence! Guards!” Housekeeper Wang shouted. Kayla took the chance to sweep out of the alcove, stepping into the center of the courtyard to stand between the spies and Housekeeper Wang.

“What on earth is going on here?” Kayla demanded. Housekeeper Wang stuttered in shock at her sudden appearance. He quickly composed himself.

“Young lord, what are you doing here?” Housekeeper Wang asked.

Kayla shrugged. “I was taking a walk and heard a commotion, so here I am. Now what is all this?”

“I caught these rats conspiring together and was about to deliver punishment,” Housekeeper Wang replied. “If you would kindly allow me to proceed, young lord.”

“No.”

Housekeeper Wang blinked at her in surprise. “What do you mean, no? Young lord-”

“I’m taking these spies with me,” Kayla said firmly.

“With you? They can’t be allowed to leave this place alive! Young lord, what on earth are you trying to do?” Housekeeper Wang demanded.

Kayla stared him down. “Whether or not you want them dead has nothing to do with me. These people are coming with me, and that’s final.”

Housekeeper Wang’s expression settled down into a glower.

“Please move aside, young lord,” Housekeeper Wang said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t a request, not with that many guards around him.

Kayla raised an eyebrow, glancing at him and then back at the spies behind her.

“There’s no need for that, I’ll be taking them into custody,” Kayla said firmly. “I’ve already notified my subordinates from the Court of Judicial Review to come and bring them in.”

A vein bulged on Housekeeper Wang’s head. At this point, it was clear that Kayla had been watching for a while now.

“This is a private matter of the household, what need is there for you to use public resources on such a thing? It reflects badly upon your clan!” Housekeeper Wang argued. “Please call them off, and we will handle this internally.”

“I don’t need you to teach me how to act,” Kayla replied. “And if you need to involve this many guards, it’s clearly no longer an internal issue. If you’d rather save face for the household, then that’s fine as well. I can bring them in myself, quietly, rather than having my subordinates come in and arrest them. Doesn’t that satisfy both of us?”

“Most certainly not! Young lord, the Grand Duke will be furious!” Housekeeper Wang said.

“Will he be angrier if this becomes a well-known incident throughout the capital, or if this is resolved with a compromise?” Kayla asked.

“Young lord, he won’t be pleased to hear your threats,” Housekeeper Wang warned. The guards behind him shifted, and Kayla couldn’t help but laugh.

Just who is being threatened here? Whether it was the guards present or the implicit threat of the Grand Duke’s violent fury, Kayla was the one being threatened.

“Housekeeper Wang, he won’t be pleased to hear you let this become a scandal,” Kayla replied.

At his reddening face, Kayla smiled, softening her tone.

“Housekeeper Wang, why go through all this trouble? Don’t you just want to get rid of them? I want the same thing, just to go about it in a slightly different way. Are you really going to take advantage of your position as a prized servant to make a mockery of the young lord of the household and a Minister of the court?” Kayla asked, once again dragging out her status to make use of.

Housekeeper Wang pursed his lips, face tight with displeasure. “Since the young lord has said it to this extent, what else can I say?! But I too have orders from the Grand Duke to harshly punish any lowly cretins who have two loyalties in one heart, those who eat from the house but paw for the favor of outsiders! How dare I not obey? Even if the young lord wishes to stand in my way, there is naught I can do but proceed at the risk of offending you!”

Damn, that didn’t work.

Kayla hastily held out a hand to stop him, switching to a different tactic. “Wait! I did not say that they would not be punished, in fact, that is for which I am arresting them! Why do you proceed so hastily without even asking my intentions?”

Housekeeper Wang didn’t take the bait, evidently having been warned against allowing Kayla to start her spiel of persuasion.

“Young lord, I truly apologize. But regardless of your intentions, for matters of the household, I answer to only the Grand Duke,” he replied. He made a subtle gesture, and the guards began to approach.

Damn it! It seemed that Housekeeper Wang hadn’t come into this unprepared.

“How dare you! Unhand me!” Kayla whirled upon a guard as he tried to grab her by the arm. He reeled back, uncertain how to proceed.

“What are you fools doing? Hurry up and escort the young lord to safety, will you let him remain surrounded by criminals?” Housekeeper Wang said. Having a good enough excuse to continue, the guards proceeded to gently but firmly pull Kayla out of the way, practically lifting her off the ground.

“Don’t you dare kill them! Let go of me!” Kayla shouted, raising her voice to signal to Hu Qing. He was probably already watching from the rooftop, perhaps even eating melon seeds while he waited, but she didn’t doubt he would let it go on just a little longer for the fun of it, probably only swooping in at the very last second.

Hu Qing didn’t disappoint, almost immediately dropping down from the rooftop right before Kayla.

“How dare you,” Hu Qing began, his voice overlapping with Housekeeper Wang’s as the older man angrily pointed at Hu Qing. The two stared at each other, affronted at having been interrupted.

“How dare you! Seize this intruder!” Housekeeper Wang screeched, snatching up the opportunity to speak first.

“He’s no intruder! He’s my personal guard, you would dare harm him?!” Kayla shot back. The guards on either side of her glanced uneasily at Hu Qing, sensing that he was more skilled than they were. He turned to give them an unimpressed look. They let go, stepping away from Kayla.

“How dare you!” Hu Qing repeated himself. “Unhand the Minister immediately!” The guards looked at each other uncertainly, having already unhanded Kayla, and stepped further away from her.

You just really wanted to say that line, don’t you? Kayla withheld the urge to roll her eyes. If Hu Qing wanted to have fun with the situation, she was fine with that. The situation was enough of a mess that she no longer cared as long as it wrapped up in her favor.

“A mere housekeeper dares to intervene in the affairs of the Court of Judicial Review?” Hu Qing snarled at Houskeeper Wang, who flinched but stood his ground.

“I have orders from the Grand Duke! Stand aside or I won’t let you off easily,” Housekeeper Wang warned.

“I don’t see a Grand Duke here,” Hu Qing shot back. “And even if that were the case, did the Central Secretariat have the right to directly intervene in the Court of Judicial Review’s affairs? The paperwork for these arrests was filled out this morning, and now you want to step in?”

“What?” Housekeeper Wang frowned. “Impossible! Even if you want to lie, you should at least choose a more believable excuse. We only captured them just now, how could you possibly have filled out the paperwork this morning?”

Kayla gave a cold laugh from safely behind Hu Qing. “And this is why I asked you to hear me out, Housekeeper Wang. But alas, you refused to do so. What on earth makes you think I only learned of their presence now? I am not as blind as you.”

Housekeeper Wang faltered. It was one thing to get rid of them if Kayla had yet to make the arrests, but things would grow far more complicated if the procedures had already begun.

“Housekeeper Wang, I believe we have the same purposes and are just differing in terms of methodology. But as you can see, I had planned to deal with this in a much more subtle way that will not leave potential mistakes for people to grab onto. In some cases, having a paper trail is the better choice,” Kayla said. “I know you have your difficulties as well, having orders from the Grand Dukes, but why give me a hard time when I’m also working to resolve this problem? If you kill them, our household will be accused of either harboring criminals or executing them without permission, other people will be able to twist that to their benefit and accuse us of trying to silence them for nefarious purposes.”

Seeing that Housekeeper Wang was steadily losing his determination, Kayla pushed forward.

“Listen, no matter what happens, the responsibility for this lies solely with me. You know where the Grand Duke’s rage is certain to be directed towards, why do you still hesitate?”

The Grand Duke hated Kayla enough to kill her. Not yet to the point of irrationality, but they were getting there. Kayla’s suggestions for dealing with Zhao Wei’s implication by the Imperial Investigation Bureau’s findings had put a stopper in the rapidly worsening relations, allowing some of the Grand Duke’s anger to dissipate, but that would be blown away by the force of his rage once he learned of this incident.

Evaluating his options, Housekeeper Wang decided to let Kayla court death if she so wished to and backed off.

“Since the young lord insists, then it seems that there is no more that I can do,” Housekeeper Wang said. He waved for the guards to back down and stomped away, the confused guards trailing after him. Kayla turned back towards the spies, who had been watching the whole exchange fearfully.

“Alright then, you lot come with me. Don’t even think of trying to run,” Kayla ordered.

“Thank you, young lord!”

“Thank you for your mercy!”

Kayla held up a hand to silence the chorus of thanks.

“Don’t thank me, thank your master for being someone I need to give face to,” Kayla said. “Now get moving.” The spies quickly fell silent, taking in the implications of her words.

“You heard the Minister, get on it!” Hu Qing snapped. Several of the spies glanced over at Hu Qing, trying to assess if he would be able to catch them if they made a break for it. They all thought better of it and obediently followed Kayla out of the Zhao household, Housekeeper Wang still glaring at them from a safe distance away.

Cultural Notes

Adding 儿/'Er to the end of a name: A common form of endearment, especially for someone younger than you. Usually, you take the last character of someone's given name and add an 儿/'Er, hence Chenqian->Qian+'Er=Qian'Er.

家家有本难念的经/Every household has a difficult sutra to read: A Chinese saying meaning that every family has its own difficulties and complicated family drama.

胸无大志/No great ambition in his chest: An Ancient Chinese proverb, usually used in a slightly derogative fashion.

守口如瓶/Guard one's mouth like a closed bottle: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to keep one's mouth tightly shut/be good at keeping secrets.

兵者，国之大事/Military is a great[ly significant] affair of the state: An Ancient Chinese proverb originating from the pre-Qin work, Sun Tze's Art of War.

灭自己志气，长别人威风/Crush your own side's confidence and grow the opponent's certainty: An Ancient Chinese proverb originating from the battlefield, but essentially means to overestimate your opponents while making your allies feel more uncertain about their chances.

易如反掌/Easy as turning over one's hand: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that something is very easy to accomplish for the person in question.

白眼狼/White-eyed wolves: An Ancient Chinese phrase used to describe an ingrate/someone who betrays you.

英雄救美/Hero saving the beauty: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the trope of dramatic last-second rescues, as well as the hero gets the girl trope. A variation on this is 英美救雄/Heroic beauty saves the man, which is pretty much what it advertises itself to be.

家丑不外扬/Ugly familial affairs aren't advertised outside: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that the family's internal messes stay internal. You're not meant to tell anyone else of it.

吃里爬外/Eat from the house but peddle for the favor of outsiders: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to someone who betrays their master.

吃瓜子/Eating melon seeds: A common snack people used to eat while watching plays/Peking opera/performances. Relatively cheap and nutritious, it's a common snack food going centuries back. The seeds are left untracked, so part of the fun is cracking the shell open with your teeth.

83-Feeding the Tiger

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan, he formerly was responsible for doing the dirty work for the Liang clan and now works for Kayla, mostly for entertainment. Previously also took jobs for the Seventh Prince's faction under Minister Liang's orders, though these jobs were directed by Liu Boyue and not the Seventh Prince himself. Though he is bound to customer confidentiality to Liu Boyue, Kayla has since learned of the internal dynamics of the Seventh Prince's faction.

Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and former main character, he was responsible for the OG Wenyuan’s death in the original timeline. In the current timeline, he has yet to learn of the culprit behind his mother’s murder.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man, he has been secretly acting without Xianchun's permission in what he believes is in the Prince’s best interests. He has met Hu Qing before, having contracted Hu Qing's services through Minister Liang for a variety of purposes, including an attempt to recruit Qu Boyong.

Minister Liang: Minister of Justice and head of the Liang clan, he is one of Xianchun's supporters.

Lady Yue: Wife of Yue Wuxuan, who had been sentenced to execution after being framed by the Grand Duke's faction back in Chapter 7 and 8. Lady Yue and her daughter were spared and brought to the capital when her lineage as a member of the Liang clan was uncovered. This also spurred the chain of events that eventually led to the present day, diverging completely from the original timeline.

Jun Shao: Minister of Personnel, a member of Xianchun's faction.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue, an ally of the Grand Duke.

Zhou Kuang: Third Prince and Wenyuan's Third Cousin, Xianchun's primary rival for the throne.

Zhou Chengxia: Daughter of Archduke Wei, she is soon to marry into the Khaganate as part of a marriage alliance.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and head of the Hanlin Academy, he served as the "moderator" for the previous generation of princes, ensuring their survival past the succession struggle. He was also the teacher of the Imperial Princess, having assisted in her investigations. He recently claimed Kayla/Wenyuan as his godson.

Kayla made her way out of the Zhao household, Hu Qing keeping a careful eye on Xianchun’s spies as they trailed behind obediently.

Outside the gates, the guards Kayla requested from Xianchun had arrived, a familiar guard at the head of the small group. Kayla vaguely recognized him as one of the guards who had been present for both times Xianchun had argued with Kayla in his carriage. The middle-aged man had also been there when Yue Wuxuan’s sworn warriors had attempted their revenge.

“This lowly one greets the Minister,” the guard said, bowing his head in greeting.

“Thank you for coming, it’s good to see you again,” Kayla replied. The spies glanced at the guards in shock, finally realizing Kayla’s intentions. They glanced at each other silently, confusion, relief, and trepidation mingling on their faces.

“It’s an honor to be in your presence, Minister. This one is at your service,” the guard said.

“I wished to bring these people to see the Seventh Prince,” Kayla explained. “But I didn’t want to involve either the Zhao household’s guards or Bureau personnel, so I had no choice but to trouble His Highness.”

The guard evidently didn’t understand what this was about but accepted the explanation without further question.

“Of course, Minister. Please enter the carriage,” he said politely, gesturing at the carriage they had thoughtfully brought along. Hu Qing exchanged a nod with Kayla and joined the guards as she got into the carriage.

They pulled to a stop at the Seventh Prince’s household, Hu Qing coming over to assure Kayla that all the spies were still present and accounted for.

“This way, Minister,” the guard led Kayla in. When she glanced back at the spies, he gestured for them to follow as well. Kayla followed the guard into Xianchun’s inner courtyard, where the Seventh Prince was waiting. Liu Boyue was nowhere to be seen, as expected for his role as a covert strategist, but Kayla was almost certain he was somewhere nearby.

“My prince, I’ve escorted Minister Zhao here,” the guard said, bowing his head slightly.

“Wenyuan, it’s good to see you again,” Xianchun greeted her, waving slightly at the guard to dismiss him.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince,” Kayla replied. She gestured for Hu Qing to bring the spies over. “I apologize for asking to borrow men on such short notice, but I didn’t want to involve any outsiders in this.”

Xianchun’s eyes glinted sharply as he took in the spies, but he gave Kayla a look of confusion that was almost convincing. “I hardly mind, but what is this?”

Kayla smiled. “My prince, I wish to open the door to the mountain rather than go in circles. These people were captured in the Zhao household just earlier, having been revealed as spies. They would’ve been killed on the spot, but I could not bear to see them killed for doing their jobs. Not to mention that I don’t know which master they belong to. What if they were grandmother’s people? As such, I snatched them up and was hoping that I can leave them here under your protection.”

Xianchun grimaced. It was clear that Kayla was giving him face by pretending to not know who had sent them.

“Why go in so many circles to say that you’ve caught my spies?” Xianchun asked.

Damn it, can’t you just play along? I’ve built the fucking staircase for you to step down on! Then again, Kayla didn’t know what she was expecting from the prideful prince.

Kayla gave him a somber look. “I didn’t catch them, my prince. That’s exactly the problem,” she stated plainly. Xianchun frowned, looking at her in confusion.

“If I had caught them, I would’ve let them be. I mean, who doesn’t have spies in the Zhao household? I’m pretty sure that even some of the Grand Duke’s own allies have eyes and ears in the household. I don’t have the time or energy to remove them, nor do I have the motive to do so. But it’s a different story if the Grand Duke catches them,” Kayla explained. “If they’re caught by him, then their only possible fate is death. My prince, did you want me to look away and let them die? If my actions displease you, I can always bring them back!”

Xianchun’s frown faded away. “That’s not what I meant, Wenyuan. It seems I’ve misunderstood the situation.”

Kayla relaxed slightly. “My prince, I know you care deeply for your subordinates, and I did not wish to see them meet untimely deaths at the hands of brutes. There isn’t any other meaning to my actions.”

“I understand,” Xianchun assured her.

“I’m not sure if you’ve heard from him yet, but there was another man that I caught the other day snooping around my rooms. I might be mistaken, but I think he also belonged to your household,” Kayla said. Subtlety didn’t do the job with Xianchun, and there was no point in using it. “He was quite inexperienced though, so I just sent him on his way.”

Xianchun frowned, glancing over the spies. “Inexperienced?”

“Perhaps I was mistaken then, he probably belonged to another household,” Kayla shrugged. “Some of them do underhanded things like that, sending in an inexperienced spy as a distraction for the more experienced ones. A cruel thing to do in my opinion, but I’m not in a position to judge.”

Xianchun’s frown darkened. “I see.” He turned towards Kayla, his expression softening. “But thank you for bringing these people here.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “It is only what I should do, my prince. I can’t fault anyone for wanting to keep an eye on the Grand Duke, so how can I stand by and allow them to shed blood for it?”

Xianchun nodded. “You’ve always been quite generous with those of lower status,” he remarked. “I’ll gladly take these people back.” He waved them away, the spies bowing before scurrying away. Hu Qing watched with amusement as they filed past him, his entertained smile drawing Xianchun’s attention.

“And who is that man?” Xianchun asked. Kayla gestured for Hu Qing to come over.

“This one is Hu Qing, my personal guard,” Kayla introduced him. Hu Qing bowed.

“Hu Qing greets His Highness the Seventh Prince!”

Xianchun waved for Hu Qing to straighten his back, narrowing his eyes as he took in Hu Qing’s face. The resemblance to Minister Liang was not immediately obvious, but it was there.

“You look familiar,” Xianchun said suspiciously. Hu Qing bowed his head.

“I’m honored that the prince remembers me,” Hu Qing replied. Kayla stepped closer to Xianchun, lowering her voice.

“No need to worry, my prince. He’s a man of loyalty and honor. He is bound by customer confidentiality,” she assured him. Xianchun’s brow furrowed in confusion at her assurances. Kayla pretended not to notice, leaning in to whisper into his ear. “He’s not interested in political power either, there’s no need to worry about any trouble with the Liang clan.”

“I’ve never hired this man before,” Xianchun hissed. Kayla paused, glancing at him with surprise before nodding slowly.

“Ah, of course. I apologize, my prince. I must have been mistaken,” Kayla replied, weaving a hint of confusion into her voice.

Xianchun waved a hand at Hu Qing in clear dismissal. Hu Qing bowed and took his leave, led out by a steward.

“What relation does he have with the Liang clan?” Xianchun demanded. Kayla shrugged.

“I believe he is of some relation to the last clan head, though he doesn’t like to speak of it. Every family has a difficult sutra to read, I don’t wish to trouble him about it if it’s a sore spot,” Kayla said. Xianchun glanced at her sharply, unconvinced. Seeing Kayla’s open look, he sighed and let go of the topic.

“I suppose I owe you a favor for this,” Xianchun said, heading into the study with Kayla trailing behind him.

“Not at all, my prince. If anything, this has given me a chance to speak with you on an important matter,” Kayla said. She sat down in the chair Xianchun pointed to.

“And what would that be? The Ministry of War?” Xianchun asked.

“No, the Ministry of War is not something I plan to interfere with,” Kayla replied. “The military is one of the most important matters of the state, I dare not stick my head in where it has no expertise. This is better left for those who know what they’re doing.”

Xianchun’s face drew into a thin look of displeasure. Seeing this, Kayla continued. “What I have to say pertains to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites. My prince, you’ve enjoyed the support of Minister Liang and Minister Jun ever since you saved Lady Yue from a cruel and unjust death, but surely your sights are set on more than that.”

Xianchun nodded, his bad mood dissipating. “Indeed, they’ve been of great help to me, even if they face limitations in what they can do. But what do you mean when you speak of the Ministries of Revenue and Rites?”

“Not so much a plan as an offer,” Kayla admitted. “I would like to help you gain control over the Ministry of Rites, in exchange for your support in gaining the Ministry of Revenue.”

At Xianchun’s frown, Kayla had to hold back a grimace.

Damn it, he wants the Ministry of Revenue. It’s just like Wei Guang said!

Pretending not to notice, Kayla continued. “As you know, my prince, the Ministry of Rites holds an extremely important function in upholding the authority of the court, it’s not something that should be left in the hands of an incompetent man. The current Minister is inept and bumbling, and can’t make a decision for himself if you held a sword to his neck. Rather than let the Grand Duke control the Ministry through this fool, you should be the one to claim it.”

“Then what about the Ministry of Revenue? Dong Shiqing has a stronghold over it, how do you plan to wrench it from his hands?” Xianchun asked.

“Minister Dong has always been good at covering his tracks. He hasn’t been implicated in any investigations so far, even though many of his friends and allies were. However, it’s impossible to maintain a perfect defense. Not making any mistakes for one year is easy, not making any mistakes for ten years is hard. I don’t believe that Dong Shiqing did not leave a single loose thread throughout his entire tenure,” Kayla replied. “One simply needs the time and resources to look into it carefully.”

“You would certainly be suited for taking on such a challenge, given your control over the judicial system,” Xianchun said, a small note of resentment in his voice.

Right, he’s probably still pissed about the Ministry of Justice falling under my influence.

“Thank you for your kind words, my prince,” Kayla replied. “Uncle and grandmother feel more comfortable with the country’s judicial systems and treasury in neutral hands, so I must strive to obey.”

Xianchun leaned forward, leveling Kayla with an evaluating glance. “And what would you do if I wanted the Ministry of Revenue?”

Kayla hesitated slightly before speaking. “The palace isn’t amenable to having the treasury in the hands of either faction,” Kayla said cautiously. “In fact, it can be quite a dangerous thing to have in your possession. Now that Third Cousin is gaining sway over the Ministry of War, he certainly can’t be allowed to also have access to the dynasty’s purse strings. And if you were to gain the Ministry of Revenue, should there be even the smallest need for military expenditures, your every move would be viewed with intense scrutiny and suspicion.”

Xianchun frowned. “You think I would withhold military funds just to further my own benefit?”

“I would not dare to think such a thing of you, my prince, but that does not mean that others will not,” Kayla replied. “Not to mention, there is no telling what your subordinates may do in a misguided attempt to benefit you or earn your favor, and then where does that leave you?”

Kayla could tell that Xianchun was not convinced in the slightest. Given the Seventh Prince’s personality, he probably wasn’t taking it well that Kayla was trying to make him give up on his goals. Kayla still remembered getting kicked out of Xianchun’s carriage in the middle of some random alleyway the last time she’d tried to persuade him that less action would result in greater benefit. Taking a deep breath, she proceeded carefully.

“My prince, the Ministry of Rites handles the oversight of religion and Imperial Examinations throughout the country. One is tied to the faith of the people, and one is tied to the hopes of the scholars. Having these two within your grasp would enable you to extend your benevolence like the spring rain nourishes the grass, strengthening your foundations without exposing you to the scrutiny of the court as the Ministry of Revenue would. The Ministry of Rites further is responsible for the communication and relationships between countries, of which Princess Chengxia and my marriages are a part of,” Kayla hastily added.

“I would not deny its importance, but I have no interest in administering tests and counting temples,” Xianchun replied.

“Then you would have an interest in the country’s Treasury instead?” Kayla asked.

“Nobles and officials have been underpaying taxes for too long, while merchants seek to evade tariffs and understate their incomes as much as they can. No one does anything as the peasants continue to lose their land and livelihoods, how can anyone with a heart for the dynasty not take an interest?” Xianchun demanded.

Kayla nodded slowly. “You have a kind and noble heart, my prince, but you must think for the long run. Does it make sense for you to struggle for a moment’s gain without thinking about all under heaven?”

“It is precisely because I have ambitions for all under heaven that I wish to gain the Ministry of Revenue,” Xianchun argued. “Having control over the Ministry of Revenue would give me the ability to accomplish greater goals, and I would gain a foothold from which to start clearing the corruption from the court!”

Kayla pondered her response for a moment. “Then, my prince, are you capable of gaining control of the Ministry of Revenue right now?”

Xianchun shot her a look of irritation and said nothing.

Damn it, we’re not getting anywhere with this. Kayla switched to Plan B.

“My prince, if it so pleases you, I would like to ask for your support in removing Minister Dong Shiqing and his sycophants from the Ministry of Revenue. I will give my best effort to do so, but I have many enemies both within the court and within my own household, and therefore have no guarantee I will succeed. In truth, I came to you precisely because I lack confidence in this endeavor,” Kayla confessed. “Owing to the grace of the Emperor and Empress Dowager I have received, I must make an effort regardless. But should I fail, I would rather the Ministry be in your hands than remain in the hands of Dong Shiqing or another of the Grand Duke’s allies.”

It worked, just as Kayla was hoping. She had dramatically overstated the difficulty of the task earlier on, and now it was paying off. Xianchun would never let go of a chance to set the tiger upon the wolf, where at the end of a difficult struggle that left both sides too battered to compete with an unharmed party, he would be able to step in without having put in any of the work.

Xianchun mulled it over. “Do you mean those words?”

Kayla nodded fervently. “Of course!”

Xianchun considered it a for a moment before nodding. “Then I’ll gladly accept. I’ve received your help several times in the past, it would not do for me to refuse a reasonable request,” he replied. “If you had not spoken, I would have asked for your support in gaining the Ministry of Revenue. But since Father and grandmother have spoken on this issue, it makes sense that you should take initiative.”

Kayla’s off-handed mention of Lady Yue had thankfully done its job in reminding Xianchun of how he had managed to gain two Ministries in the first place, even if he’d all but lost the Ministry of Justice.

“Then about the Ministry of Rites,” Xianchun prompted.

“No need to worry, my prince. You’ll be notified once things are in motion, and Minister Jun will surely be able to recommend a person of your choosing. They’re sure to pass the background check on our end,” Kayla assured him.

They discussed the details a while longer before Xianchun finally leveled her with a sharp gaze.

“Wenyuan, how did you know these were my spies?” He asked suddenly. Kayla stumbled over what she was about to say about the various options they had for background checks.

“I, well,” Kayla stuttered, glancing away from him. “That is, this is a little embarrassing to say, but I don’t get along with the Grand Duke very well.”

Xianchun gave her a blank look of disbelief. “There isn’t a single person in the capital who does not know that,” he said in exasperation.

“Which is why I have to be careful at home,” Kayla explained. “I don’t know when my food or drink might be poisoned, or if there will be a viper in my sheets if I let the wrong servant in my rooms. I also need to know who is and isn’t spying on me, and who they’re spying on me for. I spend quite a lot of effort and money to make sure I know these things.”

“You have it just as bad as a prince does, if not even worse,” Xianchun said, sounding both surprised and a little pleased. “Does that retainer of yours handle these things?”

“That’s right, my prince,” Kayla replied.

“You said his name was Hu Qing,” Xianchun said thoughtfully. “He really does resemble Minister Liang the more I think about it.”

“Then please don’t, my prince. Hu Qing’s a simple man with simple needs, and has no interest in politics, whether in the court or in the family,” Kayla said with an earnest look on her face, knowing full well her words would have the opposite effect. All the better for her. The more Xianchun was curious, the more Liu Boyue would be pressured to either hide his tracks or deflect Xianchun’s suspicions, and either option would get him to ease off of the Zhao clan until Kayla could take the reins of the situation.

“Thinking back now, I believe I’ve seen him in Minister Liang’s household before,” Xianchun added.

“Perhaps,” Kayla replied. “I believe he used to live there, but he never says anything about it.”

In other words, anything you did there is safe with him.

Xianchun frowned, looking deep in thought, but said no more on the matter.

Kayla was satisfied. She didn't expect any of this to take immediate effect, but the seeds had been planted. The more Xianchun thought about it and pieced bits of information together, the more suspicious he would grow, and yet none of it would be directed towards her. Xianchun didn't know that Kayla knew of Liu Boyue's existence, and had no reason to think she was trying to sow discord between them.

But every time he saw the spies or the guards he had sent to the Zhao household, Xianchun would think back to the discrepancies in Kayla's words, the parts that didn't make sense. It was only a matter of time before he started piecing things together.

If Zhao Wenyaun spent a lot of time and effort to know who was in his household, then would he really be wrong about who the spies belonged to? Was the inexperienced spy Wenyuan spoke of really from a different house, or had there been arrangements Xianchun didn't know of? What did Wenyuan mean about Hu Qing "keeping customer confidentiality"? What did he know about Hu Qing and the Liang clan that Xianchun didn't?

The questions would emerge by themselves, and the sparks would turn into a fire.

The discussion drew to a close, and Xianchun let Kayla leave without further issue. Kayla subtly glanced around as she left, wondering whether Liu Boyue had been listening in the whole time. It wasn’t as though she was capable of sensing him. Kayla gave up and let the steward lead her to where Hu Qing was waiting near the gates, chatting up a few guards and looking to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Hu Qing, let’s get going,” Kayla called to him. He waved goodbye to his new friends and sauntered over to follow Kayla to the carriage.

“Please tell the Prince that I’m grateful for the carriage and escort,” Kayla told the steward.

“Of course, Minister. Please have a safe trip,” he replied, bowing his head. Hu Qing swung up onto his horse, nudging it forward to speak with Kayla through the carriage window.

“My lord, didn't you have somewhere to be?” Hu Qing asked, cutting Kayla off before she could direct the horseman to take her back to the Zhao household. Kayla hesitated for a moment.

Right, the Grand Duke’s reaction. Not looking forward to that, nope, not at all.

“You’re right, I nearly forgot that I had an appointment with the Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla said in mock surprise. “Thank goodness you reminded me."

She turned to the horseman. "Please bring us to the Imperial Edict Bearer’s estate.”

“Of course, Minister,” the horseman said politely. They set off without further ado, the Seventh Prince’s household soon disappearing from view.

Cultural Notes

开门见山/Open the door to the mountain: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to get to the point right off the bat.

给面子/Giving [you] face: A Chinese cultural concept that essentially means protecting someone's pride by saying or doing something in a way that would not be embarrassing or humiliating to them. For example, if you're the nephew of a politician and you offend one of his allies, the ally will probably proclaim that he won't press the matter on account of "giving your uncle face".

给你台阶下/Giving you a staircase to step down on: A Chinese cultural concept that means giving someone an excuse. It refers to a situation where someone is in an extremely awkward position like a man stuck on a platform with no way to get down without humiliating himself. If someone does him a favor by moving a ladder/staircase over, then he will be able to maintain some dignity.

下人/Lower person: The traditional term for servant is usually 仆人/Servant or 下人/Lower person. The latter term emphasizes their lowly status.

春雨润物细无声/The spring rain quietly nourishes the plants: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that something achieves a positive effect quietly and without great pomp or attention. This is often used as praise since less attention also means less resistance or backlash, and acting humble is also looked favorably upon.

驱虎吞狼/Set the tiger upon the wolf: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to setting your rivals upon each other so that you can swoop in afterward to finish at least one party off.

岂能争一时之势而无心于天下？/Does it make sense for you to struggle for a moment’s gain without thinking about all under heaven?: Here, Kayla speaks in a very traditional form that is mostly used by the highly educated. The concept of 天下/All under heaven refers to the entire country, but usually stops at the borders. Since it stems from the pre-Qin era, it makes sense that people hardly knew what lay outside of the borders of what we now understand to be China, and even afterward, the term had too much cultural significance to be replaced.

族譜/Family records: The Ancient Chinese equivalent of an official family tree, but usually written in list form. Depending on the region and the time period, maternal nephews, nieces, and grandchildren were usually not included. Since inclusion often meant access to familial resources (extended families often pooled resources to provide for education, dowries, illnesses, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, travel, or buying communal familial land), whether or not step-children, illegitimate sons, or sometimes even the children of extremely low-status concubines (such as serving maids or courtesans who got pregnant) were included was usually a source of heated contestation.

84-The Qualities of an Emperor

Character Index

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and head of the Hanlin Academy, he served as the "moderator" for the previous generation of princes, ensuring their survival past the succession struggle, he is deeply trusted by the Emperor but detested by the Empress Dowager. He was also the teacher of the Imperial Princess, having assisted in her investigations, and is now Kayla/Wenyuan's godfather.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and former main character, he was responsible for the OG Wenyuan’s death in the original timeline. In the current timeline, he has yet to learn of the culprit behind his mother’s murder and still bears some degree of goodwill towards his cousin.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan despite his mother being a courtesan, he was formerly responsible for doing the dirty work for the Liang clan, and later the Seventh Prince's faction under Liu Boyue's orders. He now works for Kayla, mostly for entertainment.

Feng Yi: A clumsy spy sent by Xianchun's faction to act as a red herring, he was caught by Hu Qing and brought before Kayla, who let him leave without giving him too much of a hard time. In thanks for being let off easy as well as the not-insignificant sum of money Kayla gifted him, Feng Yi promised to repay Kayla if she ever had need of him.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man, he has been secretly acting without Xianchun's permission, believing that he is benefitting Xianchun. He has met Hu Qing before, having contracted Hu Qing's services through Minister Liang for a variety of purposes, including an attempt to recruit Qu Boyong.

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice, formerly a Chamberlain of the Ministry of Judicial Review and a Country Magistrate before that. He was recruited by Kayla and is committed to acting as a loyal advisor out of gratitude for having received opportunities through her help (specifically, going from a ninth-rank provincial officer to a fourth-rank capital official.)

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and sister of the current Emperor, she was involved in groundbreaking magical research prior to her death from illness. She also conducted investigations into the Grand Duke's crimes, uncovering extensive evidence that she hid away to protect Wenyuan.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne. Son of the Noble Consort, who comes from a prominent military clan.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, close with Kuang and one of his primary supporters. Currently withdrawn from court politics to take the heat off his mother the Wise Consort and his maternal relatives the Shu clan, a prominent military clan concentrated in the Northeast.

Zhao Wei: Current Minister of War, and one of Wenyuan's relatives. Generation-wise, he counts among Wenyuan's uncles, though the actual family ties are much more complicated than that.

Minister Liang: Head of the Liang clan and Minister of Justice, one of Xianchun's supporters.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of the Princess of Chu and General Xiang, he formerly worked as Kayla's servant while undercover in the Zhao household. He has now embarked on his revenge plot against the Grand Duke, pretending to flee the capital in order to confuse his enemies.

An Haoyang: A retainer of the Xiang clan, working undercover as an Imperial Investigator. He has provided information to Qu Boyong over the years, and recently pretended to leave the capital to confuse his enemies.

Matron Li: A senior female servant in the Grand Duke's household, she was sent by the palace to ensure the survival of Wenyuan's father, Zhao Kangyu, and she is the only servant who still tends to Wenyuan, the others actively avoid Wenyuan and refusing to serve him out of fear for the Grand Duke.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Qu Boyong's cousin, she was sent undercover into the Zhao household as a child, and served as Wenyuan's personal serving girl. The two had requited romantic feelings for each other. She recently "quit", having been shuffled over to Sun Ruhui's household, where she remains as a hostage against Qu Boyong.

Kayla arrived at Wei Guang’s household, sending off Xianchun’s men. Unperturbed by Kayla’s sudden arrival without any prior warning, Wei Guang’s steward led her in with perfect etiquette.

“Hu Qing, go and scout things out, I need to figure out what will and will not work,” Kayla said to him quietly. Hu Qing nodded, immediately understanding that Kayla wanted him to scout out the Grand Duke’s security to see how he could die in a way that best resembled suicide.

“Then I’ll take my leave,” he said, nodding politely to the elderly steward before peeling off at the speed of light, leaving a gust of wind in his wake.

“This way please, Minister,” the steward said kindly, tactfully pretending not to see Hu Qing flipping over the wall instead of taking the gate two feet to his left. Kayla gave the steward an apologetic look as he led her into a tidy sitting room and called for a serving girl to bring tea.

“I’ll go and notify the master of your arrival,” the steward said.

“Thank you,” Kayla replied. She waited quietly, thoughts ramming around in her mind at full speed. Wenyuan’s stubborn silence was actually a boon for the moment, reducing the total amount of cacophony in her head.

“Minister, please have some tea,” the serving girl said, pouring her a cup. Kayla took it with a quiet murmur of thanks. The taste of the tea made her startle in amazement.

Wait, this is the kind of tea Wenyuan’s mother used to make, Kayla recognized it from Wenyuan’s memories. She glanced down at the cup in surprise. As expected of teacher and student, even the tea is similar.

Something seemed to click inside her, and Kayla silently came to a decision.

“Wenyuan, you’re here!” Wei Guang called from the corridor as he approached the room. The serving girl bowed and discreetly took her leave.

“Godfather, I apologize for dropping in without prior notice,” Kayla greeted him as he entered.

Wei Guang smiled at her. “No such thing, you’re always welcome in my household.”

“Thank you, godfather. Everything happened rather suddenly, so I didn’t have a chance to send a message ahead of time,” Kayla said. Wei Guang nodded for her to go on, and she launched into an explanation of what had happened with Feng Yi, Liu Boyue’s involvement, Xianchun’s spies, and the new agreement they had reached over the Ministries of Revenue and Rites.

Wei Guang gave her a concerned look. “From what you’ve told me, it’s not safe for you to return to the Zhao household for now,” he warned her. “You’ve crossed the Grand Duke enough times to garner his killing intent, you should not take unnecessary risks.”

“I can’t leave the household either,” Kayla pointed out. “That devalues me in the palace’s eyes, and then where does that leave me?”

Wei Guang sighed. “Then at least give him a day or two to cool his temper, and make it clear that there are eyes on his actions before you return,” he said. “The Grand Duke has impressive physical strength for a civil official.”

“I know, I know that very well,” Kayla said drily. “The funny thing is, he never really let me learn martial skills properly. I can ride a horse, hold a sword, and maybe shoot a bow with an accuracy of about five out of ten, but that’s all the progress my instructors ever allowed.”

It didn’t escape her notice that Wenyuan had been given martial education as would be expected for a child of such a prominent lineage, but only enough to keep people from saying that the Grand Duke didn’t provide for his heir, and certainly not enough that Wenyuan could reliably defend himself.

Wei Guang frowned, piecing together Kayla’s words before coming to a realization. Kayla watched with a small sense of vindication as guilt flashed across his face, followed by bitterness and anger. Wei Guang hadn’t been privy to what Wenyuan suffered under the Grand Duke after the Imperial Princess’ death, only knowing what was available through the grapevine.

He probably didn’t even know how bad it was. Kayla doubted he fully understood it from just a few hints she’d dropped either, but surely he knew enough to understand why she was here instead of at the Zhao household.

“Even one as poison-hearted as a tiger does not eat their own young, he truly is a man without humanity or loyalty!” Wei Guang said bitterly.

Kayla lowered her eyes, shaking her head with a deep sigh.

“Grandmother warned him before, but it only seemed to make him angrier,” Kayla said dejectedly. “And now I’ve angered him again. I don’t think of myself as a coward, but I can’t deny being afraid of his reaction.”

Wei Guang held out a hand. “Say no more, Wenyuan. Stay here for the next few days, I insist.”

Kayla gave him a grateful look. “Thank you, godfather!”

Wei Guang gave a heavy sigh. “It is only what I should do. Wenyuan, you’ve been incredibly courageous in doing what you have. If there’s anything I can do to help you along, it’s only right that I should do it.”

Kayla grabbed onto her chance. “Godfather, there’s something I’ve been struggling with for some time now. I’ve been tormented over what the right choice should be, but now, I don’t think there’s any other choice if I want to save myself and the rest of my clan.”

“Tell me what it is, perhaps I can be of some help,” Wei Guang offered.

“In terms of loyalty, the Grand Duke is a parasite upon the dynasty, eating away at its foundations in order to satiate his own greed. His crimes are enough to damn our clan to the ninth degree,” Kayla said, offering her justification before her decision. “In terms of filial piety, the Grand Duke is responsible for the death of my father. One cannot share the same sky as one who has killed their parent.”

She met Wei Guang’s serious gaze for a moment before hastily shifting her eyes away. “That is, what I mean to say is,” Kayla trailed off, mustering her courage to push forward.

Kayla hesitated for a moment. “I need the Grand Duke to die.”

Wei Guang nodded slowly. “I see.”

“By his own hand,” Kayla added. There was a drawn-out silence in which Kayla had to resist the urge to dash toward the door. Discussing it with Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing was one thing, discussing it with a powerful official who was an established Confucian scholar was a completely different matter.

Finally, Wei Guang let out a soft sigh, nodding his head.

“It would be just as well if he dies of illness,” Wei Guang replied. “But it would be more difficult for you to accomplish.”

He took a deep breath, patting Kayla’s shoulder reassuringly. “Very well, I will help you make it happen.” Kayla carefully glanced over his face and body language, ascertaining if he was sincere. Her mind flashed to the Imperial Princess’ investigations and the tea, her nervously pounding heart finally settling down.

“Thank you, godfather.” Kayla bowed her head.

“What say you we make the most of this?” Wei Guang asked her. “Soon after his death, you should use your mother’s investigations to expose at least some of his crimes under the guise of having found the evidence in his belongings, and denounce him as well as your other guilty relatives, actively offering their wealth and estates to the treasury. The Emperor may dig up the Grand Duke’s grave to behead him, but he would have a good enough reason to differentiate between the guilty and the innocent.”

“That is precisely what I was hoping for!” Kayla replied.

“I was thinking of further maximizing this. Your position will no doubt take a hit even if you step forward to reveal your grandfather’s crimes, but that is of great detriment to the neutral faction at a time when the power vacuum would lead to a scramble for power by both princes’ factions. Rather than allowing this to hurt you, we should use this to give the Emperor an excuse to bestow the surname of Zhou upon you,” Wei Guang said.

Kayla hesitated instinctively. “It will receive great pushback.”

“Justifications are easy to come by,” Wei Guang assured her. “And this will ensure the Zhao clan will not be exterminated. As for what happens to them afterward, you need not worry about it any further. You’ve more than done your part for your clan.”

That’s true.

“But the princes will not sit easy with that,” Kayla pointed out.

“Which prince are you worried about, specifically?” Wei Guang asked. Kayla uneasily shifted, trying to find a neutral answer.

Seeing her reluctance, Wei Guang began voicing his own thoughts. “The Third Prince is charismatic, just, and capable, with the makings of a great ruler, but he is prone to arrogance due to his natural tendency to excel. The Fifth Prince is the pinnacle of refinement and coolheadedness, but is swayed too easily by matters of family and can be too indecisive. The two of them balance each other out to some extent, but not to the point where their faults disappear. On the other hand, we have the Seventh Prince who is sharp like a freshly polished blade, with a strong sense of righteousness and a burning sense of motivation, but he is judgmental and prone to harshness. That is what I have observed. What do you think?”

Kayla stared at Wei Guang in mild amazement for a moment before bowing her head. “Godfather’s words put me to shame, your perception is truly extraordinary!”

Wei Guang chuckled softly. “Don’t avoid the question with flattery. What do you think? Speak without reservation, I myself had quite some thoughts on who was suitable for the throne in your uncle’s generation, and wasn’t afraid of voicing them.”

“The princes of this generation have sharper claws and are hungrier with ambition,” Kayla admitted. “The power balance also does not overwhelmingly favor one side, so it is hard to say who will emerge victorious, hence my reluctance.”

“Then that is your fault. Rather than falter and cower, you should always voice your criticisms with great conviction. They will not respect you otherwise,” Wei Guang admonished her. “If you speak boldly, officials will bow to your leadership, the scholars will write of your loyalty, and the people will praise you for daring to remonstrate a ruler. Thus, it will be the palace that hesitates to touch you.”

Kayla thought of how Xianchun would react to such a thing and withheld a wince.

That would work for every emperor who cared about their reputation, with the exception of Xianchun after he went into revenge mode.

“Seeing your expression, you have already thought of who would not listen,” Wei Guang prompted.

“I thought of the Seventh Prince,” Kayla admitted. “He is, as you said, sharp as a blade, but that blade sings for blood once it is angered. When he will hear reason, the Seventh Prince is an excellent candidate, but when he will not, no man or god could intervene.”

It often made her wonder about the original timeline. Just what kind of future did Xianchun create after paving his path with blood?

“He is why you are reluctant to receive the Zhou surname,” Wei Guang remarked.

“Yes.”

Wei Guang nodded. “Of what you have said, I have yet to see signs of. But I’m sure you have your reasons for thinking this way. Allow me to observe him further and see if he might be susceptible to other methods of persuasion. If he is not, there is nothing further to be said.”

Kayla stared at him in shock. “Godfather, what do you mean by that?”

“Then he must not become the Emperor,” Wei Guang said simply.

At Kayla’s stunned expression, Wei Guang chuckled lightly.

“Wenyuan, every dynasty has its rise and fall. The shorter ones may only last for a few decades, while the longer ones last for centuries. But what causes a dynasty’s rise, and what causes its ruin?” Wei Guang said.

Kayla frowned, trying to figure out where they were going with this. At a loss, she went along with the question.

“From my understanding, a dynasty usually establishes itself as a unifying force after a period of chaos. The government redistributes land and resources, agricultural production increases once people are able to farm in peace, and the dynasty slowly begins to build up its strength. The first few generations of rulers usually benefit from their proximity to chaos and thus tend to be more careful in their rule, promoting the able and punishing the corrupt. This then allows the government to be filled with loyal and capable officials, and the dynasty enters a period of prosperity,” Kayla said, cautiously watching Wei Guang’s reaction. He nodded, waving for her to go on.

“As for how it then enters decline, what I’ve understood is that as the population increases, the amount of arable land becomes insufficient. Furthermore, over the course of generations, clans gain prominence and large amounts of influence in the localities, allowing them to increasingly buy up farmland and accumulate wealth, while more and more peasants are forced to become sharecroppers. The administration also becomes bloated and corrupt as time goes on, especially as rulers who are born into peace and prosperity grow complacent, and the prominence of clans also increases social stratification while preventing upward mobility from the peasant class," Kayla continued.

"Culturally, politically, and economically, the dynasty stagnates and begins to enter decline. As time goes on, the central government loses its ability to properly collect tax revenues or to administer its rule in the provinces due to both the concentration of land in the hands of a few as well as a crumbling and corrupt bureaucracy, and thus is short-handed when there is a natural disaster or an invasion. Then the peasants lose their faith in the court, the regions grow stronger and more autonomous, and eventually, rebellions break out and the dynasty is toppled. And then the ensuing chaos cuts down the population enough that the next dynasty is able to offer more resources per person, and the cycle begins again.”

She looked towards Wei Guang for affirmation.

“You have the basic gist of it,” he said with a small note of surprise. “More so than I would have expected from someone your age. Of course, various factors differ across dynasties, but the general patterns remain the same. A dynasty begins, builds up its power, enters a golden age, declines, and meets its end. What differs is whether or not there will be a revival of a second golden age that slows or even reverses the process of decline. The Wu dynasty has been established for several generations already and is past its golden age. The question is now whether we will see the dynasty reinvigorated or if we will slowly and steadily head down the path of decline, and for that, the next ruler is crucial. Timewise, if the next Emperor fails to at least set the foundations for the dynasty to be reinvigorated, the clans will have grown too strong for later generations to successfully grapple with.”

“Even if they want to, they won’t be able to,” Kayla said thoughtfully.

“Exactly. If you miss the opportunity, the momentum will be too difficult to reverse,” Wei Guang agreed. “A country is like a large and heavy wheel that rolls across the fields of time. Once it is tumbling downhill, it takes incredible strength to push it back upwards, or even to slow it down. Whether in the military or the civil administration, we’re already starting to see the weakening of the Emperor and central government. Local clans have a strong influence on regional administration, and colluding for benefit is commonplace. Right now, the central government is still strong enough to cull these developments before they get out of hand, but the question is whether the next Emperor will be able to do so.”

Kayla frowned. “Both the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince have expressed their interest in doing so, but they seem to differ in how to go about it.”

Wei Guang nodded. “And how exactly do they differ?”

“The Seventh Prince intends to act quickly and cut down corruption with large knives and heavy axes, while the Third Prince advocates for moving slower and using more soft-handed measures,” Kayla replied.

“Just as I thought,” Wei Guang said. “The Third Prince can use his charisma and talent for politics to achieve his goals, while the Seventh Prince’s determined personality allows him to push forward boldly without hesitation.”

“That’s right, but what approach is more likely to succeed?” Kayla asked. “I can understand the benefits to either, one prioritizes stability and minimizing backlash but takes longer, while the other prioritizes reducing the burden for the populace as soon as possible but is much more likely to face pushback and insubordination. Godfather, with your wisdom, which do you think better of?”

Wei Guang shook his head. “Neither.”

“What? Neither?” Kayla frowned in confusion. “Then–”

“Both methods can end in failure if not tempered by its counterpart,” Wei Guang explained. “A subtler approach can easily lose momentum if it does not have a driving force composed of more radical proponents, while a harsher approach can easily be ground to a halt by widespread backlash unless it also employs softer means for pacification. That is why, rather than deciding who is more likely to succeed by the method they wish to use, it is more important to see whether they can accept criticism and advice.”

Kayla lit up with realization. “I see! So that is what you meant when you said he must not become Emperor if he cannot listen to the words of his advisors!”

Wei Guang nodded. “I will look into the Seventh Prince and confirm your words to see if that is the route we must take, but in terms of deciding the successor, their gains and losses in court is only one part of the problem. You should take heed to manage them in this regard, but more importantly, there is the Emperor’s decision. Right now, none of the princes are close enough with the Emperor to successfully use him in their struggle, but you are close enough that the Emperor entertains your words with his consideration. In this regard, you have the utmost advantage.”

“So you would support me if I decided to prevent the Seventh Prince from gaining the throne?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang nodded, not taking offense at Kayla’s need to repeatedly confirm his intentions. It was clear enough to him that Kayla’s precarity led to her paranoia, and offering reassurances was easy enough when he meant it.

“Yes, I would. If your judgment is correct, and I strongly suspect that it is, then for the sake of the dynasty’s future, I must support you,” he replied. “That is exactly what I returned to the capital for.”

Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you.”

“It’s only what I should do,” Wei Guang said. “Now about the Grand Duke, you should act as soon as you can, but not before you have the pieces in place to deal with the power vacuum. That shouldn’t be as much of a problem, what’s more important is making it believable. Find some way to get him to write something expressing his regret.”

Kayla turned it over in her head briefly. “Zhao Wei’s resignation could be a good opportunity. I’ll write to some of my relatives, I know that quite a few of them must be feeling antsy now. If they could convince the Grand Duke for me, it can be done.”

Wei Guang nodded. “Good. Try to make them act quickly, or the long night will bring many dreams, and they’ll likely change their minds.”

“Understood, godfather. I’ll follow your advice,” Kayla replied.

Xianchun frowned pensively at the scroll before him, the words swimming on the page. Ever since Wenyuan’s visit the day before, Xianchun couldn’t shake the tendrils of suspicion that curled into his mind and took root there.

“No need to worry, my prince. He’s a man of loyalty and honor. He is bound by customer confidentiality. He’s not interested in political power either, there’s no need to worry about any trouble with the Liang clan.” Wenyuan’s words kept echoing through his head.

The implications were worrying. Wenyuan seemed to believe that Hu Qing had been hired by Xianchun before, and also that Hu Qing was someone who could gain power within the Liang clan. If he really was just an illegitimate son, there wouldn’t even be a need for Wenyuan to give any assurance.

The more he thought about it, the more he bothered him.

Hu Qing. Minister Liang. There was a missing piece there that further tied them to Xianchun, but he had no idea what it was.

“My prince,” Liu Boyue called out his greeting, bowing as he entered the room. “Minister Liang sent you a message.”

Something twisted in Xianchun’s gut as he stared at Liu Boyue. Xianchun quickly dismissed the ridiculous notion and smiled.

“Let’s see what he said,” Xianchun replied. He read over the message, frowning anew.

“Qu Boyong? Wenyuan’s former servant? It’s probably just a coincidence, I don’t see how he would be tied to an Imperial Investigator,” Xianchun said incredulously.

“Perhaps, but there must be a reason why Minister Liang reported the two of these in conjunction. An Imperial Investigator whose family was from Henan was seen racing toward Dengzhou in horseback only a day after being released from the internal investigation, and within an hour, Qu Boyong was spotted at the horse exchange outside the South Gates. If he’s really headed to Henan, then that probably means he has connections there to draw upon. Better to believe there is something there and proceed with caution rather than to think nothing of it,” Liu Boyue urged him.

“You have a point,” Xianchun said. “If they really have ties to any nobles in Dengzhou or Henan, that's not something we can afford to overlook. Very well, do what you think is necessary.”

Liu Boyue bowed his head slightly. “As you wish, my prince.”

“Wait,” Xianchun called out to him as Liu Boyue turned to leave. Liu Boyue turned back to face him, a curious look on his face. Xianchun hesitated, suddenly at a loss of words and inexplicably guilty.

“The people Wenyuan brought back yesterday, is that all taken care of?” Xianchun asked.

“Yes, I’ll be sending them out of the capital soon so that the Grand Duke’s household can’t use that against us,” Liu Boyue replied.

Xianchun nodded slowly. “It seems another man was caught the night before, but Wenyuan let him go. That man, was he one of ours?”

Liu Boyue shook his head. “I’ve heard of that from our people, but he wasn’t one of ours.”

“I see. We’ll have to arrange new people then,” Xianchun sighed wearily. “What a setback, we’d gotten so far only to get thrown back to ground zero.”

Liu Boyue shifted on his feet. “My prince, I don’t think it was a coincidence that our people were caught in one go. From what they told me, there were simply too many coincidences for each and every single one of them to end up in the same place, not to mention they found items they had hidden away uncovered and laid out on their belongings. This smells of sabotage.”

“Who do you think it is?” Xianchun asked.

Liu Boyue bowed his head. “I believe it was Zhao Wenyuan’s way of cleaning out your spies under the pretense of doing you a favor.”

“With what help? From what our people saw, almost none of the servants bother serving him, much less do all this for his sake. In fact, they barely even got a single shred of information about him because of that,” Xianchun pointed out. “The only ones who even interact with him are an old woman who doesn’t have the skills and a young woman who recently resigned. Even if it’s sabotage, it wasn’t set up by him.”

“He does have the ability to arrange this,” Liu Boyue insisted. Xianchun felt the twisting feeling in his gut again and felt the urge to stop, but something made him continue.

“Qu Boyong was quite capable, I admit. But he left,” Xianchun said flatly. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Liu Boyue stilled, reluctant to continue.

“Or do you know anything about Hu Qing’s abilities?” Xianchun asked, leaning forward in his seat. “Boyue, how do you know about that?”

“I looked into him when you allied with Minister Liang,” Liu Boyue replied. “I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be a threat, but it seems I underestimated him.”

“You never mentioned it to me,” Xianchun prodded.

“I didn’t think it was worth your attention,” Liu Boyue said apologetically.

Xianchun nodded, but the answer didn’t satisfy him.

“Just what is his relationship with Minister Liang? Wenyuan mentioned that it was complicated,” Xianchun pressed him.

“Minister Liang said Hu Qing was his illegitimate nephew,” Liu Boyue replied. “I can look into it some more if you would like to know.”

Xianchun nodded slowly. “Alright, go ahead and do that.”

Liu Boyue bowed and took his leave, Xianchun watching as he left. Something about the conversation left Xianchun with a strange sense of unease that refused to be pushed away.

“The allure of power is something that will drive men to madness. Every leader faces issues in keeping their men in line. The crux of the matter is simply that you will never be able to completely rein in people’s desires.”

Xianchun grit his teeth as Wenyuan’s words suddenly sprung to mind.

“As if,” Xianchun muttered through clenched jaws. “That has nothing to do with me and Boyue.”

The twisting in his stomach didn’t go away.

Cultural Notes

Education for Nobles in the Tang Dynasty: The Tang Dynasty emphasized martial skills, and so the children of rich or noble families, who could afford for them to engage in full-time education, would be trained in both martial and literary skills. This usually involved learning basic martial arts, learning to use weapons, shoot a bow, ride a horse, as well as on the literary side, learning the Four Classics and Five Books, history (usually the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties that weren't included in pre-Qin classics), how to manage accounts, poetry, prose, geography, social studies (could include a wide range of fields depending on the teacher), and so on so forth.

虎毒不食子/One as poison-hearted as a tiger does not eat their own young: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that even evil and ruthless men still show mercy towards their own children, which also means that if you fail even to do that, you're even worse than a beast.

不仁不義/Inhumane and disloyal: Humaneness/kindness/mercy/benevolence was represented by the concept of 仁/Humane goodness as one of the five most important virtues, along with loyalty. So to call someone inhumane and disloyal is among one of the worst insults to their character.

腐蝕根基/To rot away at foundations: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to actively eat away/make to rot at the foundations of a family, institution, community, society, or dynasty.

殺父之仇不可與同代天/One cannot share the same sky as one who has killed their father: An Ancient Chinese proverb, this can also be applied to mothers.

Filial Piety in Confucian values: One of the most important tenets of Confucian values is filial piety, with the famous proverb 百善孝爲先/Of a hundred virtues, filial piety is first, hence Kayla's reluctance to voice her plans before a Confucian scholar.

優柔寡斷/Hesitant and Indecisive: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to describe someone who is not decisive enough, especially at critical moments.

锯牙钩爪/Sharp fangs and curled claws: An Ancient Chinese proverb comparing someone to a predator with sharp fangs like a saw and curled claws like an eagle's talons.

Loyal Officials and Remonstration: In Ancient China, loyal officials who weren't afraid to offend the Emperor with straightforward remonstration and advice were highly valued, and tended to be well-received among the people and the literati, which thereby serves as a protection against the Emperor's anger via public opinion. This is especially the case when compared to officials who flatter their way into the Emperor's favor and abuse their power. As such, many Emperors purposefully keep a very sharp-tongued person around to show their magnanimity and benevolence.

Dynastic Cycles: Usually, a dynasty will aggregate all lands as public lands at the beginning of the dynasty, and then evenly distribute it among the populace. As the population increases, productivity on arable land also increases until there is enough surplus to support the trades, military, and a robust scholar class. However, the court and Emperor tend to get more opulent as the dynasty goes on, while the population begins to increase past the point that could be supported by the agricultural technologies of the time, which coupled with a few natural disasters here and there (China's pretty big, there's almost always a drought or a flood or a storm or an avalanche at least somewhere in the country), means that the average amount of resources per capita are going down while taxes are going up. Kayla gives a basic overview of all this in the chapter, so I won't go into too much detail, but as taxes and population levels rise, peasants who can no longer support themselves often end up having to sell their land in times of need and are thus relegated to sharecropper status.

The more uneven resource distributions are, the less revenue the dynasty can extract, which then further weakens its ability to respond to natural disasters or military threats, and usually, a particularly bad natural disaster will cause widespread rebellions among the peasants, and that's it for this dynastic cycle. When looking at literature from the later years of a dynasty, you'll find that for contemporaries, younger officials usually attributed the reasons for the dynasty's decline to various factors such as the consolidation of power or corruption of eunuchs, in-laws, members of the Imperial Harem, or a few specific officials/generals, which would mean there's still a way to fix the system and reverse things, but older officials who had seen enough cycles of idealistic people getting crushed by the system tend to have a more comprehensive [and fatalistic] understanding that the dynasty's system is broken.

開國，升平，太平，中興，滅亡/Dynasty begins, rises in prosperity, reaches the golden age, experiences revival [after golden age], comes to an end: The basic dynastic cycle as Wei Guang says it, the one that a large number of Chinese historians generally agree with.

大刀闊斧/Large knives and heavy axes: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to go in swinging, no holds barred.

85-Inevitability

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan, he was formerly responsible for doing the dirty work for the Liang clan, and later the Seventh Prince's faction under Liu Boyue's orders. He now works for Kayla, mostly for entertainment.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and head of the Hanlin Academy, he served as the "moderator" for the previous generation of princes, ensuring their survival past the succession struggle, currently supporting Kayla/Wenyuan, having claimed them as his godson.

Qu Boyong: Son of the Princess of Chu and General Xiang, he formerly worked as Kayla's servant while undercover in the Zhao household. He has now embarked on his revenge plot against the Grand Duke, pretending to flee the capital in order to confuse his enemies.

An Haoyang: A retainer of the Xiang clan, working undercover as an Imperial Investigator. He has provided information to Qu Boyong over the years, and recently pretended to leave the capital to confuse his enemies.

Zhao Wei: Current Minister of War, and one of Wenyuan's relatives. Generation-wise, he counts among Wenyuan's uncles, though the actual family ties are much more complicated than that.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne. Son of the Noble Consort, who comes from a prominent military clan. Currently seeking out Qu Boyong due to his implication in the poisoning of Yunqi's maternal cousin.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, close with Kuang and one of his primary supporters. Currently withdrawn from court politics to take the heat off his mother the Wise Consort and his maternal relatives the Shu clan, a prominent military clan concentrated in the Northeast. Seeking out Qu Boyong due to his implication in the poisoning of Yunqi's maternal cousin.

Hu Weizhi: Minister of Public Works and a member of the neutral faction, he was the head of the traditionalists and was unwilling to cooperate with Kayla/acknowledge her as the new head of the neutral faction until realizing how deep the waters were, thanks to Wei Guang's "gentle persuasion".

Kayla frowned thoughtfully as she listened to Hu Qing’s report. She was still in Wei Guang’s household despite it having been two days since she’d whisked away Xianchun’s spies. Wei Guang was more than happy to keep Kayla over on the pretense of familial traditions for the ritual of claiming a godson. Wei Guang’s hometown indeed had a tradition for three days of ritual fasting in which the godson resided in the home of their new godparents after the relationship was established, so the excuse could withstand scrutiny when people inevitably questioned why Kayla was going to Wei Guang’s place after work instead of to the Zhao household.

Kayla had to admit that it was nice to have an environment without the ever-present threat of death or injury from the Grand Duke, especially after having done something that was sure to stir the old man into a rage.

“So the bad news is that the Grand Duke has a complete set of protections against assassinations,” Hu Qing said. “Poison-detecting spells on his tableware, on his outer robes, on his inner robes, I personally think he’s a bit too paranoid, even the Imperial Princes don’t do it to this degree. He’s constantly accompanied by guards, and he has trained professionals from my occupation on hand at a moment’s call, which doesn’t give us too many advantages.”

“So it’s basically impossible to do it subtly. What’s the good news?” Kayla asked.

“I didn’t say there was any,” Hu Qing replied. “In fact, I have more bad news for you. Qu Boyong and an Imperial Investigator, the guy with the Chu Poem name, An Haoyang, were both seen leaving the capital a few days ago and they haven’t shown up since.”

“There’s no way he’d just give up,” Kayla said with a frown.

“That’s why it’s bad news,” Hu Qing agreed.

“Anything else?” Kayla asked.

“Oh yes, of course, there’s more,” Hu Qing went on. “Zhao Wei’s quietly getting ready to resign, along with the rest of the implicated staff members from the Ministry of War. Last night he went to go see the Grand Duke and got smacked in the face in front of several other clan members. He left in a bad mood and called in sick today.”

Kayla scrunched her brow. “That’s not bad news, is it?”

Hu Qing shrugged. “Well, everyone knows the Grand Duke’s furious with you, again, so even if they don’t know what it’s about, they definitely think you’re to blame for any damage they take.”

Kayla shook her head in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous! Are they seriously going to blame me for not being present to serve as a punching bag?”

On second thought, they would.

“That won’t do,” Kayla muttered. “I’ve sent out a few letters, but it seems I’ll need to write one for everyone who was present. Do you have the names?”

“Of course,” Hu Qing handed her a rolled-up piece of paper, a faint look of amusement on his face. “It seems I’ve brought you a piece of good news after all.”

“Convincing the members of the Zhao clan won’t be too difficult, most of them are sure to be terrified now that the Ministry of War’s slipped from the Grand Duke’s control,” Kayla said calmly. “None of them are exactly men of loyalty and integrity whose standing can’t be shaken, or they wouldn’t have relied on the Grand Duke to begin with. What I’m truly worried about is Qu Boyong. Why did he leave?”

“I don’t believe he would really leave. In fact, I don’t believe he even plans on going to Henan,” Hu Qing scoffed. “It’s probably a tactic to confuse our eyes and ears.”

“Does he have any connections left in the Chu region?” Kayla pondered. “More importantly, does he have any support in Dengzhou?”

“You are thinking too highly of him, my lord. If he had that ability, then why did he have to personally infiltrate the Zhao household?” Hu Qing pointed out.

“Then what?” Kayla asked. “Is he skipping town to avoid Kuang and Yunqi’s anger?”

It would make sense, given the situation. Qu Boyong was wanted by three of the four major factions in the capital and didn’t have even a fraction of the resources that his opponents did. The smart thing to do would be to skip town and lie low, rather than go around with a target painted on his back.

“Perhaps he’s still in the city,” Hu Qing replied. “There isn’t any confirmation that they continued towards Henan and Dengzhou after leaving the capital, they very well could’ve returned in disguise so as to confound us.”

Kayla sighed. “That’s also very likely. Let’s proceed with that scenario for now, but also keep an ear out for anything that happens in Dengzhou and Henan.”

Hu Qing nodded. He opened his mouth to say something but fell quiet as someone came down the corridor. A knock sounded on the door.

“Minister, apologies for disturbing you, but the master has requested you to join him at Minister Hu’s household,” a servant said.

“Of course, I’ll get ready right away,” Kayla replied. Wei Guang had left earlier to discuss the Ministry of Revenue with the traditionalists, asking Kayla to stay behind until he had whipped them into line enough to have a proper discussion. Unsurprisingly, that hadn’t taken too long. Hu Qing followed Kayla out of the Inner Quarters and to the gates.

A carriage was ready by the time Kayla had gotten to the main entrance, several of Wei Guang’s household guards waiting around it.

“I think it’s fine for you to go first,” Kayla said quietly to Hu Qing, who nodded and began to move away.

“Minister, your cloak,” a servant called out, scurrying forward with the cloak Wei Guang had gifted her the day before. He was a mousy man Kayla had seen once in the Outer Quarters, likely trying to curry favor with his master’s new godson.

“Oh, thank you,” Kayla said, not paying too much attention as she reached out to take it. The servant hesitated, halfway to putting it on Kayla’s shoulders.

Well, alright then. Kayla stood still and allowed the servant to put the cloak on for her. Just as it was about to land on her shoulders, Hu Qing dashed back with a shout of alarm. Kayla jolted as Hu Qing shoved his way between them, grabbing the servant’s arm. Hu Qing twisted the servant’s arm, forcing the man to his knees.

What the hell?! Kayla hastily backed away, giving Hu Qing a shocked look.

“Bastard! Who sent you?!” Hu Qing demanded. The servant gave an incoherent screech of pain, the cloak dropping to the floor.

“What’s the matter?” Kayla asked in alarm.

“There was a needle in the collar of the robe,” Hu Qing replied tersely. Kayla glanced down at the collar, flinching as she saw the long needle nestled in the hem of the collar.

What the fuck? Kayla leaned down and reached out to take a closer look at it.

“Don’t touch that! It’s probably poisoned,” Hu Qing warned her. Kayla obediently stepped back.

Wei Guang’s guards rushed forward, picking up the cloak and dragging away the servant.

“Take that man to the holding cells of the Court of Judicial Review, make sure he doesn’t kill himself!” Kayla ordered. “Tell the guards there that I’ve ordered to keep him under careful watch until I arrive, no one is allowed to take him from the holding cell without my express permission, no matter who sends them. If I get there to find that he’s missing, dead, or unable to speak, I’ll hold every man on duty tonight accountable.” Waving off their bows and apologies, she turned towards Hu Qing uneasily.

“What do you think?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing grimaced. “He’s not a professional. Someone’s serious about killing you, and I think we both know who it’s most likely to be. From now on, be careful to shake out your clothes before you put them on, and test your food and drink for poison. Also, don’t get on any carriages until I’ve checked them.”

“That bad?”

Hu Qing nodded. “This is the Imperial Edict Bearer’s household and they’ve managed to get someone to do this. It’s about time you made your move as well, my lord. Just say the word and I can act.”

Kayla shook her head. “We don’t have an opportunity yet.”

“Don’t be so concerned with the details, anything can be made to go away afterward,” Hu Qing urged her. “You could always just lockdown the entire household and go from there.”

Kayla let out a deep sigh, glancing in the direction the servant had been dragged off towards.

“It seems that we don’t have any other options,” she murmured. “Let’s act as soon as possible.”

“As you wish,” Hu Qing replied. Kayla moved towards the carriage, gesturing for Hu Qing to check it for her. He chuckled in disbelief.

“You’re still going?” Hu Qing asked.

“Why? Should I not? I’ll have to head to the Court of Judicial Review right after this, but there’s no sense in wasting my godfather’s efforts,” Kayla replied. She didn’t want to give someone the satisfaction of having scared her off, nor did she want to stir up a fuss and get the palace involved before Kayla could get some sense of what was going on. There was also the chance that it would frighten the traditionalists into backing down or withdrawing their support, and Kayla wasn’t about to take that risk.

Hu Qing laughed again, shaking his head. “Whatever suits you.” He turned towards the horseman, who was nervously watching them from his place at the head of the carriage. “To Minister Hu’s residence.”

Grabbing one of the guards’ horses, Hu Qing rode next to the carriage, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. He went in with Kayla once they arrived at Hu Weizhi’s household, ignoring the odd glances he got from the servants.

“Could you send someone to the Court of Judicial Review ahead of us? I don’t feel secure leaving that servant in the hands of the guards,” Kayla asked him softly as they arrived at the sitting room. "You can also head over first. If I'm with my godfather, they won't make a move."

Who knows how long this would take? Those goddamn traditionalists can keep spewing words for hours.

Hu Qing nodded, quickly activating a communication device and sending out a message. Kayla went in alone, bowing her head politely in greeting.

“Godfather, Minister Hu,” Kayla greeted them before the other traditionalists. Over half of them were people from the Hanlin Academy whom she had only met once or twice before, discounting the times they had been listening in on her negotiations with Hu Weizhi.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Minister Zhao,” Hu Weizhi said, not looking all that pleased.

“Wenyuan, come and sit down,” Wei Guang waved her over. Though it was Hu Weizhi’s house, Wei Guang was in the seat of honor. Kayla sat down at his side.

Wei Guang looked around the room imposingly, a somber look on his face.

“We were speaking of the balance of the Ministries just now, but we’ve had some disagreements. It is my hope that since you’ve now joined us, we will be able to resolve our differences and reach a consensus,” Wei Guang said, sweeping his gaze across the room. The traditionalists avoided eye contact.

How thoughtful of him to leave the final blow to me. It was clear that Wei Guang planned to use this to cement Kayla’s authority as the head of the neutral faction rather than keep the credit for himself.

“Minister Hu, do you object to our plan?” Kayla asked politely.

He sighed. “Minister Zhao, I can understand your enthusiasm. You are young and hot-blooded, and thus have a tendency for bold action, but taking the Ministry of Revenue will not be an easy task. We might very well be gathering water in a bamboo basket to end up with nothing!”

Kayla nodded thoughtfully. “So Minister Hu’s opinion is that we should aim for the more manageable Ministry of Rites instead?”

“Exactly,” Hu Weizhi replied, several of the traditionalists murmuring in agreement.

“What is your position on this, Minister Zhao?” An older traditionalist with a white beard asked.

“If we end up with nothing, then we end up with nothing. The point isn’t to gain the Ministry of Revenue so much as it is to keep either prince from gaining it,” Kayla replied. “Not to mention that we have the judicial system to make use of, even if it’s simply nitpicking the Ministry of Revenue into a shutdown, we have the resources with which to wear them down.”

“Dong Shiqing is not an easy man to deal with,” Hu Weizhi warned her. “He’s like a wall of stone, he doesn’t crack and he doesn’t budge, you’re much more likely to get worn down before he is.”

“There is no wall that does not leak wind,” Kayla said. “And really, what alternative is there? The Third Prince is almost certain to gain the Ministry of War, you would have him gain the Ministry of Revenue in addition to that? Surely not!”

“Of course not,” Hu Weizhi replied.

“Then take the Seventh Prince, do you think he has the ability or resources to take on Dong Shiqing and gain the Ministry of Revenue?” Kayla asked.

“Not unless the heavens help him out,” Hu Weizhi said.

“Exactly. If by some stroke of luck he gains the Ministry of Revenue, then the military and the treasury would be in the hands of two opposing factions. I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you why that’s a terrible idea,” Kayla pointed out. “And if he fails to gain the Ministry of Revenue, then he ends up gaining nothing at all. Who do you think he will be resentful of more? Us, for taking the Ministry of Rites while he’s busy trying to face off Dong Shiqing, or himself, for choosing an opponent he cannot beat? He will think us either power-hungry or biased towards the Third Prince’s faction, and will no longer be open to our mediation or moderation.”

Hu Weizhi frowned. It was clear what he was thinking–if they gained a Ministry, the traditionalists had a chance for promotion and gaining more influence. The traditionalists hadn’t benefited from the takeover of the Ministry of Justice much, having been passed over for important positions in favor of new blood brought in by Kayla.

“As the neutral faction, our honor, fame, and reward are all tied to the Emperor, and what serves his needs best,” Kayla reminded him. “What serves his needs best is of course what serves us best as well.”

The favor of the Emperor was the best reward one could ask for–even if they themselves did not receive promotions, their sons and clansmen would be treated preferentially. Rarely did most people have a chance to curry favor while maintaining their dignity and principles, and gaining the Ministry of Revenue was such an opportunity.

“This is a chance for us to accomplish a feat dreamed of by many, are you really content to let it slide?” Kayla prodded. "Even if we fail, we will still gain glory from having tried.”

From the glint in their eyes, the traditionalists had picked up on her meaning. Even if the neutral faction did not succeed, they would have sufficiently demonstrated the depth of their loyalty. It didn’t take much longer to reach a consensus after that.

“Thank you for having us, Minister Hu,” Kayla said as the meeting wrapped up. After exchanging the necessary pleasantries and smoothing whatever feathers had been ruffled, Kayla left Hu Weizhi’s residence with Wei Guang.

Once they reached the gates, she turned to Wei Guang and gently squeezed his arm. “Godfather, I’m afraid there’s something I need to take care of at the Court of Judicial Review, I’ll be returning home a little later.”

Wei Guang caught onto the hint. “I might as well go with you, I haven’t had a chance to visit the Court of Judicial Review and didn’t want to cause a disturbance during the day when there were so many officials about,” he replied. Kayla helped him onto the carriage first before getting in herself.

“To the Court of Judicial Review,” she said to the horseman through the carriage window. They pulled off in silence, Wei Guang waiting until they were a distance away from Hu Weizhi’s household before speaking.

“Wenyuan, what is this about? Did something happen?” Wei Guang asked.

Kayla nodded. “Godfather, please stay calm and listen to me.”

Wei Guang looked at her warily but nodded.

“One of the servants from your household tried to kill me with a poisoned needle,” she said, straight to the point. “I had him arrested and taken to a holding cell, my retainer’s there right now.”

Wei Guang looked at her in shock. “Are you alright?!"

Kayla nodded. "I'm fine, godfather."

"Thank the heavens! Unbelievable, for something like this to happen within my own household! This is a failure on my part,” he said.

“No such thing, godfather. I’m completely fine, Hu Qing stepped in before anything happened. I’m just glad you’re not upset I arrested one of your servants without permission,” Kayla replied.

Wei Guang heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing at his temples. “It seems I need to straighten up my household affairs,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ll have quite a few questions for that insolent bastard once I see him!”

“I don’t think I have the luxury of taking my time with the Grand Duke’s matter,” Kayla said in response.

Wei Guang pondered it for a moment before nodding. “Perhaps that’s for the best,” he agreed. “Whether or not it’s him does not matter, but the longer he’s alive, the more danger there will be. We’ll have to prepare for the power vacuum he’ll leave behind.”

Kayla listened attentively, but Wei Guang’s words were cut off as a communication device began to vibrate inside her robes. Frowning, she pulled it out.

“It’s Hu Qing,” Kayla said in surprise, connecting the device. “Hu Qing, what is it?”

“Apologies, my lord. The man just died,” Hu Qing said flatly.

“What?!”

“Yeah, it seems it was a slow-acting poison that was administered to him before he tried to kill you,” Hu Qing explained. “Most likely, he was poisoned while accepting the job. Once the coroners are done, we’ll know an approximate time frame.”

“Did he say anything before he died?” Kayla asked.

“No, I thought he was weirdly quiet and tried prodding at him a bit, but it turned out that he couldn’t speak. His throat was closing up,” Hu Qing replied. “Neither healing magic nor talismans worked on him. It was already too late by the time we realized.”

Kayla exchanged a glance with Wei Guang. “Send him to the coroners as soon as possible and get someone to make sure there’s no tampering.”

“Alright. You should head back to the Imperial Edict Bearer’s household first, I’ll come to join you and see what I can learn,” Hu Qing replied. Wei Guang nodded and Kayla gave her agreement.

She ended the communication and opened the carriage window.

“Change directions, we’re returning to the household,” Kayla said to the horseman, who obediently turned the carriage around without further question.

Cultural Notes

齋戒/Ritual fasting: A practice in Ancient China to abstain from meat, alcohol, and sexual activity for ritualistic purposes, usually to show respect. This is usually accompanied by a ritualized bath and a change of robes.

楚辭/Chu Poems: A series of poems by the great poet Qu Yuan, who was a noble and official from the pre-Qin Kingdom of Chu. He was ostracized from the Chu court by sycophants of the king for giving straightforward and loyal advice and was eventually forced out. He wrote the series of poems to express his own loyalty to the country and to lament his fate, and later committed suicide by drowning himself in a river after the kingdom of Chu was defeated by the kingdom of Qin, which would later go on to unify China under the Qin dynasty. The names of Boyong, Haoyang, and Shuyou all come from the Chu poems, hence why Hu Qing mocks them for not being subtle about their origins.

-Boyong/伯庸：朕皇考曰伯庸/My father's name is Boyong. [From Qu Yuan's self-introduction at the beginning of the poem Lisao/離騷]

-Haoyang/浩揚：登昆侖兮，心飛揚兮浩蕩/I climb the Kunlun Mountain, my heart soars with might.

-Shuyou/淑尤：绝氛埃而淑尤兮，终不反其故都/Distancing oneself from the dust to achieve utmost beauty and goodness, I will never return to that place of filth [here he refers to the Chu court].

混淆耳目/To confuse one's eyes and ears: Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to throw up smoke screens/red herrings.

年輕氣盛，血氣方剛/Young and robust, hotblooded and vigorous: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

竹籃打水一場空/Gathering water in a bamboo basket to end up with nothing: A Chinese saying meaning to go through a bunch of trouble for nothing. Bamboo baskets tended to be very sturdy and good for carrying heavy objects across long distances, but they are not made to contain liquid, and hence have cracks through which the water would flow.

沒有不透風的墻/No wall that does not leak wind: A Chinese saying that means there is no person without weakness, and there is no secret that can be hidden forever.

夢寐以求/[something that] People wish for even in their dreams: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to something that is deeply sought after, to the point that you even dream of obtaining it.

雖敗猶榮/Though defeated, still gaining glory: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning to have put up an honorable fight worthy of respect/praise.

86-Internal Discord

Character Index

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and head of the Hanlin Academy, he served as the teacher and "moderator" for the previous generation of princes, and has recently become Kayla/Wenyuan's godfather.

Imperial Princess: Mother of Zhao Wenyuan and sister of the current Emperor, she was a magical researcher involved in groundbreaking discoveries, and further involved in extensive investigations into the crimes of the Grand Duke.

Hu Weizhi: Minister of Public Works and a member of the neutral faction, he was the head of the traditionalists and was unwilling to cooperate with Kayla until Wei Guang's intervention.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan, he was formerly responsible for doing the dirty work for the Liang clan, and later the Seventh Prince's faction under Liu Boyue's orders. He now works for Kayla.

Chen Caichun: A young woman recruited by Kayla, currently serving as a Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review.

Sun Ruhui: A former county-level official who was recruited by Kayla, served as Chamberlain before being promoted to Left Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of the Princess of Chu and General Xiang, he formerly worked as Kayla's servant while undercover in the Zhao household. He has now embarked on his revenge plot against the Grand Duke, pretending to flee the capital in order to confuse his enemies and distract them from his new plans.

Xianchun: Seventh Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne. Has yet to learn of the Grand Duke's murder of his mother, and thus is not yet the ruthless and bloodthirsty man he was in the original timeline.

Feng Yi: A broke merchant who was conned into spying on Kayla. In truth, he was meant to be caught and killed, in order to distract them from the actual spies. Sent by Liu Boyue, he was released by Kayla and Hu Qing, the latter of which proceeded to save his life when Liu Boyue tried to silence him.

Liu Boyue: Right-hand man and strategist of Xianchun, he is the prince's most trusted friend, advisor, and confidant. He has been secretly making moves behind Xianchun's back to further the prince's standing, which Kayla knows of and is now making use of.

Tao Qian: One of the men on Kayla's payroll who was brought in by Hu Qing.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Cousin of Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong, she was sent to infiltrate the Zhao household as a child and fell in love with Wenyuan, her only source of safety and comfort. Currently being kept "under protection", in truth to serve as a hostage against Qu Boyong.

Zhao Wei: Minister of War, one of Wenyuan's many uncles.

Zhao Ke: A low-ranking official, one of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of the Grand Duke's youngest "cousin", in truth the Grand Duke's biological brother. (Remember that the Grand Duke was formally adopted as his uncle's son even though both his parents were alive)

Zhao Yuanji: A mid-ranking official, one of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of one of the Grand Duke's "cousins".

Zhao Yihui: One of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of one of the Grand Duke's "cousins".

Fifth Uncle: One of Wenyuan's great-uncles, the biological younger brother and legal "cousin" of the Grand Duke. Fifth [in truth, the sixth if you count the Grand Duke] son of the Grand Duke's "uncle"/biological father. He's called Fifth Uncle here since none of the younger generations would ever address an elder by his given or courtesy name.

Lady Xu: Mother of Zhao Ke and spouse of Fifth Uncle, she hails from the little-known Xu family.

Liu Hongyu: Former Secretariat Director, died after being found guilty of lese-majeste.

Zhao Ling: One of Wenyuan's cousins, the epitome of a useless rich young master. Not particularly evil or even malicious, just useless.

The carriage pulled to a stop at the Wei household. Kayla got off first, turning back to help Wei Guang down as well. The steward and Wei Guang’s head of security hovered nervously at the gates, anxious looks on their faces. An assassination out in the open, right within the household, was hardly something that could be brushed under the table. But Kayla had only involved the Court of Judicial Review and not the City Guard. No soldiers had arrived to make arrests, no guards had arrived to question them. The lack of response unsettled them more than anything else.

“My lord,” the steward came forward to greet Wei Guang.

“Summon all the servants,” Wei Guang said coldly. The steward shrank back, bowing before scurrying off. The head of security looked between Wei Guang and the steward’s disappearing figure with apprehension.

“I apologize, my lord! This was my fault for failing to prevent it,” the man said in a trembling voice.

“Go and summon all the guards as well,” Wei Guang ordered. The head of security fled as well.

“Godfather, it’s not necessary to stir up such a fuss,” Kayla said.

Wei Guang shook his head. “For such a thing to happen within my household is a complete disgrace! You are my godson, and yet one of my servants dares to make an attempt on your life? It is unforgivable!”

“The culprit is already dead,” Kayla assured him.

“And there’s no telling who might make a second attempt,” Wei Guang replied. “I won’t allow such a thing to happen again.”

Seeing that he wouldn’t be convinced otherwise, Kayla thought better of speaking any further. She followed Wei Guang into the courtyard of the Inner Quarters, where the servants and guards were gathering, whispering among themselves as they were herded in by the steward and head of security. They fell completely silent at the sight of Wei Guang, not even daring to shift or squirm under his unusually stony visage.

“Everyone is here now, my lord,” The steward said. Wei Guang nodded and stepped forward, standing on the steps leading to the courtyard.

“I do not claim to be a man of great virtue, but I have treated all of you with generosity,” Wei Guang said.

The staff members murmured their agreement, increasingly nervous at Wei Guang’s unreadable tone and expression.

“I’m sure that by now, all of you have heard of what happened with my godson,” Wei Guang said.

No one dared to reply. Gossiping was forbidden, but that didn’t mean news spread any slower. In the hour or so since Kayla had left, every single person within the household would have heard of it by now.

“You are all to keep your silence on this matter. If a single word of this becomes known outside of the walls of this household, you will be beaten and chased out of the capital,” Wei Guang continued.

Kayla watched on from the side, taking mental notes for future reference. Wei Guang’s body language did not change, and his expression remained the same, but there was a notable shift that everyone could sense, one that signaled danger.

“To think that such a thing would happen under my own roof, I am disappointed in all of you. Zhao Wenyuan is the son of Her Highness the Imperial Princess and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Furthermore, he is my godson!” Wei Guang said imperiously. The cold, calm edge to his anger cut sharper than any knife. He stepped forward, sweeping his gaze across the servants and guards, all of whom shied their eyes away.

“I have no sons of my own, and think of him as my own blood and bone. If anyone were to attempt causing harm or damage to him in any way, shape, or form, if the thought were to even cross your minds, I swear upon the heavens that I will skin you myself!” Wei Guang spat out the words. He barely raised his voice, yet the air was clogged with the fear of his household staff.

Kayla shifted nervously, realizing why Hu Weizhi had caved in so easily once Wei Guang spoke to him.

At least he's on my side.

“I did not think I needed to make this clear through explicit words, but it seems I severely overestimated the lot of you,” Wei Guang said. “Zhao Wenyuan is to be treated as though he were my own son, any attack on him is an attack on me. I will let tonight’s incident slide, but that is the limit of my lenience.”

“We understand, my lord. Thank you for your mercifulness!” The steward said, the rest of the staff members echoing his words with varying levels of relief.

Wei Guang nodded. “Good. Once your words are spoken, even the fastest horses cannot chase it back. I will hold each of you to your promises.”

A chorus of timid “yes” and “I understand” came from the staff. Satisfied, Wei Guang gave a nod.

“That is all. Dismissed.”

The frightened staff quickly fled the courtyard, bobbing their heads in hasty bows toward Wei Guang as they scurried away.

He has eyes and ears in his household, just like everyone else. Does he think this will stop them, or did he say it precisely because it wouldn’t stop them? More likely than not, it was the latter.

Kayla quietly observed Wei Guang’s stony visage, mulling it over in her mind. He really is throwing his full support behind me and making sure everyone knows it. But for what? The Emperor? Wenyuan’s mother? The dynasty’s future?

Knowing Wei Guang, it was the dynasty’s future that trumped any personal ties. Wei Guang was a highly-educated man, with extensive knowledge of history and an analytical eye far beyond anyone currently in the court, and yet here he was, tying his fate to Wenyuan’s. Even the Empress Dowager considered Kayla disposable to a certain extent, but Wei Guang didn’t seem to agree with that.

It’s not because he finds me particularly likable. Kayla’s periodic guilt-tripping had some effect, yes, but it wasn’t enough to explain his actions. She was well aware that she hadn’t known Wei Guang long enough for him to be doing any of this out of genuine affection or feelings of responsibility as a father figure. She hadn’t instantly clicked with him the way she had with Hu Qing, nor was his fate bound with hers the way Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui were.

The only explanation Kayla could think of was that Wei Guang placed far more importance on the existence of “Zhao Wenyuan” as the head of the neutral faction than anyone else did.

Someone with his perceptiveness is unlikely to be wrong about such a thing.

Kayla couldn’t help but feel curious.

Why? Is the heir to a clan the Emperor wants to destroy really the only option he has? And if so, what happened in the timeline where Wenyuan was gone?

Wei Guang watched as the last of the servants dispersed before he turned and left, Kayla hurriedly following behind him.

“Thank you, godfather. I apologize for causing you so much trouble,” Kayla said.

“Think nothing of it, if anything, I am the one who ought to apologize for having put you through such an incident,” Wei Guang replied, the last remnants of his cold fury melting away. Seeing this, Kayla directed the conversation away as they walked through the corridors.

By the time Kayla returned from walking Wei Guang back to his room and finishing up their conversation, it was already midnight. She entered the extremely nice rooms Wei Guang had generously set aside for her and came to a full stop.

It no longer surprised Kayla to see Hu Qing lounging alone in dark rooms.

“Can’t you at least light a lamp?” Kayla said at the vaguely-Hu Qing shaped form on the couch. Hu Qing obediently got up and lit one.

“Sorry for letting the servant die,” Hu Qing offered.

Kayla shook her head. “Not your fault, even if you’d noticed earlier it probably wouldn’t have done much. Did you see anyone suspicious among my godfather’s staff?”

Hu Qing shook his head. “No, not at all.”

“That’s one less thing to worry about then,” Kayla said. She sat down in the wooden chair across from Hu Qing, who had once more taken up the entire couch.

“We need to get rid of the Grand Duke as soon as possible,” Hu Qing said.

“I know, you’ve said that many times. But how?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing shrugged. “We can only find a crack to insert a needle, you can’t give a concrete timeframe for these things.”

“Can we use magic?” Kayla asked.

“Cursing someone is taboo, and from a professional standpoint, it also doesn’t really work,” Hu Qing pointed out. “It’s difficult to use, easy to track, and basically does nothing.”

“I just find it hard to believe that there’s not a magical option available,” Kayla said.

“If anyone would know, it would be your mother,” Hu Qing suggested. “She was a magical researcher, wasn’t she? Your godfather might know.”

Kayla briefly considered asking him before abandoning the idea. “If there was such an option, he would have suggested it already.”

As disappointing as it was, she simply had to come to terms with the fact that there wasn’t a magical option that would be any more efficient or subtle than hacking at the Grand Duke with a blunted axe.

This fucking sucks. We have time magic and soul magic but nothing for assassinations?

“Could we hire someone?” Kayla suggested.

Hu Qing shook his head. “Absolutely not. The Grand Duke’s prepared against things like that, so if we want to hire an assassin, we’ll have to silence them afterward. And if they’re skilled enough to get past the Grand Duke’s defenses? Well, I’m just going to say that they won’t be easy to eliminate. Inviting a deity is easy, sending them away is difficult. Better not to involve an outsider in this.”

“Good point,” Kayla sighed. “Any other ideas?”

Hu Qing looked her over judgementally. “Well, you would be the best candidate in terms of unexpectedness, but the reason why that’s the case is also the reason why you probably wouldn’t succeed.”

Okay, that’s fair. Kayla didn’t have the experience or the ability to do it.

“But you have nullification magic, you could poison him without setting off his detection spells,” Hu Qing went on. “The problem is, he would never consume anything you gave him even if he didn’t sense any poison.”

Kayla sighed. The dilemma remained that Kayla couldn’t kill the Grand Duke before her own position was solid enough to withstand his fall, but killing him would become difficult once she had reached that point.

“I think I should also get a poison needle anyways,” Kayla said. To her surprise, Hu Qing nodded.

“Why not? If there’s a miracle, that might even work,” Hu Qing said positively.

Kayla gave him a flat look. “Thanks.”

A lot of plans were in motion, but none of them had come to fruition yet.

She had sent out two rounds of letters to the Zhao clan, trying to win them over to her side. Kayla neither wanted nor needed them, the main point was to get them to cajole the Grand Duke into writing a letter of remorse, or something that would suffice as a suicide note. Even if that didn't work, so long as the Zhao clan members were swayed even a little bit, it wouldn’t be long before suspicion took root and started tearing the Grand Duke’s power base apart from the inside out.

Problem is, who benefits from that the most? It's certainly not me.

“No matter what, we need to keep Qu Boyong and the Seventh Prince occupied. They’re the ones most likely to hound us like sharks that smell blood in the water,” Kayla said darkly. “I’ve tried to distract Xianchun, but it’s hard to say whether it’ll work. Qu Boyong’s more difficult to deal with, he’s in the dark and we’re in the light, how on earth do we track down what he’s doing?”

“Once he makes a move, we can track him down,” Hu Qing promised. “But I don’t know how to deal with the Seventh Prince, that’s up to you.”

Kayla considered it for a moment. She had tossed plenty of kindling into Xianchun’s backyard, it was about time to start a fire.

“How do you reckon Feng Yi is doing?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing gave a soft chuckle. “Alive, probably, but I doubt Liu Boyue would allow him to stay in the capital. He’ll definitely try to drive Feng Yi out with whatever means possible.”

Kayla smiled. “How do you feel about saving him a second time?”

Hu Qing’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Sounds fun.”

“Excellent. Go and find him tomorrow, I’ll see what use I can make of him,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing nodded. “You need a bodyguard while I’m busy. Tao Qian’s up for the job, he’s one of the men watching Miss Chujiao right now. He owes me, and he’s good enough to keep you safe.”

Kayla considered it briefly before nodding. “Alright then.”

“Great, I’ll bring him to see you tomorrow,” Hu Qing replied.

“Go and get some rest,” Kayla urged him. Hu Qing nodded and flipped through the window, disappearing into the night.

Moonless nights when the wind was high were perfect times for murder and arson. And of course, plotting. Halfway across the city, several members of the Zhao clan were gathered in Zhao Wei’s residence. Zhao Ke, Zhao Yuanji, and Zhao Yihui, sons of the Grand Duke’s “cousins”, some of whom were technically his biological brothers, hovered over their reluctant host. Across from them, there was an old woman who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, Lady Xu, wife of the Grand Duke’s youngest cousin and mother of Zhao Ke. Her husband sat next to her, fitfully stroking his beard.

“Cousin, what do you think of this?” Zhao Ke asked Zhao Wei insistently, waving the scroll in Zhao Wei’s face. Zhao Wei shoved the scroll away in irritation.

“I assume you all received the same letter from the young lord,” Zhao Wei said grimly.

They all nodded. It was why they were here.

“What on earth does the young lord think he’s doing? He wants us to convince the Grand Duke to write a letter of remorse?! A public letter?!” Zhao Yihui hissed, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Why doesn’t he do it himself?!”

“I doubt he could, not with how tense things are between them now,” Zhao Yuanji pointed out.

“And he expects our cousin to go instead?!” Zhao Yihui said, offended to the core.

A public declaration of remorse was a way of expressing submission, of admitting they had lost, and as such, the letter would definitely be widely circulated and preserved for posterity by the triumphant palace. It was one of the surest ways to get the palace to ease up on the Zhao clan, but also the surest path towards humiliation. Asking the arrogant and violent-tempered Grand Duke to do such a thing was almost unthinkable, especially when the request came from his grandson.

Zhao Wenyuan was, technically, their nephew. But they had barely ever interacted with the young man since he was born, and had no lost love for their kin. The heir of the Zhao clan had been on a different plane of existence from the rest of them since the very start. Unlike the other children of his generation, Zhao Wenyuan had been raised in solitude, interacting with the palace much more than with his paternal relatives. He was also, at a ridiculously young age, in the closest proximity to the faction’s power center, the Grand Duke.

Those who understood what kind of person the Grand Duke was knew that this was not necessarily a good thing, but which fool would stick out their own neck for a mere puppet? Zhao Wei had protested once, when the Grand Duke began sending Wenyuan to drinking sessions with Liu Hongyu, but had quickly backed off upon realizing that it wasn’t worth the trouble.

From what everyone had seen in their scant sightings of him at family reunions or at court, Zhao Wenyuan was cowardly and incompetent. Though they had no idea where his sudden reservoir of courage came from, they could easily deduce that it had something to do with the palace.

“Do you think this is a plot from the Inner Palace?” Zhao Ke asked, not daring to directly point out the Empress Dowager’s involvement.

Zhao Wei broke his silence, cutting off Yihui and Yuanji before they could respond. “It’s hard to say, but what’s certain is that something big is about to happen, and Zhao Wenyuan knows what it is.”

“If the Grand Duke writes the letter of remorse, then you’re done for!” Zhao Yihui shot back. “He might still have a way to get us out of this, we could be cutting off our own backup route!”

“But think about it, the Grand Duke never tried to help any of his allies, not even Liu Hongyu! And heavens know that he values Liu Hongyu far more than any of us,” Zhao Yuanji hissed.

“He even made Cousin Wei resign, and he was the Minister of War!” Zhao Ke chimed in. “He’s given up on Cousin Wei already!”

Zhao Wei shook his head. “It was actually the young lord’s idea to have me resign.”

“And now he has the face to write to you?!” Zhao Yihui screeched in disbelief.

“I always thought he was just a shriveling coward, but it seems his skin is thicker than an elephant’s hide!” Zhao Ke jumped in.

“If it were the Grand Duke, he would have sacrificed me to salvage the Ministry of War if there was even the slightest chance it would work,” Zhao Wei said flatly. “I know him all too well, he would’ve fought on without regard for the cost. The fact I was allowed to maintain some dignity is probably by the intervention of the young lord.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s any more reliable than the Grand Duke, don’t forget that he’s the reason all of this is happening in the first place!” Zhao Yuanji shouted.

“Wrong.” Everyone turned to Lady Xu, who spoke for the first time since her arrival.

“Mother, what do you mean by that?” Zhao Ke asked.

“How many times have I warned you that this clan is headed towards ruin? When a family does too well, then it’s certain to face decline, if not a bloody end. The Grand Duke has refused to temper himself, and you all have never restrained yourselves either, how long did you think all this could last?” Lady Xu sighed, looking around the room. “It’s drawing to a close now, and I would much prefer it be at the hands of the young lord than at the hands of the Zhao clan’s enemies.”

“Fifth Aunt, the young lord is also an enemy of the Zhao clan!” Zhao Yuanji protested.

“You fool, he’s the only one doing what’s sensible! Look at the powerful officials of old times, how many of them met a good end? Li Si, the Lu clan, and Huo Guang’s clan, do you all wish to meet their fate?” The old woman demanded.

The occupants of the room shuffled uneasily.

Li Si, the prime minister of the Qin dynasty who held a position above millions and was only subordinate to a single person, had nonetheless been mutilated and then bisected by the waist in the public market, with his family exterminated to the third degree.

Empress Dowager Lu had been the wife of the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty, ruthless and powerful enough to dominate court politics for two generations while murdering her way through her step-sons, but still had her clan exterminated to the last person once she died. Even her body had been desecrated in the ensuing chaos.

Huo Guang was just as powerful as the other two and had enough control over the court to depose and enthrone Emperors as he pleased, and yet his family had been helpless to withstand Emperor Xuan’s wrath once Huo Guang was dead.

The Grand Duke wasn’t half as powerful as any of them and yet had offended most of the Imperial Family. Who was to say what the Zhao clan’s fate would be once the Grand Duke was gone? The old man was still in good health, but he was aging. How much longer would he last?

Unable to bear the nervous tension any longer, Lady Xu’s husband straightened his back, angrily smoothing down his beard.

“That’s just the short-sighted views of a woman!”

Lady Xu scoffed in response. “And I suppose you know better? I told you we should leave the capital and that our children shouldn’t enter civil service, but did you listen? No. And now look at our situation!”

“Oh shut your mouth already!” Her husband harrumphed, growing even angrier with the knowledge that she was right.

“Fifth Uncle, Fifth Aunt has a point,” Zhao Yuanji interjected before the old couple could start arguing. “It’s clear as day that the palace wants to dismantle the Zhao clan’s power base, and how can an arm overpower a thigh? We live on the country’s land and serve in the country's court, no matter how much power we have, they’re the ones who can decide our life and death. The young lord might really be our path to survival.”

“You coward, you would listen to that traitorous little brat?” Zhao Yihui demanded.

Yuanji shot back a retort, Ke joined in on Yihui’s side, and the men began to squabble again.

“Enough!”

All three of them fell silent, turning back towards Lady Xu with cowed expressions. The old woman glared around the room with cold fury.

“The Grand Duke’s like a tiger, you must feed him human flesh and blood in order to keep him satiated,” Lady Xu said severely. “Young master Kangyu served that role, and his son served that role after him. But now, the young lord’s wings have hardened, and he no longer bows his head to the Grand Duke’s authority. And yet, is the Grand Duke no longer a tiger? Does he no longer thirst for blood? Wait any longer, and his fangs will turn inwards on us. We ought to take the path to survival that the young lord has been gracious enough to point out for us.”

She looked around the room disdainfully. “You’re all full-grown men, and yet you can’t come to a decision even when the choice is clear?! Is the Grand Duke so good at training dogs?”

Zhao Wei frowned. “You go too far with your words, Fifth Aunt. But if you insist to this extent, then I’ll try,” he agreed with a heavy heart. “I’ll petition the Grand Duke.”

The sun was not yet up in the sky, but the Zhao household was already tenser than a bowstring about to fire. The sudden arrival of Zhao Wei, who had left humiliated the other day, had set off alarm bells in the servants’ minds. Everyone who could manage to do so had found an excuse to be as far away from the Grand Duke’s study as they could go.

“What did you just say?” The Grand Duke asked with faux amazement. “I can’t believe my ears!”

Zhao Wei winced. He had expected that the suggestion wouldn’t be taken well, no matter how well-phrased, but it was clear now that the Grand Duke absolutely would not be writing a letter of repentance.

The Grand Duke stared down at Zhao Wei imperviously as the man knelt before him.

“My lord,” Zhao Wei began to say.

“Be silent,” the Grand Duke ordered. “Do you realize what situation we’re in now? Thanks to your incompetence, your position is forfeit. And yet you have the gall to come into my house and ask me to write a letter of repentance?!”

Zhao Wei flinched.

“My lord, I’m just thinking of your reputation,” Zhao Wei replied. “If you express regret for having sponsored me, then surely our clan will take less of a blow. I’m willing to shoulder any culpability for–”

Zhao Wei was cut off by a slap to the face. He looked stonily at the Grand Duke, rage and humiliation bubbling up in his stomach.

“Bastard! How dare you?!” The Grand Duke snarled. “Do you think I don’t know what this is? Wenyuan must have put you up to this!”

Zhao Wei grimaced. “My lord, if you look at the situation in court right now, we should start preparing ourselves to soften the inevitable blow,” he said through gritted teeth. “At this rate, we will all be headed for–”

He was cut off by a second blow to the face. Blood dripped from his nose as Zhao Wei knelt unflinchingly. He had been a martial official for decades. The physical pain barely bothered him at all, it was the humiliation that rankled him.

“Are you cursing me now?!” The Grand Duke shouted. “I singlehandedly pushed you into this position and you can’t even hold onto it properly, am I to blame that you couldn’t cover your own tracks?!”

Zhao Wei didn’t reply, stiffly staring into the distance.

Singlehandedly? Did he forget that I was in the military for ten years before that?! Zhao Wei was a practical man, he had never been so foolish as to forget that he had only become the Minister of War because the Grand Duke’s son had died. It didn’t matter that Zhao Wei was much more experienced and well-connected among the military officers, he hadn’t even been a potential candidate until the young master had been killed at the border.

Zhao Wei was furious, but couldn’t show any sign of it before the Grand Duke, which only increased his anger.

“If you want to express regret so badly, then take a sword and kill yourself! You’d trouble fewer people that way!” The Grand Duke raged on.

The former Minister of War did indeed want to grab a sword, though it would be turned upon the Grand Duke rather than himself. Instead, he bowed his head to the floor.

“I’ve angered my lord with my incompetence, my sincerest apologies!” Zhao Wei said. “Please quell your anger, your health comes first. I will remove myself from your presence.”

Without further ado, he bowed his head to the floor a second time. The Grand Duke stood over him, still seething with rage. Zhao Wei bowed one last time for good measure before backing out of the room. The Grand Duke didn’t stop him.

Zhao Wei quickly walked down the corridor, his mood worsening as servants balked at the sight of his bloodied face. He had been the Minister of War for years now, and while the Grand Duke had verbally berated him multiple times, Zhao Wei had never been struck before losing his position. His respect and disdain for Zhao Wenyuan increased simultaneously.

How in the heavens did he put up with this?

Why the hell did he put up with this for so long? The two questions overlapped in Zhao Wei’s mind as he silently lamented that Wenyuan couldn’t have either been born ten years earlier or had grown a spine a little earlier in life. If that were the case, the Zhao clan might still have a shred of hope. But looking at the Grand Duke’s actions now, it was clear they were all hurtling towards doom.

At this rate, that guy will really be the only one to survive, Zhao Wei grimly thought to himself. That won’t do.

Zhao Wei headed back to his residence, sending off a guard en route to call another meeting. It seemed that the messenger was unnecessary. When Zhao Wei got back, several of his relatives were already waiting for him, faces full of nervous anticipation. Despite it being a workday, it wasn’t the convening of the court, and many of the Zhao clan members were in idle positions to begin with. Zhao Wei glanced around with exasperation, letting out a sigh.

“Uncle, how did it go?” His cousin’s son Zhao Ling, a good-looking young man in his early twenties, looked at Zhao Wei anxiously.

Zhao Wei looked the young man over. Zhao Ling was a typical rich young master–he had enough ties to the Zhao clan to live luxuriously and act as he liked, with no accomplishments, no position, few skills, and little experience of living in the real world without the protection of his family. His education had been arranged, his marriage had been arranged, and even his concubine had been selected for him. If the Zhao clan were destroyed, someone like Zhao Ling wouldn’t even have the ability to run away.

Zhao Wei let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head ruefully. The surrounding clan members glanced at each other nervously, whispering amongst themselves.

“Did it fail?” Fifth Uncle asked him bluntly, Lady Xu stoically watching his reaction.

“The Grand Duke refused,” Zhao Wei replied. As though the blood on his sleeve and collar wasn’t answer enough. He held back a surge of frustration and gestured for everyone to come inside.

“Then what on earth shall we do?” Zhao Ke asked.

Zhao Wei glanced around, before motioning for all the servants to leave. The room watched him in tense silence, uncertainty clogging their worries and complaints in their throats.

“I will be relinquishing my assets and leaving the capital shortly with my dependents,” Zhao Wei said. “But before I leave, I wish to form an alliance with the young lord.”

A wave of protests and exclamations of shock arose.

“Uncle, why on earth would you do such a thing?!” Zhao Ling screeched. “That guy’s the one who put you into this mess!”

“Be silent! What do you understand, you little brat?! You’re past twenty already, but you can’t even manage your own affairs, much less meddle in such important matters!” Zhao Wei shook his head in despair. “The Zhao clan really has no one useful in the younger generation other than him! Just what the hell did we work so hard for, that at a time of crisis, I don’t even have a single reliable person on hand?!”

“Uncle!” Zhao Ling protested. Lady Xu cleared her throat loudly, and Zhao Ling slinked into a corner of the room, sufficiently cowed.

“It is not yet time to despair,” Lady Xu said. “Since you have decided, then we should act as soon as possible. Nephew, it’s time we decided the future of this clan.”

Cultural Notes

骨肉/Blood and bone: A phrase in Ancient China used to refer to one's children.

眼线/Spies: Literally translated to eye lines (no, not eyeliner), but it basically means someone's eyes on you from far away, using spies to know what's going on when they're not here, etc.

见缝插针/Find a crack to insert a needle: Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to take every chance you get, even the smallest ones.

巫术/Witchcraft: When Hu Qing says magic targetting someone to kill them is taboo, he's referring to what is traditionally considered witchcraft, such as cursing someone, using voodoo dolls, etc. If you watch harem dramas often, you'll know that this is a common reason for a concubine getting punished/killed/losing favor. Historically, it really was a huge thing, especially in the Han Dynasty, where Emperor Wu of Han became incredibly paranoid in his later years and ended up murdering large swathes of people when he suspected them of witchcraft against him.

请神容易送神难/Inviting a deity is easy, sending them away is difficult: An Ancient Chinese saying that means asking for someone's help is easy, but dealing with them afterward is hard. When you're desperate, you'll pray with great reverence and make offerings to the deity, but once they've finished helping you and intend on staying, how long will you manage to keep it up? And how can you ask them to leave when you owe them? Often used in the context of requesting military aid from an ally, especially a stronger one, who might just decide to stay on afterward, and there's little you can do about it.

我在明他在暗/He’s in the dark and we’re in the light: A Chinese saying used to describe a situation where your enemy is covert but you are overt, which disadvantages you. They can tell what you're doing, but you'd be hard-pressed to figure out their movements.

后院着火/Backyard catches fire: A colloquial saying for household troubles and internal discord.

月黑风高夜，杀人放火天/Moonless nights when the wind was high were perfect times for murder and arson: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

过继/Adopting Out: A method of legally and socially making your child someone else's kid, commonly seen when you have a sibling/relative without any kids and you have too many. That's what happened with the Grand Duke, whose father ended up with six sons total and so adopted out the Grand Duke to the then-head of the Zhao clan. Hence why the Grand Duke's "cousins" are actually his biological brothers.

上书请罪/Write an appeal asking for punishment: Commonly done by officials and military officers as an act of submission/admission of guilt/declaration of remorse. This usually makes it more difficult for the Emperor to issue harsh punishments than if someone else accused them, since people will think better of your character for actively seeking punishment rather than shirking responsibility.

妇人之见/A woman's view: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to refer to the short-sighted views of a woman. Even though it was within a context where women engaged with the public sphere much less than men did, it is a rather misogynist saying that usually didn't apply even within the context of its times. There were many historical incidents where a man will say this to his wife after she warns him against doing something, goes on to do whatever he wants, and then proceed to meet the fate his wife predicted.

胳膊拗不过大腿/An arm can't overpower a thigh: A Chinese saying that refers to the difference in strength.

以身祠虎/Feed the tiger with your body: An Ancient Chinese proverb that originates from Buddhist texts that gained influence in China throughout the Wei and Jin dynasties and took root in the Tang Dynasty. Often used in various contexts with little connection to the original story of self-sacrifice.

翅膀硬了/Wings have hardened: A Chinese saying meaning that someone's come into their own, like a bird that has grown enough to fly.

后继无人/No one to succeed [us]: An Ancient Chinese proverb that can mean either A) The family/trade/tradition literally doesn't have any young people left or B) There's no one useful in the younger generation, though there are very much young people present. Zhao Wei is using it in the context of B.

危难之时，竟无一人可用/at a time of crisis, I don’t even have a single person to use: Same meaning as above, this is not exactly a proverb but is spoken in traditional form rather than colloquial speech.

87-Repayment

Character Index

Zhou Kuang: Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne.

Yao Gongzhuo: He showed up a few chapters back, talking with some of Kuang's other supporters in the prince's household, prior to Kuang learning about Shu Zhengyan's poisoning. He was the Director of Logistics in the Ministry of War (the fifth-highest-ranking position in the Ministry). Since all four of his superiors have been removed from their posts, he currently serves as the Interim Minister until a formal appointment is made. He is a supporter of Kuang.

Zhao Wei: One of Wenyuan's uncles, he was the Minister of War until very recently. He has come to see how fast things are going downhill and is disappointed with the Grand Duke's leadership.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Drama queen extraordinaire, younger brother of Minister Liang, and rightful heir to the Liang clan. He formerly worked for Liu Boyue through Minister Liang and now works for Kayla.

Tao Qian: One of the men on Kayla's payroll who was brought in by Hu Qing.

Feng Yi: A broke merchant who was conned into spying on Kayla. In truth, he was meant to be caught and killed, in order to distract them from the actual spies. Sent by Liu Boyue, he was released by Kayla and Hu Qing, the latter of which proceeded to save his life when Liu Boyue tried to silence him.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend, right-hand man, and strategist, he has been moving pieces behind Xianchun's back. Increasingly uneasy now that he is at risk of being exposed.

Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and original MC.

Minister Liang: Minister of Justice, Hu Qing's older half-brother, and a supporter of the Seventh Prince.

Zhou Kuang smiled, glowing with pride as he straightened the red robes that his retainer now wore.

“Now that Zhao Wei and his men have officially been stripped of their posts, the Ministry of War is in your hands from this morning onwards,” Kuang said. Yao Gongzhuo bowed his head slightly, his smile threatening to split his face in two.

“It is all thanks to Your Highness’ benevolence!” Yao Gongzhuo said sincerely.

Kuang patted his shoulders, smoothing down the fabric of Yao Gongzhuo’s new robes.

“Not at all, it’s because of your own hard work,” Kuang praised him. “You have no idea how pleased I am to see your labor come to fruition.”

Yao Gongzhuo flushed with joy. “My prince, I will do everything within my power to gain control of the Ministry of War for your sake!”

“No.”

Yao Gongzhuo jolted, shocked at Kuang’s simple refusal. The Third Prince was still smiling, no sign of disapproval or anger on his face.

“My prince?” Yao Gongzhuo asked hesitantly.

“You will become the Minister of War someday,” Kuang promised. “But not necessarily the present. No matter who is recommended for the position, we need not make any moves.”

Yao Gongzhuo gave him a look of confusion. The military loved Kuang, even more so after his recent success at the border. A chance to make full use of that was finally before them, why on earth would they sit still?

Seeing Yao Gongzhuo’s expression, Kuang chuckled lightly.

“I’m saying that the military obviously belongs to the Emperor,” Kuang said pointedly. “Why should any of us think otherwise?”

Yao Gongzhuo blinked in confusion before lighting up in understanding. “I see, so that is why Your Highness says I should not make any moves?”

Kuang smiled. “Exactly, Gongzhuo truly understands me. As interim Minister, do not take any action to secure your position. Do not flatter any of your peers or try to sway any of your subordinates, in fact, you should refuse anyone who tries to get into your good graces. Only focus on your duties, and be sure to perform them in an exemplary manner.”

Now that the Zhao clan’s influence in the Ministry of War was being rooted out, more eyes would be on the Ministry than ever before. Of the low-level staff members sent by other institutions to help with the transitions, there were probably more spies than staff.

“I understand now that Your Highness intends to make progress by stepping backward,” Yao Gongzhuo said, smiling conspiratorially.

“Exactly. Keep that in mind and do not be afraid of any temporary losses or disadvantages,” Kuang said. “Right now, what my father wants the most is to see that his subjects retain their trustworthiness even while facing the temptation of power. If you perform satisfactorily, it will go without saying that you will receive a suitable reward.”

Yao Gongzhuo bowed his head. “Your Highness’ wisdom is boundless, I will carry out your orders with all of my ability!”

Kuang reached out and pulled him up. “Good man! I’ll leave it in your hands. Be assured that the Ministry of War will become ours, and do not allow yourself to be swayed.”

“As you wish, my prince.”

Kayla rubbed at her temples, exhausted even after getting in a good five hours of sleep. A dull headache throbbed at the base of her skull, spreading upwards through her skull.

A sharp knock at her window signaled Hu Qing’s arrival.

Kayla opened the window, giving him a look of exasperation.

“Doors exist,” Kayla said flatly. Hu Qing ignored her statement.

“My lord, I’ve brought your new bodyguard,” he announced with far too much energy for this early in the morning.

Hu Qing elbowed the man beside him. The man quickly knelt.

“This lowly one humbly greets the Minister!”

Kayla glanced at the man curiously. He looked rather unremarkable, with a boyish face and a sturdy figure.

“So you’re Tao Qian?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, my lord. I’m honored to be in your presence,” Tao Qian said. He had a deep voice that didn’t match his face.

“I’m leaving the Minister’s safety to you,” Hu Qing said to him. “If anything happens, I’m holding you accountable.”

“I will do everything within my ability to keep the Minister safe,” Tao Qian replied.

“He’s bound by customer confidentiality as I am,” Hu Qing assured Kayla, sensing that she wasn’t entirely trustful of the newcomer.

“Excellent,” Kayla said. “Do you know where to find Feng Yi?”

Hu Qing nodded. “Of course, that shouldn’t be difficult at all. The problem will be convincing that guy to cooperate.”

“Just bring him over and leave the rest to me,” Kayla replied. Hu Qing nodded and took his leave, flipping back onto the rooftop. He left Tao Qian still standing outside Kayla’s window, looking unsure of what he should do next.

Kayla let out a weary sigh, opening the window wider. “Come on in, I’ll take you to meet the steward.”

Kayla couldn’t help but feel increasingly uneasy as the day went on. The attempt on her life notwithstanding, there was also the nervous feeling of teetering at the brink, the tight knot in her stomach from gambling with the lives of hundreds.

Tao Qian hovered over her with a watchful eye, even at the Court of Judicial Review. Unused to his presence, however discreet he was being, Kayla only felt greater unease.

As the workday drew to an end, the communication device thrummed with the arrival of a new message. Kayla pulled it out to take a look.

Come to the safe house. I’ve gotten Feng Yi.

Kayla smiled, some of her anxiety melting away.

As expected of Hu Qing.

She wrapped up her work and left the Ministry, ditching the guards and carriage at a teahouse before heading over with Tao Qian in tow. Tao Qian tactfully waited outside without prompting, sparing Kayla the awkwardness of asking him to do so.

“My lord, look who I brought to see you!” Hu Qing’s energetic voice rang out the moment Kayla entered the safe house. Kayla glanced over to spot Feng Yi sitting timidly in a corner, his countenance haggard and pitiful. He looked as though he’d been having a hard time.

And boy am I about to make it worse.

“Good work,” Kayla replied before approaching Feng Yi.

“So, we meet again,” Kayla greeted him.

Feng Yi shot to his feet, setting aside the cup of water Hu Qing had given him. “Minister! I’m honored to see you again!”

“Sit down and take it easy,” Kayla said. “You look quite pale, have you not been in good health?”

Feng Yi flushed, stammering as he avoided eye contact.

“W-well–that–”

“Minister, it’s just as you suspected! Those heartless bastards refused to leave this poor man alone and have been abusing their power to pick on him,” Hu Qing jumped in, voice dripping with fake sympathy.

“How terrible!” Kayla acted along, giving Feng Yi a look of concern. “Did they hurt you?”

Feng Yi’s eyes grew teary and impossibly wide, giving the middle-aged man the look of a wounded child. “They smashed up my stall and destroyed all my wares! And then they made my landlord kick me out, and now all my friends are too scared to help me!”

“What an inhumane thing to do! Did they threaten you?” Kayla asked.

“They told me to leave the capital or they would break both my legs and then drag me out!” Feng Yi cried. “Good heavens! I wish I’d never agreed to do such a stupid thing!”

Kayla felt a flash of pity for the poor man.

He's just a civilian, just some poor dude who got tricked into a deadly role because he had no other choice. Is it really alright to involve him?

Kayla steeled herself, taking a deep breath. Who am I kidding? Didn’t I drag Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui into my mess without thinking about it twice? Even if I let him off the hook, will Liu Boyue do so? Better me than him, at least I’ll make sure Feng Yi is compensated properly afterward.

“It seems that they won’t rest until they’ve chased you from the capital,” Kayla said, her sympathy genuine this time.

Feng Yi began to cry in earnest, looking all the more pitiful.

Kayla sat down next to him, eliciting a jolt from the man. Feng Yi shot to his feet to stand at attention, tears and snot still dripping from his face.

“Sit down,” Kayla urged him. He did so hesitantly, looking nervous to be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a noble.

“Here.” Kayla handed him a handkerchief. It was one of the simpler ones she carried around, with average-quality cloth and no embroidery that would help anyone distinguish it.

As Feng Yi wiped at his face, Kayla watched him quietly.

“Feng Yi,” Kayla spoke in a gentle voice, trying not to scare him off. “To be honest, I asked Hu Qing to find you for two reasons. One is that I worried for your safety, knowing you would be hard pressed to defend yourself against such danger. The other reason is that I need your help. Would you be willing to do me a favor?”

Feng Yi bowed his head lower. “I would, Your Grace!”

“It would be at least a little bit dangerous, in the best of circumstances,” Kayla warned him. “Once it is done, you might not be able to stay in the capital anymore.”

Feng Yi froze up. “I-I-I- that is…what do you want me to do, Your Grace?”

“Unfortunately, it’s one of those things where I can’t tell you unless you’ve agreed,” Kayla said apologetically. “The situation calls for it.”

Feng Yi glanced down nervously. “That-well, I’m not sure…”

Hu Qing scoffed from the side. “You said you owed the Minister your life twice over and would be happy to help him no matter what, but now you’re hesitating?”

“Don’t pressure him,” Kayla said disapprovingly, taking the hint that Hu Qing would play the bad cop for her.

“No, that’s not–I–” Feng Yi trailed off, unsure of how to respond.

“You don’t have to agree if you don’t want to,” Kayla assured him. “But if you do, you’ll have to carry it through to the end.”

Feng Yi’s face twisted with guilt.

As expected, he is an honest man. More importantly, he was a man of morals. It was why she had chosen him in the first place. Quashing down her own guilt, Kayla dialed it up a notch. She let out a deep sigh, looking down with an expression of disappointment before quickly switching to an understanding smile.

“It’s alright, if you don’t want to do it, then I’ll arrange for you to safely leave the capital and pay for your relocation. The capital’s a great place, but nothing’s more important than safely surviving, am I right?” Kayla offered.

She turned towards Hu Qing, who was scowling disapprovingly at Feng Yi. “Hu Qing, prepare some silver for Feng Yi. He’ll need it for resettlement costs.”

“Minister, that’s not necessary!” Feng Yi protested.

“Ungrateful,” Hu Qing muttered under his breath, loud enough for Feng Yi to hear. “My lord is being too kind to someone who doesn’t even understand basic reprisal…”

Kayla shot him a look of disapproval before turning back to Feng Yi.

“Don’t mind him. You’ll need some money to gain your footing in your new city,” Kayla said. “Which city would you prefer?”

Feng Yi looked increasingly unsure of himself as Kayla listed cities that might be suitable.

“M-Minister, that’s really unnecessary,” Feng Yi said in a small voice. “You’re much too kind, I don’t deserve such generosity.”

Hu Qing made a sound of disdain.

“Nonsense,” Kayla said. “This is only what I should do.”

Feng Yi deliberated over it for a moment longer before drawing a deep breath. He glanced up, eyes glinting with resolve.

“Minister, I owe you my life three times over now. I admit to being a cowardly man, but how can I repeatedly accept your generosity without any thought of repayment? Please just tell me what to do, and I will happily see it done.”

Kayla gave him a look of mild surprise. “Feng Yi, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“No, this is what I should do,” Feng Yi said determinedly. “Please give me your orders!”

“Well then, if you’re certain, there’s no need to keep things from you. I want you to take your case to the Court of Judicial Review and accuse the Seventh Prince of trying to force you out of the capital,” Kayla said.

Feng Yi’s jaw dropped. “What?! The Seventh Prince?! Your Grace, I–”

Kayla held up a hand to silence him.

“Don't worry, it won’t be difficult. I’ll send you to the Seventh Prince’s house, and all you have to do is point out Liu Boyue and tell the Seventh Prince everything about how you were recruited, and how he tried to kill you,” Kayla said gently.

“Who is Liu Boyue?!” Feng Yi asked in bewilderment.

“The very man who recruited you and then tried to silence you,” Kayla replied. She gestured to Hu Qing, who unrolled a ridiculously realistic-looking drawing of Liu Boyue.

“This is the man who’s ruining your life, Feng Yi,” Kayla said. “I promise that I will protect your life no matter what. All you have to do is point him out, and I will ensure that you will be duly rewarded. Can you do that for me?”

Feng Yi nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace. I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

Xianchun laughed as he walked into the study, Hu Qing following behind obediently. The young man had brought Xianchun the latest update from the Court of Judicial Review.

It was official. The Minister of Rites had been indicted for corruption and dereliction of duty. All that was left now was for Xianchun to move in, aided by the Ministry of Personnel.

“And he delivers as he promised!” Xianchun said in delight. “Send my thanks to your master for the gift.” Even if the Ministry of Revenue was out of his reach for now, having the chance to take hold of another Ministry with little to no effort on his part was hardly something to scoff at.

Hu Qing’s smile turned a little awkward. “My prince, other than this, there’s another matter,” he said apologetically.

Xianchun glanced towards him with a slight hint of amusement, thinking that Wenyuan needed a favor. “What is it?”

Hu Qing bowed his head, doing an excellent job of acting nervous. “There was a man who came to the Court of Judicial Review crying that he had been wronged…and…well…that is…”

Is it a difficult case?

Xianchun began to frown. “Spit it out already,” he ordered. He glanced Hu Qing over, a little disappointed. Was this really Wenyuan’s most capable retainer, or was he just pretending?

Right, he’s an illegitimate son of the Liang clan, isn’t he? No wonder he’s nervous.

Xianchun couldn’t help but feel another surge of curiosity over Wenyuan’s previous words on Hu Qing’s customer confidentiality.

Is there really something I’m missing here?

Hu Qing bowed his head even lower as he responded. “Since his accusations involve the Seventh Prince’s household, my lord didn’t want to stir up trouble for you. He recommends…he recommends resolving this privately.”

Xianchun’s frown deepened even further. “Resolving what privately?” Xianchun asked impatiently.

Hu Qing winced a little. “Well, the matter’s a little complicated…the man I brought here, Feng Yi, was caught snooping around near my lord’s rooms a few days ago, but the Minister only kicked him out since he seemed to be harmless. The thing is, he came crying to us, saying that the Seventh Prince’s household was trying to force him to his death,” he said awkwardly, avoiding Xianchun’s eyes.

“What? What the hell does any of this have to do with my household?!” Xianchun snapped. Hu Qing shrugged helplessly.

“We don’t know either,” he said apologetically. “But since he publicly entered the building, it’s not like we could get a full answer out of him without someone overhearing us, and the Minister was worried Feng Yi would say something harmful to Your Highness’ reputation.”

Seeing that Xianchun was greatly displeased at being accused, Hu Qing hastily held up his hands.

“It’s not like the Minister thinks Your Highness is behind this! This man was probably deceived in a plot to frame you, but he seems to genuinely think he’s telling the truth. That could prove to be very troublesome for Your Highness if he were subjected to questioning, so the Minister asked me to bring him here instead,” Hu Qing quickly explained.

Xianchun briskly strode out of the room, Hu Qing hurriedly following him. They came to a stop in the corridor overlooking the inner courtyard. Feng Yi was standing in the middle of the courtyard in between two guards, his hands loosely tied together and tear tracks still fresh on his face.

“Your Highness, he’s already been registered in the Court of Judicial Review, so please don’t…that is…” Hu Qing stumbled over his words, falling silent as Xianchun gave him a cold glance.

“Since the Minister was thoughtful enough to cover for me, I obviously wouldn’t cause any trouble for him,” Xianchun replied.

“Send him my thanks,” Xianchun tersely added after a brief pause.

Hu Qing bowed his head, hastily giving his thanks.

“You can return now, I’ll send this man back once this is resolved,” Xianchun said, dismissing Hu Qing. Watching as Hu Qing scurried off, Xianchun frowned and called him back. Hu Qing returned to Xianchun’s side, obediently following Xianchun as they moved out of Feng Yi’s range of hearing.

Xianchun stared at Hu Qing for a long moment.

This isn't the time to be worrying about these things, Xianchun chided himself. But it had been scratching at his insides since the last time he'd seen Wenyuan, the words in his head growing louder and louder each time they were repeated.

“What relation do you have to Minister Liang?” Xianchun asked bluntly. Hu Qing stiffened, immediately glancing aside.

“Your master assured me that I don’t need to view you as a threat, but if you can’t answer, I’ll assume he was lying,” Xianchun threatened.

Hu Qing stiffened even further. “That’s not it, my prince. I simply am embarrassed about my background is all.” Flushing, he continued in a small voice. “I’m the son of the previous Lord Liang, but my mother was just a courtesan so I don’t have the right to use the family surname or to be listed on the family tree.”

Xianchun narrowed his eyes even as his heart skipped a beat in shock. “You’re his younger brother?”

“I don’t dare to lie to you, my prince,” Hu Qing said, sounding downright miserable. “But I don’t want the Liang surname, our clan’s been through too much to get dragged down by a prostitute’s son.”

Xianchun let out a soft sigh, starting to feel a little sorry for him now. “You’re filial to consider your clan to this extent, the Liang family is lucky to have so many men of virtue,” he awkwardly comforted Hu Qing. The flash of pity quickly disappeared as he thought of the second issue at hand.

“I don’t recall hiring you before,” Xianchun said. The sudden change of topic caught Hu Qing shorthanded, and he hesitated for a moment before bowing. Something twisted inside Xianchun’s gut at the microexpression of surprise that had briefly appeared across Hu Qing’s face.

“Of course not, my prince,” Hu Qing replied.

Xianchun felt the urge to ask more, but the questions jumbled together in his chest, blocking any words from emerging. Instead, he waved in dismissal. Hu Qing bowed deeply before hurrying off, leaving Xianchun with Feng Yi, who was glancing around helplessly, his eyes wide with confusion.

Seeing Xianchun approach, the two guards shoved Feng Yi to his knees, bowing in greeting to the prince.

“Hurry up and greet His Highness!” One of the guards snapped. Feng Yi took in the young man before him, intimidated by the tall and handsome man who was scowling down at him. From looks alone, it was evident that Xianchun and Wenyuan were indeed related, but their auras were so different from each other that Feng Yi stuttered in surprise, unable to form a coherent sentence even after a long and embarrassing minute of trying.

Xianchun was already in a bad mood, even if he refused to admit to himself the true reason for it. His glare didn’t soften for a second, and Feng Yi began to regret coming here. On second thought, he immediately began mentally remonstrating himself for being such a coward.

“Stop wasting my time and talk,” Xianchun ordered. “What on earth gave you the guts to besmirch an Imperial Prince of the Wu Dynasty?”

Feng Yi glanced up at Xianchun, a little surprised for some unknown reason. Prior to meeting Zhao Wenyuan, Feng Yi had never interacted with anyone more important than the sons of a few rich merchants. Zhao Wenyuan had been the first noble he’d met, and Xianchun the first prince, but the latter was much more frightening. Feng Yi already knew which of the two he preferred. That thought gave him a sudden burst of courage, and he managed to force out his words.

“This lowly one was wronged! I-I-I opened a stall again, but some thugs came and smashed it up, and when my friends tried to come and stop them, the thugs said they were from the Seventh Prince’s household! And then-and then my landlord kicked me out, he said that it was because I offended the Seventh Prince, but this one has never even met Your Highness!” Feng Yi blurted out, his words blending together as he stumbled through them. “A-and then I tried to find a new place to rent, but they all turned me away, my friends are also too scared to let me stay with them, I’ve become homeless!”

Xianchun gave him a look of disbelief. “How ridiculous, am I not busy enough with the affairs of the state? When on earth would I get the time and effort to spend on bullying a stall owner? Not to mention, weren’t you caught snooping around the Zhao household a few days ago? You have some face to go to Minister Zhao crying for help,” he said mockingly.

“I was wrong to have done it, but Minister Zhao was kind enough to let me go, who else could I have gone to for help?” Feng Yi replied, genuinely feeling wronged. It wasn’t as though any of this was his idea to begin with.

Xianchun’s mood dissipated slightly, and he let out a harsh sigh. Feng Yi flinched in response. The prince stared down at him for a moment longer before gesturing at one of the guards.

“Call Boyue over,” Xianchun ordered. Feng Yi very carefully did not react to the name. The guard bowed and left, returning shortly afterward with an extremely handsome young man. Feng Yi stared at the man in disbelief. Hu Qing's drawing was one thing, but seeing the man in-person was a whole different story. Was this pretty boy really the one who had tried to kill him? But since the Minister said so, Feng Yi had no choice but to believe it.

Seeing Feng Yi, Liu Boyue carefully kept his reaction neutral.

“My prince, I’ve heard about the situation,” Liu Boyue said, bowing to Xianchun. “Is this the man?”

Xianchun nodded. “I think this is probably a trap for us,” Xianchun replied. “Go on and speak with him, see what you think.”

Feng Yi took that cue to give a garbled screech. All four people stared at him in confusion.

“My prince, please spare me!” Feng Yi wailed loudly, channeling his fear into his performance.

“What–” Xianchun began, cut off by Feng Yi’s pleading.

“I was wrong, I won’t say anything! Please let me keep my life, I’ll leave the capital right away!”

The air around Xianchun stiffened as he stared down at the man before him.

“What the hell do you think you’re saying?” He demanded. Feng Yi bowed his head to the floor, trembling from head to toe.

“My prince, if I had known that it was on Your Highness’ orders, I swear I would’ve been more careful! This one deserves to be punished, I’m so sorry!” Feng Yi wailed.

Xianchun stilled, something clicking together in the back of his mind.

“Lift your head,” Xianchun ordered. Feng Yi flinched but did not move.

“I said, lift your head!” Xianchun snapped. Feng Yi glanced up, his eyes nervously skitting around.

“Look at him!” Xianchun pointed at Liu Boyue. “Do you know this man?”

“Yes, my prince,” Feng Yi said in a shaking voice.

“And how do you know him?” Xianchun asked, his voice coming out in a growl.

Looking like a rabbit cornered by a pack of wolves, Feng Yi replied so softly it was almost a whisper, his voice gaining volume as he went on.

“I-I was kicked out of the market because I couldn’t pay the fees, and he called me into an alleyway! That man offered me a hundred bronze to spy on Minister Zhao, I was desperate so I agreed, but I got caught right away. Minister Zhao was merciful and let me go, and that man tried to kill me in order to make sure I stayed silent about everything! I only survived because the blade was blocked by the money Minister Zhao gave me!”

“Liar! How dare you falsely accuse me?!” Liu Boyue shouted.

Feng Yi flinched back. “I’m not lying!”

“Shameless bastard! Who the hell taught you to say these lies?!” Xianchun demanded.

“I swear to the heavens and upon my ancestors that this is the truth!” Feng Yi pleaded desperately. “It really was him! He tried to cover his face when he attacked me, but I wouldn’t forget such a handsome youngster after seeing him once!”

“This piece of–drag him out and kill him!” Xianchun shouted. The guards grabbed Feng Yi by the arms, ignoring his frightened screeching.

“Have mercy! I just wanted some compensation, is there no law in this land anymore, that an Imperial prince would kill me in broad daylight?!” Feng Yi wailed, reflexively saying the line Hu Qing had drilled into him. “Curses! Even the Court of Judicial Review is like this! What hope is there for the country?!”

The man’s pitiful cries brought Xianchun to his senses. Feng Yi had already been registered at the Court of Judicial Review, killing him was the worst option possible.

“Stop!” Xianchun took in a deep breath, forcibly quelling his temper. “Lock him up and tell Zhao Wenyuan to come here!”

The guards began to drag the crying Feng Yi away, leaving Xianchun and Liu Boyue to stand in tense silence in the courtyard. Xianchun resolutely did not look at Liu Boyue. Instinctively, he knew it was true. There had been so many little pieces that didn’t make sense, and now they were all clicking together.

That time someone tried to recruit Qu Boyong as a spy after I rejected Boyue’s idea.

Minister Liang’s relationship with Hu Qing.

“One day, I’ll probably also face the problem of my subordinates doing things that I didn’t agree to.”

He didn’t need evidence to know it from deep within his heart.

“Boyue,” Xianchun said in a low voice after a long moment. “Is it true?”

“Of course not! My prince, this is ridiculous! How could you believe such a thing?!” Liu Boyue protested.

“Hu Qing is Minister Liang’s brother, and yet I barely know of him.” Xianchun continued.

“I didn’t know that,” Liu Boyue replied.

“Your investigations are always meticulous, not spilling even a single drop of water. How could you not know?” Xianchun asked.

“Minister Liang must have destroyed all the records!”

“Did you hire Hu Qing to do anything?”

“No.”

“Did you hire that man?”

“No!”

“Don’t lie to me!” Xianchun shouted, whirling upon Liu Boyue. “That man was telling the truth, he knew of you! Do you think I can’t tell when it’s right before my eyes?! Do you think me a fool?!”

“This is a trap! It’s an obvious tactic to stir up trouble between us!” Liu Boyue argued.

Xianchun paused for a moment before scoffing. “Zhao Wenyuan doesn’t know of your existence. No one outside of our faction thinks you’re anything other than just a secretary in the Outer Quarters! How the hell would he even know to create such a trap?!”

“My prince, you would listen to the one-sided words of a stranger and suspect me?! I’ve been at your side for almost twenty years now, I’ve given my life to you!” Liu Boyue cried out.

Xianchun stared at his friend’s wounded expression.

“Boyue, even now, you won’t tell me the truth?” Xianchun asked in disbelief.

Liu Boyue met Xianchun’s eyes and immediately understood that Xianchun knew. The two of them had grown up together, some things didn’t need to be said to be communicated between them.

“My prince, everything that I’ve done, I did for your sake,” Liu Boyue said defeatedly.

Xianchun stepped away, unable to form any words. He left the courtyard without glancing back.

Cultural Notes

以退为进/Make progress by stepping backward: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain by losing, etc. Refers to situations where taking a step back benefits you more than rushing forward.

Symbolic Debt: This was a very important concept in Ancient Chinese society, serving as the moral undergirding for the kin-based networks that kept society functioning. If you owe someone a favor, you're expected to repay it, even without legal enforcement of the issue. The kinder and more lenient someone is to you in allowing you to not pay back the symbolic debt, the more debt you're going to be in. It isn't exactly thought of in terms of debt, but rather morality, so people will shame themselves into doing the right thing and repay the favor in most cases (or at least try to).

报馆/Reporting crimes: Not that there weren't guards that patrolled the city, but Ancient China did not have modern policing and surveillance apparatuses, and so most criminal cases were reported rather than caught in the act.

没有王法/No law of the king: This is often used to lament when laws are ignored or blatantly broken, usually by someone who is being extrajudicially or illegally harmed, especially by nobles, officials, or extremely wealthy/influential persons.

光天化日之下/Under the sun in broad daylight: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to refer to shocking incidents that occurred openly, usually in a scandalized or critical way. For example, if someone does a Jean Valjean and lifts a carriage off an old man in the street, this proverb would not apply. But if someone murdered another person in broad daylight, this proverb would be used. Kind of a "what is this society coming to" sentiment.

88-Confrontation

Character Index

Feng Yi: A broke merchant who was conned into spying on Kayla as a red herring for Xianchun's other spies by Liu Boyue. After receiving Kayla's help, he promises to repay her.

Xianchun: The Seventh Prince of the Imperial Family, is diverging further and further from the person he became in the original timeline, largely due to Kayla stirring the pot.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend, right-hand man, and most trusted strategist. He has been making moves behind Xianchun's back, resulting in conflict when Xianchun finally learns of it through Feng Yi.

Liu Hongyu: Former Central Secretariat (no relation to Liu Boyue, there are lots of people with the same surname), he was accused of lese-majeste by Kayla and died afterward.

Zhao Wei: Former Minister of War, one of Wenyuan's uncles.

Yao Gongzhuo: Former Director of Logistics in the Ministry of War, serving as interim Minister. One of Xianchun's supporters.

Du Xuanlin: One of Xianchun's supporters, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. Introduced in this chapter.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer, teacher of the Emperor's generation, moderator of their succession struggle, and currently Kayla's godfather and mentor.

Tao Qian: Kayla's new bodyguard, a man of few words. Recommended by Hu Qing.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Minister Liang's younger brother and rightful heir of the Liang household, he initially joined Kayla for shits and giggles but has found himself enjoying his new job much more than expected.

Zhao Yuanji: A mid-ranking official, one of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of one of the Grand Duke's "cousins".

Zhao Ke: A low-ranking official, one of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of the Grand Duke's youngest "cousin".

Zhao Yihui: One of Wenyuan's many uncles and the son of one of the Grand Duke's "cousins".

Zhao Mingfang: A member of the Zhao clan's side branch, not an official. In the same generation as Zhao Wei. Introduced this chapter.

Zhao Mingfu: Brother of Zhao Mingfang, not an official. Introduced this chapter.

Shi Jingyou: Brother-in-law of Zhao Mingfang, not an official. Introduced this chapter.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant, just as sadistic as his master.

Zhao Kangyu: Son of the Grand Duke's adopted younger brother (actually his cousin and the legitimate heir of the previous Lord Zhao), he was adopted by the Grand Duke under a compromise that the Grand Duke would remain the Zhao clan's heir if Lord Liang's biological grandson is adopted as the Grand Duke's son. He grew up in an isolated and abusive environment until the sudden death of the Grand Duke's biological son, upon which Zhao Kangyu suddenly became the heir and married the Imperial Princess. He was poisoned by the Grand Duke during a plague, and his death was passed off as due to disease.

After receiving Xianchun’s summon, Kayla headed over immediately.

He wouldn’t kill Feng Yi, would he? She felt responsible for the rather pitiful man.

The atmosphere in Xianchun's household was extremely tense, and an oppressive silence leaned its crushing weight over the estate.

Something must have gone down.

“This way please, the prince is in the study,” Xianchun’s steward said. Kayla nodded and went on alone.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince,” Kayla bowed her head in greeting as she entered the study.

“Come in and close the door!” Xianchun ordered. He had stopped mid-step from pacing the room. Kayla quietly obeyed.

“My prince, have you gotten a chance to speak with Feng Yi?” Kayla asked.

“Where the hell did he come from?!” Xianchun demanded.

“He’s a merchant who came to the capital about ten years ago. He doesn’t have any criminal records or misdemeanors, and his business recently went bankrupt,” Kayla explained.

“How does a bastard like him have a clean record–never mind that! Who the hell sent him?!”

Xianchun’s anger was tinted with a feral thirst for blood. Intimidating as it was to be in his proximity, it wasn’t half as bad when his anger wasn’t directed at Kayla.

“We’ve done a check, but he doesn’t have any ties to the Grand Duke or the Third Prince. It’s probably someone else. Framing a prince is a serious crime, and we’ll definitely get to the bottom of this. Don’t worry my prince, I won’t rest until I find the truth, until the investigation makes the water recede and the rocks emerge,” Kayla promised.

“Don’t!” Xianchun snapped.

Kayla gave him a startled look.

“There’s no need to stir up a fuss over such nonsense! My reputation will suffer if this gets dragged out and gains too much attention,” Xianchun said in frustration.

“Are you sure?” Kayla asked.

“Of course I am! Are you deaf?!” Xianchun whirled upon her in rage. Kayla carefully kept her face in a look of shock.

Ah, I see. He’s not angry, he’s afraid.

“I apologize, my prince. I know how frustrating it is to be framed,” Kayla said sympathetically. “I remember how humiliating it was to have my office turned inside out and to be questioned by my former colleagues. That’s why I wanted to make sure you had the option of resolving this privately, but not knowing who’s behind this puts you at a disadvantage. Are you really sure you want me to drop the investigation?”

“Just forget it. Life and death are decided by fate, what threat could some second-rate plotter pose to me? It’s not as though it’s even a believable case! Feng Yi’s a fool for buying into it, and the one who set it up is just as foolish,” Xianchun scoffed, trying and failing to hide his boiling irritation.

“Then I will follow Your Highness’ wishes,” Kayla replied.

“That Feng Yi’s case has nothing to do with me,” Xianchun assured Kayla. “Just put it on file as a misunderstanding that was resolved privately.”

“I understand, shall I take Feng Yi back to the Court of Judicial Review?” Kayla asked.

“Yes. Since you’re the one who sent him, I’ll let him go. Make sure he leaves the capital as soon as possible,” Xianchun replied. He watched Kayla intently for a long moment.

“Why did you let him go after you caught him?” Xianchun asked.

Kayla let out a sigh, shaking her head slightly. “I was furious when I caught him spying on me and wanted to teach him a lesson, but I took a closer look, and he was just a normal man who was down on luck and out of options. It’s not like I don’t know the feeling of not having any choices, so I couldn’t bring myself to punish him. I just didn’t expect it would cause so much trouble for you, my prince. I’m truly sorry.”

“You thought he was one of mine, you said as much last time,” Xianchun said accusingly.

“I wasn’t sure if he was yours, but I couldn’t cross out that possibility based on conjecture alone. Most of the other households added new eyes and ears quite recently and wouldn’t risk bringing in another person, so the only ones who would require a distraction would be your spies and some of Liu Hongyu’s former spies. But Liu Hongyu’s people are too preoccupied with finding an exit plan to arrange all this now that their master's dead, so...well...” Kayla trailed off.

“And you thought I would do such a ridiculous thing?! Just what the hell do you think of me?!” Xianchun demanded.

He’s still testing me.

Kayla lowered her head contritely.

“I apologize, my prince. I thought that it was unlikely, but one can never be too sure about these things, especially when one’s life hangs in the balance. I could only draw conclusions from the information available to me,” Kayla said apologetically. “It’s my fault for judging a great man with the perspective of a small-hearted person. Please punish me as you see fit.”

Xianchun evaluated Kayla’s sheepish expression for a while, before shaking his head, both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed that he couldn’t blame this on Wenyuan rather than his beloved friend, and relieved that Wenyuan wasn’t behind this.

“Forget it, I can hardly blame you. That man really does seem to believe in everything he’s saying, it’s hardly strange for you to be doubtful. Just take him and go.”

Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you for your magnanimity, my prince. Please don’t let this trouble you any further, I’ll make sure that this is wrapped up without any loose ends. On the bright side, you’ll be receiving good news soon, so please look forward to it.”

“Alright,” Xianchun said in a weary voice. “I’m ready to move on the Ministry of Rites at any time.”

Kayla bowed and took her leave of the prince, heading over to pick up Feng Yi.

The following days were turbulent for the Imperial Court, and thus, the capital. Zhao Wei’s resignation sent ripples throughout the entire court. Allies of the Zhao clan began re-evaluating their options, and several officials of the Grand Duke’s faction quietly sent their families away from the capital, relocating them to cities near the Khaganate’s border.

Kuang demonstrated admirable restraint, making sure to do so both publicly and privately, and successfully convinced the Emperor and Empress Dowager of his trustworthiness. It barely took a few more days for the Ministry of War to officially appoint its new minister, Yao Gongzhuo, the palace’s last doubts disappearing as the Third Prince’s faction held their breath and collectively refused to take any action. No bribes, no petitions, not even any whispers in the offices, it was almost as though the Third Prince didn’t even want the Ministry of War. But the military wanted the Third Prince.

Yao Gongzhuo’s appointment caused a ruckus in court, with more and more officials growing certain that Kuang would be the one to become Crown Prince. But before they had even fully made up their minds, a new incident drew their attention.

Quietly and without any hints or warnings, a secret investigation had indicted the Minister of Rites for corruption and dereliction of duty. A member of the Seventh Prince’s faction, a formerly unassuming Hanlin Scholar by the name of Du Xuanlin, seamlessly stepped into the seat of Minister. The Seventh Prince, who had grown much more pensive and reserved in recent days, did not demonstrate joy and excitement as would be expected but rather took the news with stoic composure. His dignified reaction improved his image in the eyes of some officials, who had thought him too hot-blooded and impulsive.

Amid the excitement at court, the role of Zhao Wenyuan was almost completely obscured, and no one took the time to notice that Wenyuan hadn’t returned to the Zhao household in quite a few days now. No one noticed the rather large sum of money Zhao Wenyuan gave to a merchant as a parting gift when sending him off to Chang’an either.

Kayla sat opposite her godfather in Wei Guang’s study. Wei Guang had insisted on extending Kayla’s stay, certain that she would end up dying of “illness” if she returned to the Zhao household without sufficient preparations.

“Let’s see if you can negotiate with the Emperor, once your marriage is announced, it would make sense for you to start living in your new residence,” Wei Guang urged her. “There’s plenty of precedent and rites that could justify it.”

“But when will I act? If I don't return, I don’t have a chance to kill him,” Kayla replied.

Wei Guang sighed, shaking his head. “Indeed, what a headache. Then let’s do it like this, your marriage will be officially announced at the convening of the court in ten days' time. Return to the Grand Duke’s household until then, and find an opportunity. If you can, wait until the marriage is announced to act.”

Kayla nodded.

I need ties to the Khaganate to ensure that the palace can’t just push me to the side.

Once there are no more birds, the bow is stored away. The Emperor wanted to keep Kayla, but there was no telling what the Empress Dowager would do in order to appease the court.

“Alright then, I’ll head back tomorrow,” Kayla replied.

Their conversation was cut short by the steward rushing in, looking rather flustered.

“Apologies, my lord, young lord. Some guests just arrived, and they want to see you, young lord,” the steward said.

“Who is it?” Wei Guang asked.

“It’s the former Minister of War, and several other members of the Zhao clan,” the steward replied.

Wei Guang and Kayla exchanged a glance.

“Take them to the sitting room first,” Wei Guang instructed. The steward bowed and left.

“They probably want to either convince me to stop or side with me,” Kayla muttered.

“Most likely the latter,” Wei Guang assured her.

“Godfather, can these people be trusted?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang sighed. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s worth a shot. If their lives hang in the balance, then they’ll have to support me no matter what,” Kayla replied.

“And that means they’ll change sides the second someone else offers a path to survival,” Wei Guang pointed out. “You must be careful in what you say, don’t give them your full trust, and don’t carelessly make promises.”

Kayla bowed her head. “I understand. Thank you, godfather.”

She headed over to the sitting room, where Tao Qian was already waiting outside the door. Kayla nodded to him on her way in and he bowed in response, remaining outside. Four men she vaguely recognized as relatives of the Zhao clan were waiting for her, Zhao Wei included among them.

“Uncles,” Kayla greeted them. She met Zhao Wei’s cold gaze with a smile. “Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Young lord,” Zhao Wei led the men in a round of stiff greetings. “We were quite surprised to find you here rather than at the Zhao household.”

“Ah yes, I’ve been imposing upon my godfather recently in order to improve my knowledge of the affairs of the state,” Kayla replied. “I apologize for being so difficult to reach, but I’m glad I got a chance to say goodbye before you left the capital, Uncle.”

A look of irritation flashed across Zhao Wei’s face, the other three scowling in silent disapproval. Kayla pretended not to see anything.

“Please do sit down,” Kayla said, gesturing at the chairs. “Uncles, is there anything this nephew can do for you, or is this just a social call?”

“The Grand Duke will not be writing a letter of repentance,” Zhao Yuanji said after a long silence.

So they’ve thrown in their lot with me. Kayla quashed down the rush of victory in her chest. It was far too early to be happy.

“What a pity,” Kayla replied. “But I must thank you for suggesting it to him.”

She allowed the room to sink back into awkward silence. Kayla wanted their support, but she didn’t need it. She knew all too well how these men operated.

They’re afraid of the strong but pick on the weak, the kind of person who specifically selects softened persimmons to squeeze. I can’t be the one to give them a stair to step down on.

“There’s no need for you to thank us, wasn’t it your idea to begin with?” Zhao Yihui pointed out. “Nephew, I must say that your suggestion really has infuriated the Grand Duke. How on earth will you take responsibility for that?”

Kayla gave him a quizzical look. “I need to take responsibility for such a thing? Oh come on now, uncles, all of us have a duty as members of the Zhao clan to suitably advise and remonstrate the Grand Duke, don’t we?”

“If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even be in this situation! You little–” Zhao Yihui was forcibly silenced by Zhao Ke kicking him in the leg.

“Young lord, what we mean to say is that our clan is in a bit of a predicament right now, and we wanted to discuss this with you. Let’s not go in circles, we’re all family here,” Zhao Ke said in a strained voice. “May I ask what your plans are?”

“I intend on fulfilling my duties as a court official to the best of my abilities in order not to let down the Emperor’s hopes,” Kayla replied.

“That’s not what he means and you know it,” Zhao Yihui said accusingly. Kayla gave him a look of incomprehension. She watched Zhao Wei out of the corner of her eyes. He was the one who was really in charge, even if he was no longer an official.

“Young lord, we did not come here to question you or give you a hard time,” Zhao Wei said, breaking his silence. “Rather, we came here to ask for your help.”

Here it is! Kayla carefully kept her face in a polite smile.

Zhao Wei clenched his jaw, eyes glinting with frustration.

“I don’t recognize you as the heir of the Zhao household,” he said plainly. “You’re a coward and a snake, unfilial and disloyal. You don’t even care about what happens to the Zhao household so long as it doesn’t drag you down!”

Kayla’s smile didn’t falter at the string of insults. “Is that so?”

Zhao Wei shook his head with a sigh, rising from his seat in a sudden motion. “Despite all that, you’re the only one who can save the Zhao clan.” Under Kayla’s disbelieving gaze, he knelt, lowering his head. “I humbly beg you to lead us out of this disaster.”

The other three were just as shocked, taking a moment to process the situation before quickly kneeling as well. Kayla had to keep herself from gaping at the unexpected development.

“Stop it, get up!” Kayla said in alarm. She glanced around the room, taking in the hopeful looks directed at her. Kayla let out a deep sigh.

“Uncle, crime calls for punishment. I can’t open one side of the net, even if it’s for my own clan members,” Kayla said firmly. In other words, Zhao Wei was still done for, along with everyone else who would be implicated.

“I don’t dare to hope for such a thing,” Zhao Wei said through gritted teeth. “But I ask for you to save my family members. We’re all headed towards the fate of extermination to the ninth degree, you’re the only one who can prevent this!”

Kayla sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she observed their reactions. From the grim looks on their faces, they had accepted that.

“Even if you didn’t say anything to me, I would have done it regardless,” Kayla replied after a long silence. “In fact, that had been my intention from the very start. Not because you are my relatives, but because I don’t believe in killing family members of the guilty.”

She took a step closer to Zhao Wei, looking down at him. “Uncle, what are you willing to do in order to protect your family members?”

Zhao Wei gave her a blank stare. “I’m willing to die if it would spare them.”

“Good,” Kayla said with emphasis. “I promise that I will do my best to ensure the Zhao clan’s survival, but I hope that you all will cooperate with me.”

“We will follow your arrangements, young lord,” Zhao Wei said firmly, the other three murmuring their agreements.

“I’m greatly relieved to have your support,” Kayla replied. “Please get up.”

Zhao Wei rose to his feet, his cousins following suit.

“The four of you didn’t just come on your own behalf, did you? Who else can I count on for support?” Kayla asked.

Zhao Wei reached into his sleeves and pulled out a scroll.

“You can see their signatures and thumbprints here,” he replied, handing it over to Kayla.

They’re really serious.

Kayla opened the scroll, carefully hiding her shock. This is basically half the Zhao clan members in the capital.

“This is very reassuring,” Kayla said calmly.

“Are you going to tell us your plans?” Zhao Wei asked bluntly.

“I can only reveal one step at a time, right before it happens,” Kayla replied.

Zhao Wei frowned but didn’t protest.

“I’ll try speaking to the Grand Duke myself, but if that does not work, I’ll move on to other plans,” Kayla told them. “Here, take these communication talismans, and I’ll keep you updated as we move along.”

She passed around the talismans she had Hu Qing prepare ahead of time.

“Then we’ll be at your service, young lord,” Zhao Wei replied.

Kayla smiled at Wenyuan’s uncles. “Good, I’ll be relying on you all.”

Zhao Mingfang paced the room, his hair frazzled from tugging at it in frustration.

“Brother, stop it! You’re making me dizzy!” Zhao Mingfu complained.

“Then you think of a solution!” Zhao Mingfang threw up his hands in exasperation. “All you know how to do is complain, your head’s completely empty! You useless fool, you’re just a rice container and clothing rack!”

Zhao Mingfu let out an angry huff, shaking his head.

“Brother-in-law, there’s no need to panic,” Shi Jingyou said comfortingly. “It’s not so bad as that. So what if Zhao Wei and some of the other clan members decided to side with the young lord? Zhao Wei’s already done for, and the rest don’t have enough influence to be of any threat.”

“What do you mean they’re not a threat?!” Zhao Mingfang demanded.

“It’s really not that bad,” Shi Jingyou tried again. “Even if something unexpected happens, it’s unlikely to affect you much.”

“Not affect me much?! Jingyou, you bastard, you were the one who suggested killing the young lord! What the hell do we do if Zhao Wei hands my head over as an expression of sincerity?!” Zhao Mingfang screeched.

“Brother-in-law, there’s no way they could possibly trace that back to us,” Shi Jingyou patiently explained. “I poisoned the servant from the Wei household in advance, he would have died before saying anything. If he said anything, we would have been arrested already. He didn’t even say a word before he died, and now you’re worried about a corpse?”

“Good heavens!” Zhao Mingfang groaned, turning his face upwards towards the sky. His younger brother and brother-in-law shared a look of utter exasperation.

“What’s done is done, what good will worrying do? Brother-in-law, we went through all this trouble to please the Grand Duke in hopes of getting you a position at court, but if we just sit back and let Zhao Wei and the others do what they want, that will only ever be a dream,” Shi Jingyou said calmly.

“Then what do I do?!” Zhao Mingfang demanded.

Shi Jingyou smiled, guiding Zhao Mingfang into a seat.

“Brother-in-law, why not go and report this to the Grand Duke? He surely knows by now that his power base is crumbling, but he’s already fully occupied with the mess in court, while we’re the ones with eyes and ears on the ground. If you go to him with a list of those who have betrayed him, you’ll achieve the same objective,” Shi Jingyou said.

Zhao Mingfang gave him a look of surprise. “What? But then Zhao Wei and the others will–”

“You weren’t afraid to assassinate the young lord, why be fearful now? Brother, I heard that the young lord returned to the main household earlier in the evening. This is the perfect timing!” Zhao Mingfu urged him.

Zhao Mingfang glanced at Shi Jingyou, who nodded encouragingly.

“Very well then, I’ll go at once,” Zhao Mingfang said reluctantly.

Kayla shifted uncomfortably. It had only been a few days, but it felt like forever since she had been in Wenyuan’s quarters. Tao Qian wasn’t allowed to enter the house, but she knew he would find a way to sneak in later on.

Wei Guang’s household had been quiet, but in the Zhao household, she was truly alone. In the silence of the empty room without even Wenyuan’s presence to rely on, the unease constantly at the edges of her psyche simmered into irritation.

Killing the Grand Duke’s going to be hard as hell. The Zhao clan members can’t be relied on for such a thing, having them solves some problems but creates new ones. Am I going to have to do it myself or something?! If the heavens are willing, either Hu Qing will find a way or a chance will appear by itself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

“Young lord, the Grand Duke is asking for you,” Housekeeper Wang said smugly through the door.

“I'm busy right now,” Kayla replied, irritation increasing.

“I’m afraid he insists,” Housekeeper Wang replied.

Kayla sighed and opened the door, sweeping past Housekeeper Wang to make her way toward the Grand Duke’s study.

“Wenyuan is here,” Kayla said, stopping outside the door.

“Get in here and close the door,” the Grand Duke snarled. Kayla couldn’t see his face, but already knew what kind of expression he was wearing.

Fuck, what now?

Kayla braced herself and went in.

“Grandfather,” Kayla greeted him. “How have you been?”

A scroll flew at her face, Kayla barely dodging it by a hair’s width.

“So this is what you’ve been up to in that bastard Wei Guang’s household?” The Grand Duke hissed. Kayla glanced at him and then at the scroll, cautiously picking it up to take a look.

What the fuck? All the names Zhao Wei had given her, in addition to a few others, were listed there in tidy handwriting.

“What’s this? Are they all being removed from their posts?” Kayla asked in a surprised voice. “Grandfather, you can’t blame all this on me! Even the Ministry of War wasn’t directly caused by me, much less all this!”

“Don’t play the fool with me! How dare you covet what is mine?! Do you think that by recruiting a few members of the Zhao clan you could replace me?!” The Grand Duke shouted.

“I have absolutely no interest in replacing you, what good would that do anyone?” Kayla shot back, her temper flaring. Not dealing with the Grand Duke for a few days had left her with a lower tolerance for his bullshit. “If I don’t dismantle the mess you’ve built up, the palace will do so by force! Why can’t you see that we’re out of options already?!”

“Dismantle it? Do you know how much blood and sweat I’ve put into building this up?!”

Kayla gave him an impassive look. “And what about it? Are we not in danger all the same?”

“You bastard, do you think you’d be off the hook just because you changed sides? You owe me, and the palace knows it too!” The Grand Duke snarled.

Kayla glared at the Grand Duke, the last vestiges of restraint slipping from her grasp.

“I owe you? What do you mean I owe you?” Kayla demanded.

“Even the most unfilial of descendants would at least know to have some shame when openly going against the man who fed and clothed them for their entire life! I’ve taken care of you for your entire life, your education, your entry into the court, and your subsequent career!” The Grand Duke shouted. “You ingrate! You’ve gained everything you have today from the Zhao clan! Even if we were to go down, there’s no way I’d allow you to continue unscathed!”

“I know. It’s not the first day we’ve met, I’m fully aware of exactly what kind of man you are,” Kayla said coldly.

The Grand Duke’s eyes took on a dangerous glint as his fury crystallized into something sharper and far more deadly.

“This little piece of shit…ever since you feigned your illness, you’ve started going around with that infuriating look in your eye. I don’t know what got into you or why, but it makes me want to gouge your eyes out,” the Grand Duke snarled.

“What a reasonable response to have,” Kayla shot back sarcastically.

“You think you’re better than me, you brat? Everything you have today, you have because I gave them to you, and yet you dare to look at me like that?!” The Grand Duke shouted.

Kayla stared at him in shocked silence for a moment before shaking her head.

“You’ve misunderstood, grandfather. I don’t think I’m better than you, I know I’m better than you. I mean, you’re a murderer. You literally steal food from the mouths of starving refugees. There’s really not a whole lot of people who aren’t better than you,” Kayla replied before she could stop herself. “Not to mention that you’re a domestic abuser-”

Almost as if to prove the point, Kayla was cut off by a forceful blow to the face. Caught off guard, she was knocked to the ground, crashing into a table en route. Pain exploded in the left side of her face, a sharp stinging in her shoulder where she had hit the corner of the table. It had been a good while since she’d actually been struck, the sudden violence catching her shorthanded.

Kayla tried to spit out the blood filling her mouth, but couldn’t move the left half of her jaw without scorching pain. Instead, she only managed to open her mouth a little. The hot blood dripped down her chin and onto her neck, staining the collar of her robes and landing in red spots on the floor.

Kayla resigned herself to swallowing the blood instead of the unpleasant feeling of having it travel down the inside of her robes. She gingerly snapped her jaw back into place, patting it with a wince as she got back onto her feet.

“You unfilial bastard, I’ve never heard of it being a crime to educate one’s descendants as one sees fit!” The Grand Duke raged at her. He had been going on while Kayla reoriented herself, but she’d missed most of his words only to snap back to attention at his last sentence.

This fucking asshole--

“You slapped me in the face at my father’s funeral,” Kayla shot back.

“You were carrying on so shamefully, the entire family’s reputation would’ve been damaged by such a weak heir,” the Grand Duke retorted.

“I was a child,” Kayla said flatly. The incident had been scarring for Wenyuan, leading to his inability to stand up for himself. Even though it happened publicly, not even his mother, who he’d trusted to keep him safe, was able to do a single thing to stop the Grand Duke.

And he wants to blame Wenyuan for it?

“You were more than old enough to learn that there were consequences for everything!”

Kayla gave him a look of disbelief. “Are we seriously going to do this? Then fine, how come I was the only one who ever faced consequences? What consequences did Liu Hongyu face when you learned I was poisoned at his place? Sure, I ended up fine because the alcohol negated the poison, but how come you never did a thing about that? You even sent me to his household again right after!”

“Of course he faced the consequences. My heir was poisoned at his household, it was only natural that he back down on the conditions of our deal,” the Grand Duke said dismissively. “And it’s not as though you weren’t warned. I told you to drink as much as you can that night, and you did, didn’t you?”

Kayla stared at him incredulously. “Wow, I-you have literally tried to kill me at this point and I’m still surprised at how you can manage to go even lower,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You poisoned me to get a discount. Your own heir, for a goddamn discount. That was back when I still did everything you told me to as well, and you were fine just doing that to me? You really hate me, don’t you?”

The Grand Duke scoffed. “Hate? Don’t be ridiculous, do you think I would be dragged along by something as foolish as that? You were useful, and I rewarded you for it, did I not? You’re the one who went around making a mess, and now you come to me spouting all this nonsense about your hurt feelings!”

Kayla gave him a long look, a strange feeling welling up inside her chest. It was distinctively from Wenyuan, but it resonated so strongly that it felt like her own emotions.

“The person I was back then loved and respected you. I feared you too, but I wanted my grandfather to approve of me more than anything else.”

Kayla stared into the Grand Duke’s eyes in morbid curiosity. Mixed in his rage was a hint of what Kayla recognized as discomfort. He had known, surely, but the words had never been spoken out loud.

“I’m not the one who was cruel to you, why was I the one you treated badly?” Kayla asked.

The Grand Duke stilled for a moment before narrowing his eyes. A look of humiliation briefly flashed over his face.

“So you learned of the truth. No wonder you were so quick to betray me,” the Grand Duke said through gritted teeth.

“I only learned of it very recently, way after I took my current stance,” Kayla replied. “It was neither a cause nor an excuse for my behavior, and even if I had never learned the truth, I would’ve made the same choice. How could I not, with the way you’ve treated me, and the way you’ve been carrying on? You’re already a Grand Duke! If you’d held back even a little bit more, Uncle and Grandmother wouldn’t be targeting you like this. Why did you let things get to this point?”

“Ha! Of course, that reason wouldn’t have been enough. If not for that accursed agreement, you never would’ve been even close to attaining the seat of heir, you wouldn’t have even been born!” The Grand Duke snarled. “You goddamn ingrate, I make you my heir, and this how you repay me!”

Kayla let out a sigh. “We're not getting anywhere with this, it’s useless discussing this with you any further. Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.” She turned and made to leave.

“You asked why I let things get to this point? You can’t possibly begin to understand,” the Grand Duke sneered. Kayla stopped and turned back.

“Your father was such a meek and stunted child. He was plain, like his mother, and untalented, like his father. His father and grandfather had caused me so much suffering and humiliation, I didn’t want anything to do with him at all. I tolerated him because I had to. Emperor Gaozong had arranged it himself, so I just ignored your father and let him be,” the Grand Duke said. His eyes seemed to be focused on something far away, and Kayla didn’t know if she felt afraid or disgusted.

“And then when he was six, or maybe he was seven, I struck him for the first time. He’d done something to deserve it, so I disciplined him, it was only natural for me to do as his guardian. But when I saw him crying as though the world was ending, I felt delighted. It disgusted me. It was humiliating! I’ve taken on the entire court for the sake of the emperor, I had changed the line of succession, destroyed countless opponents, and stood at the pinnacle of power, above tens of thousands and only subordinate to a single person! And here I was, reveling in a child’s tears.”

Kayla shook her head. This crazy bastard, there’s something seriously wrong with him.

The Grand Duke raged on, eyes clouded with decades-long resentment. “I wanted him out of my sight. I tried to send him away and have him live in the countryside residence, somewhere I didn’t have to see him or think about him. But the Empress Dowager, that goddamn bitch, she forced me to keep him here so that he would keep shuffling about right in front of my eyes!”

“She must have misunderstood your intentions,” Kayla said heavily. “I'm guessing that only made things worse for my father?”

Poor Zhao Kangyu, what the fuck did he ever do to deserve any of this?

“It must sound repulsive to your ears. Do you think I didn’t find it repulsive myself? I was a loyal subject, I was the Emperor’s sword! I would’ve continued being a loyal subject if the palace hadn’t pushed my hand time and time again! That bitch ruined me, she’s the one who made me like this!” The Grand Duke snarled. “Her and my uncle, they’re like a goddamn curse on my bloodline!”

Kayla could feel Wenyuan’s discomfort and outrage swirling around inside. It made her vaguely nauseous.

“It’s true you were wronged, but you were the one who single-handedly traumatized two generations of your family! My grandmother didn’t intend to make things this way, and you know it. Why didn’t you explain? Why didn’t you let go of your goddamn pride for a moment and ask for her understanding or even her help? You’re only blaming her so you don’t have to blame yourself!”

The Grand Duke gave a cold chuckle. “It’s not just her that I’m blaming. Our family has been cursed for a long time. Perhaps it was simply my fate to create a monster in my own image,” he said.

Kayla grimaced. “My father was a good man, he was nothing like you.”

“Not him,” the Grand Duke replied. “You. Looking at you now, you’re just like how I was back then, when I’d decided I no longer craved my uncle’s approval, that I no longer wanted anything from him but the power in his hands.”

Kayla felt her blood run cold.

“I’m nothing like you.”

The Grand Duke smiled, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. “You want me dead and you’ll do anything to see it done, I can tell. You have the exact same look in your eyes as I did. You’ll see, Wenyuan. One day, you will be just like me, and you will face the same fate.”

Kayla stared at him wordlessly, her mind going blank.

Fuck.

Cultural Notes

水落石出/Water recedes and rocks emerge: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that the truth becomes clear, or that the truth emerges no matter what.

生死有命/Life and death are decided by fate: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is part of a set, "生死有命富贵在天/Life and death have fate, riches and glory are decided by the heavens", often used by someone who is either extremely confident, as encouragement for someone who is uncertain about their future, or to tell someone "just accept your fate like everyone else".

能耐我何/What can they do [with/to] me?: An Ancient Chinese saying to express derision or disdain for someone else, usually to express confidence that what others do can't/won't affect or change your position.

翰林院/Hanlin Academy: Basically the policy and scholarly think-tank of the Imperial Court, they decide both the interpretation of the classics (aka educational curriculum for standardized tests) and the wording of edicts (drafting policy).

守孝/Observing mourning rites: In Ancient China, mourning periods were expected for the death of one's relatives, during which you could not get married. For a paternal grandfather, the mourning power would be one year.

飞鸟尽，良弓藏/The flying birds are gone, the good bow is stored away:An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that once there is no more need for them, an official or general will be discarded. Usually in the context where an official or general is used to get rid of the ruler's enemies through political or military means, but the ruler no longer trusts them with that amount of power once there are no more targets to get rid of.

上书请罪/Write an appeal asking for punishment/Letter of repentance: Commonly done by officials and military officers as an act of submission/admission of guilt/declaration of remorse, in order to receive a lighter punishment.

欺软怕硬/Bully the soft afraid of the hard[liners]: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to bully the weak but fear the strong.

挑软柿子捏/Choose soft persimmons to squeeze: A colloquial saying meaning to pick on the weak. The reference to persimmons is because one of the most commonly consumed type of persimmons in China are astringent ones, which are bitter and astringent if eaten before they are soft. In the context of this saying, it means to pick on someone you know to be weak even while being careful to offend someone you suspect might be stronger than them.

以小人之心度君子之腹/Judging a great man with the perspective of a small-hearted person: A proverb from pre-Qin China, meaning to maliciously interpret someone's actions, to interpret in bad faith.

不兜圈子/Not go in circles: A colloquial Chinese saying, the word "兜” is much more informal, pointing to a more casual context.

不忠不孝/Unloyal and unfilial: An Ancient Chinese proverb, it was quite a serious insult back in the day, since loyalty and filial piety were two of the most important virtues.

网开一面/Open the net on one side: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to leave an escape route, to give someone a way out accidentally on purpose or to turn a blind eye.

诛灭九族/Exterminate to the ninth degree: An Ancient Chinese term that was specifically used to refer to the large-scale extermination of someone's extended family.

祸不及家人/Crimes/Punishment is not extended to family members: A common saying that was accepted or rejected to varying degrees over history. In other words, punish criminals but leave their family members alone. Emperors who followed this logic, choosing to spare the family of criminals, and in some cases even continue to use them in court, were often praised as being "仁/humane/kind/benevolent".

饭囊衣架/Rice container and clothing rack: An Ancient Chinese proverb and insult meaning that someone is completely useless.

投名状/Expression of sincerity: In Ancient China, it wasn't uncommon for someone who wants to join in or surrender to bring the head of one of your enemies as an expression of sincerity. Bringing important information could also count.

装傻充愣/Pretend to be foolish and act as though daft: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

一人之下万人之上/Below a single person, above ten thousand: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to positions of great power. Note that the usage of 万/Ten thousand in Ancient China was often used as a representative number for "a lot", rather than the actual, specific number of ten thousand. For example, if someone says they've traveled ten thousand miles, it could mean over a thousand miles or well over ten thousand miles. This is primarily in the context of literature, while Ancient Chinese governments tended to have pretty specific knowledge of exactly how many miles, how many people, and how much money they had, so the relative fuzzy usage of "万" would not apply to contexts of actually using statistics.

89-Crisis and Chance

Character Index

Tao Qian: Kayla's new bodyguard, a reliable young man who was recommended by Hu Qing.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's right-hand man, he is the younger brother of Minister Liang and the rightful heir to the Liang clan.

Chen Jian: Chen Caichun's older brother, a young Imperial Investigator who is expected to become a Senior Investigator among the core staff.

Li You: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, brought in by Hu Qing.

Zhao Chao: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, brought in by Hu Qing.

Ke Yongqiang: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, brought in by Hu Qing.

Shu Ling: One of the women on Kayla's payroll, brought in by Hu Qing.

Sun Zhong'e: One of the women on Kayla's payroll, brought in by Hu Qing. Has healing magic but uses it in highly unorthodox ways.

Wei Guang: Kayla's godfather and the Imperial Edict Bearer, he was also the teacher of the Imperial Princess and the previous generation of princes.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: The son of Princess Chu and General Xiang, seeking revenge against the Grand Duke for the extermination of his clan.

An Haoyang: A former Imperial investigator, he is Qu Boyong's retainer and is helping him take revenge.

Ji Fangluo: Daughter of Ji Yantao, who was a retainer of the Xiang clan. She is helping Qu Boyong with his revenge by filing a case on behalf of her father, which has been designed to draw out the Grand Duke's framing of the Xiang clan. Her case is progressing slowly thanks to Qu Boyong's blackmailing of the Third and Seventh Prince's factions backfiring on him, with Sun Ruhui's appointment to the Ministry of Justice making it impossible to proceed without Kayla's knowledge.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and former main character, responsible for Wenyuan's death in the original novel.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's right-hand man and best friend, he had been acting behind Xianchun's back to further the Seventh Prince's goals while cementing his own position. Through Kayla's maneuvering, she successfully drove a wedge between him and Xianchun.

Kayla stared at the Grand Duke blankly.

Become like him? Me? It turned her stomach to even think about it, but what really frightened her was the Grand Duke's suspicions.

He knows I want to kill him. I mean, of course he does, but does he have any evidence? Does he know my plans? Kayla tried to calm herself. No, he doesn’t, he’s projecting, he doesn’t know shit!

Somehow, she had a feeling that things weren't going to be so simple.

“What on earth are you saying?” Kayla shot back. “My mother didn’t raise me to be such a person, you’re deluding yourself with ridiculous fantasies!”

“Your mother barely raised you, I was the one who oversaw your education,” the Grand Duke replied coldly. “I know all too well what kind of monster I’ve created.”

Kayla gave him a disbelieving look. “You really don’t.”

For one, I’m not even Wenyuan.

The Grand Duke scoffed. “Come on now, did you think the letter of repentance wouldn’t give you away? It must be that upright and noble Wei Guang who’s helping you, isn’t it? Anyone with sufficient experience would recognize the signs of premeditated murder!”

“Sufficient experience in what?! Politics? Because that's what I ask my godfather's advice for! While you’re here fantasizing about however many criminal acts you’ve committed in the past, I’m trying to dig out a path to survival for our clan!” Kayla snapped, drawing together an offended air of self-righteousness despite her pounding heart.

Shit, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this! He fucking loves assassinating people! Even if he has no evidence, he’d suspect it anyways!

The scroll of names lying abandoned in a corner didn’t exactly help her case.

The Grand Duke laughed, shaking his head with a look of amusement. “You’re much too inexperienced to be taking me on, you yellow-haired brat. I can see right through your excuses. You would have become just like me–no, you might’ve even surpassed me if only you hadn’t been so foolish as to come back on your own two feet.”

Fuck. Kayla took a step back involuntarily, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as the air became permeated with killing intent.

“You’re being ridiculous, grandfather,” Kayla replied. “How can you pin your imaginations on me as proof for nonexistent crimes? I’m done here!”

“Not so fast!” The Grand Duke barked. Kayla whirled around only to see the silhouettes of armored guards through the wooden carvings of the door.

“What are you doing?!” Kayla shouted in alarm.

“In terms of ruthlessness and ambition, you take after me. But in terms of foolishness, you really are like your father,” the Grand Duke said. “Since you’ve returned, there’s no need for you to leave again.”

“I have work tomorrow,” Kayla shot back. “We both do!”

“No, I do not. I will be grieving the loss of my heir from a sudden bout of illness,” the Grand Duke replied coldly.

Jesus Christ! What the fuck?! Shit, where the fuck is Tao Qian?!

“The plaque from the palace–” Kayla began.

“Did you think I wouldn’t think of that? The household’s under wards to prevent any communication in or out,” the Grand Duke replied. His anger had faded, leaving a candidness that neither Kayla nor Wenyuan had ever seen before.

“Don’t do this, grandfather!” Kayla cried out, desperately trying to buy time while scrambling for an escape plan. The Grand Duke was far more prepared than Kayla, who only had a small stack of talismans in her robes and the more-or-less poison needle from Hu Qing in a small pincushion inside her sleeve.

Fucking communication blocking wards?! Damn it, think, think!

“There’s no need to involve outsiders this time,” the Grand Duke said, pushing forward the cup on his desk. Kayla stared at it in incomprehension.

“Drink it,” the Grand Duke ordered.

“Isn’t that your tea?” Kayla said, not caring that her voice was shaking. “Let me pour out another cup, it’d be rude for me to drink yours.”

The Grand Duke watched her coldly. “If you don’t drink it, I’ll force it down your throat. No matter what, you’re dying tonight. At least go with some dignity. Don’t you have any shame?”

“No, I don’t! Why are you doing this?! Do you really need to kill me? The palace won’t let you go for this! Can’t we make a deal?” Kayla pleaded.

The Grand Duke shook his head. “It seems my education was lacking after all. Why would I make a deal with someone weaker than me?”

“Grandfather…” Kayla said in a small voice, backing away from him. Panic was beginning to set in. The Grand Duke wasn't a man who could be convinced, and she wasn't a person who could fight her way out. Kayla had walked straight into a trap.

Fuck! Oh my god, seriously?! I can’t fucking believe this!

Kayla!

She jolted in shock at the familiar voice that had been silent for days.

Wenyuan?!

What are you doing?! Use your nullification magic! This isn’t the time to worry about the consequences!

You’re right, how the fuck did I not think of that?!

Forcing herself to calm down, Kayla took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes closed. The faint presence of magic was ever-present, and she could sense the various spells dotted throughout the rooms of the household, as well as the magic sewn into the Grand Duke’s robes. Further outwards, a faint thrumming spoke to the presence of the wards that wrapped around the household like a thin membrane. Filaments of magical energy curled through the air.

“I’m not a patient man,” the Grand Duke warned. “Drink it on your own accord or–”

Kayla nullified all of it. The wards disappeared without a trace along with all the other spells in the household. The lights went out and several decorations crashed to the ground as the spells attaching them to the wall disappeared. The Grand Duke whirled around in alarm, and Kayla took that chance to activate the communication device.

“Hu Qing, help me!” Kayla shouted at the device before shoving it back into her robes.

“You—what on earth did you–” The Grand Duke shouted as he turned back towards her, eyes wide with shock.

Kayla lunged forward, flinging herself across the desk to splash the cup’s contents into the Grand Duke’s face. He twisted his face away, blocking the poisonous liquid with his sleeve. Kayla grabbed onto the Grand Duke’s raised arm, yanking out the needle and stabbing it into his forearm. Between the layers of thick fabric and Kayla’s shaky hands, the needle caught at a bad angle, barely pricking into his skin before falling aside.

The Grand Duke roared in anger, knocking Kayla off the desk with a backhand. She landed on her back, rolling to her feet and grabbing the poison needle off the floor as she retreated.

“My lord! Are you alright?!” The door flew open as the guards charged in, alarmed by the crashes and shouting. They stopped, shocked at the mess and the Grand Duke’s disheveled appearance. Kayla grabbed her chance and dashed past them into the corridor.

It was lined with guards.

Fuck! Isn’t this fucking overkill?!!

Kayla ignored them. She flipped over the low railing of the corridor into the courtyard, the guards belatedly reacting to come after her.

“Hu Qing!” Kayla shouted, her voice cracking. “Hu Qing!!!”

She fled across the courtyard, skittering to a stop as guards filled the opposite corridor as well. Trapped on either side, Kayla glanced around with wild eyes, increasingly desperate as the guards charged forward.

A dark blur moved through the air and launched itself into the courtyard, landing with a heavy thud behind her.

“Minister! Hu Qing’s on his way!” Tao Qian shouted as he drew his blade. The guards shouted in alarm, tightening their grip on their weapons.

“Tao Qian! Thank the heavens!” Kayla said in relief.

“Hold on, Minister!” Tao Qian grabbed Kayla by the collar, tossing her over his shoulder as though she was a sack of mung beans.

Kayla felt a rush of vertigo as Tao Qian launched himself back onto the roof, the ground growing farther away while the roof tiles grew closer. He landed heavily, bending his knees to absorb the shock. Kayla paled, her face only a foot away from the tiles they had broken.

“Oh my god,” she wheezed, the words coming out garbled.

“Sorry, I’m wearing armor under my robes so I can’t move too quietly,” Tao Qian explained, straightening up.

No wonder her abdomen hurt where she had landed on Tao Qian’s shoulder.

“Where are we going?” Kayla asked as Tao Qian jumped over the rooftops.

“Out of the household,” he replied. “Whatever consequences there are, we can deal with them after your survival is ensured.”

“Bastard! Get down here!” The head of the Grand Duke’s guards shouted at them from below.

“Please hold still, Minister!” Tao Qian shouted, tightening his grip on Kayla. He dove down as an arrow whizzed over their heads.

“What–” Kayla let out a squeak as Tao Qian launched himself off the rooftop, his blade moving faster than she could keep track of with her eyes. Several arrows fell aside, Tao Qian dodging several more as they moved into what she could only assume was a blind spot. He set down Kayla, pulling out a short sword with his newly freed hand.

“Damn it! Apologies, Minister, this place is surrounded,” Tao Qian said grimly.

It was obvious Kayla was the one dragging him down. Tao Qian had gotten in just fine, but he had the element of surprise. It wouldn’t be so easy to get out with dead weight dragging him down and the guards on high alert.

Should I use the golden plaque? Kayla tried to calm herself and think properly. Or the talisman to summon the Investigators? No, neither of those will arrive in time. The Grand Duke’s definitely taken care of the Imperial Investigators watching the household already, he was fully prepared! And last time, the Imperial Guards arrived so late that my corpse would’ve cooled down if Hu Qing hadn’t been there! Then what?

Then contact Chen Jian or something! Anyone would do!

He won’t make it in time!

“Tao Qian! Hurry up and get moving!”

Kayla had never been so happy to hear Hu Qing’s voice.

Tao Qian charged right out of the blind spot, blocking arrows as he went. With a light thud, Hu Qing landed next to Kayla.

“My lord,” Hu Qing greeted her, his voice uncharacteristically tense.

“Hu Qing, you’re here!”

“Let’s get going, Tao Qian will cover for us,” Hu Qing replied, continuing to speak without so much as a grunt of effort as he hoisted Kayla over his shoulder and began dashing across the rooftop in the opposite direction as Tao Qian. “The others are on their way as well, it should become a standoff and then quiet down soon enough.”

“Aruih hurgh,” Kayla replied, the jostling preventing her from saying anything remotely coherent. She braced herself as Hu Qing launched right off the Outer Wall to land on the bough of a large tree. The branch swayed dangerously, and Kayla had to fight down her nausea to prevent herself from retching over Hu Qing’s back.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god-

“Hold on, Minister,” Hu Qing warned her before launching off the branch to move through the trees at lightning speed before the archers could catch on and change direction. Kayla squeezed her eyes shut, unable to handle the vertigo as the world rose and fell around her. She let out a squawk as she was flung onto the wooden floor of a carriage. The door slammed shut.

“Move! Move! Get moving!” Hu Qing shouted. Kayla didn’t have a chance to reorient herself as the carriage took off, jostling furiously as the horses went at breakneck speed, forced on by the continuous cracking of the whip.

In the darkness, Kayla could only rely on the dim light that flashed through the closed curtains from the hazy moon that periodically shone through the clouds. Kayla remained curled up on the carriage floor between the seats, where she was far less likely to receive an arrow through the head. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears, the sound of rushing blood deafening all other noise. The carriage jolted to a stop just as suddenly as it had started.

“My lord, come on!” Hu Qing threw the carriage door open and pulled Kayla out. Before she could reorient herself, she was all but dragged into a building she vaguely recognized as the safe house. All the windows and curtains were tightly shut, the only light being the flame of a few candles here and there.

Kayla stumbled to a stop, glancing around in bewilderment. Five people were already there, three men and two women.

“Hurry up and greet the Minister,” Hu Qing ordered. All five of them bowed deeply, saying their greetings.

“Li You, Zhang Chao, Ke Yongqiang, Sun Zhong’e, and Shu Ling,” Hu Qing introduced them. Kayla nodded at them, recognizing the names from the weekly payrolls and Hu Qing’s daily reports.

“They’ll ensure your safety until we work out the next steps,” Hu Qing assured her.

“Will Tao Qian be alright?” Kayla asked.

“He’ll be fine,” Hu Qing assured her. “Here, sit down, you look terrible. Sun Zhong'e, do something about his face.”

The older of the two women came forward to heal Kayla’s face with a mixture of different talismans that would’ve left Kayla taken aback in any other circumstances, the other four moving away to continue standing guard.

“Don’t worry, Minister, I’ve been at this for decades. I’ll make sure it heals properly,” Sun Zhong'e assured Kayla. She tried to nod in response, but her head was firmly held in place by Sun Zhong'e’s hand.

“I’ve sent out a message to your godfather, but I recommend you to stay here for now,” Hu Qing reported. “We have no idea what the fallout from this will be yet. I told him not to call the guards or the Bureau, or things will get even more complicated.”

Sun Zhong'e finished healing Kayla’s face, quietly returning to her post. Kayla gave her a grateful nod before turning back to Hu Qing.

“I underestimated the Grand Duke,” Kayla said blankly. “I thought he would act within the restraints of rational choice, but he’s completely insane. He’s not thinking about the consequences at all!”

“When he was the one in control, it just seemed as though he just had a bad temper, but once things fall apart, you see how impulsive and ridiculous he really is. It's a common pattern,” Hu Qing replied. “But that doesn't matter right now. What happened?”

“He knows about the Zhao clan members siding with me. He guessed that I planned on killing him and decided to act first,” Kayla said tersely. “I nullified all the magic in the house and got him in the arm with the poison needle, but it was barely a prick, I doubt it’ll kill him. Now he knows about the nullification magic, and he knows what I’m trying to do!”

Hu Qing frowned. “That pretty much takes assassination off the table, but you’re not at quite that much of a disadvantage, my lord. First of all, that poison was pretty potent. Even if it doesn’t off him, he’ll be too ill to do much right away. Also, he can’t expose your nullification magic without exposing himself for attempted murder. It’s not him that you should be worrying about right now.”

Kayla sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. Rather than the Grand Duke, it was the people who would swarm in to take advantage of the situation that she needed to worry about. The Zhao clan members’ support was unreliable at best even before this happened, and Xianchun’s hatred for the Grand Duke probably meant that he would prioritize grabbing this chance over his internal affairs. The palace would likely learn of the standoff even if they didn’t know of the details, and it had yet to be told what they would do.

Worse comes to worst, they’ll do a full search of the household, and there’s enough evidence in the Grand Duke’s study to exterminate the clan several times over!

“I can’t let them get ahold of it,” Kayla hissed through gritted teeth.

“Ahold of what?”

“The evidence in the Grand Duke’s study! Damn it all!” Kayla groaned, pressing her face into her hands.

“I can do that,” Hu Qing replied without hesitation. “They’ll have to de-escalate and act as though nothing happened after tonight’s events if they don’t want to give the Bureau or the Imperial Guards an excuse to charge in. If you want me to steal something, then that’s pretty much impossible. But if you want me to destroy something, I can do it.”

“Won’t it be too dangerous?” Kayla asked in concern.

Hu Qing shook his head. “Not at all. I made it in and out just fine even when the household was in combat mode, how difficult can it be to start a fire?”

“When do you think we should move? I want to do it as soon as possible, but–”

“Tomorrow or the night after,” Hu Qing said firmly. “It’s just as you said, this needs to be done as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the more possibilities you create for things to go wrong.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “Let me confirm it with my godfather, he’ll have a better idea of how to deal with the aftermath.”

A man in the rough linen robes of a poor traveler stood around a crackling bonfire with several others, leaning or squatting against the narrow walls of the alleyway.

“It was so warm during the day, why is it still so cold at night?” One of them complained. He was rather young and looked to barely be of age, with thin and gangly limbs.

“You’ll get used to it soon enough,” his companion assured him. “Once it actually gets to summer, you’ll be wishing for this kind of weather! It gets so hot that you can barely fall asleep at night.”

“I can’t wait,” the young man said bitterly.

“Obviously the cold is better, you can always add on more layers, but what are you going to do in the heat? Peel off your skin?” An older man clapped the younger man on the shoulder, giving a good-natured laugh. A man who had been standing at the entrance of the alleyway came scampering over.

“It’s the city guard!” He hissed.

“Shit! It’s the city guard! Put out the fire!” There was a flurry of blowing and stamping, the last embers of the flame vanishing amid plumes of smoke. The men abandoned the spot, fleeing further into the alleyways, only stopping when they were a good distance away. It was illegal to start fires outside in a city full of densely concentrated wooden structures, where a small flame could lead to great disaster, but those who couldn’t afford to rent lodgings or find someone generous enough to host them often ignored those rules.

“Damn it, why the hell are there city guards in a ghost area like this?!”

“Ghost area?!” The young man squeaked nervously.

“Didn’t you know? This is where the Xiang clan used to live before they were completely exterminated, why else would there be so few people around?” His companion told him.

The young man looked ready to cry. “I came to the capital to make money, but here I am, homeless and sleeping in a haunted place!”

The other men patted him comfortingly, offering vague reassurances that things would get better for him. Only the man in linen remained quiet.

“My friend, you’re also quite young, aren’t you? How long have you been in the capital?” An old man with greying hair turned to where the man in linen robes had been standing a moment ago, trying to draw him into the conversation. He froze in shock.

“Where did that man go?”

“What man?”

“The good-looking one in the nice robes!”

“What? Wasn’t he here a moment ago?”

They all looked around uncertainly, falling silent when they realized that the man was indeed gone.

“Did he get lost on the way here?” The youngest man asked uneasily.

“No, I could’ve sworn he was still here a moment ago!”

The air seemed to grow colder.

“Was that man…a ghost?” The youngest man asked in a small voice.

“Don’t say that!”

They huddled closer to each other with frightened eyes.

Qu Boyong had quietly flipped onto the rooftop and left, unaware of the group’s newfound belief that they had met a ghost. The last few days hadn’t been easy. Leaving the capital was rather straightforward, but sneaking back in was much more difficult. In the end, Qu Boyong and An Haoyang had to disguise themselves as homeless wanderers who had tried and failed to find their fortunes in the capital.

To Qu Boyong’s surprise, Zhao Wenyuan was not in the Zhao household. The Zhao heir had managed to gain a godfather while Qu Boyong was busy trying to survive, and two Ministries had changed owners in the meantime. Ji Fangluo’s case hadn’t made much progress, and the Zhao household had significantly increased its security for some reason.

In other words, Qu Boyong was at a dead end.

That changed tonight.

He crouched on a rooftop, hidden behind a chimney. He watched from afar as the City Guard argued with the Grand Duke’s head of security. From his position, Qu Boyong could see several archers hastily descend the rooftops and disappear into the buildings. A number of Imperial Investigators were also approaching the household. They didn’t enter but didn’t bother to hide their presence either, openly standing on the outer walls of the Zhao household and looking in.

Something’s happened, Qu Boyong realized with a thrill of excitement. Something big.

He continued to watch, but neither the City Guards nor the Imperial Investigators made any further moves. Instead, several people left the household on foot without anyone trying to stop them, and the Zhao household was visibly pulling back their security.

After a while, the City Guard left, along with several of the Imperial Investigators. The few that remained went back to their covert posts among the trees.

This is the perfect chance. Both the Grand Duke and the Bureau would have to tone things down if they wanted to de-escalate after a confrontation like that. Since neither side would dare to make a move in the aftermath, security would actually be laxer than normal. And on the off-chance that they didn’t plan on de-escalating but rather intended to tear each other apart, that suited Qu Boyong just fine as well.

I can’t let go of this opportunity, I need to get evidence! Ji Fangluo’s case alone will never be enough, and who knows when the Grand Duke might drop dead? That bastard can’t be allowed to die until I’ve taken my revenge.

Qu Boyong slipped off the roof, activating his communication talisman to call An Haoyang to their rendezvous point. It was time for them to act.

The atmosphere inside the Seventh Prince’s household had been unbearably tense, to the point that the staff felt like they were suffocating. The reason was clear enough–the prince and Sir Liu had fallen out with each other.

Xianchun went about with a much colder countenance than before and always seemed to be in deep thought when someone tried to speak with him. Liu Boyue, on the other hand, had simply vanished. Some of the servants had whispered among themselves that Sir Liu had left out of shame, but Xianchun punished anyone he heard badmouthing Liu Boyue, and those rumors were quickly quashed.

Whatever had happened, it wasn’t enough to completely destroy the prince’s attachment to his strategist. However, Liu Boyue’s silent absence was deafening. Xianchun’s mood worsened as a result, and the entire household was on a knife’s edge.

It was why the steward had dropped an entire tray of expensive teacups to the ground, eyes wide as he stared at Liu Boyue.

“Those are the ones the prince uses most often,” Liu Boyue chided him.

“Sir, you’re back!” The steward gasped, caught between relief and trepidation.

“Where is His Highness right now?” Liu Boyue asked. The steward gulped. He didn’t know whether it would be better or worse to let the two of them meet right now, but it wasn’t his decision to make.

“The prince is in his study,” the steward replied.

Liu Boyue nodded at him and left. The strategist stopped at the study’s door, hesitating for a long moment before knocking.

“Excuse me, my prince,” Liu Boyue said. There was no response for a moment before the door flew open. Xianchun pulled Liu Boyue into the study, a mixture of fury and relief on his face.

“Liu Boyue, you bastard–”

Liu Boyue knelt, bowing his head. “I apologize, my prince. This one deserves punishment for overstepping my bounds! How dare I, a mere servant, act in such an arrogant manner? Please deal with me as you see fit!”

Xianchun went still, staring at Liu Boyue with a torn expression.

“What are you saying? Get up and stop saying foolish things!” He ordered.

“I dare not, my prince. I allowed myself to become spoiled after receiving your favor and forgot my place, I can’t let this transgression go unpunished,” Liu Boyue said heavily.

“Get up!” Xianchun grabbed Boyue by the arm and yanked him to his feet. The prince glared at Liu Boyue. “When the hell have I ever treated you as someone of a lower status? Have I not treated you as my friend and most trusted advisor? How can you say such things?!”

Liu Boyue’s gaze clouded with guilt. Xianchun was a man who valued his friends, and Boyue had no choice but to take advantage of that to stay at the prince’s side.

“It is as you say, my prince. You’ve always treated me as a friend rather than a servant. I still remember when we were children, you would always share your food and books with me, and I would go with you wherever you snuck into. When we actually got into trouble, you would always stand in front of me and say it was your idea. Your Highness’ kindness is infinite. But that is because of your benevolence, not because I was deserving of it. I allowed myself to forget that.” Liu Boyue lowered his head despondently.

Xianchun’s expression softened. “Don’t say such things. You’re not my servant, but my closest friend. I wasn’t angry because I thought you had overstepped, but because you had gone behind my back.”

Seeing that Xianchun’s anger had mostly dissipated upon Boyue's mention of their shared childhood, a wave of relief surged up in his chest.

“My prince, my crimes are unforgivable, even death would not be punishment enough! But I swear that I only had your best interests in mind. Your Highness is a man of virtue, there are things that you won’t, and shouldn’t, take part in, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be done! Our enemies won’t hold back, our rivals won’t either, and even our allies have their own plans! Should nothing be done, it would be the end of us. How could I just stand by and let that happen? If someone must dip their hands in the muddied waters, it should be like me rather than you,” Boyue spoke the words passionately even though they were only partially true.

While it was the case that Xianchun often chose not to do things that were beneficial or delayed them until a chance was lost, the necessity of those actions, as well as the benefits Liu Boyue gained from taking charge of them, were things that didn’t need to be brought up.

“I understand that you have your difficulties,” Xianchun agreed. “Boyue, I know how clever you are, and I have always welcomed your advice. But you should never have gone behind my back. Didn’t you see how panicked Fifth Brother was when his cousin stirred up such a mess without his knowledge? Wenyuan had asked me to let him off the hook in case I had to deal with something similar in the future, but I didn’t think it was possible. I thought I had better control, better management, that no matter how out of line my supporters became in the future, I could work together with you to rein them in. But now, it turns out that you’re the one who has been playing me for the fool! Boyue, just what am I to do with you?!”

Even though he had accepted Boyue back, there was now a distance between them, evident from the colder tone Xianchun took with him.

Boyue bowed his head. “I’m truly sorry, my prince. I know that what I’ve done can never be forgiven, but please give me a chance to make up for my crimes with merit! I swear that I will atone for this by dedicating my life to you!”

Xianchun’s hand landed on Boyue’s shoulder, the prince looking significantly calmer.

“It is also my fault for throwing too much work upon you and interfering too little,” Xianchun said. “I’m happy to give you another chance, Boyue. I don’t want to lose a man as capable as you. But you need to tell me everything. If you leave out even a single detail, I will find out eventually.”

And you won’t be let off so easily next time. Xianchun didn’t voice the threat, but Liu Boyue didn’t need him to. A cold knot in his chest, Boyue bowed.

“I understand, my prince.”

“I’ll be dividing some of your duties,” Xianchun continued. “From now on, I’ll expect you to request before you act, and report afterward. Do you have any issue with that?”

“Not at all, my prince.”

“That’s good to hear,” Xianchun said. “Come and sit down, let’s have a talk.”

Liu Boyue remained where he was. “My prince, I swear that I will tell you everything I know. But right now, there is something much more important at hand. An opportunity has arisen, and I humbly ask for you to command me to act!”

“What do you speak of?”

“Zhao Wenyuan returned to the Zhao household earlier tonight, but left quite suddenly, and shortly afterward, there was a confrontation between the Grand Duke’s guards and the City Guards, along with the Imperial Investigators. Both sides backed down, but something serious must have happened,” Liu Boyue explained. “This is an excellent opportunity for us, my prince! Please send me to infiltrate the Zhao household, and I swear that I will bring you the evidence that you seek.”

“Can it really be done? The Zhao household as well as the City Guard and the Bureau will all be on edge, even if their hands are tied for the moment, there’s no telling what will happen,” Xianchun pointed out.

Liu Boyue knelt, bowing his head. “My prince, my life is yours. I will see this done no matter what. And if I cannot bring you the evidence, I will at least escalate the conflict so that the Grand Duke will be brought to his knees!”

Xianchun stepped forward, pulling Liu Boyue up for the second time.

“Are you sure?” Xianchun asked.

Liu Boyue nodded, eyes alight with determination. “Absolutely, my prince. With your permission, I’ll make my move tomorrow night.”

After a moment of consideration, Xianchun nodded.

“Alright then. I grant you my permission.”

Cultural Notes

The corridor: I realize now that I never described what a corridor in a large household would look like, but it does not refer to an indoor corridor. For households that consisted of multiple building compounds, there were often outdoor corridors facing the courtyard that connected the buildings. They would be covered with roofs, but usually weren't walled in, and often had low railings (between knee and waist height). Here's a picture for reference:

Doors: Again, this is something I've never properly described, but the wooden doors in the Grand Duke's study would look something similar to the image below, but rather than glass, it would be paper in the window portion, so you couldn't immediately see outside, but would be able to see shapes. In winter, you would hang a heavy curtain inside the door to block out the cold.

黄毛小儿/Yellow-haired brat: An Ancient Chinese proverb usually used to describe a young person, as in "you young person (derogatory)". Also, remember that people married pretty early back then, so if you were twenty years younger than someone, they would have an excuse to look down on you as a "brat", even if you're a full-grown man in your thirties, hence why it's often used in Ancient Chinese literature in reference to people who wouldn't really count as "brats" if you go by age. The original was actually 黄口小儿/Yellow-mouthed brat, in reference to the yellow beaks of young birds, but it eventually became 黄毛小儿 in later dynasties. Yellow-haired refers to a common situation in poorer families where malnutrition during pregnancy was common, and children often had pale brown hair in their early childhood until eventually growing black hair.

持宠而娇/Receiving favor and becoming spoiled: An Ancient Chinese proverb typically applied to wives/concubines of a husband, and to subjects of a ruler. It's actually used in the latter context far more than the former one, since the power dynamic of ruler-subject parallels that of husband-wife.

罪不可赦/Crime that cannot be pardoned: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to crimes that cannot go unpunished.

罪该万死/Crime worthy of ten-thousand deaths: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a severe crime or transgression.

宅心仁厚/A generous and humane heart: An Ancient Chinese proverb praising someone for being virtuous, humane, generous, and forgiving.

各怀鬼胎/Each has [their own] calculations: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a situation where each person is plotting and has their own calculations, often at the cost of or to the detriment of their peers.

蹚浑水/To go through muddy waters: An Ancient Chinese phrase that is often used as a verb, meaning to get your hands dirty.

De-escalating as a matter of giving each other face: Because the Zhao household is home to one of the most powerful officials in the country (the position of Central Secretariat is so powerful that it is often left empty or occupied by the Crown Prince), and they're in-laws of the palace. In other words, the Bureau and Imperial Guards have to give them face. The Zhao household also has to give them face in turn, since the Bureau is very much looking for a chance to do a full-scale search, but needs a proper excuse to do the equivalent of raiding the Prime Minister's home.

90-Three-Way Melee

Cultural Notes

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Half-brother of Minister Liang, he is younger by quite a lot, and is only a few years older than his oldest niece. He became Kayla's retainer after his relationship with Minister Liang began to deteriorate and has been thoroughly enjoying the free entertainment that comes from his new position.

An Haoyang: Former Imperial Investigator and retainer of Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong. After a previous altercation with Hu Qing in which An Haoyang narrowly avoided death, he was forced to flee the capital and return undercover.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he is currently seeking revenge against the Grand Duke for the extermination of the Xiang clan. He formerly worked undercover as a guard in the Zhao household and subsequently worked for Kayla. Like An Haoyang, he was forced to flee the capital and secretly return, posing as a homeless man.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend, strategist, and right-hand man. Has been consistently going behind Xianchun's back and was recently exposed through Kayla's maneuvering.

Zhou Xianchun: Seventh Prince and one of the contenders for the seat of Crown Prince.

Chen Caichun: A talented young woman serving as the Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review, she is one of Kayla's retainers.

Sun Ruhui: Formerly serving as a county magistrate, he was recruited by Kayla to serve as a Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review before becoming the Left Secretariat of Justice. One of Kayla's retainers.

Shu Ling: One of the women working for Kayla under Hu Qing's command, she has unorthodox healing magic. (Unorthodox as in hey-wtf-are-you-doing-to-my-arm-is-that-even-legal, not as in unorthodox cultivation).

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather, he served as a moderator for the previous generation of princes, something that gained him the Emperor's trust and the Empress Dowager's ire.

Minister Liang: Head of the Liang clan and Minister of Justice, one of Xianchun's supporters.

Tao Qian: One of Kayla's new bodyguards, recruited by Hu Qing.

Sun Zhong'e: One of the women working for Kayla through Hu Qing's command.

The next day just so coincided with Kayla’s day off, for better or for worse. If she had been in the office, her levels of anxiety would have warranted some serious concern from her subordinates, but in the safe house, Kayla was rendered immobile by the lack of information.

Wenyuan had also fallen silent again, refusing to speak no matter how sincerely Kayla expressed her gratitude, which only worsened her fizzling nerves.

“If he lives through the day, you must act. If he does not, you must take charge of the household by force.” Wei Guang’s advice continued to ring through her mind as she paced the questionably decorated rooms.

Going by Hu Qing’s estimate, the Grand Duke wouldn’t make a full recovery no matter what. The poison was rather uncommon and Kayla had taken the needle with her, any healer would be hard-pressed to figure out which toxins they were dealing with. By the time they worked out the antidote, the Grand Duke would have taken some serious damage. But as for just how much damage, it was hard to say.

Please just let him die, Kayla silently pleaded to whichever god was listening.

Her prayers went unanswered. By late afternoon, Hu Qing returned with a grim expression.

“My lord, the Grand Duke is still alive,” Hu Qing said. “Two healers entered in the morning, but neither one of them have left yet. But the housekeeper isn’t doing anything and none of his allies or subordinates have been seen going in or out either.”

“What about communications?” Kayla asked.

“Nothing, none of our detectors picked up any communication devices being used, and while we tracked all the servants and guards who left the household, none of them went to deliver messages,” Hu Qing replied.

“He’s not dead, but he’s not making any moves even after everything that happened last night…” Kayla muttered. “What does that mean?”

“He’s probably indisposed right now,” Hu Qing replied. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up paralyzed in the arm or even half his body. But this is an opportunity we can’t let go of. Right now, the herd of dragons is without a leader, we should act before anyone else takes the initiative.”

“Is it possible to kill him?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing shook his head. “If it was difficult before, it’s impossible now.”

Kayla nodded slowly.

“If you agree, I’ll destroy the evidence tonight,” Hu Qing pressed on.

Kayla mulled it over for a moment before caving in. She was out of options and out of time, this was the only path left to her.

“Alright then,” Kayla said. “Do it.”

“Those two healers were the cream of the crop, their fees are insanely high,” An Haoyang reported to Qu Boyong in their temporary base of operations. “If the Grand Duke needs them, then his condition can’t be good. But what the hell happened?”

“We’ll find out in due time,” Qu Boyong said. “But we need to act quickly, we can’t let that old bastard die before we take our revenge!”

“A man like that doesn’t deserve to die of natural causes,” An Haoyang said bitterly.

“Exactly. No matter what happens, let’s move tonight,” Qu Boyong said. “The Grand Duke is known to be a paranoid man, he probably has the evidence in his personal study. It’ll be difficult to figure out which is which since it’ll probably be disguised with magic. If the two of us are working together, it shouldn’t take too long to go through the study. The problem is the key to undoing the encryption magic, that’ll be more difficult to get ahold of. Worse comes to worst, we can hire a specialist to decrypt it for us–”

An Haoyang held out a hand to stop him. “Young lord, you shouldn’t go with me. The guards of the Zhao clan already know your face and build. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be done for. I still have my plaque from the Bureau, so even if they catch me, I can still use that to bluff my way out.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Qu Boyong argued.

“Even more reason why you shouldn’t go! They won’t hesitate to kill you should they catch sight of you, what can you do if you’re dead? I will be more than enough for this job, so please just leave it to me!” An Haoyang urged him.

Qu Boyong fell silent for a long moment before finally nodding his head.

“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you.”

An Haoyang smiled confidently. “I won’t disappoint you, young lord!”

As evening fell in the Seventh Prince’s household, the servants tacitly stayed away from their master’s study.

Xianchun’s expression was severe as he watched Liu Boyue prepare. His rage had only intensified after hearing the full list of what Liu Boyue had been up to behind his back, especially since the strategist hadn’t even finished recounting everything yet.

Just how much have you been hiding from me? How could you play me like a fool for this long?

Xianchun swallowed the questions for the umpteenth time. Those could wait until after Liu Boyue had safely returned.

Liu Boyue finished tucking a shortsword into his belt and knelt, bowing his head almost to the ground.

“My prince, I’m eternally grateful for your mercy. Tonight, I’ll make up for my crimes with merit, or die trying,” Liu Boyue bowed his head. Xianchun’s anger melted away at the thought of losing Liu Boyue for good.

“Your safety is most important,” Xianchun said gruffly.

Liu Boyue shook his head. “I’ve broken the trust you’ve placed in me, this is the only way for me to prove my sincerity. I swear to you that I will either bring you evidence of the Grand Duke’s crimes or give the Bureau an opportunity to make a move. If I fail, please punish me however you see fit.”

Xianchun gave him a stiff nod.

Liu Boyue bowed once more and left before Xianchun could find the right words. As the last of the light faded from the sky, Xianchun gave a silent prayer for Liu Boyue’s success.

Making his way past both the Zhao clan’s security and the Bureau’s surveillance was as easy as entering his own house for Hu Qing. Given his ample experience from popping in to talk with Wenyuan, Hu Qing knew the best routes in and out just like the back of his hand. Even with the tense environment and covertly increased security after last night’s events, it was still an effortless endeavor.

The Grand Duke’s study had several high-end anti-theft spells that would activate an alarm if they were breached, layered on top of one another in complicated arrays. They looked intimidating but could be easily taken down with a bit of creativity. With a seasoned hand, Hu Qing deactivated them with a combination of household and brothel spells before entering the study through the window, silently closing it behind him.

He carefully activated a privacy talisman, sticking it onto the study door. The spell would make it difficult for anyone to see or hear what was going on inside the study until it was too late. Hu Qing didn’t really need too much time to get the job done. The scrolls were paper, and the shelves were wood. A fire would make short work of both.

It was hardly his first time destroying evidence, but Hu Qing couldn’t but help feel strangely uneasy. The job was much easier than several of the ones he’d taken before, and yet he still felt there was something off about the situation.

Let’s just get this over with. Zhao Wenyuan was probably still pacing around or wringing his hands while waiting for the results. As amusing as it was to watch, it wouldn’t do to make the paranoid Minister worry for too long.

Hu Qing poured some oil in a thin drizzle over the scrolls on the bottom shelf of a bookcase and lit a match. The scrolls caught fire and began to burn, and Hu Qing began to pour the trickle of oil onto the other bookcases.

To his shock, there was a soft, almost silent thump at the window.

What the fuck? Hu Qing set down the oil, pulling out his sword and ducking behind a bookcase. The window opened and a black-clothed figure entered silently, closing the window after himself.

“What the–” the man muttered under his breath as he saw the fire, hastily moving over to put it out. Hu Qing tensed at the familiar voice.

An Haoyang?! Hu Qing sprung out from his spot, stabbing at An Haoyang’s chest. The man let out a yelp, twisting aside to avoid the blow. The sword pierced through one of the shelves, slicing it in half. Scrolls tumbled to the ground as he pulled the sword out. An Haoyang had unsheathed his own blade and was now staring at Hu Qing in shock and fury.

“Bastard, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” An Haoyang demanded.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Fuck off–move aside or I’ll kill you!”

“Keep dreaming, you goddamn second-rate!”

Hu Qing stabbed at An Haoyang’s face again, the other man blocking it with a furious swing of his blade. They sprang at each other with a snarl, eager to tear their opponent apart. The two of them jolted to a sudden stop inches away from each other, glancing about tensely.

Someone’s coming.

Both of them fell silent, tensing as there was another soft thump outside the window. Hu Qing and An Haoyang gave each other a sharp glare, but their mirrored looks of confusion confirmed that the new arrival wasn’t related to either one of them. The window popped open and a third black-clothed figure climbed in. The man stopped still, halfway into the study with a leg still outside.

The third man looked at them in the same shock and confusion that was reflected back at him.

An Haoyang’s was genuine, not recognizing the newest intruder at all. Hu Qing’s was mixed with disbelief.

Does the Seventh Prince have such a tight budget that he’s sending this guy?!

Liu Boyue recognized Hu Qing but had no idea who An Haoyang was. Even if he’d read about the former Imperial Investigator in a report, Liu Boyue had never seen the man before, and certainly wouldn’t expect him to be in such a place.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys?” Hu Qing snapped. “I got here first. According to the rules of the trade, it’s first come first serve! The fuck are you two doing?! Scram!”

“Like hell!” An Haoyang snapped. Liu Boyue didn’t say anything, glancing between the two of them as he quietly unsheathed his sword, moving to enter.

“Stop it–don’t come in! Get out!” Hu Qing snarled at him. Liu Boyue ignored Hu Qing, landing on the floor with a soft thump.

“Back off,” Liu Boyue hissed. “I’ll kill whoever gets in my way!”

“You arrived last!” An Haoyang shot back. “If any of us should be made to leave, it would be you!”

“Someone who ran fifty steps is laughing at someone who ran a hundred steps now, isn’t he? You also need to fuck off,” Hu Qing snapped at An Haoyang.

“Don’t think that I won’t kill you both!” Liu Boyue threatened, tightening his grip on his sword.

The three of them faced off tensely, the fire beginning to curl up the corner of a shelf. Glancing at each other, An Haoyang and Liu Boyue couldn’t tell who the other man was, or whether they were on the same side. Neither of them wanted to take the chance and attack first, not when they didn’t know if they would be tag-teamed.

Hu Qing was the only one who knew that both were his enemies, and was doing his best to make that seem ambiguous. It was almost certain that Liu Boyue and An Haoyang were here to either steal evidence or to plant it.

Damn it, are you kidding me?! Hu Qing ground his teeth together in frustration. Fighting two-on-one wasn’t so much of an issue as being unable to kill both of them in the limited time they had.

If they’re alive, they’ll talk. Fuck, why did both of them have to show up? I need to get rid of at least one of them. He glanced between Liu Boyue and An Haoyang.

An Haoyang it is, Hu Qing decided. It would leave a smaller mess for Wenyuan to clean up afterward.

Liu Boyue and An Haoyang concluded that they couldn’t trust each other, but neither of them was working with Hu Qing. Each of the three watched the other two, taking in even the most minuscule of movements.

The standoff continued for a few seconds longer, the air tight with tension. The flames visibly began to lap at a stack of scrolls, having spread upwards from the bottom shelves. All three of them sprang into action at once. An Haoyang moved to extinguish the fire, Hu Qing jumped in to attack him, and Liu Boyue proceeded to throw knives at both of them at once.

The fire was ignored as a flurry of attacks crowded the confined space of the study. Blades clashed against each other as they fought around and across the desk, hemmed in by the burning shelves on each side. After exchanging a few attacks, they began to lose patience. Despite a few shallow cuts here and there, none of them were able to land any serious blows.

Hu Qing leaped across the desk to slash at An Haoyang. He yanked out a dagger just as An Haoyang blocked the sword and stabbed it into his left shoulder. Hu Qing yanked the blade back out, ignoring the yowl of pain it elicited from his opponent. Liu Boyue pulled out another blade as well, An Haoyang following suit with a little more difficulty. The fight came to a sudden standstill, each of them carefully watching their opponents, ready to start swinging again at any moment.

An Haoyang and Liu Boyue made eye contact for a split-second and came to a silent agreement. Before either of them could act on it and start ganging up on Hu Qing from both sides, he acted first. With a grunt, Hu Qing kicked the heavy mahogany desk straight off the ground and into Liu Boyue’s face. As the man stumbled under the weight, Hu Qing launched a furious barrage of attacks on An Haoyang, aiming at his wounded shoulder.

The speed and ferocity of Hu Qing’s movements had increased from before, and An Haoyang felt a sudden certainty that he would die. His sword was knocked out of his hand, flames glinting off the blade as it spun upwards in a graceful arc. An Haoyang blocked Hu Qing’s dagger, but couldn’t stop the sword from coming at his neck.

With a loud clang, Liu Boyue blocked Hu Qing from landing a killing blow, the two blades crossing an inch away from An Haoyang’s throat. The flames from the bookshelf spread onto the papers fallen from the desk, which now leaned against the bookshelves at a diagonal angle, further restricting their combat space to a small triangle.

Smoke was beginning to fill the room, and the light of fire could no longer be contained by the privacy talisman on the door. With an angry snarl, Liu Boyue unleashed his pent-up frustration onto Hu Qing, relentlessly swinging his dual-wielding swords in an almost feral manner.

Hu Qing jumped backward onto the fallen desk, flinging An Haoyang into a bookcase and kicking Liu Boyue in into another. Scrolls fell from their shelves and crashed upon them, scattering across the floor and rolling into the flames. Hu Qing flung his dagger at Liu Boyue’s thigh, aiming at his artery. Liu Boyue barely dodged it as Hu Qing lunged forward, grabbing An Haoyang’s discarded sword from where it was lying on the floor. With a backhanded swing, he smashed through An Haoyang’s sneak attack and cut a deep gash into the man’s face. An Haoyang let out a pained howl, stumbling back as he was blinded by the blood in his eyes.

Hu Qing knocked Liu Boyue’s attacks aside again, launching himself onto the other side of the desk and continuing to focus on the disoriented An Haoyang. Even with Liu Boyue’s relentless blows, Hu Qing was able to fend off the attacks while crushing through An Haoyang’s weakened defenses.

Cornered and desperate, An Haoyang’s movements took on a frenzied edge, like the final burst of strength from a wounded animal. His teeth were bared, and there was a wild look in his eyes. Hu Qing dodged as Liu Boyue stabbed at him from behind, not missing the chance to slash at An Haoyang’s calf. He lashed out with a kick, knocking Liu Boyue off balance.

“Fire! There’s a fire in the study!” A young woman’s voice rang out in a terrified shriek from the corridor. All three of them froze. They glanced at each other for a second before swiftly fleeing from the window like arrows shot from a bow. None of them bothered exchanging any blows on their way out, each going in their own escape routes before the Imperial Investigators could mobilize to start tracking them.

Not a single one of them had succeeded. For Hu Qing, the fire would be put out, and even counting smoke damage, it wasn’t enough to destroy all the evidence. His opponents were even worse off, not having even managed to grab a single scroll throughout the whole process.

Resentment and frustration boiling in their hearts, the three of them each went their own way.

As Hu Qing expected, he found Kayla anxiously pacing the room.

“Hu Qing, you’re back! How did it go?” Kayla asked. As Hu Qing stepped closer into the dimly lit room, Kayla caught sight of his wounds and paled.

“What the fuck happened?! Are you alright?!” Kayla pulled out her stack of talismans, pulling out the ones for healing.

“I failed,” Hu Qing said quietly. Kayla’s movements stopped.

“What?”

Hu Qing knelt on one knee, lowering his head. “I failed,” he repeated. “I’m sorry.”

Kayla gulped, forcibly quashing down the panic rising in her chest with little success.

“If someone as skilled as you fails, then that means it was impossible to succeed in the first place,” Kayla comforted him, unable to completely keep her voice from quavering. “Come on now, fix up your wounds and tell me what happened.”

Hu Qing got up and moved to the couch, accepting the talismans that Kayla shoved at him. He recounted the three-way battle and the discovery of the fire as he cleaned up his wounds, shaking his head in frustration.

“The wood was ridiculously good quality and burned slower than cheaper shelves would’ve. If I’d gotten enough time, I would’ve made sure all the scrolls were destroyed,” Hu Qing sighed. “But now, the situation’s only gotten more complicated.”

“Are you sure it was An Haoyang and Liu Boyue?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing nodded.

“Liu Boyue was there?!” Kayla said in disbelief. “The man himself? Why?!”

“Maybe he’s trying to regain the prince’s favor by taking on a dangerous mission,” Hu Qing offered. “I didn’t injure him. There wasn’t enough time to kill him, and you can’t let him go back with injuries, or the prince will have an excuse to act against you. An Haoyang though, I got him pretty good, but he’ll probably manage to heal up in a few days. Sneaky bastard just doesn’t stay still, or I’d have hacked him into pieces already.”

“Shit! Is Liu Boyue acting with or without Xianchun’s permission?! Fuck!” Kayla shot to her feet and began to pace the room. “No, no matter which it is, he’ll definitely tell Xianchun now that he can confirm your presence. Or would he? He should already be on thin ice so maybe–But what about An Haoyang? We need to make sure he can’t make contact with Liu Boyue, or those two will team up! Damn it! And the Grand Duke–”

Kayla stopped herself and took a deep breath, sorting through her thoughts before speaking again. There had only been so many options to begin with, what was the point of lamenting in hindsight?

Not to mention, if Hu Qing hadn’t gone tonight, we really would’ve been done for.

“You made the right decision, Hu Qing. If Liu Boyue had gotten hurt or killed, we would really be screwed. As for An Haoyang, if he’s injured, then that puts Qu Boyong at a significant disadvantage. It also makes negotiations a bit more difficult, but I didn’t have much hope for that to begin with. You’ve done well,” Kayla said.

“I failed,” Hu Qing said flatly.

“You wouldn’t have failed if those two assholes didn’t barge in. Who the fuck do they think they are, breaking into someone’s study like that?” Kayla said, deliberately ignoring the fact that she had also sent Hu Qing to break into someone’s study.

“In any case, we tried, it didn’t work, and now we need a new plan. I’ll call Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui, I need to speak with them,” Kayla said. “Do you need Shu Ling to take a look at your wounds?”

Hu Qing shook his head. “I’m fine. I just need to know what I should do to clean up this mess.”

Kayla passed him a cup of water. “Drink some water first.”

She moved the lamp closer to Hu Qing as he dealt with his wounds before activating the communication device. It connected immediately. Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun had been holding their breaths since the events of last night and were more than eager to hear Kayla’s updates.

“The fact that Liu Boyue and An Haoyang were both there proves that we narrowly avoided the worst-case scenario,” Chen Caichun said after Kayla finished explaining the situation. “But this only creates more issues for us. Not only will the Zhao household be much more likely to escalate the conflict, but the palace will also try to take this opportunity and get involved. The Seventh Prince as well…regardless of whether or not Liu Boyue was sent by him or acting alone, there’s no way Liu Boyue wouldn’t report this to him.”

“He would report it even if he was acting on his own?” Kayla asked in alarm. That severely undercut her already-marginal chances of avoiding a confrontation with Xianchun.

“Of course,” Chen Caichun replied. “You’re one of the greatest threats to the members of the Seventh Prince’s faction, even if you’re not a big threat to their master. The very existence of the neutral faction restricts the ability of the victor to divide the spoils. It reduces the number of positions they’ll be able to grab and the amount of benefits they’ll be able to gain. They say that blocking someone’s path to fortune is just as bad as killing their parents, the factions of both princes all see us as a nail in the eye, as a barb in the flesh. There’s a limit to what they’d do against us under normal circumstances since they have their own positions to consider, but this is too great a chance for them to pass up on.”

Kayla withheld a groan, rubbing a hand over her face.

“Any ideas?” Kayla asked.

Even if Xianchun hadn’t morphed into a revenge machine yet, becoming his enemy was the last thing she needed. If he combined forces with the palace to launch a full-out search-and-destroy operation against the Grand Duke’s faction, he would probably still manage to uncover enough evidence to seal the Zhao clan’s fate. Kayla doubted that she would be spared either, not if Xianchun was thirsty for blood.

After an uncomfortably long silence, Sun Ruhui spoke.

“Since this can’t be hidden, then it should be justified. My lord, why not be proactive in reporting this to the palace and to the Seventh Prince?” Sun Ruhui asked. “If you allow them to control the narrative, they may pin whatever motives suit them best upon you and thus shackle you with nonexistent crimes. We can’t sit back and wait to be killed. Rather, we should be the ones to take charge.”

“Proactively report…but with what excuse? I can’t exactly tell the palace that I tried to kill the Grand Duke and that he tried to kill me, the Empress Dowager will sink her teeth into that and tear us into shreds,” Kayla said.

“How about having your godfather deal with the palace? The Emperor listens to everything he says, and if the Empress Dowager disagrees, the Emperor will mark it off as due to her dislike of Wei Guang. And no matter how powerful she is, she can’t act against her son.” Sun Ruhui suggested. “As for the Seventh Prince, there are a number of plausible excuses, but you know him better than we do. What do you think will work best?”

Kayla mulled it over for a moment.

“Let’s do it like this. I’ll send a message to the Seventh Prince and say that the Grand Duke told me he was planning to blackmail members of the court into compliance. As a result, I tried to send Hu Qing to destroy the Grand Duke’s evidence, but he was stopped by two men that we believe were hired by the Grand Duke. I’ll tell the Seventh Prince that the Grand Duke mentioned Minister Liang among the names he could threaten, and frame it as a warning for him,” Kayla said. “Could that work?”

“I think it’s a viable option,” Chen Caichun said. “It is the Grand Duke, after all. Blackmailing officials is something he’s notorious for. But hasn’t Hu Qing met Liu Boyue before?”

Kayla stifled a groan.

“It was night and he couldn’t see properly?” Kayla offered weakly.

“The room was on fire,” Chen Caichun pointed out. Kayla glanced at Hu Qing, who shrugged.

“It’s not as though there aren’t other men in the trade with similar builds,” he replied. “But worse comes to worst, I can just claim that I thought he looked like Liu Boyue but didn’t believe that he could possibly be in such a place, or that he would try to stop us from doing such a thing.”

Ah, yes, the good old disbelief card–I thought it might be you, but how could you possibly do such an underhanded thing, especially when it undercuts your own goals? Xianchun won’t be able to press the matter without looking like a fool.

She nodded approvingly. “Shall we go with that?”

“It may not be the strongest excuse, but it’ll do,” Sun Ruhui replied. “But my lord, the Seventh Prince would find it all the more believable if there is a selfish motive for your actions. An act of blackmailing alone isn’t enough to justify such extreme action.”

“Then I’ll say the Grand Duke was trying to get me removed from my post and exiled from the capital, and that he was planning to use my father’s adoption to delegitimize me,” Kayla said.

“That should suffice. If we plan on acting, the scene needs to be complete. You should send a warning to the Third Prince as well,” Sun Ruhui added. Kayla nodded.

“No matter what, this excuse can only buy us so much time. We need to quickly figure out a way to get rid of the Grand Duke and destroy all the evidence before people start to notice the cracks. Is there any news about his health?” Chen Caichun asked.

Kayla shook her head. “The poison probably won’t be enough to kill him, not unless I’m really lucky. But it should at least put him out of commission for a few more days. I’ll consult my godfather as well, so in the meantime, please keep thinking of a plan and let me know if anything comes to mind. Hu Qing, make sure we keep a close eye on Qu Boyong and An Haoyang, they can’t be allowed to make contact with anyone that has even the slightest bit of connection to Xianchun.”

She thanked them and turned off the device. Letting out a deep sigh, Kayla dropped her head onto the desk.

“Alright, I’m going to head over to the Wei household first, I need to talk this over with him in person,” Kayla said. “Hu Qing, you should stay here and rest up properly, I’ll leave arranging personnel to you. I’ll take Tao Qian and Sun Zhong’e with me, and we’ll meet back here.”

Hu Qing frowned slightly.

“I’m fine,” he said. “You shouldn’t be wandering with only two guards at a time like this. I’ll go with you, I can deal with everything through the communication device.”

“Alright then, let’s get going,” Kayla agreed. “It’s time to drag in my godfather.”

Whether it was dealing with the palace or planning their next steps, Wei Guang was their best way out of this mess.

Cultural Notes

群龙无首/The [herd of] dragons [are] without a head: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a situation where many capable people are without a leader to bring them in line, whether to keep them in control or to unite them for a greater goal.

将功赎罪/Make up for crimes with merit: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the practice of allowing someone who has committed a crime to make up for it/redeem themselves through an achievement (ex: allowing death penalty criminals to serve as the infantry vanguard in a battle, allowing an official who failed to complete the Emperor's orders to make up for it through another task, etc).

五十步笑百步/Laugh at a [man who has run a] hundred steps after running fifty steps: An pre-Qin Ancient Chinese proverb originating from a quote by Mencius in which he criticizes the ruler of a kingdom for looking down on other kings' incompetence by asking "if a man flees the battlefield like a coward, does it make a difference whether he runs a hundred steps or fifty steps?" Not knowing where this was going, the king replied that it did not make a difference. Mencius then criticized the king for laughing at a man who ran a hundred steps when he has run fifty steps himself, implying that the king was not much more competent than the worst of his peers.

断人财路如同杀人父母/Blocking a man's path to fortune is the same as killing his parents: An Ancient Chinese idiom referring to the hatred that you incur after blocking a man's path to fortune and wealth. It builds off of the saying that 弑父母者不可与同代天/You cannot live under the same sky as one who has killed your parents.

占取先机/Gain the first opportunity: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain the upper hand by acting first.

坐以待毙/Sit and wait to be killed: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to do nothing to save yourself.

91-Divinator

Character Index

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer, teacher of the Emperor and Imperial princess, and the godfather of Wenyuan. Diverging from the original timeline in which he never returned to the capital, Wei Guang came back to court after his mourning period ended to support Wenyuan.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue, he is one of the Grand Duke's strongest allies and has an iron grip over the Ministry of Revenue. Due to his cautious nature, there is little evidence that can be gathered against him.

Lady Lin: Mentioned briefly back in Chapter 72, when Wei Guang explained the Imperial Princess' research lab's findings on time and souls. Lady Lin had discovered that time is an all-encompassing entity of pulsing energy, one that is constantly creating and destroying possibilities, paths, and choices. Every potential choice may splinter off into an alternative reality however briefly, before its compatibility with the current timeline decides whether it continues to exist or disappears (i.e.: The number of parallel realities is always infinite, but never the same parallel realities as existed a moment before). She worked with Sir Jin, a soul magician who was about to prove that reincarnation exists. The two of them helped the Imperial Princess create the soul magic that brought Kayla to this world and bound her to Wenyuan's soul.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and sister of the current Emperor, she was involved in investigations of the Grand Duke's crimes, as well as ground-breaking research in magic.

Tao Qian: A baby-faced man who was recently brought in as Kayla's bodyguard, he was recommended by Hu Qing.

Sun Zhong'e: A woman who works for Kayla under Hu Qing's command.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Minister Liang and currently Kayla's retainer. He previously worked for the Liang clan, as well as for Liu Boyue through Minister Liang's command. He is the rightful heir of the Liang clan, being the son of the previous Lord's formal wife rather than a concubine, as Minister Liang was. However, as Hu Qing's mother was a courtesan who the Lord married while living in hiding, at a time when the Liang clan was being persecuted, Hu Qing's claim to legitimacy is heavily undermined by societal and legal discrimination against courtesans.

Minister Liang: Minister of Justice and Hu Qing's older half-brother, he is also the uncle of Consort Liang. One of Xianchun's supporters.

Sun Ruhui: A former county magistrate (9th rank) who Kayla brought into the capital with a significant promotion (5th rank), before further helping him gain the position of Left Secretariat of Justice (4th rank). Without connections, Sun Ruhui would likely never have made it to this point on his own even if he worked diligently for all his life, and as such he is deeply grateful to Kayla and is extremely loyal.

Kayla sat with her head lowered apologetically, across the table from Wei Guang. The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully but continued to remain silent. Basking in the uncomfortable atmosphere, Kayla didn’t dare to raise her head without being told to. Her neck was growing stiff, but Wei Guang continued to say nothing.

Damn, he’s really mad at me this time. But he agreed to the plan!

“Wenyuan,” Wei Guang finally said. Kayla cautiously lifted her head, hiding a wince at the pins and needles in the back of her neck.

“Godfather,” Kayla said politely.

Wei Guang thoughtfully stared right through her and into the distance.

“This really is a troublesome situation, is it not? A single wrong move loses the entire game. In chess, a loss is just a loss. In reality, however, it means death for you and those around you.”

“I understand, godfather. I apologize for my incompetence,” Kayla murmured.

“We should go with the plan your strategists have laid out for you, but it will not help us for long. Now that the Grand Duke can no longer be killed, you must make a choice, and do it quickly. Abandon the Zhao clan, or die with them. There is no longer a third option available to you,” Wei Guang said heavily. “Do not think to rely on the Emperor’s favor. Even someone who has been bestowed with the Imperial surname can still be dragged into the market square and beheaded, and your situation is far more precarious.”

Kayla gulped nervously.

“I understand.”

“Do not fear, Wenyuan. So long as you choose wisely, you will most certainly avoid death. The problem is how we should minimize the impact this will have on your career. Luckily, you’re the only nephew of the Emperor, and there are no other male relatives of the Imperial Family who are still unmarried, so the political marriage will still fall to you. That alone should be enough to preserve your position here in court,” Wei Guang continued, still looking thoughtfully into the distance.

Kayla quashed down the uneasiness rising in her chest and nodded.

“I can deal with the palace, but I doubt your story would hold up to much scrutiny. You must not appear before the Empress Dowager for the time being,” Wei Guang said. “Her goal is within reach, do not assume she would resist its temptation solely for your sake. Furthermore, you have been acting against her interests and in your own, that would not sit well with her.”

“But I cannot refuse her summons,” Kayla pointed out.

“There are ways,” Wei Guang assured her. “In fact, there is a multitude of methods that I have gleaned from years of experience. You should keep note of these. As a subject, knowing when to seize opportunities is not what determines your success. Rather, the art of avoidance is the deciding factor. Knowing how and when to be absent is something you need to learn.”

“I may be able to avoid her questions for a time, but surely I can’t avoid her for a lifetime!”

Wei Guang shook his head. “You assume the truth has more importance than it actually does. Remember, Wenyuan, in politics, the truth is just another tool. Once it is no longer useful, then it no longer matters. It may resurface again when it has regained significance, but in your situation, so long as you remain silent now, you will be safe forever.”

“Then in what situation will the truth about tonight no longer matter?” Kayla asked.

“Either if the Grand Duke dies, or if Dong Shiqing loses the Ministry of Revenue,” Wei Guang replied. “The first is out of our hands, but if there is even a probability that the latter is about to happen, the palace will no longer care about tonight’s events. So long as you're still useful, they won't press the matter, and once the Grand Duke dies it will lose its importance completely.”

“But we don’t have enough on Dong Shiqing.”

“Do you know who hired my servant to poison you yet?” Wei Guang asked pointedly.

Kayla lit up in realization. “No, I don't. If that's the case...I see. Then I’ll follow your arrangements, godfather.”

Wei Guang nodded, satisfied with her response. “For that to work, you also need to be absent. Only in the void of information can we have the Court of Judicial Review pin it on him.”

“Shall I play sick then?”

Wei Guang shook his head. “If the Empress Dowager is determined enough, she will send an Imperial Healer. You must leave the capital for the time being.”

Kayla felt her heart skip a beat in shock.

“E-excuse me? Leave the capital?”

“Yes.”

“At a time like this? But…” Kayla trailed off uncertainly. It had once been her greatest wish to escape the capital. She had bled for it, plotted for it, and now that the chance was finally before her, she no longer needed it. Now, it was the capital that protected her.

Wei Guang sighed sympathetically. “I can understand your concerns, Wenyuan. I will provide a suitable excuse for you to the palace, so just make your own explanations to the princes. You must understand, even if you’re the Empress Dowager’s favorite grandson, so long as I’m involved, she will definitely increase the level of scrutiny on my story regardless of how it’ll affect you. You can’t be here for the Empress Dowager to cross-examine our stories.”

I would be screwed if the Empress Dowager decides to go all-out and have me interrogated. If she ends up forcing me to drink a truth draught, I’m completely done for. She can’t do that to Wei Guang…it seems I have no choice.

Kayla nodded. “Then I’ll just tell the princes that I’ve angered the Grand Duke to the point of madness and am temporarily laying low until he’s regained his reason, and let them draw whatever conclusions they want from that.”

Combined with their prior knowledge, the princes would likely believe that the Grand Duke wanted Kayla’s life or had been spurred into a fit of violence, and conclude that Kayla had been frightened badly enough to flee the household.

“That will suffice,” Wei Guang replied. “I assume you don’t have a destination in mind once you leave the capital?”

Kayla shook her head.

“I can see that you’re ill at ease,” Wei Guang said. “The more nervous you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes–in that case, let me prescribe you a medicine for relief. I would have you take advantage of this chance to meet an old friend of mine.”

Kayla leaned forward, intrigued. Was Wei Guang introducing a new ally to her?

“Who do you mean, godfather?”

“I speak of Lady Lin.”

It took Kayla a few moments to put her finger on who that was.

“The…divinator who worked with my mother?” Kayla asked. “Godfather, are you sure? The situation doesn’t seem to be so bad as that…”

Is the situation so bad we’re resorting to divination?

Wei Guang nodded. “It may not sound like the most prudent option to you, but it may in fact be the best course of action right now. To tell you the truth, Lady Lin was the one who insisted I return to the capital after I finished my mourning period. When I first received the Emperor’s summons, I attempted to delay my return. She sent me a strongly-worded message emphasizing that I must return immediately, or regret it forever.”

Kayla felt a cold chill run down her back. Wei Guang’s return had been at an extremely opportune moment for her–she wouldn’t have decided to assassinate the Grand Duke without him.

That was her doing? An inexplicable feeling of fear curled up in her chest.

If nullification magic works, there’s no reason why divination magic does not. But if that’s the case, how much does she know? How much does Wei Guang know?

“Your mother often consulted her as well,” Wei Guang went on. “Lady Lin was the one who convinced her to continue the investigations into the Grand Duke, even if your mother could not make use of the information. Almost fifteen years ago, she already foresaw the circumstances of today.”

Holy shit, that’s incredible! Wait, hold on, Kayla frowned slightly as she tried to figure out what was bothering her.

“Pardon me, but didn’t you say she had disappeared?” Kayla asked.

“She did,” Wei Guang agreed.

“You said she insisted on your return,” Kayla pointed out.

“With a message sent via a communication device,” Wei Guang replied. “It was a timed message.”

Kayla gave him a look of astonishment.

“Then–then how will I find her?” Kayla asked.

“She enclosed a spell in her message, with instructions to activate it once you had the need to find her. I activated it last night and learned of her location. She is currently residing in a cave temple a few hours away from the capital,” Wei Guang explained. “It’s close enough to the capital that you could return quickly should there be a need, and far enough that the palace would not cause a scene by summoning you.”

He’s serious, he really wants me to go find a divinator while things are such a mess here in the capital. Kayla swallowed her mild disbelief. But he has a point, I have to stay out of reach of the palace and the princes, and it’s not like there’s anywhere for me to hide in the capital. If I need to skip town, I might as well give it a try.

“Perhaps that would be for the best,” Kayla agreed despite her doubts. If Lady Lin was that amazing, then why hadn’t she prevented the Imperial Princess’ death? Why hadn’t she made an appearance in the original timeline?

But the fact that Lady Lin had convinced the Imperial Princess to thoroughly investigate the Grand Duke’s crimes and Wei Guang to return to the capital was enough to give Kayla some hope.

“Then we should proceed immediately,” Wei Guang replied, summoning his steward and giving the man a few instructions.

Kayla waited quietly, stewing in her thoughts. Lady Lin was a divinator. If she could foresee Kayla’s predicament, why couldn’t the divinator foresee Kayla’s transmigration?

After all, she knew about the Imperial Princess’ research, is it that much of a stretch that she would know of the soul magic on Wenyuan?

Kayla tried and failed to overcome the stirring of her heart. The desperate need for answers and certainty had been a constant torment, even if it had been relegated to background noise given everything else that Kayla needed to worry about.

If Lady Lin really knows the future...How can I pass up this chance, especially when Wei Guang’s covering for me in the capital?

She was jolted out of her thoughts by Wei Guang’s voice.

“The steward will let you know they’re ready to depart, you should go prepare your messages for the princes,” Wei Guang said. “I will prepare to head over to the palace as well. I wish you the best of luck, Wenyuan.”

“Thank you, godfather. I’m truly grateful beyond words for your kindness and assistance!” Kayla bowed deeply.

“It is only what I should do,” Wei Guang replied. Kayla bowed again and took her leave, heading back to her quarters.

For once, it was not Hu Qing on the couch but Tao Qian and Sun Zhong’e, the two of them taking up Hu Qing’s usual spot. The man in question was sulking on Kayla’s desk, sprawled across the piles of scrolls like an aggrieved cat.

“Minister,” Tao Qian and Sun Zhong’e both rose to their feet. Hu Qing sat up, sending a scroll toppling off the desk. He caught it in the crook of his foot and put it back.

“I have other chairs,” Kayla said to Hu Qing in exasperation, waving for Tao Qian and Sun Zhong’e to relax. They sat down again, curiously watching Kayla’s interaction with Hu Qing.

“Yes, but the couch is my usual spot,” Hu Qing complained. “Anyways, did your godfather agree?”

“He did, but I need to leave the capital for a few days.”

“What?” Hu Qing got off the desk. “At a time like this? What on earth for?”

“There’s someone he wants me to seek out,” Kayla explained. “Also, it’s not like the Grand Duke will die while I’m gone. The palace will have a lot of questions, and so will the princes, it’s best to give them enough to shape their conclusions but be absent for interrogations.”

“Well, I can't argue with that. Given our situation, your story would not hold up under close questioning. But who are we even meeting?”

“A woman who worked with my mother,” Kayla explained. “She specializes in divination magic.”

“Divination magic?” Hu Qing was just as incredulous as Kayla had been.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I might as well give it a try, especially when my godfather is recommending her so eagerly. I need to give him face for helping me deal with the palace.”

Kayla pulled out a fresh piece of paper and began writing a letter to Xianchun as she spoke.

“Minister, is that wise?” Sun Zhong’e cautiously asked.

“At this point, we can only grab onto opportunities as they appear and improvise accordingly,” Hu Qing said solemnly. “Whether or not this turns out to be useful remains to be seen, but we have no room for careful planning.”

“It is as Hu Qing says, we’re in an unusual situation that requires unusual choices. I want to give this a try. Moreover, if I can still push the blame onto the Grand Duke while he is indisposed and unable to appear in court, why should I not do so?” Kayla added.

Sun Zhong’e still looked uncertain but said nothing more.

Kayla finished the messages to Xianchun and Kuang, sending them out through the Wei household.

There was a knock on the door, and Hu Qing opened it to Wei Guang’s steward.

“Young lord, apologies for disturbing you. The preparations have all been made, please let us know whenever you’re ready to depart,” the steward said.

“This quickly?” Kayla asked in surprise.

“Indeed, the lord said that time was of the essence. We’ve prepared three servants and ten guards, as well as everything needed for a journey. Unfortunately, His Grace had to leave for the palace, so he will not be here to send you off,” the steward replied.

Kayla exchanged a glance with Hu Qing. If Wei Guang had entered the palace, she only had two hours at most before the Empress Dowager got involved. She needed to be gone before that.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll follow godfather’s arrangements and leave immediately. Hu Qing, you’re coming with me. Tao Qian, Sun Zhong’e, the two of you stay in the capital on standby,” she ordered.

“Understood, Minister!” Tao Qian and Sun Zhong’e bowed their heads. Hu Qing wordlessly fell into step with Kayla as they left the room, following the steward to the carriage. This time, Hu Qing got into the carriage with her. The entourage of guards and servants professionally didn’t react to the breach of etiquette, setting off as Hu Qing closed all the windows and curtains, slapping privacy talismans on for good measure.

Kayla sent out a message to Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun explaining the situation, followed by a message to her Vice-Directors to explain her absence in the vaguest and most confounding terms possible.

Almost immediately, the communication device vibrated.

“It’s Sun Ruhui,” Kayla muttered, connecting it.

“My lord,” Sun Ruhui skipped his greetings, cutting straight to the point. “Is this the Imperial Edict Bearer’s idea?”

“Yes, I’m trying to avoid getting interrogated, I might as well visit the divinator while I’m at it,” Kayla replied.

“I understand, but I’m worried that the Ministry of Justice will push forward the Ji Fangluo case while you’re gone. If the Empress Dowager somehow draws a connection to the Zhao household, then there will be little I can do,” Sun Ruhui said.

Damn it. I should've fucking thought of that.

“Left Secretariat, I know this is an unreasonable request, but please find some way to impede them for just a few days. No matter what, please delay this matter until I return,” Kayla said.

“My lord, I would never refuse your request, but I’m not sure that…” Sun Ruhui trailed off uncertainly.

“Use my birthright to deal with my brother if you need to,” Hu Qing suddenly interjected. Kayla gave him a look of surprise.

“You don’t have to,” she said in alarm.

“It’s fine,” Hu Qing assured her. “Left Secretariat, just be sure not to tell him this was my idea and speak in vague terms. You’ll probably end up offending him, but there’s not much we can do about that.”

“Are you sure?” Kayla asked insistently.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Hu Qing replied calmly, grinning in response to Kayla’s grateful look.

“If that’s the case, then I can certainly succeed,” Sun Ruhui said. “Don’t worry about a thing, Minister. I’ll ensure that this doesn’t go anywhere.”

“Thank you, thank you both,” Kayla said. “I’ve troubled you greatly, but I’ll do my best to make up for it.”

“Please push the thought from your mind. You are my greatest benefactor,” Sun Ruhui said seriously. “Until your return, I won’t allow there to be a single bit of progress on this case.”

Kayla let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” she repeated.

“Not at all. I wish you a safe and rewarding journey, my lord.”

The carriage pulled to a stop after a three-hour journey. Despite it being the first time Kayla had gone this far out of the capital, she had barely gotten a chance to see anything through the tightly-shut curtains.

“Apologies, young lord. But we can only go so far by carriage,” the horseman said sheepishly. They had stopped halfway up a mountain. Above them was a winding path that led to a large cave, and at the top of the mountain there was what looked to be a small inn.

Is that the cave she was talking about?

“It’s fine, I’ll go on foot from here,” Kayla replied. Five of the guards went on ahead of her on the small footpath, and five of them flanked Kayla and Hu Qing. The mountain was shrouded in mist, the greenery taking on a dark hue under its silvery sheen. The path was an easy hike but got steeper as they went on. It took another ten minutes or so to reach the opening of the cave.

The cave was huge, large enough to host a good three dozen people or so. It was dark, and not a single candle was lit. Throughout the cool, slightly damp air, there was the faint smell of incense.

Kayla proceeded to enter the cave, the guards following her vigilantly. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness shortly, and she began to see the interior of the cave temple. Giant murals covered the walls, which must have been at least twenty meters tall. They loomed larger in the dark but inspired reverence rather than fear. On the farthest wall of the cave, there were several statues carved right out of the bedrock, with an altar before it.

Looking down, Kayla jolted in surprise as she caught sight of a small figure sitting in the very center of the cave. Upon closer look, it was an old woman in her sixties, with grey hair tied in a bun and a length of cloth tied over her eyes.

“Excuse me, may I ask if you are Lady Lin?” Kayla asked politely. The cave, contrary to her expectations, did not echo.

“So the Zhao scion has arrived,” Lady Lin said in a flat voice. “You’re rather late.”

“How rude!” One of the guards began to protest, but Kayla held up a hand to silence him.

“I apologize,” Kayla said. “I would have come earlier if it were possible. I hope to take up a moment of your time if that sounds agreeable to you?”

“You are nothing like your mother,” Lady Lin said.

Kayla hesitated, not knowing how to respond to that. “Unfortunately so,” she finally said.

“Unfortunate indeed. Your mother would never crowd a sacred space with outsiders when consulting an elder.”

Kayla glanced around before nodding to the guards. “You can go,” she quietly urged them.

“Young lord, we can’t just leave you here,” one of them protested.

“Go,” Kayla insisted. “Wait for me outside, stretch your legs and rest a while.”

Hu Qing was also frowning, but after taking a long look around, he nodded with satisfaction.

“Didn’t you all hear the Minister? Let’s get going,” Hu Qing said loudly. He nodded at Kayla. “Then I’ll take my leave of you, my lord.”

Kayla nodded back, and Hu Qing turned to leave. The guards watched him go, glancing back at Kayla uncertainly for a few moments before following Hu Qing out. As the guards filed out, Kayla approached the old woman.

“I apologize for my rudeness, it is shameful to admit but my etiquette is rather lacking,” Kayla said. She caught sight of a small sitting mat on the stone floor. “May I sit?”

“You may.”

Kayla cautiously sat down, making sure to keep perfect form even though the other woman’s eyes were covered. Between the dark cave and the solemn air of around Lady Lin, Kayla couldn't help but feel intimidated.

“You come to me troubled by great danger, do you not?” Lady Lin asked.

“It is as you say,” Kayla replied. “As expected of a great divinator such as yourself, you’ve seen right through me.”

“One does not seek out divinators other than to seek certainty, whether it is for great fortune or great misfortune,” Lady Lin replied drily. “One only needs a brain to understand such things.”

Wow, ok. Alright then, whatever floats your boat, lady.

“I heard that you were the one who encouraged my godfather to return to the capital, I must thank you for that,” Kayla said. “I come to you in gratitude, and to ask what you see in my future.”

“Then I must disappoint you, for I do not see anything,” Lady Lin said.

Oh shit, is she blind? Kayla glanced at the eye covering again. She had assumed it was for ritualistic purposes, but that seemed increasingly unlikely.

Lady Lin's lips curled into a smile that took on a sinister edge in the dim light. “But as for what I know, that will certainly not disappoint you.”

Kayla gulped as the mage removed the cloth over her eyes, revealing empty sockets.

“Oh my god,” Kayla said in a small voice.

The mage smiled in return. “I performed forbidden magic to gain these powers. As you can see, they require a price.”

“Your eyes…in exchange for divination abilities?” Kayla ventured.

The mage shook her head. “I see nothing, in exchange for knowing all.”

“That’s…very broad,” Kayla prodded.

“The past. The present. The future. All the paths that intertwine and amalgamate into fate, and all the souls that unwittingly stumble along the road their fate decrees,” the mage said. Kayla felt a shiver go down her spine and hurriedly glanced away from the dark holes in the mage’s face.

“I stand in awe,” Kayla said politely.

“Your mother did as well,” the mage replied. “Well, at least, the young lord’s mother did. Of your mother, young foreigner, I know little.”

Kayla’s eyes snapped back to the mage’s face, staring intently at her. “What?”

“You heard me, woman from the land of steel carriages and silver birds.”

Oh shit. Kayla shuffled closer, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. “Silver birds? Are you speaking of planes?”

“I know not what you call them.”

“Holy shit,” Kayla said in English. She forcibly collected herself, breathing in deeply. “You-you know who I am?”

“I know that the young lord still resides in his bodily vessel, but that you are its current owner,” the mage replied. “You can fool those who only see the flesh, but not those who see the soul. So tell me, young foreigner. What is your name?”

Kayla breathed in shakily, not sure what to make of the situation.

“Fear not. I am a keeper of secrets, no harm shall come to you through my actions,” the mage urged her.

After a long moment of contemplation, Kayla grit her teeth together and went through with it. It wasn’t a chance that might ever come again.

“Kayla,” she said out loud. “My name is Kayla.”

Cultural Notes

一着不慎，满盘皆输/One wrong move loses the entire game: An Ancient Chinese proverb that originated from a play in the Yuan dynasty, using chess as a metaphor to refer to how small mistakes can cost you everything.

刑人于市，与众弃之/Behead someone in the market and abandon their body to the mob: A tradition that can be traced back to pre-Qin China. Generally speaking, executing someone in the market was reserved for common criminals and officials under the seventh rank. For officials above the fifth rank, they were usually allowed to commit suicide at home unless they were found guilty of treason. Officials above the seventh rank, members of the Imperial family, and women were usually sentenced to hanging in a private setting (aka not made into a public spectacle), unless they were specifically sentenced to beheading. Despite these general guidelines, executions were used as spectacles (similar to what Foucault finds in Medieval Europe), so even a member of the Imperial Family could still be publicly beheaded in the market, which serves the dual purpose of frightening everyone into submission given that even a royal could be executed in this way, and also of humiliating the person sentenced to a punishment beneath their status.

Strategic avoidance: Throughout Chinese history, you see many instances of various officials, scholars, and even generals who strategically play sick/pretend to be mad/find whatever other excuse in order to avoid a sticky political situation in which they won't be able to preserve themselves. One famous example is Ruan Ji, a famous scholar, poet, and philosopher who lived during the Jing Dynasty (era after the Three Kingdoms). He did not wish to become an official, but was repeatedly invited by the ruling family. In order to turn them down without bringing trouble upon himself, he got blackout drunk every time they tried to recruit him until he eventually had to stop (after getting extremely drunk 60 days in a row).

Cave Temples: Quite common in Ancient China, these usually made use of natural surroundings to create a place of worship and sanctity.

Giving Face: A concept in Chinese society that essentially means creating and maintaining ties of respect, dignity, and prestige through ritualistic acts of mutual reinforcement. In Kayla's case, she is asking for Wei Guang's help, and thus she can't refuse his suggestion without seeming disrespectful.

Murals: The murals I'm referencing here are similar to the Dunhuang Murals, located in the province of Gansu. The city of Dunhuang was a major stop on the Silk Road, and the murals portray scenes from Buddhist scriptures, scenes of life, as well as portraits of patrons, drawing from many different cultural influences. You can check out the digital expo here.

92-Original Timeline

Character Index

Lady Lin: A divination mage who gave up her eyes in exchange for seeing "everything".

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and sister of the Emperor, she was involved in magical research as well as investigations into the Grand Duke.

Original Author: A Caucasian man who was suddenly hit with inspiration to write a story about fantasy politics in Ancient China.

Zhou Ying: Current Emperor, uncle of Wenyuan, and father of Kuang, Yunqi, and Xianchun.

Zhou Xianchun: Former Main Character, the Seventh Prince and cousin of Wenyuan. He has yet to learn of the truth behind his mother's death.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend, right-hand man, and strategist.

Minister Liang: Minister of Justice and head of the Liang clan, Xianchun's supporter.

Jun Shao: Minister of Personnel, Xianchun's supporter.

Yu Bianfu: A female general currently serving in the Southwest, Xianchun's supporter and childhood friend.

Zhou Zhu: Xianchun's eldest son in the original timeline.

Empress Dowager Jun: Xianchun's Empress in the original timeline, daughter of Jun Shao.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, son of the Noble Consort. Maternal relatives are a prominent military clan.

Zhou Chengqian: Son of the Third Prince and Cao Shuyi.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, son of the Wise Consort. Maternal relatives are a prominent military clan.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Young lord of the Xiang clan, seeking revenge against the Grand Duke for his clan's extermination.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's housekeeper and loyal servant.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Minister Liang's younger half-brother, currently serving as Kayla's retainer.

Captain Jiang: Mentioned a few chapters back, a young captain in the Imperial Guard who was in love with a palace maid. In the original timeline, he won the palace maid's hand in marriage with Xianchun's help, but Kayla has shifted events so that Captain Jiang's gratitude is towards the Sixth Princess instead.

“Kayla. My name is Kayla.”

Even though Kayla was breaking out in a cold sweat already, Lady Lin only nodded, not at all surprised at Kayla’s declaration.

“Kayla…that is not a name from the Central Plains,” Lady Lin remarked.

“I’m American,” Kayla explained. “It’s a continent in the far west, or far east, depending on which direction you go in, on the other side of the ocean. But that’s not important right now, just how much do you know about my situation?”

“I can see traces of another time on you,” Lady Lin replied serenely. “I know little of your world, but I can trace the timeline that brought you to ours.”

“You can?!”

“This should come as no surprise. I was the one who helped the Imperial Princess create the spell that brought you here.”

Kayla gaped at the divinator in shock.

“You helped her?! Then you know of how Wenyuan–”

“I know of the events that led to and followed after his death, as well as your soul was bound to his. If you wished for answers, then you have come to the right place,” Lady Lin said.

A rush of hope surged up in Kayla’s chest.

“Is it possible for me to go back?”

“No.”

She’d half-expected it, but it still hurt to hear it.

“Then I’m stuck here, fighting for my goddamn life,” Kayla muttered despondently.

“Unfortunate as it is, there is no way to reverse soul magic without destroying both yourself and the young lord,” Lady Lin said. “Your only options are to die, or to live on as Zhao Wenyuan.”

Fuck.

“So the Imperial Princess’ spell just randomly dragged in someone who doesn’t get any say, and it’s irreversible?” Kayla asked in disbelief. “I didn’t think she was that type of person!”

“It’s not so simple, the magic doesn’t just choose as randomly as you believe,” Lady Lin said. Kayla frowned. “What does that mean? If it wasn’t random, why would the spell choose me?”

“The magic has prerequisites for the soul it takes. Magical compatibility, and situational compatibility. The first alone removes most souls from the equation,” Lady Lin explained.

“How the hell would my soul have magical compatibility? I wasn’t telekinetic or clairvoyant or anything,” Kayla protested.

“If you had those abilities, you wouldn’t have been compatible. That’s the magic local to your world. Magic compatibility chooses by our world. As for how it works, that’s difficult to say. There are no hard rules or set standards, it chooses how it chooses,” the mage said patiently.

“So you don’t know how it works?!”

Lady Lin shook her head.

“Then situational compatibility?”

“The fabric between our worlds is thinner than it would be between other worlds, that’s why this world’s events could resonate with a writer of your world,” Lady Lin said. “The writer from your world may have believed it was his own creation, but really, the events appeared to him because of his magic compatibility. Reading it increases your situational compatibility, but resonance with the events described is the deciding factor.”

Kayla rubbed at her forehead. “I have literally no idea what you mean by that.” She ran through the words a second time in her mind before looking up with a start.

Hold on, the novel was popular primarily among non-Asian readers. Most of the readers who actually spoke Chinese gave up because the author kept misspelling place names and government institutions, and that got on their nerves. Does that mean–

“Are you saying that I was chosen because I’m Asian?! That’s racist!”

“I do not understand what this ‘racist’ you speak of refers to. But the writer of your world was not from the Central Plains or even the Western Regions. He was a foreigner with colored eyes who came from a civilization even further West than the Persian Empire,” Lady Lin said with a frown. “As such, few of his audience had strong resonance with the events he inscribed. Few would have even had the linguistic compatibility needed for basic survival.”

“Fine, that makes sense. But this is so unfair,” Kayla said, still wallowing in disbelief. “No, wait. Even if that were the case, there’s no way I was the only Asian reader! A-and I’m only half-Chinese, my dad’s Malaysian! Why the hell do I even count?!”

“Malaysian? To which land do you refer?"

"Can we focus here?!" Kayla hissed.

"There were several potential souls who had high situational compatibility, but most of them were rejected due to their lack of ability to navigate the circumstances they would arrive into. Simply put, they did not have a talent for politics. You said you were a scholar of history, correct?”

“No, I was a cashier at a grocery store,” Kayla groaned.

“But you used to be a scholar of history,” Lady Lin said undeterred. “Surely that means you have at least some knowledge or skill that increased your compatibility.”

“Oh come on, there's no way that only applied to me!”

“It seems you were only the third-most compatible. The second choice was a prodigy but was much too young to bear this burden. The first choice was a man, which would certainly have made the transition easier. Whether it was bodily functions or the affairs of husband and wife, he would have been more suitable. Unfortunately, the most compatible soul died moments before the magic took effect,” the mage lamented. Kayla gave Lady Lin a suspicious stare, which the mage seemed to sense.

“Magic took no part in that. It seems his heart failed him.”

“Oh my god,” Kayla groaned. “This just keeps getting worse. Is there any good news?”

Lady Lin remained silent.

Kayla’s disbelief slowly turned into frustration.

“Fine, so no good news. Then do you have any advice for my current situation?” Kayla asked.

“You must succeed. If you fail, the stakes will be much higher than you can imagine,” Lady Lin replied. She seemed to sense Kayla’s frown at the vague but unsettling answer.

“My child, what did you think happened after Zhao Wenyuan’s death?” Lady Lin asked.

Kayla’s frown deepened as she thought back to the novel’s plotline.

“Xianchun fights with Kuang for the throne and wins, and he becomes Emperor,” Kayla replied.

“And what happens after that?” Lady Lin asked.

“I don’t know, the novel hadn’t gotten there yet,” Kayla said, growing increasingly confused. “But what does that have to do with the current situation? Are you saying that all of that actually happens? I thought the timeline had diverged enough!”

“You seem to believe that there are separate timelines,” Lady Lin observed.

Kayla gave her a look of confusion. “You said the novel was based on actual events that happened here, and that means that everything that takes place after Wenyuan’s death really took place. But Wenyuan, well, Wenyuan and me are alive right now and events have diverged a lot from the original, haven’t they? Doesn’t that mean that timeline really does exist, but separately from ours?”

“Indeed, multiple timelines can exist simultaneously, and they can be as numerous as the possibilities of every single choice compounded. However, the aftermath of the original timeline is what triggered the creation of our current reality. It’s not that we’re in an entirely new timeline, but rather, we exist in the future of that timeline,” Lady Lin said.

“I don’t understand!”

Lady Lin sighed softly. “The timeline you knew of precedes our present. It was precisely due to what happened that I chose to exchange my eyes for the power of divination."

"Then how did you foresee enough to make the soul magic before the Imperial princess' death?" Kayla asked.

"Time is not a linear thing. My actions then created a strong enough divergence that we were able to create a new path of the timeline," Lady Lin said impatiently. Even though she couldn't see Kayla's look of confusion, she seemed to sense it all the same. "If you do not understand yet, then it simply means it does not matter right now. Rather, you should be more concerned with the events necessitating your arrival into this world.”

“And what would those be?” Kayla asked warily, an ominous feeling in her gut.

“See for yourself,” Lady Lin replied. The cave suddenly went pitch black. Every source of light disappeared, enveloping Kayla in the crushing darkness.

What the fuck?

Kayla went completely still, holding her breath as she nervously fumbled for her nullification magic. Before she could use it, everything went back to normal.

“What are you-” Kayla began to ask. She was cut off as memories that didn’t belong to her slammed into her mind. Kayla doubled over, physically winded as the experiences forcefully carved out their place in her brain. It felt like someone was sawing her head apart and then welding it together again.

Kayla threw up, what little she had eaten for breakfast choking its way out of her throat in an acidic mess. Once she had emptied her stomach, Kayla found herself disoriented. Her limbs felt simultaneously too large and too small. She couldn’t even confirm where her arms and legs were, much less move them.

“What the hell is this?” Kayla managed to croak out, the words coming out as a jumbled mess. Somehow, the mage understood.

“The past that led to your present,” Lady Lin replied. “It is what happens after Xianchun dies.”

Kayla winced, feeling as though she would throw up again.

“Hold still for a few moments,” the blind mage assured her. “It will pass on its own.”

The information began to piece itself together, threading its way into a form that vaguely began to make sense.

In the first year after Xianchun became Crown Prince, Emperor Zhou Ying passed away at the age of 51. His posthumous title was created as Emperor Ruizong, and he was succeeded by his seventh and sole surviving son, Zhou Xianchun.

After three years of strife within the court, factionalism remained strong, posing a significant threat to the stability of the country. In order to solidify his power and begin enacting reforms, Zhou Xianchun’s enthronement was accompanied by a wave of executions to clear out the remnants of the Third Prince’s faction. The capital was filled with unease. And filled to the brim, the unease overflowed into the provinces. The clans whispered amongst themselves, fearful of the new Emperor’s ruthlessness. Alliances were formed, betrothals made, and the court and major clans became more united than they had ever been before.

In the second year of Zhou Xianchun’s reign, Liu Boyue was appointed as Central Secretariat, Minister Liang was promoted to the position of Secretariat Director, Minister Jun was promoted to the position of Chancellor, and Yu Bianfu became the Minister of War. The deck was refreshed, the cards reshuffled, and the dynasty was like a freshly sharpened knife poised to strike.

And yet, little came of it. Xianchun’s reforms were met with intense pushback. The military, which had adored Kuang and Yunqi and had thrived under the leadership of the princes’ maternal clans, despised Xianchun and rejected Yu Bianfu’s authority over them. Any personnel changes were accompanied by insubordination and disgruntlement, and many officers flat-out refused to comply with orders. At the borders, the sky was high and the Emperor far, and there was little Xianchun could do to rein them in without a strong support base.

The court combed through every edict Xianchun released, finding loopholes to abuse, precedents with which to contest its legality, and nitpicking through each detail in order to disparage the policy as much as possible. Xianchun grew more forceful in response, often pushing through despite strong resistance, and the court grew more unruly and resentful in turn.

Sensing the Wu Dynasty’s weakness, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate launched several successful campaigns, gaining control over key trade routes. Xianchun was furious and executed the generals in charge, which further eroded the military’s spirit.

Internally, several natural disasters pushed the palace’s control to the very brink. With an uncooperative court, there was little Xianchun could do to provide disaster aid, leading to widespread hunger, followed by plague. Within a decade, the Wu Dynasty was the epitome of external dangers and internal strife.

Repeated failures and the constant battle of wits and will with the court and military took a significant toll on Xianchun’s health. He constantly overworked himself, adding frost onto the snow, and passed away in the thirteenth year of his rule, at the age of 41. His posthumous title was created as Emperor Suzong, and he was succeeded by his eldest out of four sons, the ten-year-old Zhou Zhu, who ruled with the help of Empress Dowager Jun. Faced with a tumultuous court that had no intention of complying with their rule, the widow and child had no choice but to overturn the vast majority of Xianchun’s reforms in order to gain the support of the officials and the clans, rendering Xianchun’s efforts null.

And yet, it was not enough to reverse the tides of fate. Finally having escaped Xianchun’s dogged determinedness, the clans gained more power than ever before, while the military splintered into regional factions that were only nominally loyal to their child Emperor. A long stretch of severe winters in the North led to large-scale invasions along the Northern borders as well as famine and plague within much of the country, all of which the central government was helpless to handle. The dynasty quickly devolved to the point of collapse.

When the roof leaks, it’s sure to rain all night. None of this was the limit of the dynasty’s misfortune. Over the course of all these years, Kuang’s son, Chengqian, had grown into a young man within the walls of a monastery. With the help of discontented military officers who had supported his father and Yunqi, Chengqian managed to escape from the heavily surveilled temple and started a rebellion.

To the populace, who had been the greatest victims of Xianchun’s fight with the court, one royal was the same as another. Chengqian was the grandson of Emperor Ruizong, just as Zhou Zhu was, and only one of them had proven incompetent so far. The rebellion gained immense support from both the peasants and the military. Unsurprisingly, it proved greatly popular among scholars as well, many of whom had studied under the Cao clan. Chengqian didn’t bother attacking strategically important cities or fortresses, heading in a beeline towards the capital.

Empress Dowager Jun and Zhou Zhu had a weak hold to begin with. They had practically no method of withstanding Chengqian’s onslaught and fled the capital with a small portion of the court. The city fell without resistance, and Chengqian established himself as the new Emperor, while Zhou Zhu’s administration holed up in the south, naming Nanjing the capital of the government-in-exile. The Southern government would have been eradicated within the month if Chengqian hadn’t become otherwise preoccupied with another invasion from the Northwest. By the time Chengqian was able to catch his breath, the Southern government had managed to gain enough footing to face him off.

Unable to wage war on two fronts, Chengqian focused on securing the Northern borders and dealing with the numerous internal issues Zhou Zhu’s administration had left behind, and the country became officially split into two parts. Zhou Zhu died young at the age of nineteen, leaving behind a single daughter. Civil war broke out, each of Xianchun’s remaining sons propped up as puppets by ambitious officials who wanted power, and the Southern Dynasty soon splintered into three, then four, and eventually five separate parts as everyone scrambled to make their claims.

In the Northern Dynasty, Chengqian fared better for a time but eventually began losing ground to invasions from the North and Northwest. He passed away after three decades of rule, leaving his country to his teenage son. Though the boy was far from incompetent, he continued to suffer a series of defeats. The Northern Dynasty’s troubles were compounded by numerous peasant uprisings in response to consecutive years of heavy taxes, which had gone to funding military expenditures. Between crushing uprisings and defending the borders, the young Emperor led a life of extreme stress and overwork, dying only six years after taking the throne. He was succeeded by his younger brother, having had no sons.

Kayla took a panicked breath, cold sweat dripping down her face as the memories stopped readjusting themselves in her mind. The rest of the information had devolved into flashing fragments, none of which looked remotely good.

This? This is the future he killed so many people for? She almost couldn’t reconcile it with the world she had come to know.

Kayla opened her mouth to speak, the acidic feeling in her throat preventing any words from emerging coherently.

“I understand that you must be very shocked,” Lady Lin said gravely. “Even I cannot see what happens after that, other than that it leads to chaos and bloodshed. This is why you were brought into this world, to prevent this from happening. The identity of Zhao Wenyuan is one of the few key figures who could gain the necessary amounts of influence to change the course of events.”

Kayla frowned. It was true that the Imperial family had a shortage of men in Xianchun’s generation, since none of the Archdukes had any sons who survived into adulthood.

“Qu Boyong is also a maternal nephew of the Emperor,” Kayla said raspily.

“Indeed, but his foundation is much too weak to be of any use, and his heart is too narrow to accomplish anything great. It is not his fault, revenge is his duty as a son of the Xiang clan, but it was foisted upon him too early and consumed him too thoroughly,” Lady Lin replied.

Kayla frowned. “Then what about the Archdukes?”

“They’ve been excluded from politics too long to effectively intervene in the succession struggle,” Lady Lin said.

Which essentially only left Wenyuan as someone with a background strong enough to intervene within the critical timeframe.

They don’t even need Wenyuan himself, just his identity, Kayla realized, wincing to herself.

“Then what should I do?” Kayla asked. “I’m still alive, doesn’t that change things?”

Lady Lin slowly shook her head.

“No.”

The Grand Duke lay on his bed, propped up slightly by cushions. The skin of his right arm had become discolored and shriveled, and it was now difficult to move the entire right side of his torso.

“My lord, there’s really nothing I can do about your arm,” one of the healers said apologetically, his colleague nodding.

The Grand Duke waved his other hand, and the servants escorted the healers away. Once they were alone in the room again, Housekeeper Wang approached him and spoke in a low voice.

“What shall we do with the healers, my lord?” Housekeeper Wang asked.

“They’re too famous to get rid of, have them swear magical oaths to silence.”

“Understood, my lord. Also, we’ve finished taking inventory, and most of the scrolls in the study were damaged beyond repair,” Housekeeper Wang said quietly. “Shall we re-encrypt the remaining ones?”

“Dispose of them, none of those are worth keeping. It wouldn’t even matter if they’d been stolen, encryption or not,” the Grand Duke replied. “More importantly, have the scrolls in the vault been re-encrypted yet?”

“The mages will be finished by the end of the day,” Housekeeper Wang assured him. “None of those were damaged, and there were no signs that the vault had been discovered.”

“If it were that easy to find, then I would’ve spent all that money for nothing,” the Grand Duke retorted.

“Of course,” Housekeeper Wang hastily agreed.

The Grand Duke stared at the canopy of his bed, his eyes sharpening with cold fury. Unlike the roaring rage of usual, the Grand Duke’s killing intent was now concentrated with a crystalline clarity. Housekeeper Wang couldn’t help but fidget nervously at the sight, even if the Grand Duke was bedridden.

“I put the vault there specifically because it would be difficult to discover. Countless intruders have gotten into my study, whether by trickery or by force, but not a single one has thought to check the floorboards. The more someone wants to climb higher, the less likely they’d be to look beneath their feet…but it seems I’ve made the same mistake with Wenyuan,” the Grand Duke said.

Housekeeper Wang pulled at his collar, sweat beading at his collar. “N-no, certainly not,” he protested feebly.

“To think that I’ve kept him under my roof for twenty-five years and never knew he had such a card up his sleeve,” the Grand Duke continued, ignoring Housekeeper Wang. “Nullification magic? Even I have to be impressed that he’s kept it secret for this long. That boy isn’t just like me, he’s well on his way to surpassing me.”

“That’s impossible! In his bones, he’s still just a coward who's only blustering with the palace's support!”

The Grand Duke shook his head slightly. “Wenyuan can endure everything, precisely because he hasn’t given up on anything. Men like that are the most dangerous. So long as they’re alive, they’re certain to keep coming for your neck when you least expect it. Since that brat has left the capital by his own will, see to it that he doesn’t return unless it’s in a coffin. No, even if it’s in a coffin, make sure his corpse doesn’t remain intact. If he wants to come back, he’ll have to do so in pieces!”

“As you wish, my lord. I’ll make the arrangements,” Housekeeper Wang said, sweat dripping down his brow.

“When the mages have finished re-encrypting the scrolls, send them on their way,” the Grand Duke added, meaningfully stressing his final words. Housekeeper Wang bowed his head, understanding that it was the path to the Yellow Springs that the mages would be embarking on.

“I will see it done,” Housekeeper Wang promised.

The Grand Duke closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. Picking up on the dismissal, Housekeeper Wang bowed and backed out of the room.

In the darkness of the cave, Kayla gave Lady Lin an incredulous look even though she knew that the blind mage couldn’t see her expression.

“What?! What do you mean it doesn’t change things? Haven’t events diverged enough from the original timeline?” Kayla demanded.

“If the Seventh Prince’s rage is allowed to fester and smolder, it’ll become an all-consuming fire that drives the country to ruin no matter what. Your current path does not avoid it, merely alleviate it somewhat,” Lady Lin replied.

Kayla gave her a look of disbelief. “I’m literally about to kill the Grand Duke! Does that not work?!”

“No,” Lady Lin said flatly. “You are unable to cut the grass and destroy its roots, only burn at the surface without truly removing the danger. Your actions so far only delay the inevitable, but barely so.”

“I’m already trying to destroy his evidence!” Kayla protested.

“It is not enough,” Lady Lin said firmly.

“How could that not–oh my god,” Kayla groaned, her head beginning to throb with a dull pain. “Do you even know what happens?!”

"Indeed, I can see the paths of the future as they stretch out before us, especially with you sitting right before me. Your arrival into this world has made it more difficult for me to see as clearly, I had to exchange years of my own lifespan to learn of this."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kayla replied, not feeling particularly sorry. "May I ask what you saw?"

“Look into the future and see for yourself,” Lady Lin replied. “This is the result of your current path.”

The cave was once more plunged into darkness. Just because Kayla knew what was coming next didn’t mean she was any more ready for it to hit. She found herself retching onto the cave floor again, feeling somehow even worse than last time.

The events of the original timeline had surfaced as abstract knowledge accompanied by brief flickers of images and sounds, most of which had been distant and blurry, but Kayla’s own future flashed in and out of reality itself, enveloping her senses.

Kayla gave a garbled sound of alarm before the vision dragged her into the brittle fragments of her future memories.

Kayla’s grand plan of assassination worked out just when she’d expected it the least. Hu Qing finally found a chance to poison the Grand Duke while the old man was drinking medicine, after a string of well-timed but extremely unlikely coincidences came together to make it possible. Since it took place the day before Kayla's engagement was announced in court, the matter of Kayla’s political marriage was pushed back until after the one-year mourning period Wenyuan was obliged to observe as the Grand Duke’s legal grandson.

The rest went according to plan, flashing past her in bits and pieces that melded into each other. Kayla held the funeral, gained access to the Grand Duke’s study, and “uncovered” significant evidence to implicate the Grand Duke and his core supporters. The crimes she selected were severe enough to warrant their deaths but not the extermination of their clans. Everything proceeded as planned–the guilty were executed and their assets seized, and Kayla was lauded with praise from the palace for valuing justice over familial ties. Things seemed to be heading in a good direction.

And then Qu Boyong somehow managed to uncover evidence that the Grand Duke had framed the Xiang clan, and that Kayla had helped cover it up. He had been left unsatisfied with the Grand Duke’s death and secretly teamed up with Xianchun without Kayla being any the wiser. What she had feared the most ended up happening anyways. The Grand Duke was posthumously convicted for crimes that warranted the extermination of his clan to the ninth degree, and Xianchun learned of the truth behind his mother’s murder

Trying to reorient her spinning head, Kayla squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment and opened them to find herself standing in a market square. Her body felt simultaneously too big and too small, feeling as though she would burst out of her skin and that she couldn’t control the enormity of her personhood all at once. The shock from the scene before her only served to make it worse.

Kayla’s body was shaking from head to toe, out of both cold and fear. She found herself staring at a mass execution, watching with blank horror as the members of the Zhao clan were beheaded in batches. Screams and cries mingled in the air, forming a cacophony of terror. It was raining. The sensation of raindrops pelting her face sent a shock through her body.

I’m not actually here, she forced herself not to panic, but it felt so real that she could barely convince herself otherwise. Her thin white robes were splattered with blood, and a continuous pulsing sensation went through her hands, accompanied by a dull sense of pain. The skin on her right hand had been scraped right off, exposing the bloody flesh of her palm.

A eunuch approached her. She vaguely recognized him from the Inner Palace but felt nothing but fear at his arrival. The eunuch didn’t look her in the eyes, his face solemn and downturned. He held out a goblet of wine, and Kayla took it with shaking hands.

Death by poison was already a mercy compared to the fate of decapitation.

This is how I die? Hu Qing’s not going to make it time. In time for what, Kayla only had a fleeting idea. She lifted the poisoned wine to her lips slowly and unsteadily, steeling herself for the inevitable, only to have it knocked aside at the last moment. The goblet clattered across the ground, the wine mixing with the blood pooling across the square.

“Stop! The Emperor has granted clemency to Zhao Wenyuan!” An Imperial Guard that Kayla recognized as Captain Jiang shouted, holding up a golden plaque. Ignoring the murmurs of confusion and surprise from the executioners and guards around them, he grabbed Kayla by the arm and bodily dragged her from the square. Kayla stumbled over fallen bodies, her shoes and the bottom of her robes sloshing in the mixture of rainwater and blood. Captain Jiang practically lifted Kayla off the ground, shoving her into a carriage before speeding off toward the Imperial Palace.

Kayla was pulled out from the carriage by two Imperial Guards and rushed into the Inner Palace. She neither protested nor resisted, numb with shock and fear. They stopped just outside the steps of the Emperor’s study where the guards proceeded to push her to her knees. The Emperor emerged, descending the steps in a rush. He stopped just short of Kayla, his face completely pallid.

“Wenyuan,” he said, the rest of his words blurring together with the sharp ringing in Kayla’s ears. She could intermittently make out some of what he was saying.

“...spared for your contributions to the...demoted to commoner status...you are prohibited from contacting any officials of the court…forbidden to leave the borders…and never to return to the capital.”

Kayla barely understood any of it, Captain Jiang gently pushing her to bow her head. She complied, straightening again to the tearful visage of the Emperor.

“I’m sorry, this is all I can do,” the Emperor said, sounding incredibly defeated.

Why? Despite her curiosity, Kayla couldn't voice the question.

“This lowly one thanks Your Majesty,” Kayla replied mechanically. She was once again pulled to her feet. The Emperor reached out but hesitantly lowered his hand before he could grab onto her, and Kayla was rushed back out of the palace. She didn’t look around or glance back, and didn’t register where the carriage was heading, only knowing that it was speeding out of the capital.

The carriage jolted to a sudden stop, nearly launching Kayla from her seat. She looked around in bewilderment, freezing at the sound of a familiar voice.

“Zhao Wenyuan! Show yourself!”

“Your Highness, you can’t do this!” Captain Jiang pleaded.

A cold shock of fear ran through her spine at the murderous rage in Xianchun’s voice.

“Get out of the carriage, you coward!”

Kayla cautiously lifted the curtain a little to peek outside, quickly drawing back at the sight of Xianchun brandishing a sword. She curled in on herself with instinctive horror.

“My prince, the Emperor has issued his orders. If you insist on continuing, you will be going against an Imperial Edict,” Captain Jiang said firmly. Xianchun carried on for a while longer before backing down, likely having been persuaded to stop by Liu Boyue. The carriage took off again, the journey blending into a blur. Kayla buried her face in her hands, desperately hoping that none of this was really her future.

She lowered her hands and found herself standing before the carriage as it prepared to head back. She had been unceremoniously dragged out of the carriage and dumped on the ground, still covered in the blood of the Zhao clan members. She looked around at the unfamiliar environment with trepidation. It was a dusty stretch of road, with a few scrawny trees sparsely scattered here and there, with reddish hills in the far distance.

Captain Jiang gave her a polite nod before departing along with the rest of the Imperial Guards, leaving Kayla completely alone in the middle of an empty road. With no possessions and no buildings or people anywhere in sight, Kayla chose a direction at random and began to walk.

She blinked, and the scene had changed. She was now sitting on one of the hills she had seen from afar, a warm cloak draped over her blood-stained robes. Hu Qing sat next to her, patiently wiping clean the blood from under Kayla’s fingernails. There was an unusually somber air to him that was jarring to see.

“It’s not the end of things, my lord,” he comforted her.

“Just call me Kayla,” she found herself saying in response. “I’m not a lord anymore.”

At Hu Qing’s confused look, she sighed. “It’s my nickname. It’s…um...a foreign name. From the West.”

Hu Qing nodded, not questioning it any further. He seemed relieved that she was even talking.

“A name from the Western Regions? It sounds nice. Here, have some water.” He handed her a water bottle, and she took a long sip. Clouds hung heavily over the horizon, reeds bending against a harsh wind. Looking at them in dazed confusion, Kayla felt hopelessly lost.

“What do I do now?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing watched her with an unusual stillness in his gaze. “How about heading North? The nomadic tribes don’t care as much about the ongoings of the capital, and we’d be harder to find in case anyone wants to try anything. You already have a name ready, so why not?”

Kayla nodded. “Alright. But what about you?”

“I’m coming with you.”

The simple words offered more certainty than anything Kayla had managed to grasp.

Cultural Notes

中原/Central Plains: An Ancient Chinese geographical concept that can be used to refer to the area from which Chinese (mostly Han) civilization originated, as well as (in comparison to other countries) the entirety of China. In its most narrow definition, it refers only to Henan Province. In a broader definition, it contains Henan province, Shaanxi province, Hebei province, Shanxi province, Shandong province, the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the northern parts of Anhui Province and the northwestern parts of Jiangsu province. In its broadest sense, it refers to everything south of Mongolia, north of Southeast Asia, east of the Badain Jaran desert, and west of the Pacific Ocean.

西域/Western Regions: A broad term referring to much of Central Asia and Western Asia.

大石帝国/Dashi Empire: The term used for the Persian Empire during the Tang Dynasty, broadly used to include the Sassanian Empire and its successors.

Srivijiaya: The Tang Dynasty (618-907), which the Wu Dynasty is roughly based on, corresponded with the Malay empire of Srivijaya (approximately 671 to 1288). There were records of trade and travel between Srivijaya and the Tang Dynasty, and historical records also indicated separate diplomatic relations and trade with the regions of Kelantan and Johor, respectively in the Northwest and South of the Malaysian Peninsula. In other words, the concept of Malaysia that Kayla is using is a relatively modern concept that would not emerge for centuries yet.

睿宗/Ruizong: A posthumous title used for Emperors. Posthumous titles usually also served as summaries and reviews of an Emperor's life, and one could have several of them. Ruizong is a good posthumous title, usually used to refer to an Emperor who was filial and humane/kind/benevolent.

肃宗/Suzong: A posthumous title used for Emperors, it usually refers to Emperors who attempted to achieve a second Golden Age but failed to do so. It is commonly used with some degree of lamentation, as in "well, at least you tried".

Can Headstrong Emperors Succeed at Reform: I'll come back to this point later on as well, but the general trend is that if a headstrong emperor wants to initiate reforms, his success depends on the strength of his political faction and how long they've been in power. If you already have a strong support base, you're fine. If he does not have a strong political base, then his success depends on whether he can build up one while carefully strategizing to get rid of his enemies. Simply killing a bunch of people doesn't tend to work out too well, especially when you're not prepared to fill in the power vacuum.

Take Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, who was known to forcibly push through his reforms despite heavy resistance from the court and nobility. His success was because he had already been working in court for decades, and had a strong support base in both the military and the court. On the other hand, Emperor Shunzong of the Tang Dynasty tried to initiate reforms but was forced to resign in a coup, in part because his body was too weak to fuel him through the continuous high-stress political battles, and more importantly, because his support base was almost entirely composed of civil officials, with no support from the military. Of course, even if you have both civil and military support, as well as the necessary amount of political skill, you might still fail if the central government's control has already eroded beyond what you can reverse. Xianchun's failure counts as a combination case of having no military support and lacking political acumen.

Overturning reforms for political support: This happened a few times throughout Chinese history, this was often done out of necessity, but sometimes done just to further cement one's own popularity. In particular, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty overturned most of the reforms instituted by his predecessor Emperor Yongzheng even though his own position was really quite secure already.

天高皇帝远/Sky is high and the Emperor is far: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that it is easy to do your own thing when far from the central government's control. Since communication technologies weren't too advanced, it was much more difficult to administrate the remote provinces.

Limitations of the 和亲/Political Marriage Policy: Marrying princesses into other countries usually had a lot of limitations in terms of success. In many cases, it only had the effect of temporarily delaying war instead of forming a proper alliance.

内忧外患/Inner troubles outer dangers: A Chinese proverb referring to a situation where a country is facing both internal and external troubles.

孤儿寡母/Lone child and widowed mother: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to refer to a widow and her child, usually in a pitying manner.

小冰河时期/Small Ice Age: A climate pattern often known as the "Small Ice Age" refers to when there is a significant and large-scale temperature drop in the North, encompassing Siberia, modern-day Outer Mongolia, stretching all the way down to the South, where there may be snowfalls in temperate rainforest climates. This usually results in a famine among the nomadic tribes due to the effect this has on the grasslands, and further cripples the agricultural economy in Northern China. If famine results in high numbers of deaths, especially in cases where so many people die that nobody is burying them, this often leads to a plague.

Usually, the cold will also force small rodents and other animals to migrate Southwards, often bringing new diseases to people who haven't encountered them, which compounds the plague and worsens the famine as people who can work the fields die. Hence, we see Southward invasions by nomadic tribes who have been forced to seek survival by going South, which compounded with famine and plague in Northern China, results in mass migrations of refugees, which then overloads the Southern provinces and leads to widespread poverty, plague, and famine. This is just a very generalized pattern, upon which we have seen many variations. But generally speaking, it's something that could overwhelm even a robust government, much less one that has already been forced onto its last legs.

屋漏偏逢连夜雨/When the roof leaks, it just so happens to rain throughout the night: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is the equivalent of "When it rains, it pours." It is the upper line in a couplet, the latter line of which is "船迟又遇打头风/When your boat is already running late, you catch a wind that blows in the opposite direction [of where you want to go]". In other words, the compounding of misfortune has the effect of pouring oil on a fire.

Successfully rebelling as a member of the Imperial family: So Chenqian's rebellion strategy is based on that of Zhu Dai, the third Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. He overthrew his nephew in a rebellion, giving up on gaining control over key strategic cities/fortresses and instead charging straight toward the capital, a risky strategy that worked wonderfully in his favor.

斩草除根/Cutting the grass and destroying its roots: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to destroy a problem at its roots.

野火烧不尽，春风吹又生/The grass cannot be destroyed by the wildfire and grows again with the spring breeze: An Ancient Chinese proverb from a poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi. The two lines are taken to refer to the vitality/survival of something even after it is destroyed. In Kayla's case, it refers to her problems with Xianchun, though this proverb can also be used in a positive manner as well.

送你上路/Send you on your way: A Chinese saying that can mean exactly what it says, but can also serve as a euphemism for sending someone off to the next world (whether through active murder or by bidding farewells to a dying person).

黄泉/Yellow Springs: An Ancient Chinese phrase referring to the afterlife.

不留全尸/Not leaving an intact corpse: Having your corpse dismembered was considered a horrifying fate, and was often tied in with folk beliefs and religious traditions as well.

Mourning rules for grandchildren: Mourning rites were three years for one's parents, but one year for one's paternal grandparents.

赐毒酒/Bequeath poisoned wine: A more "merciful" way of executing a noble by allowing them to commit "suicide" and die in a more dignified manner than decapitation.

贬为庶人/Demote to commoner status: A punishment in Ancient China for nobles and officials who have earned titles. This meant you now faced new limits in what you were allowed to wear (ex: some colors, fabrics, and designs would become off limits), what you were allowed to use (ex: depending on the dynasty, certain luxury goods would be prohibited to commoners), and you would have to show deference to officials and nobles who used to be your peers or even ranked lower than you. Most importantly, you would usually have your assets confiscated and would no longer be entitled to your previous stipend/salary/whatever other forms of income.

93-Paths of the Future (Part I)

Character Index

Sir Zheng: An eunuch in the Inner Palace, loyal to Xianchun.

Zhou Ying: The current Emperor, father of Kuang, Yunqi, and Xianchun, older brother of the Imperial Princess, Wenyuan's maternal uncle.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, became the Crown Prince in the original timeline.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, husband of Cao Shuyi and father of Zhou Chenqian.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, in Kuang's faction. The two grew up together due to the friendship between their mothers, daughters of generals who felt stifled in the Inner Palace.

Li Que: A Senior Imperial Investigator, Chen Jian's mentor. He worked with Kayla in the past and was quietly supportive of her.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Minister Liang's younger half-brother and Kayla's retainer.

Chen Jian: A young Imperial Investigator who is being trained as Li Que's successor, he is Chen Caichun's older brother.

Empress Dowager: Mother of the current Emperor and the Imperial Princess, in the original timeline she passed away a few months after Wenyuan's death.

Consort Chen: Xianchun's mother, she was a serving maid for the Emperor who later became part of his harem.

“I’m coming with you,” Hu Qing said. “I’ve always wanted to travel up North”.

“Alright.” There weren’t any words that could describe her gratitude, and Kayla didn’t try for any.

The scene became blurry along with Kayla’s vision, and she blinked away the moisture in her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she was on a horse in the middle of a grassy plain. The vastness of green grass and blue sky that stretched to the horizon overwhelmed her, and Kayla couldn’t quite reconcile the vastness of the beauty with everything she had just seen. She glanced over at the sound of laughter.

An unfamiliar young man who looked to be from the steppe tribes was laughing joyfully, his head tossed back and his throat exposed under the bright sunlight. Kayla didn’t know who he was but knew that he was important to her.

“How can you lose to my sister ten times in a row?” He cackled. “Did you even eat breakfast?”

“You lost to Hu Qing,” Kayla said.

“He also lost to my sister,” he pointed out.

“Everyone loses to your sister.”

The young man began laughing again, and Kayla couldn’t help but laugh as well. She fell quiet, her smile fading as she saw a figure appear in the distance. The young man’s face grew serious as well, tensing as the rider approached.

“Halt! What is it that you want?” The young man demanded.

“Mister Zhao, you need to hurry up and go back! There’s someone from the palace looking for you,” the new rider shouted back from where he had stopped, just within hearing distance.

Kayla shared an uneasy look with the young man.

“What do we do?” The young man asked.

“There’s nothing else I can do except to go meet them,” Kayla replied.

“I’ll go with you,” he said, any trace of mirth gone from his face. Kayla nodded, and they followed the messenger to what appeared to be a small town. Kayla mechanically entered a house that was probably hers. It was small but looked to be in good repair. From the eccentric decorations that left one with too many comments to say in one breath, Kayla could see that it was Hu Qing’s handiwork.

A eunuch stood in the center of the room, imposingly staring at them. His robes, while relatively simple compared to the princes and officials of the court, still stood in stark contrast to the simple clothing of the townspeople.

“Greetings, sir,” Kayla said politely.

“Greetings, Zhao Wenyuan. I come bearing the Emperor’s decree,” the eunuch said. Kayla knelt, the messenger and the young man watching curiously from just outside the doorway.

“Zhao Wenyuan humbly accepts the Imperial decree,” Kayla said.

“On orders of His Majesty the Emperor, Zhao Wenyuan is to return to the capital immediately. He is thereby granted a complete pardon and restored to the status of a Third-Rank official, eligible to inherit his familial title. Due to the unforgivable crimes of the Zhao clan, the title of Grand Duke is demoted to the title of a Marquis, to be effective immediately upon receiving the edict.” The eunuch announced.

Kayla found herself flooded with dread.

“This subject humbly receives the decree and gives thanks for His Majesty’s boundless benevolence,” Kayla replied, bowing her head to the ground. She got up, glancing at the eunuch uneasily.

“Congratulations, Lord Zhao,” the eunuch said politely. “Please follow me.”

“Wait, are we leaving right now?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, there is no need to pack. Your needs will be provided for,” the eunuch replied. Kayla felt a cold pit open up in her stomach. She glanced at the young man helplessly, and he gave her a nod of assurance. Kayla instinctively understood that he would notify Hu Qing, and gave him a grateful nod in turn.

“Take care, Kayla,” the young man said seriously. Kayla thanked him before following the eunuch outside, where a carriage was already waiting. She had assumed it was meant for the eunuch, but it seemed that it had been prepared for her. Kayla had a fleeting notion of running, but gave up at the number of Imperial Guards around the house, resignedly entering the carriage.

The scene flickered and transformed, and Kayla found herself standing stiffly in the Inner Palace. The luxurious robes no longer felt comfortable on her skin, too constricting and formal compared to the clothing of the steppe tribes.

“The Emperor will see you now,” a familiar-looking eunuch said. Kayla recognized him as Sir Zheng, the one who had been the one to deliver the Imperial Edict that had made Kayla a third-rank official, in what seemed to be a lifetime ago. She nodded and entered the Emperor’s bedroom.

Kayla froze in shock. The Emperor she remembered was handsome and spirited, but the man lying on the bed before her was so thin and fragile that she couldn’t reconcile the two images.

“Uncle,” Kayla said in shock. The Emperor opened his sunken eyes with great effort, his gaze lighting up as he caught sight of her. He reached out a bony hand, and Kayla rushed over to his bedside, dropping to her knees as she took his hand.

“Wenyuan, you’re finally back,” the Emperor said in a feeble voice. “Thank the heavens, my nephew has returned to me safely.”

“Uncle, this unfilial nephew is overjoyed to see you again,” Kayla replied.

How much time has passed? How could his health have deteriorated this much?

“I’m sorry, Wenyuan. You’ve suffered greatly,” the Emperor said.

Kayla shook her head. “Not at all, I’m grateful for your concern.”

He sighed, eyes clouding with despair.

“Wenyuan, I called you back because I need your help,” the Emperor said. “I’ve made a mistake. I never should’ve named Xianchun the Crown Prince.”

Oh shit. Kayla’s heart skipped a beat.

It had been three years.

Kayla held the Emperor’s hand, which was now thin to the bone. Her heart pounded fearfully as he continued on.

“Please, save Kuang and Yunqi,” the Emperor said, a tear sliding down his face to the pillow. “I let Xianchun handle court affairs because of my health, but now-now–”

Kayla nodded. She could only nod. There wasn’t any other option.

Xianchun’s really going to kill them, and then he’ll probably kill me as well. What the hell can I possibly do?

“Wenyuan, I’m naming you–” the Emperor coughed, a eunuch scurrying forward to help him spit out blood-flecked phlegm. Kayla watched with a heavy heart as the Emperor lay down again, exhausted by the movement.

He’s dying. The sight of it made her heart twist painfully. The Emperor had been genuinely fond of her, and she had reciprocated that at least a little. As unreliable as he was, his affection was sincere, and some deep part of Kayla’s paranoid psyche had rejoiced in that.

“I’m naming you the Imperial Edict Bearer,” the Emperor finished. Kayla bowed her head.

“This unworthy one will obey Your Majesty’s wishes,” she replied. The Emperor waved at a eunuch, who came forward bearing two golden plaques.

“You can enter anywhere with this,” the Emperor gestured to the first one. “And this one, you can command the Imperial Investigators with it.”

It was more power than Kayla had before, but it was barely worth anything now that Xianchun was in charge. She bowed her head, respectfully accepting the plaques with both hands.

“Thank you, Uncle. I will do my best,” Kayla said.

“Come and see me often,” the Emperor said weakly. He seemed to have run out of energy. “Kuang and Yunqi…I’m leaving them to you.”

“Of course, Uncle,” Kayla replied. The Emperor’s eyelids fell shut, and within moments he was asleep. A eunuch quietly came forward and helped Kayla up, escorting her out of the room.

She gave him an imploring look, silently inquiring about the Emperor’s condition, but the eunuch only sadly shook his head. Kayla left, keeping her footsteps as soft as possible. Outside, the bright sunlight couldn’t drown out the growing iciness in her bones.

Sir Zheng led Kayla out again but suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

“This lowly servant greets His Highness the Crown Prince!” Sir Zheng’s voice came out a little panicked, knowing that trouble was in store once Xianchun saw Kayla. Kayla bowed as well, not even glancing up to see where Xianchun was. Fear, resentment, and something Kayla vaguely recognized as hatred blended together and faded into a numb blankness.

“You,” Xianchun snarled. Kayla straightened, staring into the face of the Crown Prince. He was different now. There was a hard edge to his entire being the way there hadn’t been before, almost like how he had been when they had first met in the Emperor’s study, but crueler and more devoid of mercy.

“Wenyuan humbly greets His Highness the Crown Prince,” Kayla said.

Xianchun’s gaze was venomous, but it seemed to be mixed with something she couldn’t put her finger on.

“So Father’s brought you back after all,” he said coldly. “And what position has he given you?”

“His Majesty has been gracious and granted this undeserving one the position of Imperial Edict Bearer,” Kayla said. That set Xianchun off, his hatred taking on a murderous edge.

“And you dared to accept it?” Xianchun snarled. He partially unsheathed his sword, glaring at Kayla. “You shameless bastard!”

“M-my prince, the Emperor’s orders…” Sir Zheng nervously intervened. Kayla looked at the sword, but couldn’t summon any feelings of fear. She felt strangely empty. She looked back at Xianchun.

“Apologies, Your Highness. Though it may displease you, this one does not dare disobey His Majesty’s wishes for the sake of Your Highness,” Kayla said simply. Unexpectedly, Xianchun’s face twisted and he briefly looked as though he had been struck. He resumed a cold glare again.

“Pathetic,” he scoffed. “Does he think you can change anything?”

Kayla didn’t reply, silently bowing her head until Xianchun waved for them to leave.

She bowed and left without glancing back.

Kayla stepped forward, the world rippling around her. She found herself standing in a familiar room. She looked around in confusion before realizing it was the Third Prince’s household.

“In any case, I have already handed over the Ministries and the Chancellory,” Kuang was saying. “If Xianchun–if His Highness the Crown Prince is worried about political power, then I practically have nothing. If it’s our military influence he’s concerned about, there’s nothing I can say. I’m well-liked because I’ve been with them longer, what could he expect me to do about that?”

“I understand,” Kayla replied automatically.

Kuang let out a heavy sigh, his brows furrowed in frustration.

“Wenyuan, do you think he can be convinced?”

Kayla turned to the side, unsurprised to see that Yunqi was also there. He looked much more pallid and thin than before, and she couldn’t help but feel an instinctive rush of sympathy.

“I don’t know,” Kayla replied honestly. “At this point in time, antagonizing him is the worst possible option. The more the military supports you two, the more determined he’ll be to kill you, regardless of the consequences. I’ve gone around to the senior officials, but while most of them were sympathetic, none of them dared to join me in petitioning for your sake.”

“When the person leaves, the tea cools. It can’t be helped,” Kuang replied.

Kayla recognized the look in his eyes, the quiet desperation of a man whose lifelines were disappearing one by one, even as he tried to grasp onto them. It was the same feeling that had haunted her ever since arriving in this world.

Kuang used to be my favorite character, but now, I just want to help him.

Once, in another world, they had only been characters in a book. Once, Xianchun had been her second favorite, his ruthlessness and fierce personality making him a fascinating character. But now, standing in Kuang’s sitting room and sharing in his helplessness, she couldn’t help but feel that fate had played her for a fool.

“I’ll try again,” Kayla said. Kuang gave her a grateful look. It was a futile endeavor, but they were trying regardless.

But in truth, both of them understood.

There’s no way this will end well.

“The victors are lauded as kings, the defeated are disparaged as bandits. I accept my defeat,” the Third Prince said. “All I wish for is that my family is spared.” The words seemed to relieve a burden from his shoulders, and he grew more relaxed in the presence of another man who had lost.

“I promised Uncle to keep you all alive, and I’ll do everything within my power to see it through,” Kayla replied.

She was done for. Kayla didn’t even need to think it over to know that the second the Emperor passed away, she would also be killed. The question was whether her years of absence left her enough political leeway to give Kuang and Yunqi even the smallest chance at survival.

“Would you be willing to leave the country?” Kayla asked. “The Khaganate would likely welcome you.”

Kuang frowned, shaking his head. “I would not besmirch my country’s honor by surrendering to the Khaganate. I am a prince, I was raised on the populace’s coin, how could I possibly do such a thing just so I could survive?”

Kayla nodded, her heart slowly sinking. “I understand. Allow me to consult with the Imperial Investigation Bureau, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you, Wenyuan.” He hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take her hand. “Before your godfather passed, he asked me to protect you. But now, it’s the other way around. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that, Third Cousin. The future is not written in stone.” Kayla assured him. He patted her hand and let her leave.

Kayla stepped through the door and the location had changed. She blinked away the disorientation and found herself kneeling in a familiar lobby. She recognized it as the Imperial Investigation Bureau. A eunuch stood before her, holding an Imperial Edict.

Another one? How much time has passed?

“...In light of the Imperial Edict Bearer’s virtue, His Majesty the Emperor hereby appoints Zhao Wenyuan as the Crown Prince’s Advisor, to be held in conjunction with the post of Imperial Edict Bearer, hence it is decreed,” the eunuch read, looking increasingly nervous as he finished.

Kayla glanced to the side and understood why. Xianchun stood in the center of the lobby, resplendent in the golden embroidered robes of the Crown Prince and surrounded by uneasy Imperial Investigators. It was clear that he hadn’t endeared himself to the Bureau. The Investigators looked at him warily but looked at Kayla with concern.

“This subject humbly receives the decree and gives thanks for His Majesty’s boundless benevolence,” Kayla said, bowing her head to the floor. She got up, thanking the eunuch who quickly backed away and scurried out of the room.

Kayla turned towards Xianchun and bowed to him politely. “This lowly one will do his utmost to fulfill the Emperor’s expectations in assisting Your Highness,” Kayla said.

Xianchun’s face was flushed with rage. The message was clear enough–the Emperor didn’t trust the Crown Prince at all. He stormed off, heading out of the Bureau. No one went after him.

Investigator Li Que approached her, looking much wearier than he did before.

“My lord,” he said quietly, his voice dripping with worry. He didn’t voice his concerns, but Kayla understood him very clearly. The role of Imperial Edict Bearer wasn’t enough to save Kuang and Yunqi, but the role of Crown Prince’s Advisor might be. But the higher the rank, the more violent Kayla’s death would be.

“Please seek out Hu Qing for me,” Kayla said quietly. “Tell him not to come to the capital.”

Li Que stood still for a long moment before bowing his head and leaving.

Kayla turned away and found that she was once again kneeling. From the room’s decorations, it seemed to be inside the Inner Palace. Looking up, she caught sight of Xianchun’s mocking sneer and understood that this was the East Palace.

“Please have some mercy, Your Highness,” Kayla said, the words popping out unbidden. “They’re your siblings, not your enemies.”

“Not my enemies? They’ve sent you to plead for their lives!” Xianchun snarled.

Kayla bowed her head. “Your Highness, this one’s life will end in your hands sooner or later. You and your brothers are like limbs that grow on the same body, are you really willing to gain a reputation of fratricide just to spite a decision your father made on his sickbed?”

Xianchun stepped closer, glaring down at her.

“Sooner or later?! If I could, I would cut you down right here!”

“If that would soothe Your Highness’ rage, then I have no complaints,” Kayla replied, knowing full well he couldn’t kill her. “But Confucius has said that a great man does not promote a man solely based on what he said, nor does he reject advice solely because of the man who said it. Please choose wisely, Your Highness.”

Xianchun calmed down a little, disdainfully stepping away again. After a long moment of silence, he smirked.

“Very well then, tell my brothers that I am more than willing to show mercy to them. However, I will do so only if they’re willing to take a magical oath,” Xianchun said, a note of malicious glee in his voice.

A magical oath? Kayla froze. Magical oaths never meant anything good, being coercive enough that it was generally frowned upon to make use of them.

“Your Highness,” Kayla hesitantly objected. Xianchun cut her off.

“If they take a magical oath of subservience, I will spare them. Simple enough, isn’t it?” Xianchun sneered. Kayla’s heart dropped.

“My prince, please reconsider,” she pleaded. Xianchun froze at the change of honorifics before letting out an angry huff.

“My decision is final!”

Reluctantly, Kayla bowed her head.

She straightened up and found herself sitting in the Third Prince’s study. Yunqi sat beside her, his face pallid and weary.

“A magical oath?!” Kuang raged, pacing back and forth across the room in large strides. “I refuse! If he wants to kill me, then let him have at it. A man can be killed, but not humiliated!”

Kayla winced. It was what she had expected, but there were no other options left.

“Third Cousin, please don’t be like this,” Kayla pleaded. “Think of Fifth Cousin, if you don’t accept, then he’ll definitely be killed alongside you!”

Yunqi gravely shook his head. “Thank you, Wenyuan. But I do not fear death. I would prefer death to seeing my brother humiliated.”

Kayla looked between them, increasingly desperate.

“Then what about your mothers and their families? Third Cousin, what about your wife, your son? The members of your faction? If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for them!”

Kuang slowed to a stop at Kayla’s words. He gave her a torn look, sighing deeply.

Seeing that he was swayed, Kayla pressed on. “I’ll do whatever I can to ensure that you can preserve your dignity. There are definitely ways to tie Xianchun’s hands, I’ll make sure to use everything within my disposal!”

Kuang let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes in defeat. “Leave me alone for a bit. Let me think about it,” he said quietly. Kayla bowed her head.

“As you wish, my prince.”

She left with Yunqi following shortly after. He looked just as resigned, if not more so than Kuang. They walked side by side out of the Third Prince’s residence, wordlessly sharing in their gloom.

“Ride with me, I’ll send you back,” Yunqi offered. Kayla nodded, getting into Yunqi’s carriage after him. The carriage set off in utter silence until Yunqi finally spoke again.

“A magical oath of subservience,” Yunqi said glumly. “Xianchun really is cruel to do such a thing. With Third Brother’s pride, this fate is worse than death for him.”

“Indeed,” Kayla said quietly. “It really is a fate worse than–”

Kayla froze, belatedly reacting to Yunqi’s words. A bad feeling curled up in her stomach. Yunqi seemed to have thought of the same thing, meeting her eyes with a startled look.

Kayla flung open the carriage window. “Turn the carriage around! Head back at full speed!” She shouted. The horseman jolted in surprise but complied.

“Shit!” Kayla cursed under her breath. She reached into her robes, pulling out the golden plaque for the Imperial Investigation Bureau and activating its communication function. It connected immediately.

“Tell whoever’s on duty in the Third Prince’s household to confirm His Highness’ safety! Now!” Kayla ordered. She turned it off before someone could reply. Yunqi had gone completely pale, frozen in his seat.

“He-he wouldn’t,” Yunqi said in a small voice, trembling from head to toe as he stared blankly into the distance.

Shit, he’s about to crack. Kayla reached over and grabbed his hand.

“Fifth Cousin, neither of you should be acting so short-sightedly! Do you not remember the nullification talismans that Grandmother gifted to us?! Have you used it yet?”

Yunqi stared at her in shock, startled out of his panic. “That talisman? No, I haven’t.”

“Has Third Cousin?”

“No.”

Kayla nodded. “Exactly. Then the oath doesn’t really matter. It’s only a way of preserving your life until you gain another chance! I should’ve said so earlier, but I assumed you would’ve tacitly understood,” she said. “Come and explain to Third Cousin with me, alright?”

Yunqi nodded, collecting himself. The carriage jolted to a halt, Kayla and Yunqi spilling out before it even came to a full stop. They sprinted into Kuang’s living quarters, stumbling to a stop in the doorway of his study.

Kuang was fuming, a venomous glare fixed on Chen Jian while pointing a sword at the young man’s throat. From the small cut on Kuang’s neck, it was apparent that Kayla’s guess had been correct–Kuang was seeking death over humiliation.

“Chen Jian, I didn’t know you were on duty,” Kayla said as casually as she could. “Good work, you can go now.”

Chen Jian gulped, backing away from the Third Prince while keeping a watchful eye. Yunqi rushed forward immediately, grasping Kuang’s blade with both hands. The sword cut through Yunqi’s palms, but the Fifth Prince didn’t seem to notice.

“Yunqi!” Kuang said in a panicked voice. He hastily lowered the sword, Yunqi loosening his grip in turn. The blade clattered to the floor. Kuang grabbed Yunqi’s hands to check the wounds. Kayla nodded at Chen Jian, who bowed his head and quietly slipped away.

“Your Highness,” Kayla said, handing over a small stack of healing talismans.

“Third Brother, how could you do something so foolish?! Where does that leave me? Where does that leave Sister-in-law and Qian’er?!” Yunqi furiously reproached Kuang, who looked increasingly guilty as he one-sidedly accepted the berating while healing Yunqi’s hands.

“I’m sorry,” Kuang said quietly. “I can’t stop Xianchun from destroying me, but I can at least keep him from destroying my dignity.”

Kayla activated a privacy talisman, stepping in closer with a sigh.

“It is my fault for not explaining clearly,” she said apologetically. “Third Cousin, don’t you still have the nullification talisman from Grandmother?”

Kuang frowned in confusion. “The nullification talisman from Grandmother?”

He lit up as he caught on to her meaning. “The nullification–Wenyuan, you mean–?!”

“The military adores you,” Kayla said. “The less success Xianchun has with them, the more capable you’ll seem in their eyes. Patience, Third Brother. Chong’Er once was left without shelter or food, Qin Shi Huang was once abused as a hostage, and Han Xin was once forced to crawl between a man’s legs. What do these humiliations matter if you can become the victor?”

“I see,” Kuang said, a new fire ablaze in his eyes. “Thank you, Wenyuan. I was a fool. Please tell Xianchun that I humbly accept and will swear the magical oath.”

“Be careful to hide away the talismans,” she warned them. “If you can obtain any more, then please do so. Should I still be alive by then, I may be able to provide more.”

Kuang and Yunqi nodded, not questioning how she would do so. Even with just two, it was enough.

“Thank you,” Yunqi added.

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “There’s no need for thanks, I’m only fulfilling my duty.”

Kayla straightened her head after bowing to Yunqi, and found that the location had changed yet again so that she was now sitting at the Emperor’s bedside.

“So Xianchun’s agreed to spare them…” the Emperor said weakly. “But a magical oath…” He trailed off, sighing.

“They’ve agreed,” Kayla assured him. “It may be difficult for them to get used to at first, but at least their safety will be ensured.”

The Emperor shook his head. “It’s not enough. Xianchun won’t be satisfied with just that, they’ll just become unable to resist if he wants to kill him.”

Kayla’s heart sank. It was true, but not if you also counted in the nullification talismans. She couldn’t say it here, not when there might be Xianchun’s eyes and ears around, so she settled for giving the Emperor’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“It’s not enough…” the Emperor muttered to himself before turning to a eunuch.

“Call the Crown Prince, and the court mage,” the Emperor ordered.

The eunuch scurried off, leaving Kayla to look at the Emperor in confusion.

“Uncle, what are you planning to do?” Kayla asked.

“Xianchun…he’s a monster,” the Emperor said, so quietly it was almost a whisper. “I’m afraid he’ll kill them.”

The Emperor was no longer in any shape to rein Xianchun in, much less to change his decision. There was only so much he could do now. Kayla watched the Emperor, unease curling through her chest.

“Uncle, surely you’re not–” Kayla began. She stopped as the court mage entered, kneeling to greet the Emperor.

“I called you here to prepare a magical oath for the Crown Prince,” the Emperor ordered. Kayla could barely keep her expression still.

The court mage hesitated, going completely pale, but had no choice but to bow and accept the orders.

“Uncle, this isn’t a good idea,” Kayla warned him. With Xianchun’s temper, it would only have the opposite effect. From what she knew, Xianchun also still had his nullification talisman. Even if by some chance he failed to remember its existence, he was the Crown Prince. Finding a nullification mage was no difficult task for a man in his position.

“He needs to be restrained,” the Emperor replied. “This is for the best.”

“I don’t believe that–” Kayla began, cut off by the announcement of Xianchun’s arrival. Kayla’s heart fell, knowing that there was no more she could do. Kayla backed away to the side of the room, bowing politely as Xianchun arrived.

“Father, Xianchun has arrived,” Xianchun greeted the Emperor, kneeling before the bed. The Emperor nodded, before gesturing at Kayla.

No, please don’t, Kayla silently bemoaned his actions. You’re just ensuring me a painful death at this point! She had the fleeting thought of killing herself once the Emperor died. It was sure to be better than dealing with Xianchun’s rage.

Xianchun ground his teeth but greeted Kayla as well. “Advisor,” Xianchun nodded at her.

Kayla bowed in greeting, and Xianchun turned away from her.

“Father, how are you feeling?” Xianchun asked. The Emperor gave him a weary look, disappointment and sadness bleeding into each other.

“Xianchun, I heard that you asked your brothers to take a magical oath,” the Emperor said.

Xianchun shot Kayla a glare before bowing his head toward the Emperor. “It is as you heard, father. Even if Third Brother and Fifth Brother are willing to cooperate with me, their factions are still unruly. I hope that through doing this, the rest of the court will quell any unrealistic hopes they have and cease to cause trouble.”

The Emperor nodded. “Just as well, an Emperor needs to be able to control the court. In any case, that’s not what I called you here for. Xianchun, you’re the Crown Prince now. It won’t do for your mother’s position to remain so low. I want to give your mother the title of Imperial Royal Consort and increase her position in the ancestral temple. What do you think?”

Xianchun lit up at the mention of Consort Chen. “Thank you, father! Mother would surely be deeply grateful if she knew of this!”

The Emperor smiled. “Good, good. If she were here, she would certainly be proud of you.”

Xianchun bowed his head slightly, pleased at the praise.

“Filial piety and fraternal duty are the tenets of a man’s virtue,” the Emperor went on. “Once you’ve ascended to the throne, you must honor your mother as the Empress Dowager.”

Xianchun nodded, not sensing the trap the Emperor was setting.

“I was lucky enough to honor my mother as Empress Dowager for many years, and had the fortune to make Archdukes of my brothers,” the Emperor said. “Who else can you lean on in this cruel world other than your own family? I kept all my brothers alive, even when I was urged to kill them, for I would be the one who was condemned should anything ever happen to them. Xianchun, I worry about you and your brothers.”

Xianchun had stiffened, finally catching on to the conditions of the deal.

“Don’t worry, father. I will be sure to treat my brothers well,” Xianchun assured him.

The Emperor nodded, seeming satisfied. “I’m glad to hear that, Xianchun.” He gestured at the Court Mage, who approached nervously. Xianchun seemed to only just register the mage’s presence, looking at the mage, the Emperor, and then at Kayla with the same disbelieving expression.

“Xianchun, once a great man has given his word, even the strongest horses cannot chase them back,” the Emperor said, the previous sentimentality completely gone from his voice. “Take an oath before me here and now, and swear that you will not harm your brothers.”

Xianchun glared at Kayla furiously. She slowly let out a shaky breath, knowing that there was nothing she could do to fix this.

“Xianchun,” the Emperor prompted, his voice taking on a note of severity. Xianchun swallowed his discontentment and repeated his oath, the mage casting a spell to magically bind him to his promise.

It’s over. Not just for Kayla, but for Kuang and Yunqi as well, but Kayla wouldn’t get to see their endings. It was clear she would not survive the day.

Xianchun forcibly kept his anger under wraps, and the Emperor breathed out a sigh of relief. Worn out, the Emperor soon fell asleep. Xianchun stormed out, the Court Mage scurrying out afterward, shaking from head to toe. Kayla stayed where she was a moment longer before leaving as well.

The eunuchs and serving maids gave her wide-eyed looks that one gives to a man getting dragged to the execution block. Kayla ignored them, heading out of the Inner Palace with slow, steady steps.

She came to a stop at the gates. Xianchun stood in the middle of the path, waiting for her. She watched with a cold numbness as he drew his sword, alight with fury.

“Zhao Wenyuan, you bastard!”

Cultural Notes

人走茶凉/When the person leaves, the tea cools: A Chinese proverb meaning that once someone is out of power, their influence fades.

明知不可为而为之/Knowing that it is impossible but doing it anyways: An Ancient Chinese proverb that serves as an admiration but also a lament for the conviction to do the impossible, usually for the sake of one's ideals or out of loyalty. Originates from a quote from The Analects, the pre-Qin Confucian classic that collects quotes by and regarding Confucius and his students, this was first used to describe Confucius, who attempted to uphold morality and order in a time when the existing social order was devolving into chaos.

成王败寇/The victors are lauded as kings, the defeated are disparaged as bandits: A Chinese proverb often used to refer to transitional struggles between dynasties, usually when several warlords are competing for hegemony, but it can also be used in other contexts. It's the Chinese version of "history is written by the victors". This proverb is broadly used in Chinese vocabulary, and despite popular conceptions that it's from Ancient China, it originated in relatively recent times (between 1900-1950).

太傅/Advisor to the Crown Prince: This was a significant position in the Han Dynasty, but had become a mostly ceremonial position by the Tang Dynasty. However, it holds symbolic and cultural importance, and you'd be hard-pressed to openly disrespect/disregard the Crown Prince's Advisor.

东宫/East Palace: The part of the palace where the Crown Prince resided. While most Imperial Princes had to move out from the palace once they were of age, the Crown Prince had the right to reside within the Inner Palace. As such, allowing a prince to reside in the Inner Palace was a politically significant move. One famous example is Li Shimin, a renowned Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, who preferred one of his other sons (Li Tai) over the Crown Prince and had Li Tai move into the palace with the excuse that "he's too fat, it's difficult for him to walk such far distances". Remember that being of a sturdy build was not a bad thing in the Tang Dynasty, but still, what kind of excuse is that?

残害手足/Brutalize and harm one's hands and feet: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to harm one's siblings. One's brothers were often described as one's 手足/hands and feet, meaning that your siblings are just as important as parts of your body.

子曰：君子不以人举言，不以人废言/Confucius said: A great man does not promote a man solely based on what he said, nor does he reject advice solely because of the man who said it: An Ancient Chinese proverb that essentially means to think critically about what is said, and not be blinded by who said it.

士可杀不可辱/A man can be killed but not humiliated: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

让我静一静/Let me quiet down for a bit: A common Chinese saying that serves as a polite way of telling someone to leave you alone.

寻短见/Search for short-sighted [path]: A Chinese phrase meaning to (short-sightedly) choose death/attempt suicide.

重耳/Chong'Er: A ruler of the pre-Qin kingdom of Jin, he became ruler at over sixty years old after years of political strife that forced him into exile. As the legend goes, he once became so impoverished that he nearly starved to death, but one of his loyal retainers cut off a piece of his own thigh to feed Chong'Er.

秦始皇质于赵/Qin Shi Huang as a hostage in Zhao: Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, was born in the Kingdom of Zhao rather than in his ancestral homeland of Qin, as his father was living in Zhao as a hostage. Later, his father fled back to Qin, but left Qin Shi Huang and his mother behind in Zhao to remain as hostages.

韩信受胯下之辱/Han Xin's humiliation of [having to] crawl between a man's legs: Han Xin was one of the greatest generals of the late-Qin/early-Han period, and played a crucial role in founding the Han Dynasty. As a youth living under the Qin dynasty, Han Xin buried himself in learning military strategy rather than finding a job, and went about with a few books and a sword. Since he was broke, old fisherwomen often took pity on him and gave him some of their food. Once, a local thug taunted Han Xin and forced Han Xin to either kill him on the spot (which would subject him to execution regardless of circumstances under the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty), or crawl between his legs. Han Xin chose the humiliation of the latter, but in doing so, kept his life in order to become one of the most revered military strategists and generals of Chinese history.

追封/Posthumously [give a] title: An Ancient Chinese practice in which someone who had already died was granted additional titles/honors after their passing.

孝悌/Filial piety and Fraternal love/duty: These two virtues were extremely important in Ancient China, and while the latter is less important than the prior, they tended to go hand-in-hand with each other.

君子一言驷马难追/Once a great man's words are spoken, even the strongest horses cannot chase them back: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that a great man cannot go back on his word.

94-Paths of the Future (Part II)

Character Index

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, he became the Crown Prince three years into the future and was forced to swear a magical oath to refrain from killing Kuang and Yunqi.

Yu Bianfu: A female General and Xianchun's childhood friend, she returned to the capital three years into the future after Xianchun had become the Crown Prince.

Chen Jian: A young Imperial Investigator, he remained staunchly on Kayla's side three years into the future.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, he lost the succession struggle to Xianchun three years into the future and was forced to take a magical oath of subservience.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, after supporting Kuang, he was forced to take a magical oath of subservience three years into the future.

Wise Consort: The mother of Zhou Yunqi.

Noble Consort: The mother of Zhou Kuang.

Chen Caichun: The younger sister of Chen Jian, she became a fifth-rank official thanks to Kayla's recommendation, but lost her position after Kayla's fall from power in the future.

Feng Yi: A man who was tricked into acting as a red herring for Xianchun's other spies when he was down on his luck, he later helped Kayla drive a wedge between Xianchun and Liu Boyue in order to repay her mercifulness. Kayla later helped him leave the capital safely, with a large sum of money to help him settle down in another city.

Lady Lin: A divination mage who exchanged her eyes for her powers and years off her life to see into Kayla's future.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: The rightful heir to the Liang household as the youngest but only surviving legitimate son (born by a wife and not a concubine) to the late Lord Liang, his position was usurped by Minister Liang. Hu Qing left the Liang household after his relationship with Minister Liang began to deteriorate and went to work for Kayla. Three years into the future, he was living in the Northern prairies with Kayla, but was warned against following her back to the capital.

Minister Liang: Hu Qing's older half-brother and the Minister of Justice, one of Xianchun's supporters.

Li Que: A Senior Investigator in the Imperial Investigation Bureau, he has been quietly supporting Kayla.

Tabuyir: A Senior Investigator in the Imperial Investigation Bureau, descended from the steppe tribes of the Northwest.

Kayla looked at Xianchun’s livid expression and the blade that was now pointed at her neck. Letting out a slow and shuddering breath, Kayla resignedly closed her eyes, steeling herself for the blow.

For some reason, that made Xianchun stop still. Kayla opened her eyes again, looking at him in confusion. Xianchun’s rage was now mingled with a conflicted expression.

“You bastard–you trapped me into taking a magical oath, do you think that could stop me?!” Xianchun demanded.

“I advised the Emperor against it,” Kayla said.

“Liar! This is exactly what you were planning for!”

Kayla let out a shaky sigh, lowering her head in resignation. “Why would I do such a thing? I know all too well that such an oath would only anger you further.”

Xianchun let out a bark of laughter, his eyes glinting with mockery. “Don’t pretend that you’re thinking for my sake!”

The more I try to argue, the worse the outcome.

“I would not,” Kayla replied. “I worried it would anger you, but not for your sake. Your Highness is the heir to the throne, the second-most-powerful man in the entire empire. What use would you have for the concern of a dead man walking? I feared it would provoke you into impulsive action, and now my worries only grow stronger.”

That answer evidently did not satisfy Xianchun.

His eyes narrowed, the sword pressing closer to Kayla’s neck.

“Of course,” he hissed, even angrier than before. “What on earth could I possibly expect from you?”

Kayla stared at him in disbelief. What’s wrong with him?! Just what does he want me to say?!

“It is not for lack of heart, but lack of ability that I do not dare to think for your sake,” Kayla said carefully. The next words seemed to come out without her bidding, taking on a life of their own. “Even when I expended every effort I could give, I am incapable of helping Your Highness in any way. I killed my grandfather for your sake but only earned your hatred. There’s nothing more that can be asked of me beyond what has already been given, my prince.”

Xianchun froze at her words. “What?”

Kayla drew in a deep breath. She had no idea if the information would improve her situation at all, but there was no point holding on to that card if she wouldn't be alive to use it.

“I killed the Grand Duke,” she repeated. “For your sake.”

“You’re lying!” The blade pressed against her throat until it drew blood. Kayla wordlessly stared at Xianchun, unable to summon a plea or protest.

“My prince!” A familiar woman in armor rushed over, hastily pulling Xianchun’s sword away. “My prince, you can’t kill him like this, there are too many eyes!”

So you can kill me if there aren’t any eyes on you? No, even if that’s true, how can you shout it out loud like this? At least there was no longer a blade at her neck.

Yu Bianfu had grown tanner and more experienced in her years at the Southwest, and now sported the air of certainty common to older military officers. However, that evidently hadn’t done much for her tactlessness.

“It is as General Yu says, my prince. In any case, you will have your opportunity soon enough. Zhao Wenyuan will not run or hide,” Kayla said. She had nowhere to run to, nor anywhere to hide.

Xianchun allowed Yu Bianfu to pull him away, and Kayla bowed at the Crown Prince before leaving without another word. Seething, Xianchun shook off Yu Bianfu’s grip.

“Put him under house arrest!” Xianchun shouted after Kayla. “Zhao Wenyuan is not to take a single step outside of his rooms without my permission!”

Two guards jogged over to flank Kayla, grabbing her by the arms. She didn’t resist as they dragged her away.

Kayla blinked, and Chen Jian was standing before her in a small, unfamiliar room. She rubbed at her eyes, finding herself on a hard, narrow bed. The furniture was covered with a thin layer of dust, and the high, tiny windows were covered with filth.

This must be where I’m confined, Kayla realized. This isn’t even house arrest, it’s just straight-up imprisonment.

If her situation was this bad, then Kuang and Yunqi probably weren’t faring too much better.

She glanced at Chen Jian, taking in his stricken expression.

Oh no. Fuck. I fucking knew it, Xianchun would have considered clemency before, but once his pride has been wounded, then there’s no way out.

“My lord,” Chen Jian said in a trembling voice. “The Third Prince…he…”

Looking closer, there were tears on his face. Kayla’s heart fell.

Damn it, Kuang. Why didn’t you use the nullification talisman? You could’ve run, you should’ve run!

“So Xianchun killed him after all,” Kayla said, her voice coming out hoarsely. There was a dull pain in her heart not unlike the feeling of watching a star blaze across the sky to its destruction, helpless to do anything but offer empty laments.

Chen Jian wiped at the moisture on his face, his eyes already brimming with more tears.

“The Crown Prince, he-he wrote a decree ordering the Noble Consort and Wise Consort to follow the Emperor in death,” Chen Jian said in a small voice. “He couldn’t hurt his brothers, but …”

He trailed off, his voice choking. Chen Jian shook his head, forcibly collecting himself.

“The Third Prince didn’t have any options left, so when the palace sent him poisoned wine, he willingly drank it. His Highness called me over and asked me to bring a message to you before he passed away.”

“What did he say?” Kayla asked. Her voice wavered, and she belatedly realized she was crying.

“He asked you to protect his family,” Chen Jian replied.

I know that even if he doesn’t say it, but how? What could you expect me to do?

“Did Xianchun retract his decree?” Kayla asked instead.

Chen Jian shook his head. “He did, but the Noble Consort hung herself in despair.”

Kayla let out a shuddering breath, feeling more helpless than ever before.

“Chen Jian, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t even leave this place,” Kayla said.

“They can’t do this to you, my lord!” Chen Jian protested.

Kayla shook her head. “There’s no longer anything I can do for them. The only path to survival is for them to leave the country. Chen Jian, if it’s possible, please smuggle them out.”

Chen Jian nodded. “Caichun’s husband often goes to the Khaganate for trade. Perhaps he can help.”

“Can we trust him?”

“Feng Yi’s a good man,” Chen Jian replied. “If he knows it was your wish, he will see it through no matter what.”

“That’s a relief,” Kayla said quietly. “Caichun…will she be alright with it? I already dragged her down once.”

“Please don’t say that! She would be more than happy to help you,” Chen Jian assured her.

Kayla nodded resignedly. There wasn’t a second option but to endanger them.

“Please pass along my well-wishes for Caichun and Feng Yi. The Third Princess Consort and the Fifth Prince will need to fake their deaths, and so will Chengqian,” Kayla said heavily. “It wouldn’t be strange if they died in an accidental fire while burning incense for the Third Prince, would it? Prepare three corpses of similar height and bone structure, and make sure that no word of this is leaked.”

Kuang was the greatest threat to Xianchun, but so long as Yunqi remained, then the Third Prince’s faction still had the smallest shred of hope. But as long as Yunqi was "dead", then even that hope would fall away into ashes. No matter how suspicious the circumstances of their deaths were, Xianchun wouldn't press the matter when he had so much to gain from it.

It didn’t even have to be believable. They just needed to give Xianchun a stair to step down on, and a scapegoat to take out his anger on. The fire would serve the prior function, and Kayla would fulfill the latter.

Chen Jian nodded slowly. “I’ll ask Investigator Tabuyir for help,” he promised, eyes lighting up with hope.

“If you can get in touch with Hu Qing, he can also assist you. We have friends up North among the steppe tribes,” Kayla said. “If the Western borders don’t work out, the North will also do.”

“Then what about you, my lord?” Chen Jian asked.

Kayla shook her head in resignation. “I was done for before I even got here. Don’t worry about me, this is just the fate I had in store.”

“Let me help you escape,” Chen Jian insisted.

She couldn’t help but let out a weary sigh.

“Xianchun won’t allow that to happen,” Kayla replied. “Plus, you’ll need a distraction, and Xianchun will need an outlet for his anger.”

Chen Jian looked at her nervously.

“My lord, surely you don’t mean–”

Kayla gave him a resigned smile. Xianchun might let Yunqi steal away, but he would never forgive “Zhao Wenyuan”. If Kayla were also to disappear, Xianchun would pursue them to the ends of the earth, and then none of them would even have a chance at survival. There weren’t any options left, but she could at least make the choice herself rather than leave it in the hands of a furious prince.

“Everyone has their own fate," Kayla said calmly. "I've accepted mine."

"My lord!" Chen Jian protested. "Surely there's a way out of this?"

"My path is a dead end no matter what," Kayla replied. "You should just focus on helping them escape."

"But the Crown Prince will direct his fury at you! How can I leave you at his mercy? You know how ruthless he is!"

Kayla took a deep breath, glancing up at the room beams a few feet above her.

"Can you get me a length of white silk?”

Chen Jian drew his breath in sharply, and Kayla carefully did not meet his eyes. After a moment of shocked silence, Chen Jian closed his eyes in grief, steeling himself to reply.

“I’ll obtain it for you, my lord,” he said.

It took Kayla a long moment to gather herself.

“Thank you.”

The small room faded away, and Kayla blinked several times in succession, trying to clear away the last vestiges of the vision. She was lying on her side, cheek pressed to the cold stone floor of the cave, only a few inches away from the pool of vomit. Disgust and confusion mingled in her chest. Kayla gingerly picked herself up from the ground, trying not to freak out. She failed.

“What the fuck?!” Kayla demanded, reverting back to English in disbelief. The words came out as gibberish. Kayla winced, her entire body aching.

“You’re experiencing some side effects of the divination magic,” Lady Lin informed her. The blind mage pushed forward a cup of dark liquid. “Drink this, it’ll make you feel better.”

Kayla picked it up with wooden fingers, barely managing to bring it to her lips. Her body coordination wasn’t working, and a good portion of the medicine spilled on her robes instead of making it into her stomach. The only good thing was that she couldn’t taste or smell the medicine at all.

After a few moments, Kayla began to regain her motor functions.

“What the fuck was that?!” Kayla demanded, the words forming properly this time.

“Your future,” the mage replied.

“I hang myself?! What kind of ending is that?!” Kayla demanded.

“It is better than what otherwise would have been. The Fifth Prince escapes with the Third Prince’s family, and the Seventh Prince is less heavy-handed than he was in the original timeline. After his death, the Fifth Prince returns to place Chenqian on the throne, and the dynasty avoids being split into two,” Lady Lin replied.

“I die! The Third Prince dies!” Kayla shouted. “Even after everything I do, that’s what happens?!”

“You didn’t do enough,” Lady Lin replied, infuriatingly calm.

Kayla let out a string of curses, burying her face into her hands.

“Is that really the future?”

“It is one of the futures,” Lady Lin explained. “The future is a many-fragmented thing, and many different possibilities simultaneously exist until they disappear one by one to form a new path. You, for example, have several different paths. The first is what I’ve shown you. You hang yourself, your death serving a greater purpose. The second most likely path is that Liu Boyue poisons you, and you die quietly without accomplishing anything. Both the Third and Fifth Prince are forced to commit suicide afterward, and events align with the original timeline.”

“Are you saying that hanging myself was the good ending?!”

“There are other paths,” Lady Lin said levelly. “In one, the Seventh Prince kills the Fifth Prince before he can escape, but Cao Shuyi and Chengqian successfully flee the capital, and eventually rebel, seizing power while the Seventh Prince is on his deathbed. In another, the Seventh Prince chooses mercy, but his allies and supporters kill the Fifth Prince and Cao Shuyi in order to curry favor. Chengqian still rebels successfully after escaping with Chen Jian’s help.”

“Oh my god,” Kayla groaned. “And I die in all of them, don’t I?”

Lady Lin continued on, ignoring Kayla’s question.

“In another path, Liu Boyue and Yu Bianfu work together to poison you but are discovered by the Seventh Prince after your death. He alienates them and works himself to death without leaving an heir. Chengqian still becomes Emperor.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Lady Lin ignored Kayla’s outburst. “There is a path where the Seventh Prince is the one to kill you. He walks in on you cursing his heartlessness, having originally intended to grant you a pardon, and kills you in a fit of rage.”

“And?! Isn’t there one in which I don’t kill myself or get killed?!” Kayla demanded.

“You need rest,” Lady Lin said, ignoring Kayla’s question altogether. “Any further answers you seek will be found tomorrow.”

“Wait, hold on,” Kayla protested, but the blind mage got up and walked past her without another word. Kayla was left alone in the cave, questioning every single decision she had made within all twenty-five years of her life.

“Oh my god,” Kayla groaned into her hands. The words were swallowed by the darkness of the cave. After what might’ve been a moment or an hour of quiet despair, a familiar voice shattered the silence.

“My lord, are you alright?!” Hu Qing’s voice rang out from the cave entrance, its echoes bouncing around the walls. Kayla turned towards him and made a vague gesture to show that she was very much alive and kicking.

Hu Qing’s face fell as he took in Kayla’s expression.

“You look like you could use some rest.” Hu Qing reached down and grabbed Kayla’s hand, effortlessly pulling her up. Kayla’s limbs were stiff, and she winced at the pins and needles in her arms and legs. Seeing her gingerly shift her weight from foot to foot, Hu Qing let out an exasperated sigh.

“Here, I’ll carry you,” Hu Qing said, turning away and squatting down. “Get on my back.”

Kayla opened her mouth to argue, but couldn’t form a coherent refusal. She obediently got on and let Hu Qing carry her out of the cave.

“Let me down if we’re heading uphill,” Kayla said. Hu Qing started up the mountain towards their lodging without any sign of stopping.

“Don’t worry. Your body weight is approximately equal to two and a half branches, it’s no bother to me,” Hu Qing said lightly. Indeed, his pace remained steady and quick despite the steep incline.

After a long moment, Hu Qing finally asked his question. “Did that mage do anything to you?”

“No, the spell just has some side effects,” Kayla replied. Hu Qing fell quiet for a moment before continuing.

“Should we prepare to return? We can leave in the morning,” he offered. “We can go somewhere else, we don’t have to stay here. If it’s giving your godfather face, then you’ve already done so by meeting her.”

Kayla briefly considered it. She felt emotionally and physically drained and wasn’t even sure it would be worth it to go through it again, especially when Lady Lin was adamantly insisting that each outcome resulted in Kayla’s death.

But this wasn’t a chance she could let go of.

I still need to ask her how to avoid my death.

“No,” Kayla said heavily. “I’ll go meet her again tomorrow.”

“If you say so. Do you want me to go with you?”

“Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” Kayla replied. “There are things I need to discuss with her in private.”

“Alright then.” Hu Qing completed the rest of the trek in silence. After returning to the lodge, Kayla headed straight to her room. She washed off her face and chugged some water before collapsing on her bed, exhaustion dragging her into the lull of sleep. Kayla vaguely heard Hu Qing offering her food and muttered a refusal before sinking into a deep and dreamless slumber.

In the Ministry of Justice, secretaries and guards hastily scurried away from the Minister’s office. As a highly-educated man of elegant bearing, Minister Liang rarely raised his voice in public, but now they could hear his unintelligible shouting from all the way down the hall.

If a good man was pushed to anger, it was definitely not going to be pretty. With the privacy spells in the office, they couldn’t tell what the exact problem was. But if Minister Liang was this upset, then it wasn’t a small matter that would blow over easily. Not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, everyone quickly got as far away as they could from whatever the hell was going on.

“Sun Ruhui! Just what the hell do you think you’re saying?!” Minister Liang roared.

The man in question bowed his head slightly, calmer than a still pond.

“Minister, it was not my intention to upset you so,” Sun Ruhui replied, having intended this exact effect. “All I said was that the geese fly into the distant skies, and the hunter is helpless to capture them. If you wanted to ask Hu Qing about what happened in the Zhao household, then you have missed your chance. Just what about my words is so offensive to you?”

Minister Liang glared at him, absolutely livid. Sun Ruhui was Zhao Wenyuan’s man, and Zhao Wenyuan’s retainer was Hu Qing. It was impossible that Sun Ruhui was bringing up an obscure proverb for no reason, especially when it contained the characters for Hu Qing’s given name of Hongfei. If Sun Ruhui knew Hu Qing was really Liang Hongfei, then it was obvious that he knew about Minister Liang's usurpation.

“You–just what are you trying to do?!” Minister Liang snarled.

“Please calm yourself, Minister. How could a metaphor be worth such rage? Even the vastness of the sky and earth is but a small fragment of the universe, much less the misuse of a proverb,” Sun Ruhui cajoled him, stressing the last words of the idiom.

Minister Liang’s reared back, his nostrils flaring. “You even know his courtesy name?!”

Sun Ruhui stopped playing ignorant. “Hu Qing is my colleague, is it so strange that I should know of it? But you were the one to bring him up, not me. Taixu, the universe. Your younger brother’s courtesy name really encompasses far too much for me to avoid his namesake at every turn. I apologize for any discourtesies in the future as well.”

“Why go in such circles to bring up that man?! He’s but an illegitimate son, what on earth does he have to do with the Ji Fangluo case?!"

"I simply don't understand why you're suddenly pushing forward Ji Fangluo's case so forcefully when we haven't even investigated sufficiently," Sun Ruhui replied.

"You're not even on this case! Ji Fangluo's case is under my jurisdiction, what right do you have to interfere?"

"I only wish to ask you to reconsider," Sun Ruhui said. "I didn't mean to bring up your younger brother's name, it was merely a coincidence."

Minister Liang's face went through several different shades of red at the mention of Hu Qing's relationship with him. "Are you trying to blackmail me now?!”

Sun Ruhui let out a soft sigh. “It is just as I feared, even a man as gentle-tempered as you loses control when his weakness is exposed. Minister, you accuse me of blackmailing you over your brother’s illegitimate status, but rather, aren’t you the one who has illegally usurped his position?”

Minister Liang went ghostly pale. “How dare you! I never did such a thing! As the eldest surviving son, I am legally and rightfully the head of the Liang clan, how could you accuse me like this?! You-you-this is slander!”

Sun Ruhui continued on, ignoring Minister Liang. “Minister, at risk of insulting you, it is quite obvious that your younger brother was meant to be the heir. The late Lord Liang named him as one would a di son of a prominent clan, with the grand and soaring name of Liang Hongfei, and a courtesy name of Taixu. Not only did he wish for Hu Qing to rise above danger as geese fly away from the hunter, but he also encompassed the vastness of the universe in Hu Qing’s courtesy name. On the other hand, your name…”

Minister Liang slammed his hand down onto the table forcefully, his face red with humiliation. “Enough! You insolent bastard, how dare you!”

Sun Ruhui went on as though he hadn’t heard Minister Liang’s outburst. “Your name is Liang Shen, after the hour of the afternoon in which you were born. Your courtesy name is Zi Jing, after your still and quiet demeanor. It is the thoughtless kind of name that one gives to the son of an unfavored concubine, not to a potential heir. And undeniably, is that not how your father named the other sons he had by concubines? Other than your first brother and third brother who were born by his first wife–”

He was cut off by the inkstone flying at his face. Sun Ruhui dodged, his reflexes quick from years of working as a County Magistrate.

“So what if I’m the son of a concubine?! My older brothers are all dead, regardless of whether they were born by my father’s wife or his concubines! Even if she wasn’t a formal wife, my mother was from a scholar’s family, from a clan that produced at least one official in every generation! I’m far from being illegible by reason of my status. Hu Qing, he’s the son of a courtesan! He's the one who doesn’t have the qualifications to lead the clan! Even if my father favored that courtesan in his late years, what does any of that matter? She never got rid of her second-class status, and by law, a courtesan’s status is passed onto her children!”

Sun Ruhui pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and unrolled it, showing the contents to Minister Liang.

“I have here a copy of the records from the local office at which her status as a courtesan was formally expunged. Do you not recognize your father’s handwriting? He’s the one who paid the legal fees,” Sun Ruhui replied. “This dates far earlier than the falsified document you produced after her death.”

“How can you possibly have that document?!” Minister Liang demanded.

“You bribed the record keeper in the capital to change her status in the aggregated national census, but you forgot that all records are kept in their local archives after the paperwork is sent to the central government,” Sun Ruhui said. “The records at the town level and at the provincial level have been gathering dust in the archives all these years. Isn’t it a good thing that I was the one to find it and not someone else?”

“Bastard! What do you want from me?!”

“I have no intention of using this against you,” Sun Ruhui said. “Your victim is the one who has the right to decide what to do, and he neither wishes to usurp you nor to harm your reputation. This is just a warning so that you do not change your behavior the moment Minister Zhao has stepped away.”

“That ungrateful brat–I was the one who raised him! I made sure he ate well and dressed well, that he was given affection, that he was educated! Now you turn my years of effort upon me and call him my victim?! Even if he’s my younger brother, I’ve practically taken care of him as I would my own son!” Minister Liang’s voice took on a wounded note, eliciting a look of shock from Sun Ruhui.

“As your own son? Minister Liang, I can understand your feelings of resentment and jealousy, but you would be going too far if you turned around and acted as though you were being virtuous,” Sun Ruhui said.

“What?! I raised a courtesan’s child as though he were the son of a prominent clan, and you accuse me of mistreating him out of jealousy? Your words spray blood upon my reputation!”

“He is the son of a prominent clan. You may have raised him, but did you educate him as befitting of his station? Or did you withhold that from him so that he would not pose a threat to your own son? You cannot possibly claim to have done right by him and your late father’s wishes!” Sun Ruhui shot back. Minister Liang angrily knocked a pile of scrolls off his desk.

“I have already done more for him than most people would! What on earth could you expect of me?! Should I have handed the reins to a toddler at a time when the clan was in such shambles? I’ve done my best to treat him kindly!”

“Indeed, given your situation, I can imagine how difficult it must have been,” Sun Ruhui said, softening his approach. “Your father had gone around treating his concubines' children so half-heartedly, even though their mothers were from the families of his political allies, but put so much thought and care into the child of a courtesan. But no matter how understandable your actions are, your enemies will only emphasize the illegitimacy of your position, never the difficulties behind your choices. We’re willing to cover this up for you, not just for your sake, but also for that of our friend, Hu Qing. But you should also consider his position. Hu Qing serves Minister Zhao now, and shares in his fate. If anything were to happen to the master, so the damage would be passed onto the retainer. Even if it were for his sake, you ought to act carefully.”

Minister Liang went still, breathing heavily as guilt began to mix into his anger.

“I’ll be keeping this scroll with me for the time being,” Sun Ruhui said, slipping the record back into his sleeve. “I’ll take my leave of you now, Minister.”

He bowed and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Minister Liang remained where he was for a moment before sinking into a chair. He ran a hand over his face, muffling his groan.

“That bastard…” Minister Liang muttered under his breath. His glare grew unfocused, a mess of thoughts clouding his mind.

“Father, you really…why did you have to leave me such a mess?” Minister Liang said softly. He gave an aggrieved sigh, an old hurt resurging in his chest.

His Sixth Brother had been named Liang Bailu, after the weather on the day he was born, and given the courtesy name of “normal”, Zi Fan. When it came to his Seventh Brother, the late Lord Liang had been even more careless, naming the infant Liang Shu after the hour he was born, giving him the courtesy name of “humble”, Zi Qian. By the time it was his turn, Liang Shen only received an off-hand set of names from his father after his mother had pleaded for them tearfully.

“All of us were so insignificant to him,” Liang Shen said out loud, turning his eyes to the ceiling and the night beyond. “Only you, Hongfei…you were the only one…”

He trailed off, shaking his head in resignment as he moved to pick up the scrolls on the ground.

The next morning, Kayla was awakened by the sunlight pouring into the room from the cracks in the curtains. She could barely get her eyes to open, her exhaustion still hanging heavily over her shoulders like a weighted mantle.

Kayla reluctantly headed back to the cave after refusing Hu Qing’s offer of breakfast. Hu Qing looked as though he wanted to say something, but only silently accompanied her down the mountain.

“You’re back,” Lady Lin said as Kayla entered the cave. She was already in her seat, the cloth over her eyes having been removed. Kayla stared into the empty sockets, letting out a sigh.

“I couldn’t leave without getting the information I need,” Kayla said wearily. “You said you would answer my questions today.”

“All of your questions lead to the same answer,” the mage replied. She quickly continued before Kayla could protest. “Your fate, the Imperial Princess’ death, the future of this country, and why you were brought to this world, all of them are tightly interlinked. If you wish to know one, you must learn all.”

Kayla grit her teeth. “Fine, then let’s hear it.”

“The future is a fragmented thing,” Lady Lin said. “There are many paths you have yet to learn of.”

Kayla wasn’t sure she even wanted to explore them. The feeling of helplessness and despair from yesterday was still lingering in her chest.

“Is there a future in which I don’t get killed or end up killing myself under house arrest?” Kayla asked desperately.

“Yes.”

Kayla lit up at the answer. “What do I have to do?”

“You gouge your eye out to convince the Seventh Prince of your sincerity,” Lady Lin said calmly.

Kayla’s jaw dropped. “I-what?! Why?! Why would I do that?!”

Lady Lin raised a hand, and the cave was plunged into darkness without warning.

“Wait, hold on! I didn’t say I wanted to–” Kayla protested in alarm, a second too late to stop the magic from taking effect.

The searing pain and wave of nausea were just as bad as they had been the day before, accompanied by the same flickering scenes that gradually enveloped her senses.

Kayla found herself huddled in a corner, shaking from head to toe with blood splattered on her face. Li Que knelt before her, blocking the rest of the room from her vision.

“It’s alright, my lord,” he said in a low voice. “It’ll be fine.”

Kayla scrunched her face up in confusion and tried to peer around his bulky frame. Li Que hastily shifted to block her view, but the bloody figure on the ground answered her questions. A vague memory popped into her mind of Xianchun killing one of Wenyuan’s female cousins, a woman who had stayed hidden after the extermination of the Zhao clan until being exposed by someone who wanted to curry favor with the Crown Prince.

“My lord, we should leave this place,” Li Que insisted. Kayla nodded and followed him out, taking another peek at the body on the ground. Kayla had never met the woman, and Wenyuan had only seen her once or twice before she was married off to Jiangsu. The woman’s eyes were still wide open, blank and glassy in her bloodied face. Kayla felt another wave of nausea, and couldn’t tell if it was her reaction to the spell or to the situation.

Li Que grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the room. Kayla stumbled across the threshold and found herself standing among a group of Investigators. She recognized Li Que, Tabuyir, and Chen Jian, as well as a few faces she had seen before.

“I didn’t manage to say anything last time, with my cousin’s death and all,” Kayla said, the words coming out mechanically. Utterly confused, Kayla allowed her body to operate on an auto-pilot.

“Sir, you need to act cautiously,” Tabuyir warned her. “If you can’t speak safely, it’s better to say nothing at all.”

“I agree,” Li Que chimed in. “Wouldn’t it be better to send a messenger?”

Kayla shook her head. “If I send a messenger, he’ll think I’m looking down on him.”

The group fell silent, knowing that she was right.

“Please be careful,” Chen Jian emphasized. “I have a bad feeling about this, if it is at all possible for you to avoid meeting with him, you should do so.”

“Don’t say useless things,” Li Que chided him. At this point, Kayla had no other choice left but to go and petition Xianchun in person, saying things that increase her anxiety would only lessen her chances of survival.

“It’s alright, I know you all mean well,” Kayla said, sincerely meaning it.

“I’m sorry we can’t do more,” Tabuyir said. “Please, act with utmost caution.”

“I will,” Kayla promised. She nodded at each of them in turn and stepped away.

Kayla turned to leave. When she came to a stop, she found herself standing in the East Palace again. A serving maid was holding a goblet out to Kayla, the girl’s face bowed towards the floor with the drink raised respectfully.

Kayla glanced forward, catching sight of Xianchun’s cold glare.

“Well, go on then. What are you waiting for?” Xianchun demanded. “Drink it!”

Cultural Notes

有心无力/Have the heart but not the ability: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to want to help someone but to be helpless to do so.

一人之下万人之上/Below one person and above tens of thousands: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to extremely powerful positions, usually that of Crown Prince, Prime Minister, Great General/Grand Commander, or Regent. The "ten thousand" here is a generalized marker to refer to a lot of people/the country's population.

牵连/Drag down [by your ties]: An Ancient Chinese term literally meaning to drag down via strings, aka the "net" of kinship or relations. As an official sponsored by Kayla, Caichun would definitely lose her position the second Kayla lost power. Not only would she lose her job, but it would also become difficult for Caichun to find a husband since most people would be afraid of getting dragged down by her. It would depend on if someone were willing to do her a "favor" by allowing her to become a normal civilian again by marrying and settling into the traditional role of a wife, rather than leaving her in the politically precarious position of a "female official stripped of her position". In Chen Caichun's case, the timid but loyal Feng Yi was willing to do Kayla this favor by marrying Caichun when no one else would, hence why Chen Jian finds him a good person even though Feng Yi is much older than Caichun.

陪葬/To be buried with the dead: It wasn't unusual for rulers in various Ancient cultures to be accompanied in death by their wives/loyal followers/etc., who were usually compelled to or willingly committed suicide in order to follow their rulers. In Ancient China, many Emperors would decree that their favorite concubines be buried alongside them, while in other cases, a newly coronated Emperor would get rid of the political challenges that his stepmothers' families posed (especially if they had sons) by forcing them to commit suicide and be buried with the Emperor.

赐鸩酒/Gifting poisoned wine: An Ancient Chinese practice of forcing a subject to kill themselves, it was considered a more "dignified" manner of death than getting publicly executed. The general practice is to use "鸩酒”, a specific type of poisoned wine that usually takes longer, usually taking between an hour to half a day to kill someone, but is more or less guaranteed to kill them. This was important because if you gave someone poisoned wine and they survived, it was considered the will of the heavens that they survived, and it was unlucky to try to poison them a second time.

自有天命/[Everyone] has their own fate: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

三尺白绫/Three-meter [length of] white silk: Another method of committing suicide or forced suicide through relatively "dignified" means by hanging oneself with a length of silk. The silk didn't actually have to be three meters long, as long as it was long enough to do the job, it fell under this category. Usually "bequeathed" upon officials or concubines by the Emperor. Most famously, one of the four great beauties in Chinese history, Royal Consort Yang of the Tang Dynasty, was forced to commit suicide in this fashion after a coup.

(Long story short: The Emperor neglected court affairs, which resulted in a rebellion, after which the Emperor fled the capital with Consort Yang. His Imperial Guards blamed Consort Yang's beauty for the Emperor's dereliction of duties and refused to protect him any further if Consort Yang remained alive. The Emperor chose his life over his wife and gifted Consort Yang three meters of white silk for her to hang herself. Consort Yang's pitiful tale is often a source of lament in poems and folktales alike.)

嫡庶/Dishu system of inheritance: The legal system of inheritance in Ancient China, in which the di son, or the son of the wife, is the legitimate heir, while the shu son, born of the concubine, is not a legitimate heir unless there are no di sons. Though Hu Qing's mother was a courtesan, she was the late Lord Liang's wife and not a concubine.

Names in Ancient China: For most educated families, a child's name and courtesy name were a rather important affair. From a person's name, you can also tell what their parents hoped for them, or how much effort/thought was put into their names. A person's courtesy name also had similar functions. Naming your kid after the hour/day they were born is something a farmer's family would do, and for a child born in a prominent clan to be named that way, you can instantly tell from their self-introduction that they weren't favored by their parents. Given his name and courtesy name, that is why Minister Liang is always referred to by his title, even by his friends.

鸿飞冥冥，弋人何篡焉/The geese fly into the distant skies, how can the hunter catch them?: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to rise above the danger and escape from your trappings. Hu Qing's given name Liang Hongfei originates from the first two words of this proverb.

天地大者也，在太虚中一物耳/Even the vastness of the sky and earth is but a small fragment of the universe: An Ancient Chinese idiom, it uses a rather niche term for the universe, 太虚/Taixu.

太虚/Taixu: An Ancient Chinese concept that originates from Daoist philosophy, it can be understood to mean primordial spacetime, or more commonly, to refer to the vastness of the universe. Quite a grand courtesy name, even by the standards of the Tang Dynasty, which had a flair for dramatic names.

申时/Hour of Shen: Under Ancient Chinese time-keeping systems, the day was split into 12 "hours" (aka, 2 hours each), which were then split into sections of about fifteen minutes each. The hour of Shen equals 3 to 5 pm in modern time.

子静/Zi Jing: A courtesy name that literally means "quiet/silent". Usually, courtesy names are expected to be related to one's given name, which was not the case for Minister Liang and his other shu brothers.

书香门第/Book-scented household: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a household of scholars but not necessarily officials (aka you have enough money to study, but your family doesn't necessarily need to have someone who passed the Imperial Examination in every single generation).

贱籍/Lowly status: Refers to second-class status under the law in Ancient China, usually for criminals and courtesans, this could be inherited by your children unless you went through a difficult process of expunging your status.

从良/Becoming "good": An Ancient Chinese term referring to expunging one's second-class status, usually referring to "reformed" courtesans.

血口喷人/Spray someone with a bloody mouth: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to slander someone and damage their reputation.

白露/Bailu/White Dew: A term for a specific date of the year in Ancient China, where the four seasons were further split into 24 individual mini-sections that corresponded with agricultural cycles. White Dew refers to the date upon which the dew grows white, reflecting the drop in temperature.

子凡/Zi Fan: A courtesy name that literally means "normal" or "average", not exactly a flattering courtesy name unless it was paired with a given name that elevates its meaning.

戍时/Hour of Shu: Between 7 pm to 9 pm.

子谦/Zi Qian: A courtesy name meaning "humble". When paired with the name of "Shu" after the "hour of Shu", you can tell immediately that this was not a favored child.

江苏/Jiangsu: A geographic region in China that has historically been a center of commerce and culture, the women there are known for their beauty and embroidery skills, and the region is known for producing silk and rice.

95-Returning to the Capital

Character Index

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and former main character, Kayla comes to see the actual consequences of his canonical ruthlessness in her vision of the future.

Yu Bianfu: A female General who is Xianchun's childhood friend and left-hand woman. In the original story, she was also his love interest.

Liu Hongyu: Former Secretariat Director and an ally of the Grand Duke, he starved to death after being sentenced to solitary confinement with no outside contact for the crime of lese-majeste. Since no one was allowed to bring him food or water, he died while under house arrest.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan. He is Kayla's retainer and remains her close friend after she loses her position in the future.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer who was the teacher of the previous generation of princes and princesses, he is now Kayla's godfather. He previously sent Kayla away from the capital so he could deal with the palace until they managed to launch an all-out investigation into the Ministry of Revenue, which would make Kayla important enough that the palace wouldn't press the matter of her altercation with the Grand Duke and the attempted burning of his study.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince and primary contender for the throne. In the future, he loses to Xianchun's ruthlessness.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, supports Zhou Kuang.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Formerly Wenyuan's personal serving maid and love interest, she is in truth an undercover spy sent by the Xiang clan. Her cousin is Xiang Daozong.

Lady Lin: A blind divination mage who worked with Wenyuan's mother. Summoned Kayla to warn her about the future.

“Well, go on then. What are you waiting for?” Xianchun demanded. “Drink it!”

Kayla took the goblet hesitantly and the serving maid backed away.

“The words of a snake like you can’t be trusted. If you don’t want to drink the truth potion, get out!”

Kayla looked down at the drink again. She knew what he was referring to by truth potion–it was a drug that loosened one’s inhibitions. It was used for investigations but didn’t suffice unless corroborated by other evidence. It took effect almost immediately upon consumption. A small amount, diluted in water, was more than enough to get the job done. From what Kayla could tell, the goblet was full of the undiluted drug.

“I don’t believe you need this much,” Kayla said carefully.

“If you don’t want to drink it, then leave and never appear before me again!” From the glint of Yu Bianfu’s blade that Kayla saw from the corner of her eye, she took it to mean that “leaving” Xianchun's sight meant “leaving this world”.

Not having any other choice, she took the goblet from the serving maid.

Yu Bianfu stepped forward, brandishing her blade. Ignoring Kayla’s squeak of alarm, Yu Bianfu lifted the tip of the sword to press against the bottom of Kayla’s hand, the sharp edge drawing blood upon contact.

Kayla gulped nervously as Yu Bianfu moved the sword upwards, pushing Kayla’s hand to lift the goblet to her lips. She was forced to empty the cup, a small amount of the viscous liquid dripping onto her robes.

Satisfied, Yu Bianfu stepped away but didn’t sheathe her blade. Kayla handed the goblet back to the maid and approached the elevated platform Xianchun was standing on, stopping before the stairs. A strange heat slowly spread through her body as she knelt before Xianchun, her mind growing fuzzy.

“Your Highness,” Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you for having me today.”

“Skip the pleasantries. What did you return to the capital for?” Xianchun demanded, intent on squeezing answers out of her under the drug’s effects.

“To see Uncle before he passed away,” Kayla replied, her mental filter no longer working. “And he wanted me to save your brothers.”

“Save them? From who?” Xianchun asked.

“From you, of course,” Kayla said. “Uncle feared you would kill them, so he called me back.”

Xianchun gave her a look of disbelief, almost as though he was looking at an idiot. “That’s it? You came back just for that?”

“I mean I didn't know what I was getting into, but yes.”

“Father’s mind must have grown addled with illness!” Xianchun hissed. “And what in the heavens does he think you can do?!”

“He thinks I can take the brunt of your rage and is probably hoping that you would kill me and calm down a bit,” Kayla replied. “I'm upset about it as well, but what can I do?”

Jesus Christ, Kayla.

She kind of wanted to slap herself, but the lowered inhibitions meant that she actually did smack herself in the face. Thankfully, Xianchun ignored that.

“Then why did you come back?!” Xianchun sprang to his feet, a strange look on his face that Kayla couldn’t make sense of.

“I don’t know,” Kayla replied honestly. “If I were any smarter I would’ve turned around and run across the border the second I heard there was a messenger. I was already on horseback, I could’ve made it. But I just went along with the flow and received the edict, and then I just didn’t have any chances to leave, so I’m here now. You can do with me what you want, and I’ll try to do the impossible for Uncle’s sake.”

Xianchun sat down again, thoughtfully evaluating Kayla.

“Fuck it,” Kayla cursed under her breath. It came out much louder than she had expected. Xianchun shot her a glare.

“You’re willing to die for my brothers' sake?”

“I really have no other choice. Uncle has asked it of me, so I can only give it my best,” Kayla replied.

“He’s a fool for thinking of you as family,” Xianchun said with perhaps less venom than expected.

“Indeed, His Majesty still views me as his nephew, because he is capable of discerning between right and wrong, the guilty and the innocent,” Kayla boldly shot back. “After all, good judgment and differentiation are necessary qualities for rulers, not that you would know.”

Oh my god, Kayla you fucking idiot! It was too late to take the words back now, that was for sure.

Xianchun’s face twisted, going through several different shades of red. He looked as though he wanted nothing more than to rip Kayla’s guts out.

“How dare you?!”

“If I could, I would have advised Uncle against choosing you. Your Highness is a man who would gladly harm his own brothers in order to spit in my face, which must be the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard of,” Kayla said. “They’re your siblings, not your enemies. Venting is fine and all, but you should do so within reason.”

“Not my enemies? They’ve sent you to plead for their lives!”

Kayla bowed her head. “Your Highness, this one’s life will end in your hands sooner or later. Your and your brothers are like limbs that grow on the same body, are you really willing to gain a reputation of fratricide just to spite a decision your father made on his sickbed?”

Xianchun stepped closer, glaring down at her.

“Sooner or later?! If I could, I would cut you down right here!”

"Dude, seriously?" Kayla voiced her thoughts out loud before she could stop herself. She hastily continued before Xianchun could react to the remark.

“If killing me would soothe Your Highness’ rage, I won't have any...no, I mean I will have complaints, but what the hell could I do about it?” Kayla replied. “Confucius has said that a great man does not promote a man solely based on what he said, nor does he reject advice solely because of the man who said it. Have you no thought for your reputation?”

Xianchun scoffed. “And you would have it sound as though you’re doing it for my reputation rather than for their sake!”

“I would do it for both, if that would please you,” Kayla replied. To the surprise of both Xianchun and Kayla, she actually meant it.

Xianchuns' glare softened, falling silent for a moment before speaking in a voice bitter with resentment. “My father shows the short-sighted kindness of a woman!”

“The kindness of a woman is rooted in the heavens’ virtue of nurturing life,” Kayla replied, ignoring the insult in Xianchun’s words. “I’m glad that Your Highness is able to understand the Emperor’s merciful benevolence, and humbly beg you to choose wisely. Starting your reign with bloodshed and fratricide will only make the court more uneasy and uncooperative. It is my sincere hope that you will choose to do the right thing.”

Xianchun laughed in disbelief. “Sincerity? Since when the hell did you have any to speak of?!”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “I can’t lie to you right now, did you forget that already?”

Xianchun considered the words for a moment and actually seemed to accept her words. Kayla felt a spark of elation as she watched his expression.

Good, he can still be reasonable! Her hopes were immediately dashed as Xianchun creased his brow, a look of suspicion sparking anew.

Liu Boyue. It sprung upon her as Kayla's mind finally pieced everything together. He's the only one who hasn't shown up all this time, but he's played a hand in all of this. Was he the one egging Xianchun on with all this?

The realization had come too late for Kayla to do anything about it, and she silently cursed herself for being unable to see it sooner.

“If you’re sincere, then prove it,” he ordered. His gaze grew colder by the second.

Kayla gave him a look of confusion. Xianchun reached into his robes, taking out a small dagger. He took it out of its sheath and tossed it to the floor, kicking it forward. The blade clattered down the steps, skidding over to Kayla.

Are you kidding me? Xianchun had foregone torture, the classic method of proving that someone was telling the truth, but this was hardly any better.

She looked at the knife, a strange sensation sweeping over her. It felt like she was being peeled apart like a sticker from its film. Two halves of her simultaneously inhabited the moment, one that reacted with horror and trepidation, and a drug-addled one that was alight with a desperate fire and unable to restrain herself. The first wanted to run, but it was the latter that took charge, reaching out to grab the blade with shaking hands.

The traditional method of protesting false charges was to cut off an ear, a finger, or an arm, but Kayla had neither the guts nor the willpower to do so. Kayla took in a deep breath, the part of her that wanted to run getting shoved further and further back, screaming all the while.

No girl don’t do it! That knife just clattered all the way across the fucking floor can you imagine how much bacteria there are on that fucking thing oh my god you fucking idiot just cut off your hair or something!!! Oh my god, I can't watch this–

“If that is what you want, then I have no choice but to comply,” Kayla said in a trembling voice. She plunged the knife into her left eye.

“Stop him!” Xianchun shouted. Overwhelmed by the pain, Kayla let the knife drop to the floor and clasped her hands over her eye. She had been too nervous to aim properly, and ended up blinking on reflex at the last second, the knife going through her eyelid.

Strong hands forced Kayla’s arms away from her face, ignoring her cries of protest. A cold feeling washed over her face, and the pain dulled. Kayla vaguely recognized the use of a healing talisman.

“What should I do, my prince?” Yu Bianfu asked. “Do I kill him?”

“No!” Xianchun said tersely, an edge of panic in his voice. “I didn’t expect him to have the guts to do it! Damn it!”

Why did you kick over a knife then?!!!

After a moment of silence, Xianchun audibly drew a deep breath, collecting himself as he spoke coldly. “Take him back to his quarters, he’s not to leave or contact anyone without my permission.”

An armored hand curled into Kayla’s collar and yanked her back.

Kayla winced as her back connected with the floor and found herself lying on the ground in an unfamiliar room. It was larger than the room she had been confined in during the other timeline, but Kayla couldn’t muster her attention to observe. The pain in her left eye was now penetrating deep into her skull.

How long has it been?

The answer emerged from a pit of despair somewhere deep in her mind. Kayla had been confined alone in the room once her eye was bandaged, and it had been days since. Kayla suddenly understood how Liu Hongyu must have felt while he was dying.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Xianchun even knew that this would be the result, if the prince had purposefully chosen the slowest and cruelest way to kill her, or if he had simply been ignorant of the implications the way Kayla had been.

After who knows how long, the door to the room opened. Light spilled in. Kayla mustered the last of her strength to lift her head and take a look, the simple action sending pain throughout her skull and down the back of her neck.

A guard tentatively stepped into the room, a candle in his hand.

“Y-Your Grace,” the guard said, the surprise evident in his voice. He moved closer, looking at her with an expression that Kayla instinctively recognized.

He can’t believe that I’m still alive. The guard wasn’t here to help, he was here to check if she was dead yet.

He stepped back again, wordlessly backing away from her with a look of discomfort. The door closed, and she was left alone again. The searing pain in her eye seemed to intensify, spreading to the rest of her head as well.

What the fuck?! Seriously?! The pain grew unbearable, the vision in her remaining eye blurring as well.

Kayla was physically yanked out of the vision, the mage’s wrinkled hands firmly gripping either side of Kayla’s face. The pain faded, and Kayla gasped for air, blinking furiously as she tried to adjust between realities. She was staring up at the ceiling, the hard rock of the cave cold beneath her.

“Kayla!” The sound of her real name yanked Kayla into the present. Lady Lin frowned at her, patting Kayla’s face. “The resonance was much stronger than I expected…I thought it would be better once you had gotten used to it. It must be because your soul is from another world, the magic is not supposed to cause such a strong reaction.”

The mage continued talking, but her voice faded, drowned out by the rushing sound in Kayla’s ears. White spots swam in her vision, blurring into a painfully bright mass that engulfed her. Kayla writhed, trying to escape or scream, but no sound would come out. Her breath came in panicked gasps until she sank into nothingness.

After what felt like forever, there was a small voice at the edge of Kayla’s consciousness that grew louder and louder.

“What the hell did you do?!”

“Calm down, he’s physically fine. It’s just that the magic took a larger toll on him than I expected.”

“A larger toll? Are you kidding me?! Look at what you've done! How the hell will you take responsibility if anything happens to him?”

“He came to me of his own volition!”

The voices grew louder and shriller around Kayla until she suddenly regained control over her body.

“Fuck!” Kayla shot upright, immediately feeling the repercussions. Her head swam from the sudden movement, her vision going black for a moment. Hu Qing reached out to steady her.

“Thank heavens! Are you alright?!” Hu Qing asked.

The static faded from her vision, but the cave remained dark. After a moment, Kayla realized it was already deep into the night. As the dizziness ebbed, a growing sense of panic replaced it.

“I-” Kayla began, Hu Qing’s question already fading from her mind. She whirled towards the mage in disbelief. “That was the best scenario?!”

“Yes.”

“No, no way,” Kayla said, a hysterical note in her voice. “The fucking best case scenario and that’s what happens?!”

“Unfortunately, you do not avoid your demise,” the mage replied. “You are not the one who benefitted from your actions, but be assured that it greatly improved the lives of those who-”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Kayla demanded, her voice shaking. “You’re seriously telling me that no matter what I fucking do, there’s no way out?”

The mage hesitated, falling silent.

“Fuck,” Kayla snapped. Her tirade was cut short by a sharp pain in the back of her neck, followed by a warm trickle from her nose.

“Take it easy,” Hu Qing said in alarm, gently pushing Kayla back onto the ground to lie on her side.

“Good grief,” he muttered under his breath, glancing at the mage in annoyance. “Go wait outside, there's nothing to see here.”

The mage silently complied, leaving without bothering to grab her eye covering.

“Wait! Make sure she doesn’t disappear on me,” Kayla ordered.

“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t let her go anywhere,” Hu Qing assured her. “But maybe we should leave, this really isn’t doing you any good.”

“Fuck,” Kayla groaned, ignoring his words. “I’m so screwed.”

“She must be a kook,” Hu Qing hastily replied. “You shouldn’t buy into it.”

“She's the real deal. She worked with my mother,” Kayla said in response. Hu Qing fell quiet.

“Hey, they say that heavenly fate can still be changed by the efforts of men,” he said encouragingly after a moment of silence. “Why don't we just go back? You don't need to torment yourself like this."

“You don't get it. The Grand Duke killed the Seventh Prince's mother. Once he finds out, he'll think I helped to cover up the crime...and with everything that's happened, it's not too hard to prove that.”

Hu Qing paused for a moment. “Damn.”

“Exactly.”

“No, I meant that in a good way,” Hu Qing said unconvincingly.

“It’s fine,” Kayla said flatly. “Nothing she’s said so far is even a little bit helpful to me. All I’ve heard is a bunch of different ways in which I die. I don’t even make it to age thirty!”

“There’s definitely a way out of this,” Hu Qing assured her. “Divinators like to string you along in order to make more money, they’ll tell you there’s great danger in your future and make it sound extremely terrifying and convincing, and then they make you feel worse and worse until you throw down a huge sum to buy a ‘solution’ from them.”

“She’s doing this for free,” Kayla pointed out.

Hu Qing shrugged. “So? She’s been a divinator for a long time now, it’s probably in her bones by now. Occupational habit, if you will.”

“You think so?” Kayla asked.

Hu Qing nodded. “Yeah, don’t torment yourself over something like this, it’ll be fine. But just what the hell did you see? You look terrible.”

Kayla shook her head slightly. “Don’t even ask.”

“Let me take you back, you should get some rest,” Hu Qing said.

Kayla relaxed a little. "Alright."

The next morning, Kayla trudged into the cave for what she hoped would be the last time, her limbs feeling as heavy as if they were stone.

“You came back,” Lady Lin said, sounding a little surprised.

“You haven’t told me how to get out of this alive yet,” Kayla pointed out sarcastically. “As nice as it is to learn about various ways of dying, this doesn’t really help.”

“Very well, then allow me to tell you this: As things stand now, the best possible future for you is the one you saw yesterday,” Lady Lin said bluntly. “You may die, but you preserve your dignity and reputation posthumously.”

“You can’t be serious! Can’t I just…not go back to the capital then?”

Lady Lin nodded. “You prolong your life somewhat by doing so, but it doesn’t save you. In one future, you are killed by bandits while fleeing to the Khaganate.”

“Great,” Kayla said flatly. “What happens if I don’t go to the Khaganate or to the capital?”

Lady Lin somehow managed to convey her disdain without moving a single muscle on her face.

“Escape can only lead to a temporary reprieve,” Lady Lin replied. “Events proceed as they do in the original timeline, and you don’t last long after the Third and Fifth Princes die. You’re either killed by those who seek to curry favor with the Emperor or killed in the wars along the Northern border. In either case, it’s a pathetic death not so different than that of a stray dog.”

And what, is that my fault? I didn’t come here to be a hero, I didn’t even come here of my own choice. Kayla chose to keep her thoughts to herself.

“So I can’t outlast Xianchun no matter what?” Kayla said in disbelief. “Isn't there anything I can do to avoid all this?”

“The future is tied to the present. All of these paths are present because of who you are and how you act, not because of anything else,” Lady Lin said gravely. “If you want to change the future, you must first change yourself. Your current approach can only lead to disaster.”

“Then should I not kill the Grand Duke?” Kayla asked in confusion.

“That would not change things. As I said, the external factors matter less than the internal factors,” Lady Lin let out a sigh. “Perhaps the magic chose the wrong soul.”

Kayla shot to her feet, overturning the low table.

“Fuck you! It’s not like I asked to be here!” Kayla shouted.

“But you’re here.”

Kayla stared at Lady Lin for a moment before her temper exploded.

“Then what the fuck do you want me to do?! You guys dragged me into this!”

Lady Lin softened her words. “Do not despair, young foreigner. I will not deny that this has placed you in a difficult predicament, but you were brought here for a reason,” the mage said, in a familiar tone somewhat between comforting and paternalistic, one that Kayla knew all too well from her childhood.

“Fuck off,” Kayla snarled. “There were so many things I didn’t do because I thought I would have a chance to do them later, and now I'll never have a chance!”

“You were not destined for greatness within your own world, whatever payoff you’d hoped for would likely have been long in the coming. Here, at least you have power and prestige, you have the means to control your fate.”

Kayla groaned, clapping her hands over her face. “You don’t get it at all! That was my life, there were so many things I wanted to do! If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve called my mom and apologized or something! Fuck!”

The mage let out a soft sigh and fell silent, not having words to comfort Kayla with. After a moment of trying and failing to collect herself, Kayla heaved a sigh.

“Now what?” Kayla asked in a small voice.

“The answer lies with you, and you alone. Every decision you’ve made so far has opened multiple paths while closing countless other possibilities, and so it will be going forth as well,” Lady Lin said. The vague answer was anything but helpful, and the mage picked up on Kayla’s discontent.

“Change your current approach,” Lady Lin advised her. “You must not be expelled from the capital or the court. That is what is most important, even the destruction of the Zhao clan does not matter compared to the magnitude of the crisis you face.”

“Is that really it?” Kayla asked, her voice taking on a pleading note.

Lady Lin nodded. “Return to the capital, young foreigner. Your godfather has finished covering up for the mess you made, it is now safe for you to go back. Use your role as Zhao Wenyuan to pave a new future for yourself and the country.”

Seriously?! I would rather just have the option of surviving peacefully!

Kayla waited another moment but saw that Lady Lin really didn’t have anything more to say. Resignedly, Kayla bowed her head.

“Thank you,” Kayla said, forcing her tone into a vague mockery of politeness. “I will take my leave of you now.”

This fucking fraud! Are you kidding me?! Silently seething, Kayla got up and left the cave. Hu Qing stood up from where he had been sitting at the cave’s entrance, instantly picking up on Kayla’s emotional turmoil.

“We’re heading back to the capital,” Kayla said. Hu Qing nodded, complying without question. They descended the mountain in silence to where the carriage was waiting for them.

“We’re heading back, everyone get ready!” Hu Qing shouted. Kayla wordlessly entered the carriage, blankly staring into the distance.

Do I even have a chance?

Hu Qing opened the carriage door to hand her some water.

“My lord, we’re ready to move,” Hu Qing said. Kayla nodded, and Hu Qing closed the carriage door again, accurately sensing that she needed to be alone for a while.

The carriage pulled off, the mountain slowly growing smaller and smaller behind them as the procession headed back toward the capital. Inside the carriage, Kayla's face twisted into a look of grim determination as she ran through the events Lady Lin had shown her.

The only outcome is dying, at least if things keep going the way they're headed right now....but that means the problem is my approach, isn't it? The more I try to minimize damage, the more things lead to disaster.

Kayla looked out the window toward the direction of the capital city, her eyes narrowing.

If that's the case, I'll have to stop playing nice.

Kayla tried to think of a concrete plan, but couldn’t keep her thoughts from flitting about, latching on to the different fragments she had been subjected to.

What kind of bullshit is all this?! So in the future, Xianchun really just becomes the stereotypical murder-happy protagonist in male-oriented power-fantasy novels, doesn't he? Kayla shook her head in disgust.

Or the emperor who’s corrupted by revenge and then finds redemption after gaining a harem of peerless beauties and ends up dying for the country or some bullshit–that might be more accurate. God, I used to like those archetypes, and now I’m going to die because of them!

To be fair, reading a novel and experiencing a novel were completely different things, especially when you weren't the protagonist. Kayla frowned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Looking at it in retrospect, the future Xianchun was acting just like someone who had been crushed underfoot for too long and finally gained power, exacting ruthless and overwrought revenge upon everyone who had slighted him, regardless of whether the slight actually existed or not.

What is he? The male version of Empress Dowager Lu? And did Qu Boyong convince Xianchun that I was helping the Grand Duke cover things up? I mean, that is what I’m doing, but why did he trust Qu Boyong’s words so easily? I’ve helped him a bunch of times! And why the hell didn’t the Emperor stand up for me?

More likely than not, Liu Boyue had played a role in convincing Xianchun, and the Empress Dowager had a hand in Kayla’s exile, tossing aside a chess piece in order to appease the court. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she’d done so.

What a cold-blooded old woman, Kayla let out a sharp sigh. Seriously, your only daughter’s only son, and you’re so quick to toss him away.

But there was still far too much that didn’t make sense. Was Sun Ruhui still alive in the future? Chen Jian had evidently been fine. Hopefully, Sun Ruhui had only been demoted out of the capital rather than executed on some bull charges.

And Caichun married Feng Yi…God, who would’ve thought? Feng Yi was a good guy, sure, but he was more than two decades older than Caichun. Marrying a decent guy is better than dying, I would certainly take that option if it were available to me. But Caichun had ambition, would she really be alright with that?

It wasn’t as though Kayla could help Caichun when she herself couldn’t even survive past the three-year mark. Kayla forced herself to stop frowning. It was worsening her headache.

And what the fuck was up with Xianchun's mood swings? Was someone drugging him or was that just his revenge persona? Or was it Liu Boyue's bullshit? Even if he wanted me dead–no, did he even want me dead? Kayla rubbed at her throbbing temples, trying to recall the details of their interactions.

He was angry when I said I only came back for Kuang and Yunqi, and he was upset when I stabbed my eye. Kayla stopped her movements, coming to a realization.

He wanted me to play the part of a bad guy, didn’t he? Xianchun had finally gained the power he dreamed of and wanted to feel righteous and powerful in using it. He wanted to feel that he was justified in exacting revenge. But Kayla was technically his benefactor. Sure, in the original novel, he managed to build up his support base without any help from Wenyuan, but the Xianchun of this timeline evidently didn’t know that.

Did he feel conflicted because I wasn’t acting all villain-like the way he wanted me to? Kayla made a wild guess. If that were true, it meant that even the revenge-driven version of Xianchun still had some conscience. Not a lot, certainly, but maybe just the tiniest bit. She could work with that.

And the way he is now…could I work with that? Kayla ground her teeth together. Fuck dignity. She wanted to live. It would be a waste of effort if she had gotten through all this just to die a dog’s death.

Fuck that old bitch, why didn’t she just show her knowledge to Wei Guang ahead of time and have him save Wenyuan and deal with this mess? Or just straight up tell Wenyuan himself ahead of time? She said all this happened in the future of the novel's events, whatever the hell that means, doesn't that mean she knew all this way ahead of time? She had so many fucking options, and she chooses to drag in a fucking cashier from Brooklyn!

But it had been the Imperial Princess who set up the magic.

Kayla felt ice rush through her veins. The Imperial Princess...

That made even less sense. Why would the Imperial Princess choose to use soul magic to drag in a stranger, instead of finding a way to save her son? Kayla simply couldn’t wrap her head around the Imperial Princess’ choice.

She loved Wenyuan, didn't she? So why was this the path she chose?

Cultural Notes

Truth Serums: Did not actually exist in Ancient China, but there are records of using alcohol or drugs to lower a suspect's inhibitions in order to get a confession. In most cases, those confessions needed to be corroborated by evidence, but some of the more corrupt officials would just go ahead and use them to decide a case.

无偏无倚/No biases no favorites: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to judge fairly.

是非对错/Just and unjust, right and wrong: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

残害手足/Harm one's hands and feet: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to harm one's siblings. One's brothers were often described as one's 手足/hands and feet, (this usually did not apply to sisters, who were expected to marry out of the household) meaning that your siblings are just as important as parts of your body.

依法不依人/According to the laws not according to the person: An Ancient Chinese saying that means you should ignore right and wrong, whether to protect or to punish a person, regardless of your feelings about them.

子曰：君子不以言举人，不以人废言/Confucius said: A great man does not promote a man solely based on what he said, nor does he reject advice solely because of the man who said it: An Ancient Chinese proverb that essentially means to think critically about what is said, and not be blinded by who said it.

妇人之仁/The kindness of a woman: An Ancient Chinese proverb often used in a disdainful/derogatory fashion to say that someone is acting short-sightedly or without the bigger picture in mind. This was often used to silence women when they had differing opinions, regardless of whether they were right or wrong.

上天好生之德/The heavenly virtue of nurturing life: An Ancient proverb referring to the marvels of nature as well as the ability of life to persevere regardless of environment. It is also often used to persuade Emperors/rulers to be merciful as the heavens are.

惶恐不安/Fearful and uneasy: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

大肆动刑/Using executions/punishments on a large scale: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to describe the fear and horror that this behavior evokes in bystanders.

中国古代直诉中的自残/Self-harm in remonstration in Ancient China: It was not common but nor was it rare for officials to demonstrate extreme dissatisfaction or to declare their innocence through self-harm, to show how serious they were. Usually, this ranges from cutting off one's hair (you weren't supposed to cut your hair in Ancient China since your body was gifted to you by your parents, and thus it would be unfilial. Also why the hairstyle common to men in the Qing dynasty was initially met with strong resistance), cutting off one's ears (actually happened during the Tang Dynasty), mutilating one's face (again in the Tang Dynasty), driving a nail through your hands (recorded in the Song Dynasty), chopping off your arm (Song Dynasty), and stabbing/gouging out one's eyes (again the Tang Dynasty, are you guys alright?).

扭转乾坤/Twist the heaven and earth: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to change one's fate or the fate of a group or country.

丧家犬/A dog that has lost its home: An Ancient Chinese saying that compares someone who has been abandoned by their family/friends or has lost their support network to a stray dog.

Empress Dowager Lu/吕太后: First Empress Dowager of the Han Dynasty, she was treated quite badly by her husband, the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty. He essentially abandoned her behind enemy lines multiple times while building up a harem of younger and prettier women. In retribution, Empress Dowager Lu mutilated and murdered her husband's favorite concubine after his death. She also went on a killing spree against most of his other sons and was generally known for being an extremely vengeful woman. However, she was pretty decent to the populace, her malice being directed primarily within the ruling class.

96-Consequences Past and Future

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Minister Liang's younger half-brother and Kayla's retainer.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, he currently thinks favorably of Kayla but comes to hate her in the future, believing she had helped the Grand Duke cover up his crimes.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: The son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, cousins with the Princes and with Wenyuan. Currently seeking revenge on the Grand Duke for the extermination of his clan.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with Wenyuan's mother, she sacrificed years off her life to divinate the future she showed Kayla.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and former teacher of the current Emperor and the Imperial Princess, Kayla's godfather.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue and the Grand Duke's ally.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and a magical researcher.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince.

Zhou Chengqian: Son of the Third Prince and Cao Shuyi.

Minister Liang: Minister of Justice and Xianchun's supporter, older half-brother of Hu Qing.

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice, Kayla's supporter. Blackmailing Minister Liang with Hu Qing's identity.

Chen Caichun: Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review, a talented young woman who's always aspired to be an official.

Kayla tried to wrap her head around the spell the Imperial Princess had created. Why had Wenyuan’s own mother chosen to use this type of spell? Given Lady Lin’s words, it evidently wasn’t an accident. Then why didn’t she simply find a way to save Wenyuan? Or were there plans that had fallen through, and Kayla’s transmigration was only the result of a backup plan? It made her head ache even more to think about it.

Focus, Kayla. We need a plan to deal with Xianchun and Qu Boyong, Kayla chastised herself. What do I do? Should I just kill Qu Boyong? But then Ji Fangluo might end up being his safety measure, and she’s already recorded in the system.

Killing Xianchun was a non-option. There wasn’t a single plausible situation where she could get away with a prince, even if Kayla managed to stage a scenario of self-defense.

He has a victim complex, couldn’t I make use of that? I’ll take his route and leave him with no route to go down. The question was then how? Could she manage that without getting herself murdered in the process?

I mean, there's got to be some way, right? That old woman's not a god.

“Fuck, why is it so hard to survive?!” Kayla groaned, burying her face into her hands. The thoughts racing through her mind made it feel as though her head was on fire. Kayla lifted her face out of her hands as the carriage slowed to a stop, the door opening to Hu Qing’s concerned expression.

“My lord, we’ll be back in the capital within two hours,” Hu Qing reported. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m fine,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing frowned. “What did you say? I didn’t understand that.”

“I’m fine,” Kayla assured him.

“Hold on a moment,” Hu Qing called over his shoulder at the horseman before climbing into the carriage and carefully approaching Kayla.

“Your face is a little red,” he said cautiously. “Are you feeling any discomfort? Can you understand what I’m saying right now?”

“Thanks, but like I already said, I’m fine,” Kayla replied.

“I…can’t understand you, my lord,” Hu Qing said, deliberately keeping his voice calm.

Kayla blinked in confusion before realizing that she was speaking in English. For some reason, her mind hazed over when she tried to find the words in Chinese. Hu Qing reached out and held the back of his hand to Kayla’s forehead, his expression growing grave.

“You have a high fever, my lord,” he said, already reaching for his healing talismans.

“I do?”

At Hu Qing’s uneasy look, Kayla decided to stop speaking until her brain sorted itself out.

“Here, drink this,” Hu Qing gave her a vial. “It’s a medicine for fighting fevers.”

Kayla drank it without question, docilely letting Hu Qing work with the talismans. Her body felt as though it were growing heavier by the moment, and it became increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open. Within moments, Kayla was asleep. Hu Qing opened the carriage door and waved over a guard.

“Contact the Wei household and tell them we need a healer. We need to move as fast as we can.”

The guard glanced over Hu Qing’s shoulder nervously.

“Is the Minister alright?”

“He has a high fever and the healing talismans aren’t doing much,” Hu Qing replied tersely. “Come on now, get moving.”

The guard gulped and nodded, hurrying off to comply.

Alone in his study, Wei Guang frowned pensively at a scroll. He was overwhelmed with work.

The Grand Duke was still out of commission, but he had tightened security and was stubbornly continuing to breathe. An official investigation had been launched against Dong Shiqing's housekeeper on the grounds of attempting to assassinate Wenyuan, bringing with it all the work needed to frame someone.

Despite Wenyuan's absence, the escalating tensions at court were all related to him in some form. The Emperor didn't pay any mind to it, but the Empress Dowager was increasingly suspicious of the man who used to be her favorite grandson. She had begun aggregating all the tiny mistakes and miscellaneous details to reshape her opinion of Zhao Wenyuan, and the problem was, not all of her suspicions were unfounded. The latest out of a series of extremely tense conversations he had with the Empress Dowager was still echoing in his mind, bringing more and more doubts to the surface.

“By any chance, did you happen to gift Wenyuan a nullification talisman? I do wonder how an Imperial Edict Bearer like you had gotten such a volatile one–the one I gifted him could only nullify magic within a hundred meters, but the nullification magic from three nights ago had encompassed the entire Zhao household, and with extreme precision at that.”

Wenyuan had mentioned nullifying the communication-blocking spells when cornered by the Grand Duke, but Wei Guang hadn't realized just what the scale had been. Wei Guang sighed, setting down his brush. He had covered for Wenyuan, of course, but the matter continued to bother him a full day after the meeting.

The Empress Dowager’s suspicion was no great matter of importance–even if Wenyuan’s nullification abilities were discovered, what could she do to him? All Wenyuan had to do was to say that his magic had been sealed by the late Imperial Princess, and the Empress Dowager would be hard-pressed to go any further on the issue without publicizing the fact that her own daughter didn’t trust her.

The problem was Wenyuan’s abilities.

How are his abilities so powerful? That shouldn’t be possible. A hundred meters isn’t the standard limit because of safety concerns, it’s because that’s the limit of most nullification mages.

The Imperial Princess had pleaded with Wei Guang twenty-five years ago, tearfully lamenting that her son’s magic was too weak and that he would never survive in the military. Wei Guang couldn’t refuse a mother’s tenderhearted fears for her child and agreed without further question. It seemed that he had made a mistake.

Weak? The range of his magic is beyond belief, and you call that weak? If that boy had entered the military academy, he would’ve been trained under the Imperial Guard, outside of the Grand Duke’s reach. Even if he were sent to the battlefield, a nullification mage of his caliber would be protected with every precaution, he could've made General by now!

More importantly, Wenyuan would’ve never gotten dragged into the muddy waters of the court.

If parents loved their children, they should plan for their future. The Imperial Princess had evidently made a misjudgment. In hindsight, Wei Guang could’ve spared both mother and son a great deal of suffering just by asking a few more questions. Wei Guang shook his head with a frustrated sigh, regretting that he hadn’t pressed her further. He glanced up as a serving maid knocked at the door of his study.

“Pardon the interruption, my lord. The guards just sent word that Minister Zhao has entered the capital, they should arrive here shortly,” the girl said.

Wei Guang nodded, pushing away his thoughts. “Wonderful! Fetch me my cloak, I’ll go and greet him.”

The girl bowed and left, brushing shoulders with another serving maid.

“My lord, Minister Zhao’s retainer just sent a request that we call for a healer,” the second serving maid told him as she approached.

Wei Guang’s pleased smile disappeared. “What? Did he say what was the matter?”

The serving maid shook her head.

“Go and fetch one immediately,” Wei Guang ordered. The second girl also left. Wei Guang strode towards the main gates, stopping by the entrance. His steward hastily came forward, bearing Wei Guang’s cloak.

“My lord,” the steward said, his voice laced with concern.

“Are Wenyuan’s rooms prepared?” Wei Guang asked.

“Of course.”

“Make sure that no one says a word about this,” Wei Guang ordered. “If even a single rumor emerges from within the household, there will be hell to pay for all of you.”

The steward bowed and headed off. After a few moments of anxiously looking about, the carriage came speeding into sight. It screeched to a halt before the gates, Hu Qing swiftly descended from his horse.

“What’s going on?” Wei Guang said in alarm.

“Is the healer here?” Hu Qing asked.

“He’s been summoned, it won’t be long now. Is Wenyuan injured?” Wei Guang asked.

“No, but he has a high fever,” Hu Qing replied. Behind him, two of the guards opened the carriage door and retrieved an unconscious Zhao Wenyuan.

Wei Guang paled at the sight. Hu Qing carried Wenyuan into the house on his back, led in by the steward. Wei Guang followed behind them, keeping pace with Hu Qing’s brisk steps. Zhao Wenyuan had grown much more haggard, having lost weight in the few days since Wei Guang had last seen him.

“It’s not as bad as it looks, I gave him fever medicine,” Hu Qing explained.

“Fever medicine doesn’t do that!” Wei Guang gestured furiously at Wenyuan.

“Not the usual kind, I used something stronger. People in my trade use it quite often. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe, just a bit potent. It brings down the fever quickly, but the side-effect is that it also doubles as a sleeping draught.”

That didn’t reassure Wei Guang in the slightest. Hu Qing set Wenyuan down on the bed, removing his shoes. Wei Guang hovered over them, unable to contain his anxiety until the healer arrived and politely shooed both of them out.

“What in the heavens happened?!” Wei Guang demanded. Hu Qing frowned, shaking his head.

“I don’t know, Minister Zhao instructed me to wait outside the whole time. He was in a bad shape after the first day, and I wanted him to leave, but he insisted on staying. It got worse yesterday, and he was already unwell when we set out this morning, so I had the horseman go at full speed in case something went wrong,” Hu Qing explained.

“And a good thing that you did,” Wei Guang said, glancing towards the bedroom. “When did the fever start?”

“About halfway through the journey,” Hu Qing replied. “When I checked on him, he started speaking incoherently. I was worried his condition would get worse if I let the fever be, so I decided to give him the medicine despite the side effects.”

Wei Guang nodded. “Good thinking,” he said quietly. “Curse it all, I should never have reached out to Lady Lin! I had thought that since she was on the mark with urging my return to the court, her words would also be useful to Wenyuan. But that was just my one-sided belief. I’ve put you all through needless suffering.”

“Please don’t say that, I’m sure that the Minister understands your concern for him,” Hu Qing replied. They fell silent as the healer emerged, bowing to Wei Guang.

“Your Grace, I’ve finished the check-up. Minister Zhao’s fever should break soon. I’ve prescribed some medicine for him, but he should also avoid stress and try to get as much rest as he can,” the healer said.

Wei Guang frowned. “What is his condition right now?”

The healer hesitated. “That is…his fever has gone down now, but he seems to have suffered a bout of brain fever in the recent past. Thankfully, it was not serious. He should be able to make a complete recovery within a few days.”

“He was speaking in tongues,” Hu Qing said.

The healer nodded. “That can happen when the onset of illness is rapid, some patients lose the ability to speak and write altogether. Thankfully, the Minister’s case should be temporary. Did he show signs of understanding you when you spoke to him?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a good sign, it means the symptoms weren’t serious,” the healer said in relief. “If he’s still suffering symptoms when he wakes up, please call me again.”

Wei Guang and Hu Qing exchanged a look.

“I understand, thank you.” Wei Guang gestured to his steward, who came forward to pay the healer.

“Healer, is there anything else we should be watching out for?“ Hu Qing asked. The healer mulled it over a bit.

“Minister Zhao shows signs of long-term stress and fatigue. All of these weaken the body and make it more susceptible to disease,” the healer replied. “Medicines do little for these problems, it’s the problem of his lifestyle.”

Hu Qing bowed his head slightly. “Thank you.”

The healer bowed toward Wei Guang and then at a lesser angle to Hu Qing before leaving with his money.

“The fever was probably the effect of whatever the mage did,” Hu Qing said darkly.

“What were his symptoms?” Wei Guang asked.

“Vomiting, nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds, and loss of appetite,” Hu Qing listed them out. Wei Guang quietly ran it over in his head before coming to a conclusion.

“I see,” Wei Guang said solemnly. “It was probably advanced divination magic, no wonder it took such a toll on him. Hu Qing, please ask Left Secretariat Sun and Chamberlain Chen to wait on standby. Once Wenyuan is awake, he will probably wish to speak with them. We also need to make sure nothing happens in the meantime. I can handle everything in the court and the palace.”

“Then I’ll handle the rest,” Hu Qing agreed. “We have enough men on hand to take care of it, so please be at ease. The main threats are the Grand Duke, the Seventh Prince, and Qu Boyong. I’ll keep an eye on them, so if you could also help ensure that all their channels to the court are blocked, I would deeply appreciate it.”

Wei Guang nodded. “Very well, let’s proceed as such.”

He waved over a servant. “Send some men to Lady Lin, I want to know just what she said to Wenyuan. We need to prescribe medicine according to the causes.”

The servant bowed and hurried off.

Kuang frowned at the report in his hands, reading it over for the third time.

“What is it, brother? You’ve been looking at that for quite a while,” Yunqi asked, bouncing Chengqian on his knee.

“Qian’er, go find your mother,” Kuang said, ruffling the boy’s hair. Yunqi set Chengqian down. The boy ran off, his footsteps pattering against the floor. Kuang waited until his son was out of earshot before speaking.

“Our cousin has returned to the capital in as much of a hurry as he left in,” Kuang said thoughtfully. “Soon after, a healer was called to the Wei household and has since left again. They’re been quite vigilant to prevent any additional information from slipping.”

“He didn’t return to the Zhao household?” Yunqi asked in surprise. “Now that the neutral faction’s taking on Dong Shiqing, the Grand Duke would be hard-pressed to touch him without serious consequences, why would he escalate tensions at a time like this?”

“My bet is that they tried to kill each other,” Kuang replied. “Certainly, both of them have the guts to do it.”

“The Grand Duke’s been on sick leave for days, and his faction’s been crumbling apart like a tower of sand. Perhaps he was simply playing weak to make Wenyuan lower his guard? And he returned in such a rush…do you think that the Grand Duke made another attempt on his life?”

Kuang let out a sigh. “Who knows? There’s almost no information right now. But one thing is certain–whatever happened, the palace will let bygones be bygones. So long as it doesn’t escalate out of control, we should do the same.”

“He must be quite frightened, going head-on with the Grand Duke with his life on the line,” Yunqi said sympathetically. “Perhaps this is a good chance for us to reach out to him? I’m sure he’d welcome a friendly hand.”

Kuang shook his head. “He’s not a frail maiden who wishes for the reliable arms of a savior. If we reach out to him first, he’ll feel threatened, and will only shy away from us all the more. Let him make the first move. The more control he has, the safer he’ll feel.”

Yunqi nodded. “I was worried that Xianchun would make a move first, but it seems that would only benefit us, wouldn’t it?”

Kuang put the scroll away, smiling with certainty. “Indeed. And in either case, if you help someone, you should help them to the end. That Qu Boyong is back in the capital, isn’t he? Perhaps it’s time we did something about him.”

Yunqi’s smile broadened.

“Indeed.”

The guards and secretaries in the Ministry of Justice held their breath as Sun Ruhui calmly walked down the hallway and knocked on Minister Liang’s door. After the loud and emotional argument between the two, everyone had been walking on eggshells around them. Minister Liang was evidently angrier than Sun Ruhui but refused to mention even a word of what had happened. The tense mood hung over the Ministry oppressively, and now, Sun Ruhui was knocking on Minister Liang’s office door as though the Minister hadn’t been giving him the cold shoulder all day.

“Please pardon the disturbance, Minister,” Sun Ruhui called as he opened the door. He did not step in. “I wish to take a leave for the rest of the day.”

Everyone exchanged glances of disbelief behind Sun Ruhui’s back. The workday was almost over, and Sun Ruhui was a Left Secretariat. He didn’t even need to report to Minister Liang if he wanted to go. What was the point of provoking Minister Liang like this?

“Go if you like,” Minister Liang snapped.

Sun Ruhui didn’t hesitate, bowing his head slightly. “Thank you for your understanding, Minister. I’ll take my leave now.”

He closed the door and went back the way he’d come. Sun Ruhui ignored the soft sighs of relief from the secretaries and guards. He didn’t have any thought to spare for their worries, not when Zhao Wenyuan was back, and apparently, seriously ill.

Asking for leave had been a deliberate jab at Minister Liang, reminding him of the card Sun Ruhui held. Sun Ruhui couldn’t take the chance of leaving Minister Liang to his own devices–who knew if the man would grab onto the chance of Wenyuan’s return when everyone had let their guards down?

My lord, you’ve really put me in quite a predicament, Sun Ruhui lamented to himself. Blackmailing Minister Liang worked for a time, but it was far from a permanent solution. Who knew when Minister Liang would decide to air out his dirty laundry to the Seventh Prince and seek his help?

All of the measures we’ve taken after the fiasco with the Grand Duke have been temporary. So long as the Grand Duke’s still alive, these are all like swords hanging over our heads, he thought grimly. The worst part was that Zhao Wenyuan was apparently out of commission. Were they to defer to Wei Guang’s orders in the meantime, and would Zhao Wenyuan blame them for it afterward?

Sun Ruhui’s bottom line was that no matter what course of action they took, it couldn’t be something that harmed the neutral faction or Zhao Wenyuan’s position. The rest was negotiable.

Still deep in thought, Sun Ruhui made the journey to Wei Guang’s household. Chen Caichun hadn’t arrived yet, her lower rank making it difficult to leave work on such short notice. A steward ushered him in, leading Sun Ruhui down the corridors toward Wenyuan’s room.

“I’ll take him from here,” a familiar voice said. The steward bowed and left.

Sun Ruhui nodded in greeting toward Hu Qing. “It’s good to see you here. How is the Minister?”

Hu Qing shook his head. “Still sleeping, but his fever broke. How’s the situation with the Ministry of Justice? Did my brother throw a fit at you?”

“Not particularly,” Sun Ruhui lied.

Hu Qing sighed softly. “I’m sorry that you had to offend him, hopefully, he’s still reasonable enough to be professional about it.”

Minister Liang was not, but Sun Ruhui decided not to give Hu Qing additional worries.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine. The Ji Fangluo case hasn’t progressed in your absence. But just what happened? Did the meeting with the divinator not go well?” Sun Ruhui asked.

“Definitely not,” Hu Qing said through gritted teeth. “The divination magic had serious side effects that she apparently didn’t tell him about beforehand, and whatever he saw was enough to cause him some serious distress. That’s how he got sick in the first place. It was so bad that he was talking in tongues on the way back.”

“I’ve heard of divination magic causing madness or brain fever,” Sun Ruhui said, frowning in concern. “Surely it won’t be permanent?”

Hu Qing sighed, shaking his head. “The healer said it should be fine. In any case, I don’t know when he’ll wake up, but we can wait in the sitting room for now.”

The two made their way over slowly, keeping pace with one another. They both glanced up in alarm as they heard a crash. Hu Qing dashed towards Wenyuan’s bed-chamber, Sun Ruhui following in his footsteps. As they got closer, they could hear Wenyuan speaking in a panicked voice.

Sun Ruhui’s blood ran cold. None of what Wenyuan was saying was remotely coherent.

Was the damage permanent after all? Damn it!

Sun Ruhui’s horror was interrupted by a new source of alarm as they burst into the room. Wenyuan glanced up at them, eyes wide and desperate. A teacup was smashed on the floor, shards scattered in every direction. The largest shard was gripped in Wenyuan’s hand. It was dripping with blood, and only inches away from his neck.

Fear surged through Sun Ruhui’s veins and he rushed forward. Hu Qing moved faster, grabbing Wenyuan’s wrist in a tight grip and forcing open his fingers.

“My lord, please calm down! Don’t do such a foolish thing!” Sun Ruhui pleaded, grabbing a handkerchief from his sleeve to press onto Wenyuan’s hand. His heart was pounding in his throat now, and Sun Ruhui barely managed to keep his hands from shaking.

Wenyuan gave him a disoriented look. “What?”

Thankfully, the Zhao heir was collected enough to speak coherently now.

“Are you insane?! How can you make light of your life like this?!” Hu Qing demanded furiously, getting to work on healing Wenyuan’s hand.

“Exactly, my lord! You can’t make such a shortsighted decision!” Sun Ruhui quickly added. “No matter what difficulties there are, we can surely find a solution together. Where would you leave us if you act so rashly? A man is obliged to be resolute and broad-minded, having a heavy burden and a long path. If you abandon your duties in this manner, you would be assisting the tyrannical in their abuse!”

Wenyuan’s look shifted to one of confusion. “What are you talking about?” His look changed to one of exasperated disbelief. “You guys are misunderstanding–I’m not suicidal! I broke the cup by accident!”

Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing exchanged a look, coming to a mutual understanding that it was not just an accident.

“I see,” Sun Ruhui said cautiously.

“I’m telling the truth,” Wenyuan protested. “I didn’t mean to break the cup, I was just disoriented after waking up. Seriously, I’m far from being suicidal, I’ve got a pretty strong–well, a relatively strong will to live, all things considered.”

His words didn’t exactly inspire much confidence, but his look of exasperation seemed to be real.

“I understand, but if there’s something troubling you, please discuss it with us. We’re more than happy to help in whatever way we can,” Sun Ruhui replied.

Wenyuan let out a soft sigh, his shoulders slumping. Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing exchanged another look of concern.

Kayla sighed helplessly, feeling a sense of disbelief.

It's not like I meant to break it! She knew they meant well, but the misunderstanding befuddled her. Kayla was always desperate to survive, regardless of what kind of life she was leading. Whether it was as a downtrodden cashier estranged from her family or as an official trapped in the turbulent waters of court politics, Kayla never once considered death an option. Just how the hell had they made that leap?

It had truly been an accident, though not without cause. Kayla had woken up to a painfully dry throat. She reached for the teacup at her bedside and was immediately faced with Wenyuan’s request to die.

I can’t do this anymore. Are you seriously going to make me suffer through the extermination of my clan? Wenyuan’s words had felt like a slap in the face.

Kayla suddenly felt a strange sense of empathy for the balding men in bad TV shows who lost their jobs and were immediately hit with a request for divorce when they went home to their wives.

Between the horror of the past few days and Wenyuan’s request, Kayla hadn’t even noticed the cup breaking until Hu Qing was wrenching a shard out of her hand.

“I didn’t mean to break the cup,” Kayla repeated. “It was an accident, I just didn’t notice.”

“You didn’t notice that you were bleeding this much?” Hu Qing asked in alarm.

“That’s not…you should be more careful with your body,” Sun Ruhui said gently.

“I…I was just…” Kayla said weakly, trailing off as she saw that their concerns only increased. She changed the topic. “Left Secretariat, how have things been in our absence?”

“Everything has proceeded smoothly, my lord. Minister Liang has not made any progress on the Ji Fangluo case. How are you feeling?” Sun Ruhui immediately dragged the conversation back on track.

“I’m fine, do you know if he’s said anything to the Third Prince?” Kayla asked, desperate to shift their attention away.

“The…Third Prince?” Sun Ruhui asked. He and Hu Qing shared a look of alarm.

“The Seventh Prince! I meant the Seventh Prince! I just woke up, my brain hasn’t sorted itself out yet!”

Her mistake did not help matters in the slightest.

“We should have the healer take another look,” Hu Qing said softly.

“I’m really fine,” Kayla insisted. She glanced between the two of them. “Did you guys actually think I was suicidal just because I broke a cup?”

Hu Qing relaxed a little, sensing that Kayla really was fine. Sun Ruhui remained vigilant, watching Kayla with nervous eyes.

“You can hardly blame us. I mean, your lot is much more prone to killing yourself. Military officers usually don’t go for it quite as much, but civil officials like to overthink things and then overreact accordingly,” Hu Qing pointed out, releasing Kayla’s hand as he finished healing it up.

I mean, that is kind of true. She almost felt bad for scaring them, as little as she had meant to do so. But I guess watching someone hurt themselves is more unnerving than hurting them yourself, even Xianchun panicked when I stabbed my eye in that timeline, didn’t he?

Kayla's eyes lit up as she was hit with an epiphany. Wait, I know how to deal with Xianchun now.

“I think I know how to deal with the Seventh Prince,” she announced.

There’s a reason why women in Ancient China repeatedly turned to the classic three-step tactic when faced with their husbands. When you're faced with someone more powerful, moral extortion works–Especially when you’re playing the victim.

Kayla had often heard people speak with disdain, mocking wives and concubines who took their husbands' reputations hostage through the timeless combo of crying, throwing a fit, and threatening suicide, but they'd worked with what they had.

I'm in the same situation. I need to work with whatever resources I have, and if that fails, I'll fucking take Xianchun down with me.

“I’d recommend taking it easy for now,” Hu Qing hastily interjected.

“I absolutely agree!” Sun Ruhui chimed in.

Kayla ignored them, a plan piecing itself together in her mind.

“Left Secretariat, about my question earlier?” Kayla asked after a moment of thought.

“From what I know, Minister Liang is unwilling to go to the Seventh Prince with this. It would destroy his image as a righteous man, but I fear that he will eventually choose to confess rather than continue to be blackmailed,” Sun Ruhui replied. He swept his gaze over Kayla’s face intently. He seemed to be relieved by what he saw and relaxed a little.

“Indeed, who knows what he’ll choose? I’ve put both of you in a difficult position,” Kayla murmured. “How about this? Let’s just take this road all the way to the end. I’ll tell the Seventh Prince that Ji Fangluo’s case is connected to the Grand Duke and that we were suppressing the investigation to prevent her from getting killed.”

“That will only spark his curiosity further, he’ll stop at nothing to find out the truth if we do such a thing!” Sun Ruhui warned her.

“Then we’ll be on the same page. I want to speak with Ji Fangluo, we need to see if we can negotiate a working agreement,” Kayla replied.

Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing exchanged uneasy glances.

“Won’t that place you in greater danger?” Hu Qing asked. “The more he knows, the more precarious our situation will be!”

Kayla let out a sigh. “Riches and glory are found in danger, are they not? Right now, our situation is heading towards outright conflict with the Seventh Prince. What I want to do is to put us all on the same side, with the same enemy.”

Sun Ruhui frowned slightly, hesitating to speak.

“I’m not abandoning the Zhao clan,” Kayla explained. “If the whole clan is done for, then I’m done for as well. What I’m saying is that both the Seventh Prince and Qu Boyong are people who only accept soft approaches and not harsh ones. We need to act accordingly.”

“Maybe you should sleep on that for a bit, I doubt my brother is in any rush to spill the truth to the Seventh Prince,” Hu Qing suggested.

Sun Ruhui nodded. “Your ideas are sound, but perhaps we should deliberate some further,” he added diplomatically.

Kayla couldn’t blame them for their hesitancy, given everything that had happened.

“No, listen to me. I wish to borrow a knife to commit murder, rather than acting myself, I want the Grand Duke to die at Xianchun’s hands. I’ll give him exactly what he wants.”

“I’m not sure that’ll help you,” Hu Qing shot down the idea. “Given that man’s personality, it’s hard to say if he would then turn around and call you unfilial or something.”

Kayla shook her head. “Not if he knows that the Grand Duke killed my parents. I’ve been going about this the wrong way, trying to be on his good side while walking on eggshells around him. In truth, I should be teaming up with him, shouldn’t I?”

“You wish to side with the Seventh Prince?” Sun Ruhui asked in alarm.

Kayla smiled, her eyes flashing with a conspirational glint.

“Absolutely not. Only in the matter of revenge would I align with the Seventh Prince. As for the succession to the throne, I wish to side with the Third Prince.”

Cultural Notes

走他的路让他无路可走/Go his path and leave him with no path to go down: A common trope/meme in modern Chinese novels, such as when an Emperor infiltrates a rebel movement, rebelling against himself and thereby rendering everyone's efforts ineffective (yes, this happens in various stories, it's always made to make sense some way or another). Alternatively, a woman confronted with a Handsome Overbearing CEO uses his tactics to reverse-harass him, frightening him off from harassing her any further (examples involve kabedon-ing him, tossing cash at him when he protests, princess carrying him without consent, and using ridiculous pickup lines from the CEO's repertoire until he thinks that "this woman is insane, I'm out of here", or, they somehow become a pair).

Temporary Aphasia/Bilingual Aphasia: Aphasia is a condition in which someone temporarily or permanently loses their ability to read/write/speak/understand speech. Bilingual aphasia is when a bilingual person suffers from aphasia, which may result in more language loss for one language over another, or being unable to understand one language but still understand another one. I have taken a lot of artistic license with this to combine the two, please note that this is not an accurate description of a medical condition.

走漏风声/Leak the sound of wind: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to accidentally leak a secret or a plot.

推己及人/Extend one's feelings to another's experiences: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to show empathy for someone in a similar situation, approximately equivalent to "Do not to others what you do not wish done to yourself"

头风/Head wind: A concept in traditional Chinese medicine that covers what Victorian England called "Brain fevers", which were approximately equivalent to strange behavior caused by inflammation of parts of the brain. Head wind can incorporate anything from brain inflammations and blood clots to tumors and migraines.

轻生/Make light of your life: An Ancient Chinese term for suicide.

寻短见/Seek shortsighted means: An Ancient Chinese term meaning to seek an end to your life shortsightedly.

对症下药/Administer medicine to the symptoms: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to react according to the specific situation.

仕不可以不弘毅，任重而道远/A gentleman cannot refuse to do great things, having a heavy burden and a long path: Originating from a quote from The Analects, the "gentleman" here refers to a member of the educated class, who then has the right to try and become an official. The full quote says, "士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远。仁以为己任，不亦重乎？死而后已，不亦远乎?/An educated gentleman must be resolute and broad-minded, for he has taken up a heavy responsibility and a long course. Is it not a heavy responsibility, which is to practice benevolence? Is it not a long course, which will end only with his death?"

助纣为虐/Assist Zhou in his [tyrannical] abuse: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to directly or indirectly contribute to the problem. Zhou, not the Zhou used for the Imperial Family, was a tyrant in pre-Qin China (from the Shang Dynasty) known for his abuses of power.

一哭二闹三上吊/One cry, two [throw a] tantrum, three hang yourself: A Chinese saying referring to what is known as the classic three-step set used by women to achieve their goals/protest a decision. While it's often used in derision, or to imply the woman is being unreasonable, it's often missed that one of the only recourses a woman had over her household was to threaten their reputation with her own life. This may also be applied to situations where the person in question is in a position of lesser power and prestige.

富贵险中求/Riches and power are found in danger: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that fortune favors the bold.

吃软不吃硬/Eat [up a] soft [approach] but not a hard [approach]: A Chinese saying referring to someone for whom harsh words and disciplinary measures don't work, but gentle persuasion and smooth words do the job.

借刀杀人/Borrow a knife to commit murder: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to do something sinister by someone else's hand, whether through manipulation or making a deal.

97-Power Base

Character Index

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice, Kayla's supporter.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Minister Liang, Kayla's retainer.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and teacher of the Imperial Princess and current Emperor, Kayla's godfather.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, a maternal nephew of the Emperor. Seeking revenge for the extermination of the Xiang clan.

Ji Fangluo: A pregnant woman filing a case on her father's behalf. The case is tied to the framing and subsequent extermination of the Xiang clan, but has progressed slowly due to the neutral faction.

Ji Yantao: Ji Fangluo's father and formerly an accountant for the Xiang clan. He suffers from PTSD from losing his wife and unborn son during the extermination of the Xiang clan and has stayed out of Qu Boyong's revenge plot as a result.

Tao Qian: One of Kayla's employees, assigned by Hu Qing to be her bodyguard. He saved Kayla when the Grand Duke attempted to kill her.

Sun Zhong'e: One of Kayla's employees, a woman who is good with healing magic, but only through unorthodox methods.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with Wenyuan's mother.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and a magical researcher.

Sixth Princess: Wenyuan's cousin, she is wheelchair-bound due to illness, and her maternal clan is one of the leaders of the northern tribes.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.

“Only in the matter of revenge would I align with the Seventh Prince. As for the succession to the throne, I wish to side with the Third Prince.”

Kayla’s declaration was met with a brief moment of silence before Sun Ruhui finally nodded.

“If that is what you wish, then I have no arguments. But there are many factors to consider, my lord. Whether it’s dealing with the palace or dealing with the princes, we’ll have to act carefully. Please give me some time to think of a plan, and rest up in the meanwhile,” Sun Ruhui said.

She couldn’t tell if Sun Ruhui was just appeasing someone he thought was emotionally unstable, or if he genuinely agreed.

It doesn’t matter, I’ll try again once I’ve hammered out the plan properly. He’ll understand once he sees the underlying logic.

“That sounds reasonable,” Kayla replied.

Hu Qing glanced between the two of them before nodding with satisfaction. He activated a cleaning talisman to get rid of the shards on the ground, turning over Kayla’s slippers to ensure there weren’t any left inside.

“I’ll have the servants notify the Imperial Edict Bearer and bring you something to eat,” Hu Qing said. He returned momentarily, with a new cup of water. Kayla absentmindedly downed its contents.

I think I know how to deal with Xianchun, but how do I negotiate with Qu Boyong? He’s in so deep that he probably won’t listen to reason.

If that was the case, she needed to gain leverage over him. She had something to hold over his head in the form of Chujiao, who was still under Kayla’s “protection”, but threatening him outright would have minimal effects.

The easiest way was to create debt between them, through whatever means necessary.

“Speaking of Ji Fangluo, she’s filing a case on behalf of her father, isn’t she?” Kayla asked distantly.

“Indeed, her father’s ill, so she’s the one handling everything,” Sun Ruhui replied.

“And where is this man?”

Sun Ruhui hesitated to reply. “That–”

“Ji Yantao’s renting a room just outside the city center,” Hu Qing cut in. “He barely goes outside since the widow who owns the house brings him meals, and his daughter lives separately from him.”

Kayla glanced at him, a sharp glint in her eyes.

“The Grand Duke doesn’t know about Ji Fangluo’s case, or what it entails. We should leave him a hint,” Kayla said.

Sun Ruhui jolted but didn’t say anything in protest.

“Send Tao Qian and a few others to watch over Ji Yantao day and night. The second he’s in danger, be sure to swoop in and save him,” Kayla continued. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sun Ruhui relax slightly.

Hu Qing frowned. “Tao Qian should watch over you. Don’t forget that you’ve injured the Grand Duke. Do you think he would just let you off easily? He’ll definitely send someone to kill you.”

“There are lighter matters and heavier ones. This should take precedence over everything else,” Kayla replied. “Just get me a few more bodyguards. What they lack in skill, they can make up for in numbers.”

“Alright then,” Hu Qing said reluctantly. “I’ll send him over. How about adding Sun Zhong'e to the team? Just in case the old man gets frightened out of his wits, it would be good to have a healer on hand.”

“Good thinking. Add her.”

Kayla was about to continue, but Hu Qing held up a hand to silence her. After a moment, there was a knock at the door.

“Minister, my master is here to see you,” the steward announced.

“Please come in,” Kayla said, hastily getting up from the bed. Hu Qing and Sun Ruhui shuffled to the side, bowing as Wei Guang entered. Kayla bowed her head, stepping forward to greet him.

“No need. Sit down and add some layers, you’ll catch another fever at this rate,” Wei Guang ordered. Kayla obeyed. Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing silently filed out, leaving with the steward and closing the door behind them.

“How are you feeling?” Wei Guang asked.

“I’m perfectly fine now, thanks to godfather’s care. I apologize for causing so much trouble,” Kayla replied.

“You gave us quite a fright, but what matters is that you’re fine,” Wei Guang said. “If you’re feeling well enough, could you tell me what Lady Lin showed you?”

Kayla complied, giving him a basic rundown. She left out anything related to her true identity or the original timeline in which Wenyuan had died and stayed dead. Wei Guang’s expression grew increasingly darker as she spoke. By the time she finished, he looked ready to rip someone apart with his bare hands.

“I apologize for my incompetence, godfather. But I’m sure that this is only part of the story–there’s definitely a way to avoid all this, it is merely my current approach that is lacking,” Kayla said quickly.

The last thing I need is for him to toss me away, where the fuck would that leave me?

“The situation is much worse than I expected. What plans have you for dealing with this?” Wei Guang asked.

“I’ll play the victim in front of the Seventh Prince to lower his guard and hand him the Grand Duke on a silver platter. Then, I’ll push the Third Prince to the throne,” Kayla said.

“How will you do it?”

“My parents died under suspicious circumstances. My father’s death was definitely the Grand Duke’s doing, and my mother’s…well, no one can prove that it was him, but no one can prove that it wasn’t him either,” Kayla replied. “If the Seventh Prince knows of my parent’s deaths before he learns of his mother’s murder, then he’d be hard-pressed to view me as an enemy even when the information is uncovered, and that leaves us more leeway for staying in the political arena.”

Wei Guang nodded slowly.

“You would even make use of your own parents’ deaths…you really are the culmination of both the Zhao line and the Zhou line,” he said.

Kayla lowered her head. Of course he wouldn’t like it, he was the Imperial Princess’ teacher.

“My mother loved this country, and my father did too. Had they survived, I would never have cause to worry for our dynasty’s future. But in their absence, I have to do everything I can to ensure its survival, even if it's using their deaths as a shield,” Kayla replied, scrabbling towards the moral high ground.

Wei Guang shook his head. “No matter, it may be for the best that her child is like this. If that’s what you wish to do, then I’ll support your plans. Is there anything else Lady Lin spoke to you of? She mentioned to me that you had an important secret she wished to discuss in person.”

Fuck, that woman didn’t out me, did she?

“It’s about my nullification magic,” Kayla said instead, refusing to elaborate. Wei Guang gave her a thoughtful look, a solemn expression on his face. It made her uneasy.

“Godfather, is something the matter?”

Wei Guang let out a heavy sigh. “I sent someone to check with Lady Lin after your return, and they’ve sent back a message.”

Oh shit. Did she tell him who I really am?

“Yes?” Kayla prompted.

“Lady Lin has passed away,” Wei Guang said gravely.

“What?!” Kayla shot to her feet, shock coursing through her veins.

“Take it easy, Wenyuan. Sit down, your body’s still recovering.”

Kayla complied. “How…how did she pass away? I was speaking with her just this morning and she seemed fine!”

Wei Guang didn’t say anything, silently stroking his beard.

“She mentioned that she exchanged years off her life to view the future, but I didn’t think it would be this bad!” Kayla said. As much as Lady Lin had pissed her off, Kayla felt a little guilty in retrospect.

Wei Guang continued to watch her for a moment before he spoke.

“That was not the case, Wenyuan. It would seem that she was murdered.”

Kayla gave him a look of disbelief. “What?! But she’s a divinator!”

“Divination is not omnipotent,” Wei Guang said, his voice a little gentler. “But I suspect that she knew they were coming. You arrived much earlier than expected today. If I'm not wrong, she was the one who sent you back in a rush.”

Kayla felt a rush of coldness in her veins.

They were after me?

“But who–” Kayla cut herself off.

The Grand Duke. Kayla could think of many people who would try, but only one who could chase her all the way to Lady Lin’s place.

Then why did Wei Guang say it like that–was he testing me? Panic spiked in her chest. Kayla squashed it down. If Wei Guang wanted to work out his suspicions, then let him. Emotional blackmail and some acting skills may get her a part of the way, but he was a seasoned veteran. For long-term cooperation, it was better for him to understand what Kayla’s true nature was.

“May she rest in peace,” Kayla finally said.

“I’ll arrange for her funeral,” Wei Guang said. “But I believe this is a good indication of how serious the situation is. Since you wish to push the Third Prince to the throne, I’ll assume that you don’t plan to simply act within the limits of your position?”

Kayla hesitated before answering honestly.

“I thought that aligning myself with the palace would be my way out. I believed that as long as I didn’t hanker after what I wasn’t given and accepted what I was offered, then the palace’s trust would be my strongest protection. But it seems that is not the case. Do you disagree, godfather?”

Wei Guang pressed his mouth into a thin line, a displeased expression on his face.

“I only wish to do what is best for this country,” Kayla added.

“And how far will you go for that goal?” Wei Guang shot back.

Is he testing me or does he disagree? Kayla couldn’t get a grip on his intentions.

“Anything short of treason.”

Wei Guang’s eyes narrowed.

“The traditionalists are a bunch of doddering old fools who tremble at the slightest danger. The Court of Judicial Review would quickly capitulate and abandon you if the palace was pressuring them. The Imperial Investigator’s Bureau is the Emperor’s, and the Ministry of Justice is only nominally under your influence. The provincial officials you’ve promoted have barely gotten their own footing, much less worry for your sake. If you really come down to it, all you have is the Imperial Edict Bearer, the Left Secretariat of Justice, a young girl, and a cut-sleeve retainer,” Wei Guang said severely. “If you really want to make your own path, you need a proper power base of your own.”

So he’s supporting me?

Kayla nodded slowly. “Please lend me your advice.”

Wei Guang sighed. “If you cannot gain one in the short run, then co-opt another’s. Your mother’s investigation would allow you to rein in the Grand Duke’s faction if used correctly. Do you need to make another trip to the villa?”

“I doubt Grandmother would let me even if I needed to,” Kayla replied. “I have some coded notes right here.” She pulled out the scrolls of English notes, showing them to Wei Guang.

A subtle look flashed over his face.

“This code…”

“Yes? Is something wrong with it, godfather?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang shook his head. “It just reminds me that your mother often wrote in code as well. It was different from yours but it also used a series of repeating characters. She would scribble in code on her assignments since she was a child. I used to scold her for it, but she would always say it was a coherent language of its own…” He trailed off.

A strange sense of foreboding swept over her.

“May I take a look at what she wrote?” Kayla asked. “It’s no rush, of course, but if I could see it, perhaps I would be able to decode them.”

“If you want to try, I’m happy to find them for you,” Wei Guang replied. “I keep all my students’ assignments. But I digress. From now on, you’ll need to make as many friends as you can and as few enemies as possible, the opposite of what you’ve been doing so far. My influence alone won’t be enough. Can you look to the Third Prince for help?”

“I believe so, especially if I hint at my intentions of supporting him. In addition to him and the Fifth Prince, I’d like to try allying with the Sixth Princess as well,” Kayla said.

Wei Guang nodded. “Good, try that. It won't be enough, but it'll be a starting point. But don’t mistake your priorities, your first step should still be dealing with the palace. No matter what they ask you, bring up the Ministry of Revenue immediately and downplay everything that happened in the Zhao household as much as possible. They still need you, so they’ll accept it.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “I understand, godfather. Thank you for the advice.”

Four assassins knelt before a folding screen, their heads carefully lowered. Unlike usual, the Grand Duke did not appear before them but rather remained hidden from sight.

“Were my instructions not clear? That brat was not to return to the capital alive!” The Grand Duke snarled.

The team leader winced, knowing they were in for it now. “I truly apologize, my lord. We had trouble tracking him down, and by the time we found him, it wasn’t possible to kill him subtly anymore–”

“When did I say to kill him subtly?”

The team leader glanced at Housekeeper Wang for help, but the housekeeper resolutely avoided eye contact from where he stood next to the folding screen.

“But he was accompanied by guards from the Wei household,” the team leader protested feebly.

“And what of it?” The Grand Duke demanded.

“We found who he was meeting with,” the team leader offered. “A blind old woman. she seemed to be a mage. Minister Zhao had left her alone in the cave.”

The Grand Duke remained silent, Housekeeper Wang speaking up on his behalf. “Did you get anything out of her?”

The team leader faltered. “That–she bit her tongue off before we could ask anything.”

“You didn’t bring any healing talismans?” Housekeeper Wang pressed on.

The assassins glanced at each other. They hadn’t bothered healing the old woman, being in too much of a rush to chase after Zhao Wenyuan. But the Zhao scion’s party had moved so quickly that they hadn’t gotten a chance to intercept them until right outside the capital, where it was too risky to make a move.

“Useless, the lot of you!” Housekeeper Wang snapped, looking down on them disdainfully.

“You weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand the situation!” One of the assassins protested. “We had to chase down the target–”

“But you failed at that too, didn’t you?” Housekeeper Wang shot back.

“Enough. You pathetic bastards failed, and that’s all there is to it. Since Zhao Wenyuan isn’t dead, you will pay the price,” the Grand Duke thundered, silencing the squabbling that had broken out. “A life for a life. Select one of your own to bear the punishment.”

If they refused, they would die. They knew that perfectly well, having made it happen multiple times for other teams. Even though they knew it was only a matter of time before they were on the receiving end, it still caught them blindsided.

The assassins froze on the spot for a moment, dread curling up in their chests before all four of them sprang into action. Following the team leader, three assassins attacked the man who had spoken back to Housekeeper Wang. The man tried to run but didn't get two steps away. Standing over the body of their former comrade, the remaining three exchanged uneasy looks before turning back to the Grand Duke and kneeling.

“My lord, we’ve carried out the punishment,” the team leader said. The room was deadly silent for a long stretch before the Grand Duke spoke again.

“If you’ve learned your lesson, then go on and make up for your failure. I want Zhao Wenyuan dead. I don’t care how you do it, but absolutely do not give him a chance to plead for his life or even to speak.”

“Understood, my lord. We will not let you down,” the team leader promised. Housekeeper Wang waved at them to go, and the assassins left with their comrade’s dead body in tow.

Housekeeper Wang stepped behind the folding screen, approaching the Grand Duke.

“My lord, should I contact your allies in the court to launch an attack?” Housekeeper Wang asked. The Grand Duke turned towards him. Once towering over everyone else by at least half a head, the Grand Duke now needed Housekeeper Wang to bend over to speak with him. Confined to a wheelchair by the effects of Wenyuan's poison needle, he was far from being as intimidating as before.

“No, don’t bother. That brat always finds a way to twist things in his favor. With the Imperial Edict Bearer behind him, he’ll only be like a tiger that has gained wings. For a man like that, death is the only solution,” the Grand Duke said. His eyes narrowed in malicious amusement. “Every man’s corpse rots just the same. Even the Empress Dowager herself will be helpless to do anything.”

“I understand, my lord. I will see it done.” Housekeeper Wang bowed his head, a chill running down his spine. He knew better than anyone else that the Grand Duke before him, wheelchair and all, was more terrifying than ever before.

Zhao Wenyuan, you’ve really sealed your own fate, Housekeeper Wang silently remarked to himself. You only have yourself to blame.

By the time Wei Guang left Kayla’s room, Caichun had already been anxiously waiting outside for a while. Kayla didn’t even notice Caichun entering, followed by Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing. The three of them exchanged uneasy looks of confusion as Kayla continued to be lost in her thoughts.

Co-opting a power base doesn’t do enough. Once the Grand Duke goes down, most of them will too. It’s only an emergency measure. Wei Guang had mentioned as much, but the question of how to deal with that was a problem.

And if things really do go south, I need to be able to run, even with all the eyes watching my every move.

“My lord, are you feeling alright?” Sun Ruhui’s voice cut into her thoughts.

“I’m fine,” Kayla replied, jolting back to attention. “Sit down, I need to speak with you guys. You all know that I went to speak with Lady Lin, the divinator who worked with my mother, right? Let’s just say that things aren’t looking good right now.”

Kayla repeated the summary she had given to Wei Guang, followed by a brief rundown of her discussion with her godfather.

“That’s so messed up,” Hu Qing complained the second Kayla finished talking. “How is the son so much worse than the father? At least our Emperor hasn’t fucked up the country this much.”

“Mess or not, does anyone have any ideas? It’s also alright if you feel like backing out, it’s not too late to move as far away from the capital as you can manage,” Kayla offered. Foolish as it was, Kayla actually meant it.

All three shook their heads. Caichun was particularly vehement, looking offended that Kayla had even suggested it.

“Caichun, what do you think?” Kayla asked.

“I don’t believe that divinator really knows what the future holds,” Caichun replied firmly. “Think about it, if the future was set, why would she call you over? Knowledge shapes your perception of the world and influences your decisions. In other words, showing you this future may very well be the impetus for changing it altogether.”

“A recursive solution? It’s possible,” Kayla remarked. “Then does anyone have any objections to the new approach I’ve decided on?”

Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing shook their heads, but Caichun raised her hand.

“Minister, if I may, I have a few words to say,” Caichun said.

“I’d gladly hear your advice,” Kayla said, gesturing for her to speak.

“My words don’t qualify as advice, but I’m grateful for your patience in bearing with me,” Caichun replied. “They say that every man has responsibility for the rise and ruin of a country. You should worry for the people if you are in a high position in court, and you should worry about the central government if you are far away, among the rivers and lakes. It is an official’s responsibility and privilege to worry about the country’s worries as a priority, and only then indulge in its joys. Though I cannot reach such lofty goals, I aspire to them, and thus cannot remain silent when faced with a misjudgment, rude as my words may be.”

“It’s rare to see such a mindset,” Sun Ruhui remarked.

“Then that’s truly a pity! I had always aspired to serve the dynasty, even though I was disqualified from trying on the basis of being a woman, but those who were able to become officials waste their positions on personal gain!” Caichun said passionately. “Minister, with the current condition of the government, it doesn’t matter even if the Seventh Prince doesn’t become Crown Prince. Isn’t our focus a little too narrow if it’s the dynasty’s survival that we’re aiming for?”

I didn’t know she was this idealistic. It would worry me if it were anyone else, but she’s talented enough and practical enough to navigate the murky waters…it really would be a waste if she wasn’t an official.

“Then let me ask you, what do you think we should be doing right now?” Kayla asked, keeping her voice carefully neutral. Caichun began to look a little nervous but quickly collected herself.

“That…I know that you’re focused on the neutral faction, and we’re primarily concentrating our energy on balancing the Imperial Court. But given the concerns you have for the country’s future, we should be worrying more about the foundation of the dynasty.”

Kayla tilted her head slightly. “And what is that?”

“The ancient greats have said that the people are the foundation, the administration is lesser in importance, while the ruler is least important,” Caichun said after a moment of hesitation. “You spoke of consecutive years of famine, plague, and invasions along the north–and yet we have no way of dealing with that. Even if the Third Prince becomes Emperor, all we might see is that resources and disaster aid would be distributed more efficiently, but what about the invasions from the North? What about the depletion of the grainage stores and the overpopulation of refugees in the Southern provinces? You may think that we have our hands full in the capital right now, but I think we should be worrying about mitigating the impact that the upcoming disasters will have on the populace.”

“How? With what power? What resources?” Kayla shot back a volley of questions.

Caichun’s back seemed to straighten even more as she replied. “For methods, there are many. The simplest would be the redistribution of magical resources. Noble households and major clans are oversaturated with magical devices and spells, and the capital has an overabundance since this is where most magic users choose to work. We have magic for entertainment and for war, but not for agriculture. We have magic for the whim of every noble, but not for communication magic between the villages and towns. If we could redistribute–”

“How would we manage that? We have so many enemies already, and you’re speaking of increasing their numbers, and on a national scale as well,” Kayla cut Caichun off.

“You will gain the enmity of the nobles and the major clans, I won’t deny that. But what you’ll gain in turn is much more important–the populace’s support and the unconditional backing of the Imperial Family. If you have the heart of the people, then combined with your bloodline, it’s the equivalent of having guaranteed immunity against the death penalty. Any official who attempts to get you killed will have their reputation dragged through the mud, and if any of the princes want to gain the populace’s loyalty, they will have to not only protect you, but also you treat you with respect. You’d also gain more say in who succeeded to the throne. Moreover, detracting from the clans means benefitting the Emperor, and creating vacancies for new people to rise to power. So long as you prove yourself capable and efficient, the throne would back you with everything they have,” Caichun explained.

Kayla remained silent, and Caichun gulped nervously under Kayla’s unreadable gaze. Sun Ruhui kept silent, watching Kayla intently.

“What do you think, Left Secretariat?” Kayla asked Sun Ruhui.

He bowed his head slightly. “It is worth considering, my lord. If we wish to form a power base of our own within the capital, the palace will retaliate. But if we wish to form one that doesn’t threaten the palace, then the only way for us to do so is outside of the capital.”

Kayla nodded at his response. After a long moment in which the room held still, Kayla smiled at Caichun.

“To think you had such broad-hearted ambitions, truly, it brings me to shame,” Kayla praised her.

She’s right, I’ve been focusing so much on the capital until now. But when you’re at a disadvantage, you could expand the playing field or add more players on one hand, and change the rules of the game on the other. Or even better, do both at once.

Kayla didn’t have such lofty ambitions as Caichun did. If it was possible for a relative of the Imperial Family to leave the country silently, she would’ve done so already. But with the Imperial Investigation Bureau watching her like a hawk, Kayla wouldn’t even make it to the first pass, much less the border.

Having the Bureau watch you is the absolute worst, they’re way too thorough. The only reason Yunqi and Cao Shuyi were able to make it out in the future is that the Bureau willingly turned a blind eye. But right now, the Emperor’s in charge, and he wants them to watch me. Trying to run will just get me killed off sooner.

On the other hand, idealistic as it sounded, Caichun’s idea was a viable path. Kayla hadn’t even gotten that far with planning how to build up her power base, but Caichun was already mapping out a route.

Kayla’s eyes crinkled with approval as she looked at the younger woman. I really hit gold with you, didn’t I?

Caichun flushed bright red, bowing her head slightly.

“I’m unworthy of such kind words, my lord.”

Kayla nearly raised an eyebrow at the change in address but said nothing on the matter.

She nodded to Hu Qing. “See if you can grab the steward for me, and ask him if my godfather has any surplus communication devices.”

If she wanted to do anything, she had to work with what she already had. Since an opportunity wouldn’t open up for her to make use of pre-existing resources, then she would just have to create one.

A moment later, Hu Qing returned with the steward in tow.

“Minister, my master wished to convey that he had a good number of communication devices in surplus and that you should use them however you like,” the steward told her.

“Excellent! Please convey my deepest gratitude. And if I may ask, how many do you mean when you say there’s a good number of them?” Kayla asked.

The steward bowed his head slightly. “My master used to dabble in magical research, so it was quite simple for him to gain them straight from the source. There is a warehouse of them for your use. There are at least three hundred and fifty devices in good condition and dozens more that can be easily refurbished.”

A warehouse?! Damn!

“Thank you,” Kayla said. The steward bowed and took his leave.

Kayla turned to Hu Qing. “Call Feng Yi for me and ask him if he’d like to be rich. As always, I’ll ensure his safety.”

If she wanted to interfere with the distribution of magical resources, she needed a proper excuse to do so. And what would be a better impetus than a case that revolved around it?

As long as Feng Yi went about selling communication devices to peasants and small businesses for cheap, it would devalue existing devices by reducing their scarcity. It wouldn’t take long before local nobility or influential clans tried to stop him, whether through legal means or by force. No matter which it was, Feng Yi could simply bring his case to the Court of Judicial Review, and Kayla would have a reason to start meddling in the provinces.

I feel a little bad for dragging Feng Yi into these things. Even if he doesn’t make any money, I’ll have to make sure he becomes rich.

“Will anyone connect this to the matter with the Seventh Prince and his strategist?” Sun Ruhui asked.

“I’ll just present it as having sponsored Feng Yi in exchange for making him leave the capital,” Kayla shrugged. There would be suspicions, of course, but she needed someone trustworthy to handle this.

“Let’s move as fast as we can,” Kayla said. “Time doesn’t wait for us, if we can’t keep up, we’ll be done for.”

Cultural Notes

断袖/Cut-sleeve: A term used in Ancient Chinese to refer to romantic or sexual relationships between men. Ancient China did not differentiate between homosexuality and bisexuality, and many men had both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. The term stems from a famous story of a Han dynasty Emperor who had to go to the convening of the court at an ungodly hour, but the Emperor's boyfriend was sleeping on his sleeve. In order to not wake his lover, the Emperor cut off his own sleeve.

天下兴亡匹夫有责/Every man has responsibility for the rise and ruin of a country: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

居庙堂之高则忧其民/If you are in a high position in court, you should worry for the people: A quote by Song dynasty official, educator, and writer Fan Zhongyan, the full quote is "居庙堂之高则忧其民,处江湖之远则忧其君/If you are in a high position in court, you should worry for the people. If you are far away, among the rivers and lakes, you should worry about the central government." This reflects his own philosophy as a public servant and scholar.

先天下之忧而忧/First worry about the country's worries: Another quote by Fan Zhongyan, the full quote is "You should first worry about the country's worries, and then take joy in the country's joys." Considering that many of his contemporary officials were highly corrupt/cared only about their own fame or power, this served as a recrimination against his colleagues.

民为本，社稷次之，君为轻/The people are the foundation, the administration is lesser in importance, while the ruler is least important: A quote by Mencius, a pre-Qin Confucian scholar/sage. He has always been a proponent of policies that benefitted the population rather than an elite majority and was famous for lambasting kings fearlessly.

得民心者得天下/Those who win the hearts of the populace will win the country: Usually used in terms of internal strife, especially in the scrabble for power between dynasties, but also applied to times of peace. Having the population's support means that you can always hide out and then start again, unlike those who are hated by the populace and will probably get torn to shreds if they fell from power.

心胸宽广/Heart and chest [are] wide and broad: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to have a big heart, to be able to think for the greater good over personal gain.

时不我待/Time does not wait for me: A proverb originating from a quote from The Analects "日月逝矣，岁不我与."/The sun and moon pass by, time does not stay with me."

98-The Privilege of Choice

Content Warning: Suicide ideation, depression.

Character Index

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, seeking revenge for his clan.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Cousin of Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong, she infiltrated the Zhao household from a very young age and has requited romantic feelings for Wenyuan. Currently held in "protection" by Kayla, in truth being kept as a hostage.

Ji Fangluo: A pregnant woman filing a case on behalf of her sickly father, which is in fact connected to the framing of the Xiang clan by the Grand Duke. Kayla has forcibly suppressed this case to prevent the Zhao clan from being sentenced to extermination.

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice and Kayla's supporter, he recently blackmailed Minister Liang over Hu Qing's birthright to prevent Ji Fangluo's case from progressing.

Chen Caichun: An ambitious young woman and a Chamberlain of the Court of Judicial Review. She is the younger half-sister of Imperial Investigator Chen Jian.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Minister Liang and rightful heir to the Liang clan, currently working as Kayla's retainer.

Minister Liang/Liang Shen: Minister of Justice and older half-brother of Hu Qing. Unlike Hu Qing, he and his mother were neglected by the late Lord Liang.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and moderator of the previous round of succession struggles. Deeply trusted by the current Emperor, he is also Kayla's godfather.

Matron Li: A senior female servant who watched over Wenyuan and his father. Originally sent by the palace.

Captain Jiang: An Imperial Guard Captain who was loyal to Xianchun in the original timeline after Xianchun helped him with his love life. He is in love with a palace maid, and Kayla helped him to win her hand in marriage by having the Sixth Princess interfere, preventing him from pledging his loyalty to Xianchun.

Zhoug Mingda: The Sixth Princess. A sickly young woman who is wheelchair-bound, she usually lives in the Summer Palace. Her maternal clan is powerful among the Northern tribes, hence why Kayla did her a favor.

Steward Liu: Wei Guang's long-time servant and loyal companion. No relation to Liu Boyue, Liu is just a really common surname.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man, he is currently on thin ice after Kayla indirectly exposed him for going behind Xianchun's back.

Under the cover of the night, Qu Boyong waited near the back gates of the Zhao household. No one could see him in the darkness, much less the scowl on his face. He hadn’t heard any news from Jing Shuyou in a while. It made sense that she had to play it safe, with everything going on.

Between the Seventh Prince’s spies getting caught and the fiasco with Zhao Wenyuan, Jing Shuyou had to be extra careful to keep her cover as Chujiao. It was part of the reason why Qu Boyong hadn’t even attempted to get any information from her before infiltrating the Grand Duke’s study.

But the Grand Duke hadn’t been seen by anyone for days on end, and Zhao Wenyuan was also mysteriously absent from the capital. And yet, Ji Fangluo’s case didn’t progress, and security around the Zhao household was tighter than ever. Right when he needed information the most, Jing Shuyou was completely unresponsive. Qu Boyong had used the usual signal for a meeting two nights in a row but hadn’t received any response.

Just what is she doing?

He couldn’t help but begin to entertain the possibility that she had gotten caught. It was almost impossible, given how careful Jing Shuyou was, but that caution seemed to fly out the window every time Zhao Wenyuan was involved. Gritting his teeth, Qu Boyong silently cursed the Zhao heir for stealing Shuyou’s heart, and apparently her wits as well.

His wordless grievances were cut short as he sensed movement from a nearby roof. Qu Boyong slinked further into the shadows, creating distance between himself and the area of suspicion.

There was a soft whooshing sound, and Qu Boyong instinctively darted back, exposing his position. He tensed, but only a cloth-covered package landed at his feet, and the area was once more deserted. Qu Boyong hesitated for a moment before picking up the package, cautiously shaking it before tucking it into his robes and leaving.

Once he was a safe distance away, he pulled out the package and opened it to find a scroll. The paper was of good quality, but common enough that he couldn't deduce anything more specific. Alarm bells immediately went off in Qu Boyong’s mind. He unrolled it hastily, panic rising into his throat at the message inside.

“Jing Shuyou’s cover has been exposed. She is safe, do not attempt contact.”

Qu Boyong buried his face into his hands, letting out a string of muffled curses.

Fuck! Shuyou was exposed?! How did that even happen?! He read over the message again with wild eyes.

Who is it? Who the hell is this?! There couldn’t have been more than a handful of people who knew Jing Shuyou’s real name–almost everyone knew her by Chujiao. Wiping away the cold sweat that beaded on his brow, Qu Boyong carefully scrutinized the situation again.

It was not only someone who knew who Jing Shuyou was but also the location where Qu Boyong would be waiting for her to respond to his signal, which meant that they had gotten her to talk. They had the ability to get a message to Qu Boyong’s exact spot without even exposing their own movements, and evidently had the resources to get Jing Shuyou out of the Zhao household even after she had been exposed.

Did they torture her or gain her trust? The former was worse, but the latter was more dangerous for their revenge. Qu Boyong ran the information through his mind again, and Zhao Wenyuan’s name popped up unbidden.

Could it have been him? Jing Shuyou had a deep level of trust in Zhao Wenyuan, and he had the ability and guts to openly take spies away from the household–getting Shuyou out would hardly be difficult for him. Zhao Wenyuan’s retainer was also skilled enough to sneak around right under the Bureau’s nose, as arrogant and flashy as the bastard was.

The problem was why Zhao Wenyuan had saved her. Was it out of sentiments for an old friend, or was he acting out of love? Qu Boyong felt his stomach turn.

Shuyou, please don’t do anything foolish. If she slept with Zhao Wenyuan, then Shuyou would become a concubine, or even worse, a mistress without an official position. It took every ounce of self-control Qu Boyong had to stop himself from marching straight up to the Wei household and demanding an explanation from Zhao Wenyuan.

Belatedly, the gravity of the situation occurred to him, freezing him in place.

He knows she’s Jing Shuyou and not Chujiao, then that means he definitely knows who I am. The coldness in his veins felt like it was tearing into his flesh.

Doesn’t that make Shuyou a hostage?

“That bastard…” Qu Boyong muttered out loud. Trembling with rage and fear, he crushed the paper in his fist and began to head back toward his residence, unaware that a pair of eyes were watching him curiously from a distance.

Kayla waved her goodbyes as Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun took their leave after a lengthy planning session. Hu Qing stayed behind to confirm some final details before he also prepared to go.

“One last thing,” Kayla called out to Hu Qing. He turned, looking at her curiously.

Kayla took a deep breath, steadying herself to make the offer. “My friend, are you interested in becoming the head of the Liang clan?”

Hu Qing froze, looking at her with wide eyes.

“Calm down, it’s fine regardless of whether you want to or not,” Kayla assured him. “I know you said before that you didn’t want to, but I wanted to confirm if those thoughts remained the same.”

Hu Qing’s face pulled into a frown. “And what would that entail?”

“Your brother would maintain his position at court, but I would help you become the new locus of power in the Liang clan. And if you were willing, I would arrange a match for you,” Kayla explained.

Hu Qing’s frown deepened. “You know that I don’t like women, right?!”

“You could let her have a lover on the side or something,” Kayla suggested.

“And just who is this pitiful bride?”

“Chujiao.”

Kayla, what the fuck?!

The horror in Wenyuan’s voice gave her pause but didn’t stop her.

Hu Qing gave Kayla a look of utter shock. “You want me to marry your woman?!”

“She’s not my–nothing has ever happened between us! You know that she is Qu Boyong’s cousin, right? If you were interested, I would draw up an alliance in this manner,” Kayla said.

“Wow. My lord, even if she’s not your lover, I really didn’t expect you to force her into a marriage like this! Isn’t that going a bit too far?” Hu Qing demanded.

“I won’t force her! I’ll try to make it happen, but I won’t push too far. You probably find it difficult to understand, but I’m trying to spare her from a fate that’s far worse,” Kayla said gravely. “She might be fine in the immediate future, but the rest of her life will be filled with suffering henceforth. If there’s something I can do about it, I can’t possibly refuse to try.”

Hu Qing’s look of outrage softened. “Did you see that for her future?”

“Yes,” Kayla replied. The answer was technically no, but Kayla didn’t mind stretching the definition a bit. The future was full of internal disasters and invasions, followed by civil war and continued inner strife. Even nobles were sure to suffer. As the closest relative of the Emperor’s only male maternal cousin, Chujiao would have been a key piece to gain hold of for every party who wanted to control Qu Boyong. She was highly unlikely to have emerged unscathed.

However, marrying her to Hu Qing would tie Chujiao to Kayla–Qu Boyong would have to hold back for his cousin, and Kayla would be able to stay in the political arena. Kayla would consider marrying Chujiao herself at this point, if not for the marriage arrangement with the Khaganate, which was arguably much more substantial in terms of political value.

“You mentioned Lordship and marriage, do both of those have to go together?” Hu Qing asked.

“No. If you don’t want to do either, or neither, that’s fine. If you’re fine with both but Chujiao absolutely refuses, then the marriage is a no-go,” Kayla assured him.

“I’m not interested in marrying her,” Hu Qing replied immediately.

Well, it was worth a try.

“No problem. What about lordship?”

Hu Qing sighed. “Is that something you’re in great need of?”

“Don’t worry about that. Only consider your own thoughts. I won’t be so shameless as to force you into anything, and your decision won’t affect how I think of you,” Kayla promised.

“It makes me uncomfortable to even think about this,” Hu Qing admitted after a short pause. “My brother always treated me quite well. He never hit me, and he took good care of me. It’s true that he would snap at me sometimes, or throw a tantrum, but he would regret it immediately when he spoke too harshly, and he would give me a bonus afterward. I’m alright with leaving the house, but uprooting his position just feels too ungrateful.”

Kayla nodded slowly. “I see, that’s understandable. It’s fine if you’re just not interested, but if you don’t mind me saying so, I don’t think you need to feel guilty for considering it. For one, that position was meant to be yours from the beginning. And also, just because he didn’t mistreat you doesn’t mean you can’t have your own ambitions. My situation with the Grand Duke is a little too extreme to use as an example. There's a friend of mine who might be a better example though.”

Hu Qing crossed his arms, but his frown had faded. Seeing that he was receptive, Kayla continued.

“My friend's parents had moved from their hometown to give him a better future, and his father was killed in a work accident. He was raised by his widowed mother, who went above and beyond to provide for his education. However, loving as she was, she was also very strict and had high expectations for her son, and constantly reminded him of his parent’s sacrifices. As a result, he turned out with extremely low self-esteem and a debilitating fear of failure. He ended up needing to seek help from a mentor, but when he told his mother of his improvement, she was deeply wounded. She accused him of being ungrateful and misconstruing her painstaking care for him as harmful, rather than appreciating everything she had done for him. They had a falling out, he left the house, and ended up dying before they could reconcile.”

“What the hell? That’s just sad,” Hu Qing said.

“Yes, but sad story aside, the point is that someone can cause you harm even when they treat you well and care for you, and it might not be anyone’s fault. They might not be malicious, and you might not be ungrateful, but that’s just how things are,” Kayla said. “When it’s not possible to deal with it any longer, then it might be better to just pursue your own path rather than continuing to cause harm to both parties. In your case, I don't think that you're the one who should feel guilty, but I also won’t push you any further than I already have. If you’re interested, bring it up to me. There won't be any further requests or expectations on my end. Just decide based on what you want to do, but don’t berate yourself just for considering the matter.”

“I’m not interested in politics, but I’ll think about it,” Hu Qing said after a long moment of thought.

“Take your time, if it bothers you too much, then just forget I ever brought it up,” Kayla added, starting to feel a little bad for being so aggressive with his family drama. Hu Qing was someone who stayed with her in the future even when she was at her lowest, the last thing she wanted was to alienate him.

“Alright, alright,” Hu Qing waved her off. “But if I do say yes, you better not retract your offer.”

Kayla felt a rush of hope. “I definitely won’t.”

Hu Qing nodded. “Get some rest, you’ll have to deal with the palace tomorrow.” Looking to be deep in thought, he left through the window and disappeared into the night.

She was left alone for the first time since waking up several chaotic hours ago, and Kayla let out a sigh of exhaustion. As despair-inducing as it was, the night wasn’t over yet. Wenyuan had been seething for a while now, and she owed him answers.

First you make use of my parent’s deaths, and now you want to make use of Chujiao! Kayla, just what are you trying to do?!

I’m trying to fix things so we can avoid the future we saw, Kayla replied steadily. I can understand your feelings, and I’m sorry. But at this point, I need to make use of everything that I possibly can, no matter what they are.

What’s the point of apologizing if you’re just going to do whatever you want?! I’m no longer useful to you, I'm just in the way now! Wenyuan snapped.

Don’t say that, I’ve never thought that way. Where on earth would I be without you?

Kayla’s words didn’t seem to appease Wenyuan in the slightest.

I’ve tried to just ignore it, but I can’t shut out what we see and hear–everything just keeps happening and there’s nothing I can do about it. Didn’t you experience it when you saw the future? Not having any control over your life is a terrible fate, why would you force it upon me if you consider me a friend?

Wenyuan, I–

Is it wrong for me to give up? I don’t understand, Kayla.

Kayla heaved a sigh, lying down on the bed and pulling a pillow over her face. Her heart twisted painfully, and she didn’t know if it was her own emotions or Wenyuan’s.

I have a plan, Wenyuan. I’m going to make things better, can’t you just stick around a little longer to see if you might like it?

You’re literally making use of my parent’s deaths. I can’t blame you, but I can’t condone it either.

Kayla squeezed her eyes shut, burying her face further into the fabric. She knew Wenyuan was filial, it was part of why he had suffered so much in the first place.

Not a single person noticed I was gone. Even Lady Lin–she didn’t care at all.

We didn’t ask, Kayla pointed out.

It doesn’t matter either way. You realized it too, didn’t you? Lady Lin knew all this would happen ahead of time, and warned my mother to prepare the soul magic. But even my own mother didn’t do this to save me, just to preserve the identity of Zhao Wenyuan as a political actor. What am I even staying here for? To watch the people I loved treat you better and like you better than they did me?

Kayla couldn’t deny it. Matron Li had been kind towards Wenyuan but had never told him that the Grand Duke wasn’t really his grandfather. The Emperor and Empress Dowager loved Wenyuan, but never even noticed he was gone. Even Chujiao, the woman he loved, had only sensed a change but not an absence.

Wenyuan, are you sure?

She knew that he was. Kayla couldn’t blame Wenyuan, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept his wish.

I’m sure. I’ve been stuck like this for months. Watching you succeed makes me feel useless and pathetic, but watching you fail makes me feel even worse. You can't even begin to imagine–

Kayla took a deep breath, steeling herself.

Ok.

What? Did you just agree? Wenyuan exclaimed in shock.

Yes.

Are you serious?

Yes. If I fail to avoid the timeline Lady Lin showed us, you’ll have to suffer through all of that. I don’t want to do that to you.

Wenyuan was silent, but Kayla could sense his gratitude and relief.

I was brought here against my will, and you’re forced to remain here against yours. If at least one of us can get out of this…you should get to choose. If I can do this for you, then I will.

Her eyes stung. Kayla blinked furiously, trying to keep her composure.

Kayla…thank you.

I’m the one who should be grateful to you for putting up with me.

She could sense Wenyuan’s elation. Kayla had expected it to some degree, but it still hurt to see him this eager to die.

I wish you all the best, Kayla. I always thought that if anyone could fix this, it would be you. Even with everything we’ve seen, I still believe that’s true. Wenyuan spoke gently, his voice soft and earnest.

Kayla furiously wiped at her eyes.

I don’t know what comes after this, but I hope everything goes well for you.

She felt the spiritual equivalent of a nod and took a deep breath. She concentrated, closing her eyes and focusing on rummaging through the magic twisted deep into their souls.

Kayla still hesitated when she found the tiny bit of magic that had been holding Wenyuan there but forced herself to go through with what she had promised.

She nullified the magic, and Wenyuan was gone. The sensation swept over her slowly, without pain or discomfort. Something seemed to have clicked into place, and she finally felt the familiar sensation of being the only soul in a body again.

There wasn’t an emptiness as she expected, but rather a sense of being full to the brim.

Wenyuan, Kayla tried calling out. There was no response.

He’s gone, she thought numbly. He’s really gone now.

The room felt larger and colder than it had been before. Kayla curled in on herself, overwhelmed by an uncomfortable blankness until sleep dragged her under.

Contrary to the turmoil Kayla had expected, the night went by with shocking normalcy and was followed by an uneventful morning. She had been granted an additional sick day by the Emperor and took that time to prepare for the next steps of her plan. Every time Kayla tried to think of Wenyuan, there was only the familiar numbness from before.

It’s not so different from when he was avoiding me before, Kayla thought before shaking her head. It felt completely different. The person who had always been at her side was well and truly gone. For some reason, she couldn’t summon any feelings of grief. Wenyuan's departure hadn't sunk in yet and showed no signs of doing so. Rather than dwell on the matter, Kayla threw herself into planning.

Wei Guang came over to check on her several times, and looked as though he wanted to say something but held himself back each time.

Did he hear about the whole fiasco with the cup? Kayla hoped that wasn’t the case. The last thing she needed was for Wei Guang to think she couldn’t handle the rough roads ahead.

Wei Guang stood still, letting his steward take his outer robe.

“Old Liu, what do you think about this godson of mine?” Wei Guang asked.

The steward crinkled up his eyes, a befuddled look on his face.

“Any godson of my lord is certain to be a good youngster,” the steward replied diplomatically.

“Come now, I wish for your opinion. You’ve interacted with him and his people, what are your thoughts?” Wei Guang asked.

“The Minister is a clever one, that’s for sure, and is good at dealing with emergencies. He does seem to be weighed down with worries all the time, but he actually seems to have steadied his footing after returning. It seems that his trip out of the capital was a much-needed break,” the steward said. “And as for his people…well, I’ve never seen a female official. But she seems like a good girl, if she’d shown up ten years earlier, I would’ve shoved my youngest son at her first chance I got.”

“You’re still so focused on potential daughters-in-law, you’ve already managed to match off all seven of those rascals, isn’t it time you took a break?” Wei Guang remarked.

The steward sighed, shaking his head. “Old habits die hard…and my oldest grandson is only a few years away from marriage age. They all say the more sons the more fortunate, but it’s really much more work than it’s worth.”

Wei Guang chuckled before his face grew serious again.

“Between his magic and his bloodline, Wenyuan’s more than capable of playing this role. But Old Liu, do you think that man has enough courage?” Wei Guang asked.

The steward looked at him with curiosity. “For what?”

“For doing the unthinkable,” Wei Guang replied vaguely. “Could he?”

“A desperate man will do anything,” the steward replied after a long pause. “The Minister’s like a drowning man without a clear way out before him or behind him, he’ll grab onto anything you toss at him.”

Wei Guang nodded slowly. “So you think that as well…good. Old Liu, about that Captain Jiang from the Imperial Guard, the one who got engaged with the palace maid recently. Find a way to let him know that Zhao Wenyuan was the one who arranged the Sixth Princess’ help, and see if you can create an occasion for the two of them to meet ‘coincidentally’.”

The steward gave him a curious look. “You want an Imperial Guard captain to owe him? Won’t that incur the palace’s suspicion?”

“That’s why we’re not doing this through the Sixth Princess,” Wei Guang calmly replied. “But it’s necessary to have someone in the Imperial Guard. Most of my old contacts have retired already, he needs people of his own.”

At the steward’s look of incomprehension, Wei Guang turned towards him and spoke pointedly. “Our current Emperor is wise enough, but what do we do if he chooses the wrong heir?”

The steward went completely still, carefully peering at Wei Guang’s expression. “My lord, you mean–”

Wei Guang nodded. “If worse comes to worst, he needs to be able to reverse the situation. We can’t let this country go to ruin because of a single misstep. After all…don’t you remember how we got the current Emperor on the throne?”

The steward bowed his head, sweat beading on his brow. “I understand, my lord. I’ll see it done.”

In a quiet corner of the Seventh Prince’s household, Liu Boyue sensed it the moment he was approached. He pretended not to, continuing down the empty corridor at a leisurely pace. The second the intruder dropped down from the roof, making an almost silent landing on the ground, Liu Boyue whirled around and launched his attack.

His knife clashed against a hastily raised sword, and Liu Boyue paused, looking at the intruder with curiosity.

“That sword…I’ve seen it before,” Liu Boyue murmured. “How strange, you’re not the man I met in the Zhao household.”

The intruder straightened up, lowering his weapon and holding out a hand to plead for peace.

“That was my companion, sir. I must apologize on his behalf for having caused you trouble,” the intruder replied. Liu Boyue glanced at the sword again before nodding, lowering his own knife.

The enemy of an enemy might not be a friend, but at least had something in common with him. Though Liu Boyue didn’t know who the man who had teamed up against Hu Qing with him was, he was curious.

“No need for such politeness. How is that friend of yours? Last I saw, he was injured quite badly,” Liu Boyue said.

The intruder nodded. “He’s still recovering, but he’ll be most grateful to hear of your concern.”

Liu Boyue tilted his head slightly. “May he make a swift recovery. But I’m sure you didn’t come all this way to exchange pleasantries, did you? What do you want from me?”

The intruder hesitated for a moment, peering intently into Liu Boyue’s eyes before he pulled down the black cloth covering his face. Liu Boyue took in the handsome young man before him with a modicum of shock.

“Qu Boyong?”

The man shook his head. “That’s just my pseudonym, sir. My real name is Xiang Daozong, and I’m the son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu.”

At Liu Boyue’s look of shock, he stepped closer with confidence.

“Sir Liu, I came here to propose an alliance.”

Cultural Notes

妾室vs.外室/Concubine vs. Mistress: It was not uncommon in Ancient China for a man to keep a mistress on the outside instead of marrying her as a concubine, either because his wife/family doesn't approve, or because the mistress' status is too low to marry in, even as a concubine (ex: a prostitute might count in this category if the guy's a douche). A mistress' status is even lower than that of a concubine, not being entitled to any financial support should her lover die, and her children wouldn't be entitled to anything unless her lover chooses to bring them into his household (he's socially but not legally obliged to do so).

世袭爵位/Inherited title: Titles were often given out as rewards in Ancient China for both military and (much less often) for civil officials. However, the title may be limited to just the official/officer who achieved something, or it may be inherited by their children, depending on the size of the contribution. An inheritable title tends to signify much greater achievements, and the Liang family qualifies in this category.

背井离乡/Turning away from your [home's] well and leaving one's hometown: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to leave your hometown, often with a note of lament/melancholy to it, and commonly used to signify that you didn't have any better options than to do so. Since Ancient China was a primarily agricultural society, one's hometown was literally one's basis of livelihood, hence the strong cultural emphasis on hometowns.

多子多福/More sons more fortune: An Ancient Chinese proverb that can also be interpreted as "more children more fortune". Since infant/child mortality rates were high, and a simple illness could end someone's life prematurely, having more children meant a higher chance that they would survive into adulthood. Also, agricultural technologies were relatively simplistic back then, and yields were relatively low, which meant that most people planted by hand and needed to do a lot more work just to maintain survival. You needed enough people on the farm to man the fields, or you'd be unlikely to survive even if you have enough land.

进退无所/No path forward or backward: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to have no way out, to be trapped.

救命稻草/Life-saving blade of straw: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the small amount of action/resources needed to get someone out of a bad situation that is often not available or made inaccessible, also means that it often takes very little to help someone out a lot.

99-The Palace Walls

Character Index

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather.

Yu Bianfu: A female General and Xianchun's left-hand woman. She was framed by Kayla for deceiving the Empress Dowager and withholding information about what she saw in the Zhao household.

Liu Hongyu: Former Secretariat Director, he died under house arrest after Kayla accused him of lese-majeste. He used to verbally harass Wenyuan during their drinking sessions, having been infatuated with the late Imperial Princess.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue and an ally of the Grand Duke. Unlike his peers who grew arrogant and careless with time, he has always been extremely careful, making the Ministry of Revenue a steel wall without any cracks or openings.

Sir Zheng: An eunuch who serves the Emperor, an ally of Xianchun.

Ji Yantao: A former accountant of the Xiang household, he was summoned to the capital as part of a revenge plot. His daughter Ji Fangluo is currently taking part in the plot on his behalf.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, seeking revenge on the Grand Duke.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend and right-hand man, currently in an awkward position after being exposed for going behind Xianchun's back.

Kayla entered the Emperor’s study and knelt to give her greetings. She had checked beforehand to make sure she looked suitably haggard, setting the stage for a new round of confrontations. After consulting at length with Wei Guang, the new approach she took with the Emperor was essentially a rehash of what she had done to frame Yu Bianfu. This time, she was framing the Grand Duke.

“Wenyuan humbly greets Your Majesty,” Kayla said, lowering her head to the ground. For some reason, it felt strange to say the words now that Wenyuan was no longer there.

“No need for formalities, Wenyuan. Come on over here and let your uncle take a look at you,” the Emperor waved her over. Kayla felt a rush of relief at the sight of his healthy visage, unmarked by worries and disease. He peered at her closely, frowning with concern as he took in the pallid tone of her face.

“Thank you for your kindness, Uncle. But I’ve recovered fully,” Kayla assured him.

“You still look quite pale, you should take some supplements. I’ll have the eunuchs pack some for you to take back,” the Emperor said.

Kayla thanked him and sat down where the Emperor gestured to and bowed her head in thanks as the Emperor pushed a plate of tea cakes at her.

“I was rather surprised to hear that you left the capital–and in such a hurry too. Wei Guang told me that there was a bit of a situation with your grandfather, but he didn’t go into details. What on earth had you running off like your tail was on fire?” The Emperor asked. Seeing that Kayla’s mouth was still full, he gestured for her to finish eating first. She gulped the food down as quickly as she could, making sure that her hands visibly trembled before hastily hiding them in her sleeves.

“Apologies, Uncle. I know that I acted rashly…and childishly, at that, and that I’ve caused you a great deal of inconvenience by running off so suddenly,” Kayla said sheepishly.

“No matter,” the Emperor waved off her apology, his curiosity sharpened by Kayla’s attempt to hide her nervousness. “Young men are supposed to be impulsive, better that you act rashly on this matter than on an important matter of state. But you’re usually a man of caution, what happened?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but I argued with my grandfather. It got…out of hand. I may have gone too far with my words, but he was so furious that I thought I might…” She drew her face into a look of faint horror, staring off into the distance.

“Wenyuan?” The Emperor prompted her, his voice taking on a note of unease.

Kayla jolted back to attention, eyes wide and disoriented. “U-uncle, I apologize.”

“No need,” the Emperor said, his expression growing solemn. “Keep going, what happened with your grandfather?”

“He–nothing. Nothing happened, we argued, and I just got frightened and left. I-it was just an act of impulse,” Kayla hastily replied.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

The Emperor’s face furrowed with displeasure. “Wenyuan, you know full well that lying to the Emperor is a serious crime. You would knowingly break the law?”

Kayla got out of her seat and knelt, bowing her head. “That was not my intention, I beg your forgiveness!”

“Get up! I’m not trying to hand out punishments here, Wenyuan. I just asked you a simple question, why is it so difficult to get a clear answer from you?” The Emperor reached out, tugging Kayla up. She meekly complied and returned to her seat.

“Uncle, I’m not lying to you, nor am I trying to withhold an answer. It’s the truth that nothing really happened, I just got frightened and ran off,” Kayla said, a pleading note in her voice.

“You’re a third-rank official of the court, what on earth could've frightened you so badly?” The Emperor demanded.

Kayla broke eye contact, slowly lowering her head.

“I..I thought he would kill me,” she said in a small voice. The Emperor leaned forward, frowning.

“You’re his heir and my nephew. Even if he ate a bear’s heart or a cougar’s gall, he wouldn’t dare to kill you over a mere argument. What on earth do you have to fear?”

“As you know, my grandfather has always been…strict with my education,” Kayla said, avoiding his gaze. “So when he threw an inkstone at my head, I just overreacted out of instinct.”

The Emperor took a sharp breath. “Instinct?” He asked in a low voice.

Bingo.

“No, I mean–” Kayla feebly began to protest.

“That time you were ill for three weeks after your twentieth birthday, was your grandfather responsible?” The Emperor demanded.

That was not the immediate connection she expected him to make, but Kayla was more than happy to go along with it. Wenyuan had actually just been ill that time, the stress of his drinking sessions with Liu Hongyu having worn down his immune system. But she was trying to portray the Grand Duke as someone arrogant and bold enough to openly try to kill Wenyuan over an argument, what did it matter if she twisted the truth a little?

She didn’t reply, lowering her head instead.

“You had no fear taking on the entire court, but you fear for your life when arguing with him,” the Emperor said, his voice taking on an angry note. “Why did you never bring this up to me?”

And how did this guy never notice the domestic abuse right under his nose?

Kayla decided to keep that question to herself.

“The country has its laws, the family has its discipline,” Kayla replied. “Even though I stand opposing him as an official, as a grandson, I can’t go against my grandfather if he punishes me according to the family’s rules.”

“You fool! Family discipline is one thing, but if it threatens your life, it counts as harming an official of the court!” Despite the sharpness of his words, the Emperor’s words were wrought with worry and sympathy.

“I apologize, Uncle,” Kayla said. “But this time, it really was nothing. I just reacted out of fear and ended up causing such a mess.”

“Don’t apologize, I can’t blame you for such a thing,” the Emperor replied, his tone softening. “I’ll do something about this, so don’t worry too much about it. Just focus on recovering your health and returning to work.”

“Thank you!” Kayla bowed her head.

The Emperor waved off her thanks. “Your grandmother also wanted to see you, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

Kayla took the cue to leave and left, glancing over at Sir Zheng where he stood at the entrance to the study. Seeing that he was carefully pretending not to have listened in, she left for the Empress Dowager’s residence in satisfaction.

Kayla chose to forego the theatrics with the Empress Dowager, giving an excuse about discord with the Grand Duke and proceeding to politics within a record-breaking three minutes’ worth of time. The second she got a chance, Kayla turned the topic towards Dong Shiqing and dealing with the Ministry of Revenue. It was only after she finally ran out of ways to keep the discussion on court politics that the Empress Dowager even got the chance to ask after Kayla’s illness.

“Thank you for your concern, grandmother. I apologize for worrying you, but I’m fine now,” Kayla said politely.

The Empress Dowager smiled, looking every bit the affectionate grandmother.

“Good, good. I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling better now,” she said gently. “Your uncle and I know full well how much effort you’ve put into serving the court, but you should prioritize your health.”

“Thank you, grandmother,” Kayla said, bowing her head slightly. Despite the kind words, Kayla couldn’t help but instinctively keep her guard up.

Is she really going to let the matter go so easily when I even dragged in Wei Guang to ward her off? It’s not like her to be so generous when I’m wriggling out from her grasp.

“That’s right, Wenyuan. Did you happen to use the nullification talisman I gave you?”

Kayla felt her blood run cold. Of course, she fucking knows about the magic nullification–does that mean she knows about everything else as well?

She forced herself to calm down. Now that Wenyuan was truly gone, Kayla couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious, as though his unnoticed absence would somehow expose her as an imposter.

“That’s right, grandmother. Even though the situation didn’t really necessitate it, I panicked while arguing with my grandfather and ended up activating it,” Kayla said apologetically. “I’m sorry for wasting such a precious resource.”

The Empress Dowager stared at Kayla intently. “It can’t be helped,” she replied, evidently not convinced in the slightest. “These things do happen, I’ll see to it that you receive a replacement.”

Kayla bowed her head. “Thank you, grandmother.”

“Of course, it is only what I should do as your elder. But you should also take more care not to use the replacement carelessly,” the Empress Dowager said meaningfully. “If something does happen to necessitate its use, I hope that you will tell me truthfully.”

The thinly-veiled warning actually calmed Kayla down, reminding her that the Empress Dowager still needed the neutral faction and “Zhao Wenyuan”.

She may have discarded me in the future I saw, but right now, there’s no one who can replace me. Even if she knows anything, all she can do is issue threats.

“I would not dare to withhold anything from you, grandmother,” Kayla replied.

The Empress Dowager nodded, smiling with satisfaction, but Kayla knew that the page hadn’t been turned yet.

“Wenyuan, I know that you’ve focused more on civil affairs rather than martial ones in your studies, so it may be difficult for you to gauge just how dangerous a situation is at times,” the Empress Dowager said. “Why don’t I assign you a few of my guards?”

So she wants to put me under even more surveillance than she already has? The Empress Dowager’s people have a unique status, if they refuse to leave me alone when I need to speak with someone, I won’t even be able to send them away for risk of being reported. Like hell I’m going to agree to something like that!

“I dare not accept such an honor, grandmother! The Imperial Guard serve the palace and the palace alone, what kind of message would it send for me to have them in my retinue? That is an honor that even my cousins have not been granted, it is a privilege beyond my position and my virtue, to accept it would only degrade the magnitude of your benevolence,” Kayla replied.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly.

“You’ve improved your knowledge of rites and propriety, is it perhaps due to Imperial Edict Bearer Wei’s tutelage? Like godfather, like godson, I suppose,” she said.

Yikes. Given the Empress Dowager’s dislike of Wei Guang, it was more an intimidation tactic than a compliment. It was evident the Empress Dowager wanted to force Kayla into saying that Wei Guang wasn’t really all that important to her, but Kayla had no intention of going along with that. When it came to her godfather, he had the Emperor’s support in spite of, or rather, because of the Empress Dowager’s disdain. Compared to the Empress Dowager who treated her as a disposable chess piece, Kayla needed Wei Guang more if she wanted to avoid a bloody future.

“You’re much too kind, I am still inexperienced and have much to learn,” Kayla said.

A look of displeasure flashed over the Empress Dowager’s face.

“You’ve really grown,” the Empress Dowager said pointedly. “They say that as a girl grows into a woman, she will undergo eighteen changes, but the same can apply for men as well. You’ve changed so much from when you were a child, it sometimes feels like I no longer recognize you.”

Kayla hesitated, not sure how to respond to the barbed statement.

Because I’m not Wenyuan. The unspoken words sent a sharp pang of loss through her chest.

“All of my achievements are thanks to Uncle and grandmother’s care and guidance, though I’m afraid I still have far to go in order to prove worthy of such kindness,” she said carefully. “If I am simply satisfied to remain as I was, then it would be too ungrateful of me.”

“Of course, no matter how much we try to pave the steps, a man must forge his own path,” the Empress Dowager replied. “It pleases me to see you improving yourself. But in my old age, one can’t help but be overcome with nostalgia and wish for the old days.”

Oh hell no, don’t do this. Don’t start saying this now, not for this purpose–

There was a growing pool of pent-up emotion in Kayla’s chest that made her want to tear apart the luxurious drapery around them with tooth and nail.

“Proud as I am of you now, I cannot help but miss the Wenyuan I once knew,” the Empress Dowager went on.

Fuck. Kayla’s eyes stung, her vision blurring before she could control herself. Kayla drew in a sharp breath, trying to pull herself together.

“Wenyuan, there’s no need to take the words of an old woman to heart,” the Empress Dowager continued, satisfied that her emotional blackmailing had taken effect. “I grow old by the day, my eyes and ears are beginning to fail, and all that’s left to me are days gone by.”

Wenyuan wanted to hear those words so badly, why the hell did you never say them earlier?! Even once would’ve been enough for him!

Kayla couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down her face, wiping at them with bitter frustration. The Empress Dowager reached over in concern, even as the satisfaction in her gaze increased.

“Grandmother, you have no idea how much I wanted to hear those words just a few days before,” Kayla said in a choked voice. “Even if it were a little earlier, I would’ve done anything just to hear you say that!”

The Empress Dowager stopped short of reaching Kayla’s arm, staring at her in perplexed surprise.

“Wenyuan? What are you…never mind that, wipe your tears now, don’t carry on so,” The Empress Dowager couldn’t hide the note of unease in her voice as she realized this had gone in a completely unexpected direction. It had resulted in an outburst of emotion as she had intended, but that of grief and resentment rather than feelings of guilt.

Just two days ago–should I have come to the palace earlier? Should I have made Wenyuan hold on until he at least got to hear this once?

Kayla dug her nails into her palms until they drew blood, forcibly quashing the tsunami of emotion surging up relentlessly.

“I apologize for showing you something so unsightly, grandmother,” Kayla said as calmly as she could.

“Not at all, it seems that you aren’t fully recovered from your illness yet,” the Empress Dowager said, offering an olive branch by giving Kayla a stair to step down on.

Wenyuan’s really gone now, but I’m the only one who mourns him. Even his own grandmother is just bringing up the past as a card to use against me.

Kayla bowed her head deeply, her breathing growing uneven as grief overwhelmed her again.

“It-it is as you say, grandmother,” Kayla said. Her quavering voice seemed to bring the Empress Dowager discomfort rather than satisfaction, and the old woman gently patted Kayla on the shoulder.

“Even if the healers say you can return to work, you should still prioritize your health. Don’t overwork yourself,” the Empress Dowager said. “Make sure to get the healers to take another look after you go back.”

“Understood, thank you for your concern,” Kayla replied. “Then I’ll take my leave for now.”

The Empress Dowager let her leave, a senior eunuch coming forward to activate a cosmetic talisman. Kayla returned to the Wei household in complete silence, making her way back to her empty room in a haze.

Kayla called over the steward to send a meeting request to Xianchun before she made her way to the desk and sat down. She automatically reached for the scrolls of paperwork, but the paper didn’t feel right under her fingers. Kayla wandered over to the couch and suddenly found it unbearably stifling to sit there. She flung herself face-first onto the bed and lay still for a moment before taking a deep breath and silently screaming into the pillow.

Wenyuan, she called out even though she knew there would be no reply. She tried again anyways.

Wenyuan…There isn’t anyone who knew you were here, and there isn’t anyone who knows that you’re gone. I’m the only one left…Wenyuan, I’m really alone now.

There was a mountain of things Kayla needed to do, but she couldn’t muster the will to move. She remained in the same spot as the light from the windows moved across the walls and faded.

Hu Qing found her curled up on the bed when he entered from the window. He rushed over, glancing around the room with concern.

“Are you alright?” Hu Qing asked uneasily. He carefully peered at Kayla as she nodded and sat up. Unsatisfied, he reached over to check her hands, before moving to pull at Kayla’s sleeves and then her collar, letting out a sigh of relief upon seeing that she wasn’t injured.

Kayla let him complete his check, equally exasperated and touched at his needless worries.

“I’m fine, just tired,” Kayla replied. “The Empress Dowager was more difficult to deal with than I expected.”

“Maybe you rest for another day or two,” Hu Qing said with a frown. “I asked your godfather, and the side effects might start up again if you’re too tired or stressed. If you push yourself too much, you could ruin your health.”

The Empress Dowager never even considered that, not when she needs me to take back the Ministry of Revenue, Kayla noted with a small pang of bitterness. It didn’t matter to her as Kayla, but it would have mattered to Wenyuan.

“I’m fine,” Kayla replied. “How’s the situation with Ji Yantao?”

“We’ve spread rumors in the Zhao household about him being connected to the Xiang household, and the Xiang household being wrongly accused. It’ll only be a matter of time before it reaches the Grand Duke’s ears. It shouldn’t take too long,” Hu Qing assured her.

“Good,” Kayla sighed. “I’ve sent a message to request a meeting with the Seventh Prince, but we’ll need to balance things out with the Third Prince. After all, he’s the one I’m really supporting. I’ll meet with him the day after, and hopefully, that’ll work out.”

“The Seventh Prince will think you’re two-timing him,” Hu Qing pointed out.

Kayla shook her head. “I’ve prepared an excuse. I’ll just tell him that we need to keep the Third Prince off of our backs if we want to do this.”

“But how will you keep the Third Prince off your back? It’s not like he’d just back off on a chance once he’s sniffed it out,” Hu Qing said.

“He’ll back off if he knows there’s a better chance waiting ahead,” Kayla replied confidently. “The Seventh Prince is the one who’s more stubborn than a mule.”

Hu Qing only seemed to be more concerned.

“Even more reason why you should be careful. You can’t put your life in his hands, and putting your dignity at his mercy isn’t a great idea either,” he warned her.

“I know, but I’m walking into a dead end because I keep trying to act in the most reasonable manner, but fortune favors the bold. If I’m too afraid of taking risks, I’ll end up with nothing.”

“It just worries me that you might be rushing into this. You haven’t been doing well recently,” Hu Qing said bluntly. “I know that Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun have agreed to go along with this, but if things don’t go well, you’d be the one to suffer most.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine,” Kayla assured him. “I know what I’m doing, and I have a good sense of Xianchun’s mentality. To put it simply, he’s too self-righteous to back down from any decision he’s made, so I just need to trap him into making one. If I don’t do that, I’ll end up as a scapegoat the second he runs into any major obstacles.”

“Scapegoat?” Hu Qing asked quizzically.

“Basically, he’ll blame all his problems on the person it’s easiest to take out his frustrations on,” Kayla explained. “For Xianchun, I’m a convenient target not only because I’m from the Zhao clan, but also because the Emperor favors me more. This is my best chance to cut off all his suspicions at the source and to gain leverage over him as well. If I can turn a lethal weakness into a debt, why wouldn’t I do it?”

Hu Qing nodded reluctantly but didn’t look too convinced. “Well, if you’re sure about what you’re doing. Do you need me to go with you just in case things go south?”

“They won’t,” Kayla assured him. “I’m almost completely certain that this’ll work.”

“Alright then,” Hu Qing acquiesced. He remained where he was, waiting for Kayla to voice her other concerns. Kayla quietly turned the matter of Wenyuan over in her mind, trying to find the right words and the right request.

Is this even something I should be doing? Kayla glanced at Hu Qing thoughtfully.

He’s the most reliable person I know. If I can’t ask this of him, I can’t ask it of anyone.

“There’s something else that’s been weighing on my mind,” Kayla said cautiously. “A friend of mine passed away a while ago, but he is someone who I can’t complete any rites for if you know what I mean.”

“Ah, yes, the child of a persecuted official?”

“Well, not quite so extreme, but I can’t have anything connecting me to him,” Kayla said. “It bothers me that I can’t see to his last rites. Do you have any ideas?”

“You could set up a plaque privately in the safe house,” Hu Qing said, not questioning her any further. “If he’s someone who you would get in trouble for mourning, then you should write his name in another language, or use a pseudonym. Preferably the latter, or even combining both. There’s no telling if your enemies might grab a translator. As for his last rites, if you want to do an empty-casket burial, I can get him a grave outside the capital and have them go through the funerary rituals. But it would also have to be under another name, and you can’t be associated with it. I can have one of our men take care of it under the guise of burying a family friend.”

Kayla nodded. “I don’t know if the dead can see any of this, but I’d like to do it even if it’s meaningless. Can you set it up for me?”

“Even if the dead can’t see anything, it must mean something to have made the effort,” Hu Qing replied. “I’ll have it done within the week. What name do you want to use for the plaque and the gravestone?”

Kayla thought it over for a long moment.

“I’ll write out his pseudonym in his native language,” she finally said. She went over to the desk, writing out the letters Zhao Wenyuan in English. It would be centuries before this would remotely be a problem, by which she would be long dead.

“For the funeral rituals and the plaque, please use this name,” she said, handing the paper over to him.

“How do you pronounce this?” Hu Qing asked. Kayla hesitated. She rummaged around in her brain, but only a single name popped into mind.

“Kayla Lee,” she said, the words heavy on her tongue.

I’ll live on under your name, so I’ll bury you under mine.

Hu Qing glanced at her, sensing her heavy mood.

“Is this the friend you told me about last time?”

Kayla winced slightly. “Well…you can think of it that way.” Hu Qing didn’t ask anything more, sensing that it wasn’t something that he should know.

“I see. Alright, I’ll make sure it’s done, and you can burn incense for the plaque next time you go to the safe house,” Hu Qing said.

“Thank you. This…it means a lot to me.”

“Not at all,” Hu Qing replied. “You should get some proper rest, you look like you need it.”

“I will,” Kayla assured him. Hu Qing nodded at her and left through the window again, a gust of wind in his wake. Kayla leaned against the desk, staring at the moonlight spilling in.

Sleep did not come easy to her that night.

A knock sounded out on the door. Xianchun glanced up from the paperwork he was squinting at with bleary eyes.

“Pardon me, my prince,” Liu Boyue said, staying outside the door.

A rush of frustration and bitterness flooded his veins, on one hand, because of how formal Liu Boyue now acted, and on the other hand of why that had become the case. Xianchun hadn’t blamed Liu Boyue for failing to gain any evidence at the Grand Duke’s study, but he couldn’t just pretend not that nothing had ever happened between them. Xianchun would often feel flashes of unease that Liu Boyue might still be acting in his name without his knowledge, and cursed the fact that his most trusted friend was the one to make him feel this way.

“Come in,” Xianchun said, realizing he hadn’t replied yet. Liu Boyue entered, kneeling in greeting. It was the same action as before, but now there was a weight to it that pushed Liu Boyue’s head closer to the ground. It was the greeting of a retainer, not a close friend.

“No need for formalities,” Xianchun said, the words feeling stiff on his tongue. He hastily glanced away from Liu Boyue and gestured for the man to speak.

“My prince, I was contacted by Qu Boyong,” Liu Boyue said. Xianchun twitched, irritation instantly surging up at the reminder of Liu Boyue’s past actions. He forcibly suppressed it.

“It seems that other than Zhao Wenyuan’s retainer, the other man who was in the Grand Duke’s study that night was Qu Boyong’s ally, probably that man from the Imperial Investigation Bureau. Qu Boyong reached out to me because he wanted to form an alliance with us,” Liu Boyue reported. At Xianchun’s unwavering stare, Liu Boyue bowed his head slightly.

“I believe it would be in our best interests to accept, my prince. Qu Boyong claims to be the sole survivor of the Xiang clan, the son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu. He believes that his clan was framed by the Grand Duke,” he said.

Xianchun shot to his feet. “The Xiang clan?! You mean that he’s my cousin? No, more importantly, the Grand Duke was behind the Xiang clan’s extermination?!”

“I have not verified his claims,” Liu Boyue said. “However, he can prove to be very helpful to us, and an alliance with him would be beneficial.”

Xianchun frowned, moving away from his desk to pace the room.

“The Xiang clan…then why did he work for Wenyuan? And why did he stop working for Wenyuan? That guy is also going against the Grand Duke. Why betray a man who trusted him and reach out to a stranger?”

Liu Boyue hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “My prince, please allow me to speak frankly. I believe that it does not matter why, or even if he really is who he claims to be. The Grand Duke is currently hiding away, and Zhao Wenyuan has been acting suspiciously. If we want to make a move ourselves, it would be much too risky. However, if we can use this Qu Boyong, then things would become much easier. If it succeeds, he would be able to take revenge, but if it fails, it has nothing to do with us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, if he really is my cousin, then that’s not something I can just ignore!” Xianchun protested. “Boyue, see if you can verify what he says.”

“Understood. Then do you wish to meet with him?” Liu Boyue asked.

Xianchun hesitated. He didn’t fully believe in Qu Boyong’s words, but somehow, the instant he heard of the Grand Duke’s involvement, everything seemed to make sense.

Before Xianchun could make a decision, there was another knock on the door.

“Your Highness, apologies for the interruption. There is a message from Minister Zhao,” a serving girl announced.

“Bring it in,” Xianchun called. The serving girl stepped through, carrying the message on a tray. Xianchun took it, waving her off. He read through the message with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Wenyuan is requesting to meet with me tomorrow,” Xianchun said. “Didn’t you say he was ill?”

“It must not have been serious then,” Liu Boyue replied.

Xianchun tucked the message into his sleeve, a look of interest in his eyes.

“He has some good timing, there’s a lot I want to ask him. Send a message back and tell him to come over tomorrow night,” Xianchun ordered.

“Then…about Qu Boyong?” Liu Boyue prompted

Xianchun mulled it over for a moment. “Let me meet with Wenyuan first, I’ll think it over a little more.”

Liu Boyue opened his mouth to protest, but pressed his lips into a tight line instead, thinking better of it.

“As you wish, my prince.”

Cultural Notes

年轻气盛/Young and full of energy: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the relatively impulsive nature of younger men.

意气用事/Acting emotionally/impulsively: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

欺君之罪/Crime of lying to a ruler: A crime in Ancient China that could result in anything from demotion to imprisonment, castration, exile, or execution.

熊心豹子胆/Bear's heart and cougar's gall: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to courage, usually in contexts where someone acts boldly/rashly/forgets their station.

国有国法家有家规/A country has a country's laws, a family has a family's rules: A Chinese proverb referring to the authority of the country and the clan over the life of individuals.

女大十八变/Girls experience eighteen changes as they grow: A folk belief that originally referred to the legendary dragon maiden/the daughter of a dragon, but it was eventually incorporated into common belief that a girl's appearance/personality will change (hopefully for the better) as she grows into a woman. Often heard from relatives in the context of "Hey don't worry that your daughter looks...like that, girls undergo eighteen changes as they grow!" As one might expect, that usually doesn't make either the parent or daughter feel much better.

台阶下/Stair to step down on: A saying meaning to let someone save face, to give someone a way to back down without losing face.

比驴还掘/More stubborn than a mule: A Chinese colloquialism.

富贵险中求/Glory and riches are found in danger: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that fortune favors the bold.

替罪羊/Scapegoat: A term that did not exist in Ancient China, it was imported from other cultures. Now that Hu Qing has grown extremely comfortable with Kayla's relative permissiveness, he's starting to question the phrases that she uses when he doesn't recognize them. The corresponding term in Chinese culture would've been 替死鬼/ghost that dies in your place.

100-Theatrics

Character Index

Feng Yi: A merchant who got dragged into the plots of Liu Boyue, he was subsequently involved in Kayla's plot to expose Liu Boyue for going behind Xianchun's back and later left the capital.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and the younger half-brother of Minister Liang.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with Wenyuan's mother.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, seeking revenge against the Grand Duke. Formerly Kayla's retainer.

Zhou Kangyu: Wenyuan's father, adopted son of the Grand Duke. He was killed by the Grand Duke during a plague.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother, younger sister of the current Emperor. She died of disease under suspicious circumstances.

In a small rest stop a few miles outside the capital city, Feng Yi nervously shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited. It was a small road that was only busy once or twice a year, and was now dusty and deserted, with not a single traveler in sight.

He glanced up as several wagons appeared in the distance, slowly coming into view. Hu Qing was sitting at the very front, waving toward Feng Yi with an amiable grin.

Thanks to Feng Yi’s amiable and forgiving nature, he had long since forgotten that Hu Qing had played the sharp-tongued white face to Zhao Wenyuan’s magnanimous red face when they were convincing him to expose Liu Boyue. He greeted Hu Qing with a wide smile.

“This humble merchant greets Sir Hu! Long time no see, how have you been?”

Hu Qing returned the jovial greeting, giving Feng Yi a friendly clap on the back.

“How is Minister Zhao doing? Is he well?” Feng Yi asked earnestly.

“He’s doing well, he also inquired after you,” Hu Qing said. “He was worried you’d have a hard time settling into Dunhuang.”

“Not at all! Thanks to Minister Zhao’s arrangements, everything was prepared for me along the way, and I’ve been adjusting really well,” Feng Yi assured him.

Hu Qing nodded. “That’s good to hear, but I guess it’s too bad you’ll be traveling around right after you’ve started feeling at home.”

Feng Yi let out a chuckle. “How else can merchants make their way in the world? Since Minister Zhao has been so kind as to offer me an opportunity, how can I possibly refuse? But if I may, just what does he wish for me to sell?”

“You’ve got the right spirit,” Hu Qing said breezily. “And as for what you’re selling, well…”

He gestured dramatically, and his subordinates yanked off the coverings on the wagons in sync, rolling their eyes as they did so.

Feng Yi didn’t note their reactions at all, gaping at the wagons of communication devices before him.

“This much?! Does he want me to sell them to a specific region? Or to a specific clientele?” Feng Yi squeaked nervously. “B-but even then, this is way too much!”

Hu Qing shook his head. “He wants you to sell them for cheap. About the same price as the household talismans you find from street vendors in the capital.”

Feng Yi’s jaw dropped. “That’s way too cheap, we’d be selling at a loss!”

“You’d be selling them at a profit no matter what. These are free,” Hu Qing said.

Feng Yi looked thunderstruck. “Free?!”

“Free,” Hu Qing confirmed.

Feng Yi backed away, shaking his head. “I-I can’t, Sir Hu. I’ve already received so much kindness from the Minister, I can’t possibly accept something of this magnitude! I have no misgivings about my abilities as a merchant, I can handle a small or medium-sized business, but not something to this degree! My bad luck will definitely kick in, and something will go wrong. Especially since I’m selling it for cheap…the Minister won’t make much off this venture.”

Hu Qing gave him a look of fond exasperation, silently keeping it to himself that Wenyuan was banking on Feng Yi running into trouble.

“Feng Yi, what do you think my lord is doing this for? Money? If so, he wouldn’t be selling it for this cheap. Connections? If he wanted to make connections, he would send the third or fourth son of a scholar’s family, not a merchant who has scarcely ever interacted with the upper class,” Hu Qing explained. “He’s not doing it for any of those reasons, but because he wants to benefit the people.”

Feng Yi looked at him in confusion. “Benefit the people?”

“Sell these for cheap, but not to the local elites or officials. Sell them to ordinary families and small businesses, people who need them but who would never be able to afford one under normal circumstances,” Hu Qing urged him. “You’re here to help us take the first step in a long path, Feng Yi. The Minister’s trying to change this dynasty for the better, and he doesn’t need a brilliant merchant, but a trustworthy one.”

“That’s an admirable goal, but I…” Feng Yi trailed off. He couldn’t make out the precise reason it caused him unease. After all, he was a guy who had been conned into acting as a red herring. But Feng Yi’s years in the business world had given him enough experience to sense that this wouldn’t be as straightforward as it sounded.

“We’ll provide you with a security escort,” Hu Qing added. “Your travel expenses will also be paid for, so just focus on selling these.”

“That’s really kind,” Feng Yi said, but his voice was increasingly hesitant. The last time Feng Yi had helped Zhao Wenyuan, he had nearly gotten killed. As the Zhao heir had promised, Feng Yi ended up safe and sound, with a much larger sum of money than he’d seen in a very long time, but it didn’t detract from how harrowing the experience was.

“Sir Hu, how dangerous do you expect this to be?” Feng Yi asked weakly.

Hu Qing chuckled, waving over his subordinates. “Not dangerous at all, not when these guys are with you. It’s the guys who wish you harm that should be worried. But remember, if anything happens, immediately let us know. You still have the communication device the Minister gave you?”

“Yes,” Feng Yi pulled it out to show Hu Qing. “Sir Hu, I’m grateful, of course, but I…I’m a little worried about whether I can meet the Minister’s expectations.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Hu Qing assured him. “I wouldn’t worry about safety either. The Minister’s the type of person who would give severance pay to a servant who betrayed him. And as you know, he’s the type of person who would give money to someone sent to spy on him. You can be assured that he would never wish you harm. No matter what happens, he’ll have your back.”

Hu Qing pulled out a letter from his robes along with a small seal, handing them to Feng Yi. “We’ve prepared all the papers for you already, with the Minister’s personal stamp and signature on every single one of them. And look at what this is.” He pointed out the seal.

Feng Yi took it, peering at it closely. “This is…a personal seal?”

Hu Qing nodded encouragingly as Feng Yi’s expression grew into one of disbelief.

“This is the Minister’s personal seal?!”

“One of them,” Hu Qing agreed. “The Minister isn’t doing this under the table or hiding his connections to you. With these, there’s no need for you to fear being used and discarded anymore, is there?”

“To this extent, just for a merchant–truly, I can never repay this kindness!” Feng Yi lit up at Hu Qing’s reassurances, beginning to glow in excitement.

Hu Qing clapped a hand on his shoulder, an approving glint in his eye. “Good, that’s the right attitude to have. We’ll definitely make you a rich man, so just cut loose and go for it. Be as bold as you like, and we’ll take care of any problems that arise.”

Feng Yi’s expression grew more determined as Hu Qing continued to pile on the assurances.

“I’m truly grateful for this opportunity, I will do my utmost not to let the Minister down!” Feng Yi said.

Hu Qing smiled, patting the man on the shoulder.

“Have a safe trip,” Hu Qing said. He sent off Feng Yi and the escort party, watching the wagons head down the road, his expression slowly settling into one of caustic amusement.

“Poor sucker, the Minister’s really sent him straight into the viper’s nest,” Hu Qing said out loud, chuckling as he headed back to the capital.

Kayla’s face was pale as she straightened her robes, preparing to head off to the Seventh Prince’s household.

This is make or break, do or die.

Confronting Xianchun’s suspicions by playing the victim and demanding his help–it sounded simple but was far from easy to accomplish. She had to be convincing. It had to be enough.

Telling him Wenyuan’s actual lineage didn’t do shit, if this also fails, then I can’t think of any other options.

Surprisingly, Wei Guang did not seem to have that concern at all, having instead asked Kayla a series of increasingly cryptical questions about her nullification magic before sending her off. Taking a deep breath, Kayla steeled herself and got onto the carriage. Hu Qing wasn’t going with her. She needed him to coordinate the backup plans to get her out if things went south.

Kayla didn’t bring the golden plaque from the palace, and didn’t bring a knife either–she never carried one to begin with, it would be suspicious if she suddenly started now.

As the carriage moved toward Xianchun’s residence, it felt more like it was heading toward the Yellow Springs. Somehow, the imminent threat of death actually made her limbs feel lighter. By the time she reached her destination, her mind was no longer clouded by nervousness.

Fuck pride, fuck propriety. I’ll make it out of this in one piece no matter what.

Kayla followed Xianchun’s servant down the corridors, aware that she looked at least a little bit like a man being led to the execution block. The servant evidently sensed as much, glancing back more than once or twice with a nervous expression on his face. As soon as he had announced Kayla’s arrival, he didn’t even stay long enough to be dismissed before getting out of the range of fire at the speed of an Olympic champion.

“I said, come in,” Xianchun said impatiently. Kayla blinked, realizing that she had missed his words the first time around. She stepped into the room.

“Wenyuan humbly greets His Highness the Seventh Prince,” Kayla greeted him with a bow.

“Drop the pointless formalities. You’ve been gone for days,” Xianchun said. Kayla took an extra moment before lifting her head to face him.

This Xianchun was still the one she was familiar with, sharp-tempered and self-righteous, but a far cry from the bloodthirsty and slightly unstable man she had seen in Lady Lin’s cave. She felt a rush of relief, the last of her nervousness slowly melting away into the low thrum of adrenaline.

“I apologize for giving you cause for concern,” Kayla said apologetically. She slowly sucked in a deep breath, bracing herself for the barrage of questions sure to come.

“No matter,” Xianchun waved her over to sit down. “You owe me some answers–what happened with the Grand Duke? Why were you trying to burn down his study and what the hell did you run off for?”

Kayla bowed her head slightly and complied. “I had an…altercation with the Grand Duke and had reason to believe it was best for me to leave. As for his study, I tried to burn it down because I believed it was where he was storing his blackmail material. Hu Qing said that two men tried to stop him, and I believe that at least one of them worked for the Grand Duke. I feared retribution, so I decided to keep my head down until the case against the Ministry of Revenue had been launched.”

“At least one of them? Then who did you think the other one was?” Xianchun asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“I believe it might’ve been Qu Boyong,” Kayla admitted. “From what I know so far, he seems to have a grudge against the Zhao household. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled a stunt like that.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed for a moment before he seemed to accept her explanation.

“Then where has the Grand Duke been? He’s been missing for days,” Xianchun asked.

Kayla’s nerves were creeping back, and there was a weight on her chest that made it more difficult to breathe.

“That’s…in fact, that’s what I came here for,” Kayla said in a small voice.

Xianchun shifted in his seat, curiosity written all over him.

This better work. This has to work. I have to make this work, or god help me.

Kayla got up from her seat and slowly made her way into the center of the room. She glanced around until she caught sight of Xianchun’s sword, which was on its customary rack on the wall. Xianchun didn’t think too much about her wandering gaze, much more fixated on the secrets behind her silence.

“Don’t withhold your words now,” Xianchun urged her impatiently.

Kayla took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, shaking her head with a look of despair.

“My prince, I…” She let out a shuddering sigh, falling silent again. Xianchun frowned and stepped forward to peer at her.

“What is it?”

Kayla opened her mouth and closed it again, doing her best to emulate the visage of inner turmoil.

Impatience flashed across Xianchun’s face. “Wenyuan, since when have you been so stingy with your words? Are you emulating a reticent maiden?” Xianchun demanded.

“Please forgive me, my prince…” Kayla trailed off, her voice even smaller than before. Xianchun stood up, looking at her in confusion.

“I don’t know how to face you,” Kayla said in a trembling voice. “I don’t even know how to face myself. How could the heavens have been so heartless as to do this to me?”

Miraculously, the tears began to flow right on time.

Xianchun reeled back, a look of stricken confusion on his face. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?!”

Kayla buried her face in her hands, not sure how much longer she could keep the tears going.

“I can’t bring myself to say it, I’m a failure as a son and as a subject. I have no face to stand before you!”

Xianchun crossed the distance in two steps and grabbed Kayla’s arm, pulling it away from her face. Luckily, she hadn’t quite run out of steam to keep the act up, the tearworks still going strong. Of all the things Xianchun had been expecting, an emotional breakdown evidently wasn’t one of them, judging by his frazzled reaction. She could practically see the "what-the-fuck"s running through his mind.

“Tell me what’s wrong, don’t just stand there and cry! Are you a child or a grown man?" Xianchun demanded. When Kayla gave no immediate response, he let loose a volley of questions. "Is it the Grand Duke? Has he made a move after all? What did he do?”

“My prince, I wish that I could simply disappear from existence so that I would never have to face the light of the sun or my parents in the afterlife,” Kayla said tearfully.

“What on earth are you saying?”

“Whether in loyalty or filial piety, I have failed. My very blood besmirches me!”

At Xianchun’s growing confusion and alarm, Kayla sensed that the timing was about right. Any remaining filaments of fear seemed to melt away, fading into a white rush of noise in the back of her mind.

I can do this! I can definitely do this. I've watched enough dog-blood dramas to pull this off!

Kayla wrenched her arm out of Xianchun’s grip and flung herself towards the sword rack, grabbing the hilt of the blade. She yanked it out of its sheath clumsily and lifted it to her neck, making sure to fumble enough that Xianchun had sufficient time to interfere without making the act too unbelievable.

Xianchun gave a shout of alarm and rushed forward, nearly crushing her fingers as he wrenched the sword out of her grip singlehandedly, shoving Kayla backward with his other hand. The force of the shove sent Kayla crashing to the floor. She didn’t have time to react before Xianchun was grabbing her by the collar.

“You fool! What the hell are you doing?!” Xianchun shouted. Before Kayla could proceed with her preprepared reply, he slapped her in the face.

Ow! Fuck! You didn’t have to hit that hard?! Why did you even have to hit me in the first place?! Tears of pain sprung into her eyes.

Her heart pounding, Kayla flinched as Xianchun yanked her up by the collar.

“M-my prince,” Kayla winced, flinching again as Xianchun tightened his grip. Seeing her reaction, Xianchun only grew more incensed.

“Zhao Wenyuan! Have you gone mad?! Just what do you think you’re doing, devaluing your life so shortsightedly?! And in my house at that?” Xianchun snarled, shaking Kayla furiously.

“The Grand Duke…” Kayla said in a small voice, avoiding Xianchun’s eyes.

“What did he do?” Xianchun demanded.

Kayla lowered her gaze, making a pained expression. Xianchun loosened his grip but didn’t let go.

“What did he do?!” Xianchun asked, more insistently this time.

“He–He’s the one who killed my parents!” Kayla cried. She dropped to her knees before Xianchun could stop her, grabbing the hem of his robes. He was too shocked to move backward and stood there dumbly as Kayla wept onto his boots.

“My prince, you have no idea just how–I’ve lived under his roof all these years, trying so desperately to gain his approval, all while I was standing waist-deep in my parents’ blood!” Kayla carried on crying in the face of Xianchun's silence.

WHY is he not reacting?! Is this not working?! Did he not buy it?! Before Kayla could begin to panic, Xianchun reached down and grabbed her by the arms.

Kayla met his eyes, taking in his look of fury and disbelief.

“What?! What did you just say?! Zhao Wenyuan, say that one more time!” Xianchun tried to tug her to her feet. She stubbornly remained kneeling.

“My prince, please have some mercy and grant me death. I wish I had never been born onto this earth,” Kayla said tearfully. Something seemed to click in Xianchun’s mind, and she knew without a doubt that her ploy had worked. He had bought it.

“Stop it with this foolishness! Zhao Wenyuan, are you sure that it was murder?!” Xianchun forcibly dragged her to her feet, peering intently into her eyes.

“It’s true,” Kayla said in a small voice. “Both my parents died of disease when it shouldn’t have been possible for them to do so, it was his doing all along.”

“Unbelievable! Where the hell did he get the courage to commit such an atrocity?!” Xianchun snarled. He was furious, but Kayla was secure in her position. She wouldn’t be the one to bear the brunt of that rage.

“And evidence? Do you have evidence?!” Xianchun demanded.

“Only for my father’s death,” Kayla replied.

“Not for the Imperial Princess?!”

Kayla shook her head.

Of course not, it’s just my conjecture. How am I supposed to know if she was really killed by the Grand Duke?

“He was too thorough…but he taunted me with it–he didn’t say it outright, but he all but admitted it! One day, he’ll be the death of me as well!” Kayla said. “They say that you cannot live under the same sky as your parents’ murderer, but–the Grand Duke is also my grandparent! I have no face to live on in this world, nor any face to meet my parents in the afterlife.”

“You fool, what good does killing yourself do for anything?” Xianchun lightly shook Kayla by the shoulders. “You should be thinking of revenge, not of suicide!”

It really worked. Kayla managed to keep herself from showing any signs of relief and let out a sigh, shaking her head in distress.

“How can I take revenge?! It would not just damn him, but my other relations as well! He and my father share the same kin, how can I punish him without dishonoring my father? How can I take revenge without degrading my parents?” Kayla asked. “I won’t deny it…I’ve hated the Grand Duke for so long now. You don’t understand how degrading it was to grovel and plead like some worm in the dirt, only to get brutalized over and over in your own home. I thought I could go against him since I was unfilial to begin with, but this…I wasn’t prepared for anything like this!”

“Heavenly fates cannot be defied,” Xianchun said firmly. “You need not berate yourself like this, did the Orphan of Zhao not take revenge upon his adoptive father, despite the years of living as his son? A blood debt must be repaid in blood. What does it matter whether he’s your adoptive grandfather or not?”

Kayla paused for a moment, glancing at Xianchun hesitantly.

“My prince, you really think so?”

“Of course! If I knew that someone had murdered my parents, I would not allow anything to stay my hand!” Xianchun said heatedly.

That’s very self-aware of you, Kayla silently griped to herself.

“But my family…I can’t destroy my own clan like this! The Grand Duke has always…no one has ever survived going against him, not even my mother. I’m only still alive because I made it public and clung to Uncle and Grandmother’s protection so shamelessly,” Kayla said in a small voice.

Xianchun frowned, his brows drawing together. “No one has ever survived going against him?” He echoed. “What are you talking about?”

“My prince, do you know what was the first time I met my cousins? It was when the Grand Duke beat one of my uncles to death before us. He gathered everyone in the younger generation and made us watch–there was no explanation before or after, but we all knew what it meant. I didn’t even dare to tell my mother, I was so terrified that I couldn’t sleep for days,” Kayla said.

It was not true at all. That incident had happened, yes, but only a small number of people were present, and Wenyuan hadn’t been there. He didn’t need a brutal execution to know that the Grand Duke could not be disobeyed, there was no need to terrify him into submission.

But Xianchun bought it.

“Your situation is truly a complicated one,” he admitted. “Murdering a Princess and her Consort is a crime that warrants the extermination of one’s clan. But you…”

Kayla’s eyes watered right on cue. “Maybe that’s what should happen,” she said, sounding as miserable as possible. “Maybe a cursed house is supposed to meet a bloody end. I know that I probably deserve it, but I just feel sorry for my relatives.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re a victim in all this, how can you be punished for his crimes?!” Xianchun snapped.

Oh my god thank you finally–That response would be enough to keep her head firmly attached to her body for a good while. Kayla was sure her eyes were watering even more now, though this time it was out of relief.

“Even if I have to die for it, I’ll kill him!” Kayla said passionately. “Definitely…I’ll definitely make him meet a painful and humiliating end!”

Xianchun looked torn between approval and telling her to calm down. “Don’t be hasty,” he finally managed to say. “We’ll find a way.”

“We…?” Kayla asked, keeping her voice in a delicate balance between shocked and hopeful.

“It’s no secret that I want to take down the Grand Duke,” Xianchun said plainly. “I can’t just hear such a thing and do nothing, can I?”

“My prince, I’m eternally grateful!” Kayla dropped to her knees again, lowering her head to the floor. Xianchun pulled her back up with more force than necessary, but Kayla ignored the painful grip on her arm.

“There’s no need,” Xianchun said, firm and sure. “We share the same goal, so we’ll walk the same path.”

Kayla continued to babble words of gratitude, holding back a twinge of smug victory.

I may owe you now, but soon it’ll be the other way around. Xianchun, you can’t blame me for striking first.

Cultural Notes

一哭二闹三上吊/First cry, second throw a fit, and third threaten to hang yourself: A reference to the three-step tactics used by someone (usually women or someone in a less powerful position) to protest or get their way when they have no other leverage against a person in a more powerful position.

红脸白脸/Red face white face: A reference to roles associated with the facial paint color of actors in traditional Chinese opera, where someone with red face paint is usually a protagonist, while someone with white face paint is usually a sneaky or immoral person. Similar to the usage of masks in Ancient Greek theater or in kabuki theater. The usage of "red face white face" is approximately parallel to the usage of "good cop bad cop".

敦煌/Dunhuang: A major stop on the Silk Road and an important city during the Tang Dynasty.

黄泉路/Road to the Yellow Springs: The Yellow Springs symbolized the afterlife in Ancient China, and the road to the yellow springs refers to heading toward death.

苍天无情/The heavens are heartless: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to lament a tragic situation/occurrence.

狗血剧/Dog blood drama: A Chinese phrase referring to extremely melodramatic and soapy dramas such as "I'm in love with my father-in-law" or "My father's youngest concubine is in love with me" or "me and my lover are actually siblings because our parents were star-crossed lovers forced to separate by their families which have been rivals for centuries" or "I started cheating on my girlfriend but then she started cheating on me with my mistress and then I got into a car accident and got amnesia and fell in love with a pure-hearted young girl and now I want to reform myself but my wife and mistress want to kill me", and so on so forth.

不忠不孝/Disloyal and unfilial: A derogatory Ancient Chinese proverb, as loyalty and filial piety were among the most important virtues.

自寻短见/Seek [a] short-sighted [end]: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the act of suicide.

轻生/Make light of your life: An Ancient Chinese phrase referring to suicide.

弑父之仇不可与同戴天/You cannot live under the same sky as your father's killer: A phrase referring to the duty one has to avenge one's parents.

天命不可违/Heavenly fate cannot be defied: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

赵氏孤儿/Orphan of Zhao: Refers to the famous story of a pre-Qin family, the Zhao clan, which was extremely prominent in the Kingdom of Jin. The Zhao family was framed and exterminated, but a single boy infant, the son of Lord Zhao and the Princess of Jin, was spared at the cost of the lives of many loyal retainers. In a dramatic twist, he was raised as the godson of the man who exterminated the Zhao clan. Upon learning of the truth, he took revenge and killed his godfather. This story was popularized in a Yuan dynasty play and is often considered China's Hamlet.

驸马/Princess Consort: Refers to the official title of a man who married a Princess.

志同道合/Same ambition overlapping paths: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to strive towards the same goal.

101-Shadows of Truth

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and the half-brother of Minister Liang, he is not registered on the Liang family tree despite being the rightful heir.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, he bears hatred for the Grand Duke.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's strategist and right-hand man, a rift has developed between him and his prince due to Kayla's interference.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, seeking revenge for the framing of his family by the Grand Duke.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince.

Chen Caichun: A Chamberlain at the Court of Judicial Review, an ambitious young woman and one of Kayla's supporters. Younger sister of Chen Jian.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer who helped the current Emperor ascend to the throne and mediate between the previous generation of princes, he is also Kayla's godfather.

Tao Qian: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, recommended by Hu Qing to serve as Kayla's bodyguard, he was recently sent to keep an eye on Ji Yantao.

Ji Yantao: A former accountant of the Xiang household, he was summoned to the capital by Qu Boyong for his revenge plot, but has been replaced by his daughter due to his ill health. Kayla fed information on him to the Grand Duke in order to gain leverage over Qu Boyong by rescuing Ji Yantao.

Li You: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, hired by Hu Qing. He was present in the safehouse after the Grand Duke attempted to kill Kayla.

Zhao Chao: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, hired by Hu Qing. He was present in the safehouse after the Grand Duke attempted to kill Kayla.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, Kuang's supporter.

Cao Shuyi: Wife of the Third Prince, comes from a family of scholars and healers.

Feng Yi: A merchant who got entangled with Liu Boyue, and then Kayla's plots.

It had been over two hours since Zhao Wenyuan entered the Seventh Prince’s household, and Hu Qing was growing worried. The Zhao heir was sure of himself, but Hu Qing knew better than to assume that confidence guaranteed success. If anything, given Wenyuan’s recent illness and emotional instability, it might result in the opposite. Hu Qing didn’t like that Wenyuan was going into this so quickly, but the politicians around him seemed to be fine with it.

Is it even safe for him to be meeting with the Seventh Prince?

Almost as though to answer the question, Zhao Wenyuan exited right on beat. He looked exhausted and haggard, but not much worse for the wear save for a red mark on his face. The carriage pulled over, and Zhao Wenyuan got in. To his credit, he only stilled for a moment when he saw Hu Qing curled up under a seat instead of jolting backward or leaving the carriage altogether. Wenyuan closed the door, maintaining a calm demeanor for a short moment until the carriage pulled off.

“How’d it go, my lord?” Hu Qing asked cheerfully as he contorted himself to get out of his hiding spot. Wenyuan shuffled aside to avoid Hu Qing’s stretching limbs, shooting him an exasperated glare.

“I got startled half to death by some guy hiding under my seat,” Wenyuan shot back. But at Hu Qing’s open look of curiosity, he relented.

“It worked,” Wenyuan said. His face was grim, but there was a thin thread of relief in his expression.

“The Seventh Prince must’ve been quite startled to have someone pull off a stunt like this in his house,” Hu Qing remarked. He handed over a healing talisman for Wenyuan’s face, looking at the vaguely hand-shaped mark with curiosity.

“Yes, he was rather irked that I was trying to kill myself under his roof,” Wenyuan said with a calculative smirk that quickly faded away. “But in any case, it’s worked. He’s offered to help me take revenge on the Grand Duke and even told me that Qu Boyong offered him an alliance. He wants to bring Qu Boyong in as well and offered to mediate between us.”

The red mark faded from Wenyuan’s face, and Hu Qing took the discarded talisman.

“He wants to mediate between you two?” Hu Qing couldn’t help but snort at the thought. From what he’d seen, the Seventh Prince had the hottest temper out of the three.

“Why not? Let him feel that he’s in control. Let Qu Boyong feel that he’s in control. We’re the ones who’ll benefit in the end,” Wenyuan replied. He paused, some of his certainty fading away. “At least that’s what godfather seems to think, but who knows how things will go from here? Acting once is easy, but keeping up the act consistently and realistically is another story.”

“Just take the victories you can,” Hu Qing said sympathetically.

“In any case, I don’t have a better option,” Wenyuan lamented. “I want to go to the safe house before we head back, is it safe to go there right now?”

Does he want to offer incense for the plaque? Hu Qing couldn’t think of any other reason Wenyuan would be heading there.

“We’ll have to switch carriages, but it should be fine. It’ll just take a while.”

By the time they arrived at the safe house, it was close to midnight.

“The plaque is over here,” Hu Qing gestured towards the newly set-up altar in a corner of the safe house.

“Thank you,” Wenyuan said. He peered at the plaque and nodded with satisfaction before lighting a stick of incense.

Hu Qing watched as Wenyuan bowed to the plaque before placing the incense on the burner. He kept his head lowered, his palms pressed together as he stood before the plaque. Several moments later, Wenyuan let out a soft sigh and stepped back, leaving the altar behind.

“Shall I have someone buy fruits to make an offering tomorrow?” Hu Qing offered.

“That would be nice,” Wenyuan agreed.

Hu Qing glanced at the altar again, unable to hold back his curiosity.

“My lord, is that plaque for the man you told me about? The one who quarreled with his mother?” Hu Qing asked. He held his breath, watching Wenyuan’s reaction. As permissive and indulgent as Wenyuan usually was, Hu Qing could sense that this matter was completely different.

To his relief, Wenyuan didn’t show any anger.

“It is,” Wenyuan replied. “Thank you for setting up the plaque, it makes me feel much more at ease to be able to do this.”

“Not at all,” Hu Qing said.

The Zhao heir stepped away from the altar with his usual soft steps, leaving Hu Qing to linger there with a strange sharpness inside his chest.

Hu Qing took a step forward, peering at the plaque. The letters had been painstakingly carved, despite being in a strange script no one recognized. The wood was also of the highest quality. Zhao Wenyuan’s friend may have been unlucky in life, but was certainly not neglected in his death.

There was a bitter taste in Hu Qing’s mouth when he finally turned away.

“Hu Qing, starting tomorrow, I’ll be needing you to do something for me,” Wenyuan called from across the room. Hu Qing went over, looking at Wenyuan curiously.

“What is it?” Hu Qing asked.

Wenyuan pulled out a thick scroll from his robes, spreading it out across the table.

“This is a roster of all the members of the Zhao clan, along with all of the staff members. It doesn’t include the ones being paid off the book, like the ones who killed Lady Lin. I need you to fill in the blanks and keep an eye on all of these people. I need to know where they are, who they’re contacting, and what they’re doing at all times,” Wenyuan said with a serious look on his face. “Can it be done?”

Hu Qing nodded. “It’ll take some effort, but I can set it up.”

Wenyuan smiled in relief. “Good. I plan to overtake the Grand Duke and take the reins of the Zhao clan before I kill him. Before, we could only do it secretly via an assassination, but now things are different. I need to make a show out of the Grand Duke’s death. A private one, but one that’s enough of a spectacle to satisfy Xianchun and Qu Boyong.”

Hu Qing raised his eyebrows, taking in the implications of Wenyuan’s words.

“You can’t control everyone,” Hu Qing warned him.

“If I can’t control them, I’ll contain them. And if I can’t contain them…” Wenyuan let out a soft sigh. “Then I suppose that we’ll just have to kill them.”

Xianchun ran his finger down the length of his sword, contemplatively frowning at the sharp edge of the blade. Thankfully, Wenyuan was not skilled in martial arts, or Xianchun wouldn't have managed to stop him in time. Next to him, Liu Boyue was practically trembling with frustration.

“Your Highness, why on earth did you tell him about Qu Boyong?” Liu Boyue asked, looking aghast. Xianchun glanced at him before turning away uncomfortably.

“We share the same goals, do we not? You were the one who told me that politics was about increasing the number of allies and decreasing the number of enemies,” Xianchun replied.

In truth, it had been an emotional decision that Xianchun had voiced before having a chance to think it over properly. But once he had said it, Wenyuan’s expression of relief made it impossible to take the words back. Xianchun had originally intended to ask Liu Boyue how to best handle the effects of his impulsive decision, but the strategist’s immediate pushback was giving him second thoughts.

What right does he have to question me after going behind my back so many times? Xianchun forcibly quashed that thought before it could go any further.

“My prince, bringing over Zhao Wenyuan in this manner was not what I had in mind when I said that,” Liu Boyue said, a note of exasperation leaking into his voice. “He is the head of the neutral faction, everything he has relies on his neutrality. Would he really be so quick to toss all that aside? Don’t you feel that his support has come too easily?”

Xianchun shook his head. “Your concerns are understandable but unnecessary. As shocking as his revelations were, it was not exactly unexpected. We’ve long known what kind of person the Grand Duke is, and yet few have believed me as to the extent of his crimes. Wenyuan’s discovery is exactly what we need to strike the death blow against the Grand Duke’s faction.”

“I don’t believe he’s telling the truth,” Liu Boyue said insistently. “The palace would not have stood by and done nothing–your father would not have left the Zhao clan alone if his precious younger sister had been killed. Zhao Wenyuan is not someone who can be trusted!”

Xianchun shook his head, a grave look of determination on his face.

“He wouldn’t lie about something like this.”

“My prince, you forget that he’s someone who would use himself as bait. What makes you think he wouldn’t use his parents to manipulate you?” Liu Boyue pointed out.

“You think he would risk his own life? And for what purpose? I’m already set on the Grand Duke’s destruction,” Xianchun asked in bafflement.

Liu Boyue took in a deep breath. “My prince, if he truly wanted to kill himself, would he wait until he’s under your roof to do so? Does this Zhao Wenyuan strike you as a man to act so emotionally? To cry and carry on like that?”

Xianchun’s face stilled at Liu Boyue’s words, his words taking on a distant tone. “It must seem that way to you, Boyue. You wouldn’t be able to understand.”

Liu Boyue jolted back, looking at Xianchun with confusion and disbelief. To his horror, Xianchun’s eyes were filled with sympathy.

“Losing a loved one is an incredibly painful process for everyone, but especially for those who lose their parents to the malice of another and are unable to prove it,” Xianchun said firmly. “And the viler the perpetrator, the more they tend to remain elusive, or just out of your grasp. It is truly enough to drive one to madness. I fully understand his feelings, but I don’t expect you to.”

Liu Boyue clenched his fists tighter, ignoring the sharp jabs of pain from where his fingernails crushed through the skin of his palm.

“Contact Qu Boyong for me and arrange a meeting time. Don’t tell him about Wenyuan,” Xianchun ordered.

Liu Boyue bowed his head, unclenching his jaw to reply.

“As you wish, my prince.”

After giving the best performance of her non-existent acting career, Kayla had managed to enjoy a night of deep, dreamless sleep that left her feeling refreshed rather than like a wrung-out washing rag. Despite the dramatics in Xianchun’s household, the next day went without any stutter or upset, as though nothing had happened in the first place. Even Chen Caichun, who knew of Kayla’s plans, professionally kept her silence on the matter.

Kayla herself was doing her best to act as though nothing had happened, hiding her nervousness about her upcoming meeting with the Third Prince. Wei Guang’s ominous statement that they “needed to talk” wasn’t comforting either, and the fact that Hu Qing would probably be out of reach for the next few days further exacerbated her unease.

I’m essentially plotting a coup against the Grand Duke, but I can only toss everything to Hu Qing. I need to give that man a raise.

Thankfully, Kayla had Wenyuan’s inheritance from his parents, both of which were separate from the Zhao clan’s coffers and from Wenyuan’s personal salary. As generous as the pay of a third-rank official was, it took a lot of money to make things run, and even more money to make things run smoothly.

Paying people off the table was beginning to eat into Wenyuan’s savings. As the favored grandchild of the Empress Dowager and only nephew of the Emperor, Wenyuan had received plenty of gifts from the palace, but rarely were the gifts cash or brocade, and it was hardly appropriate, or even permissible, to sell the items he'd received. There was still more than enough money to keep Kayla from worrying, but seeing the numbers go down sparked a reflexive dread inside her, reminding her of how her bank account had slowly drained itself empty in the past.

When the workday finally drew to a close, Kayla prepared to head to the Third Prince’s household. On her way out, she exchanged a glance with Caichun, who gave a meaningful nod of encouragement.

With Hu Qing laying the groundwork and Tao Qian keeping an eye on Ji Yantao, Kayla had increased her usual number of guards to include a few of Hu Qing’s hires, including Zhao Chao and Li You.

“Then we’ll be heading off,” Zhao Chao politely informed her through the carriage window. Kayla nodded back, and the carriage pulled off.

Kayla settled back into her thoughts, running and re-running through what she would say to the Third Prince. She was halfway through her third mental rehearsal when the carriage screeched to a stop, shouts of alarm ringing out from around it.

Instinctively, she ducked to the floor of the carriage. The sound of blades clashing and clanging sounded out, followed by the solid thunk of an arrow lodging into the right side of the carriage. The second one hit the closed window, making Kayla curl herself closer to the floor.

“Stop that man!” Li You’s voice rang out. Kayla scrambled off the carriage floor and as far away from the door as she could manage to get, just in time to dive backward as it flew open. A sword blindly stabbed forward, missing Kayla by at least half a foot before the offending hand was lopped straight off, falling onto the edge of the carriage floor before dropping out of sight. The blade dropped to the ground with a clang.

Jesus fucking Christ! Kayla hastily reached out with her foot and pulled the sword closer with her heel, watching with wide eyes as Zhao Chao slammed the door shut again. Kayla pressed her back against the wall of the carriage, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.

A garbled screech rang out, much too close for comfort, and Kayla flinched as it came to a gurgling stop, the sound of metal screeching against the side of the carriage scraping across her eardrums. To her relief, that seemed to have been the last of it. As if to prove her wrong with one less surprise, the door was yanked open violently, nearly bouncing back to hit Zhao Chao.

“Apologies, Minister! The attack has been taken care of!” Zhao Chao declared, smudges of blood on his face and robes.

Are you trying to scare me to death?! Kayla kept her silent screeching silent.

“Excellent,” Kayla said in as calm a voice as she could manage. “You’ve done wonderfully.”

After taking a shaky breath, she collected herself and moved forward. Zhao Chao hastily picked up the sword and cleaned the blood on the carriage floor before Kayla’s robes could be dirtied, bowing while politely blocking Kayla inside the carriage.

“Please stay inside, Minister. The area hasn’t been secured yet,” Zhao Chao said.

“Are any of them still alive?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, my lord. Except for one of them, the rest are still alive,” Zhao Chao replied. A scream rang out from just out of sight, and he glanced over sharply at where Li You hastily began to sheath his sword with a sheepish expression. “Well…most of them.”

“Good, call over some men to clean up, and have Li You take the survivors to the Court of Judicial Review to file their arrests,” Kayla said. “Have the rest of the men clean up a bit, and we’ll continue on to the Third Prince’s household.”

Li You gave her a look of shock as he approached the carriage. “Minister, that’s much too dangerous! Not many people knew where you were heading tonight, and yet we were attacked…if you head over, wouldn’t you be walking into a trap?”

Kayla stilled for a moment.

“There’s no need to worry. It definitely has nothing to do with the Third Prince. Would he be so foolish as to kill an official of the court, especially when that official is heading towards his house?” Kayla said. “If any of those bastards try to implicate the Third Prince…” She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“If they do so, then kill them for trying to escape,” she ordered.

Li You bowed his head. “Understood, my lord!”

Kayla nodded and sent him off. She could only hope that her actions were enough of an assurance to Kuang and Yunqi. The last thing she needed was for them to get cornered into seeing her as an enemy simply because the situation escalated out of everyone’s control.

“Is it safe to move?” Kayla asked Zhao Chao. The guards and escorts glanced at each other in surprise for a moment. Seeing that she was serious about continuing on, the escorts scrabbled into action. After a while longer, the backup arrived, and the carriage was once more rolling towards the Third Prince’s household.

Kayla didn’t have enough time to completely soothe her nerves before arriving, upon which she was ushered into the Third Prince’s study without a moment to catch her breath.

“Wenyuan humbly greets the Third Prince,” Kayla bowed deeply. There were no servants in the room, and Yunqi wasn’t there either, leaving only Kayla and Kuang.

“No need for formalities between cousins,” Kuang greeted her warmly. “Come and sit down, you shouldn’t wear yourself out so soon after an illness.”

“Thank you for your concern, Third Cousin,” Kayla replied.

Kuang pushed a cup of tea toward her. “Here, try this. It’s medicinal tea my wife made. If it’s to your liking, I’ll have her pack some for you to take home. They say that the onset of an illness is like a mountain falling, but recovering from an illness is like pulling out threads one by one. You ought to take better care of yourself.”

“I’m truly grateful!” Kayla bowed her head slightly before downing the tea. It was pleasantly fresh and didn’t have the cloying bitterness of most medicinal concoctions.

“I received your message about the Grand Duke,” Kuang said, sitting down next to her. “It must’ve been difficult for you to deal with, how is the situation now?”

“I was rather shocked that he would go so far as to threaten me so openly, and even reveal his plans to blackmail members of the court, but things are under control now,” Kayla replied. “I acted a bit too rashly by trying to burn his study and ended up beating the bushes and startling the snake. In the end, I grew fearful and hid away like a frightened child, I truly am ashamed.”

“Familial confrontations are always ugly and difficult to navigate,” Kuang comforted her. “It’s good that things have settled down a bit, hopefully, that’ll give you some breathing room.”

“I sincerely hope so,” Kayla said. “Thanks to Your Highness' understanding, I was able to find some modicum of relief within this turmoil. But I don't have much grasp for the future."

"Nonsense, you must have some faith in yourself," Kuang replied. "If you need anything from us, you only need ask."

Kayla shuffled forward in her seat, looking at him earnestly. "In truth, I came to you today to ask for help.”

“Go ahead and voice your request. If it’s within my power, I will gladly help you,” Kuang replied.

Showtime.

Kayla got up and dropped to her knees without warning. Kuang jolted with surprise, but hastily regained his composure, stepping over to pull her up.

“What are you doing, cousin? There’s no need to act like this between family,” Kuang said patiently. “Did I not say that I would gladly help where I can? Or do my words fail to assure you?”

Kayla stubbornly remained on the ground.

“My prince, I came here today to notify you of three things,” Kayla said determinedly. Sensing that the situation held more weight than he’d expected, Kuang nodded and released his grip on her arm. He stepped back and squatted down to meet her at eye level, a curious look on his face.

“And what would those be?” Kuang asked.

Kayla bowed her head deeply before straightening and meeting his eyes.

“The first is that the Grand Duke killed my parents. I only learned of this recently, and do not intend to publicize it yet. However, I do intend to take revenge.”

Kuang’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint, the smile fading away. She could see the questions burning through his mind, but he only nodded slowly, gesturing for her to go on. She took a deep breath.

“The second is that the Grand Duke is expected to kill himself shortly,” Kayla said boldly.

Kuang’s expression flickered with a hint of surprise, but he still said nothing, only nodding quietly.

“The third is that I have sent Feng Yi, a man who previously spied on me for Seventh Cousin’s household, to sell communication devices to the populace in the provinces,” Kayla said. "He will be doing so at an affordable price, and on a large scale."

Kuang took a deep breath before letting it out in a long sigh. For a man of his ability, the implications and consequences were instantly clear to him.

“You really are full of surprises, cousin,” he said. “You met with Grandmother and Father the day before last, and with Xianchun yesterday. How much of this do they know, or can you not say?”

“Grandmother and Uncle do not know any of this, and Xianchun only knows of the first two,” Kayla replied without hesitation. Kuang raised his eyebrows in surprise, contemplating the information for a moment before he chuckled, shaking his head.

“Wenyuan, you’ve grown quite ambitious, haven’t you?” Kuang asked in amusement.

Kayla sensed the prodding for what it was and bowed her head.

“My prince, I would say that I am merely developing a sense of duty as both a son and as an official. I do not care for the whims and wishes of the court and nobility. I only know that this country needs change, and a successor to the throne who can implement it. That is what the neutral faction wishes for, and what the people of this country wish for. That is all there is to it.”

Kuang stared at her in surprise before tilting his head back and laughing. Kayla remained still, kneeling respectfully as though what she had told him wasn’t borderline treasonous.

After a moment, in which Kuang’s laughter reverberated around the room, the prince collected himself and stood up, reaching out to Kayla with an outstretched hand.

“Your words are more pleasing than any auspicious news, Wenyuan. Be assured that I will support whatever case you raise in the provinces. I will also attend the Grand Duke’s funeral regardless of the circumstances,” he said meaningfully.

Kayla felt a rush of relief as she processed his words.

“Thank you, my prince.” She reached up and took his hand. Kuang pulled Kayla to her feet and patted her on the shoulder with a pleased smile.

“I look forward to your next steps, Wenyuan.”

Kayla bowed her head slightly. “Then, my prince, I will be sure not to disappoint you.”

Cultural Notes

上供/Making offerings: It's customary to make offerings to the deceased/ancestors/deities/Buddhas you're praying to in China, even today. Usually, this may include incense, rice, various vegetable and meat dishes (vegetarian only for Buddhist altars), fruits, flowers, and pastries (especially in regions where there is less rice and more wheat available). The offerings you make to the dead cannot be eaten if it's being offered on a grave, but depending on the region, can be eaten after the offering has been left there for an ample amount of time if it's on an altar.

性情中人/Man of emotion: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to someone who acts emotionally, it can be taken positively to mean that this is a straightforward person who is honest and does not hide any of his thoughts, or negatively to suggest someone is too impulsive.

死于非命/Died outside of one's fate: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to die of unnatural causes/to die before one's time.

御赐/Imperial Bequeathal: This refers to gifts, money, titles, praise, or even marriages bestowed upon you by the Emperor/members of the Imperial family.

病来如山倒病去如抽丝/Disease arrives like a mountain avalanche but leaves like pulling out threads: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that the onset of illness tends to be a sudden blow to one's health, but recovering is a slow and painstaking process.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Consists of various forms of external treatments (including acupuncture and massage, and even surgery), and internal treatments (various herbal concoctions). It differs greatly from Western medicine in that it tends to provide holistic treatments rather than targeted ones, and also emphasizes internal balance within the body. So long as the doctor is properly trained, it tends to be rather safe and effective.

打草惊蛇/Beat the grass and startle the snakes: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to preemptively tip off your enemy before you can enact your plan.

语出惊人/[Speaking] Words that startle [you]: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to say something surprising, either because you don't expect to hear something like that from the person who said it, or the content itself is shocking.

102-Plan for the Worst

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Rightful heir to the Liang clan and Minister Liang's younger brother. Currently tracking down everyone part of and related to the Zhao clan in preparation for Kayla's plans.

Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees, brought on by Hu Qing. He was introduced to Kayla in the safe house after the Grand Duke attempted to kill her in Chapter 89.

Sun Zhong'e: One of Kayla's employees, a woman who uses unorthodox healing methods. She was sent to watch over Ji Yantao after Hu Qing leaked the significance of Ji Yantao's case to Housekeeper Wang, in order to get Qu Boyong in Kayla's debt.

Ji Yantao: Formerly an accountant of the Xiang household, he was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot, but his daughter is playing the role he was meant to play (filing a case that would drag out the framing of the Xiang clan.)

Tao Qian: One of Kayla's employees, a highly skilled bodyguard that Hu Qing originally recommended to Kayla. He saved Kayla during the events of Chapter 89. Kayla sent him to watch over Ji Yantao to prepare for the worst.

Zhao Chao: One of Kayla's employees who was brought on by Hu Qing, he is currently working for Kayla as a bodyguard.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, the only survivor of the Xiang family. He is seeking revenge against the Grand Duke, and has grown increasingly resentful of Kayla, who continuously complicates his plans.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and teacher of the previous generation of princes, including the Imperial Princess and the current Emperor. He is also Kayla's godfather.

Li Que: A Senior Investigator in the Imperial Investigation Bureau, he is supportive of Kayla.

Captain Jiang: An Imperial Guard captain, he was in love with a palace maid (it's illegal for a palace maid to have an affair while they're working in the Inner Palace). Due to Kayla's interference, the Sixth Princess managed to help him obtain the maid's hand in marriage.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother, she was a magical researcher who gathered evidence against the Grand Duke after the death of her husband. She was also responsible for the soul magic that brought Kayla to this world.

Hu Qing shifted his weight on the tree branch, jotting down a few notes before gesturing at his coworkers. They silently left, the trees barely rustling with their departure.

“Fuck, just how many mistresses does that guy have? If he’d kept it in his pants a little bit more, we wouldn’t have to run around so much,” Ke Yongqian complained as they landed in an empty alleyway.

“I know, right?” One of the other men chimed in. “Seriously, how can one man possibly need so many mistresses?”

“Lust, money, or power, those are the vices that most people can’t avoid. This guy’s got plenty of money, and he can’t gain any power with the Grand Duke’s leash on him, so it’s hardly strange he’d indulge in lust. He’s got the means, after all,” Hu Qing said breezily.

“But do we really need to track down all of these people? Most of them are pretty useless, aren’t they? Even if we leave them be, there’s nothing they can do,” Ke Yongqian said.

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not something that is ten thousand percent certain to happen that you should be worried about, but something that only has a one in ten thousand chance of happening,” Hu Qing shot back. “The Minister’s planning something big, we have to be as thorough as we possibly can. Don’t underestimate these Zhao bastards, they’re slippery as hell.”

“Fine,” Ke Yongqian grumbled. “But really, even though they’re from the same family, isn’t the difference a bit too big? The Minister’s cousins and uncles have so many women, but he’s practically celibate. Is he actually a cut-sleeve?”

“Isn’t that plaque in the Southwest safe house for a man?” Another man pointed out. “It’s fancier than what most people would make for their parents, and there’s always offerings before it. Maybe that’s–”

“Hey, you little shits, that’s enough blabbering. How much do you plan to chew on your tongue about your own employer?” Hu Qing snapped, irritation surging up.

“It’s not like we’re breaking confidentiality,” Ke Yongqian protested.

“Shut the fuck up,” Hu Qing shot back.

“Alright, goodness. For other people, it’s not beating the dog without checking with the owner, but for you, it’s not beating the owner without checking with the dog,” Ke Yongqian grumbled.

“You bastard, want me to break your arm again?”

“I’m kidding!” Ke Yongqian hastily backed away, protectively holding his left arm closer. “We’re just curious is all. I mean, there’s suddenly an altar in the safe house, and it’s not even for his parents. How can we not be curious? We’ll keep quiet, so cool your temper already.”

Hu Qing shook his head and raised his voice. “Alright guys, let’s figure out the rest of the affiliated folks. Once all the talismans are in place, we can wrap up for the day.”

He moved on, the other men trailing a little further behind.

Too quietly for anyone else to hear, Hu Qing let out a sigh.

“That plaque…Really, what a lucky bastard.”

Ji Yantao hummed softly under his breath, stretching his limbs in the patch of sunlight at the center of the courtyard. His bones crackled, and he winced, rolling his shoulders.

“Fresh sesame flatbread! Fresh sesame flatbread for sale! Best in the neighborhood!” The ear-piercing shouts jolted Ji Yantao out of his brief moment of relaxation.

“Oh, it’s that new flatbread seller again! I can smell the sesame from all the way over here. Old Ji, can you run over and get some for us? I need to watch the fire,” his landlady called from where she stood over a pot, stirring the porridge within.

“No problem,” Ji Yantao called back, jogging out of the courtyard to flag down the peddler.

“Miss Sun! Hold on, let me grab four,” Ji Yantao called over.

Sun Zhong’e turned back, smiling at him brightly. “Uncle Ji, you look to be in good health today! You must be in good appetite too, no? Buy a few extra,” she urged him.

“Goodness, you’re way too glib for a simple-minded man like me,” Ji Yantao chided. “How will I eat all that? Just let me have five of them.”

“Alright,” Sun Zhong’e said cheerfully. She set down her baskets, removing the cloth coverings and digging through to pick out a few, deliberately slowing her movements. Within a few moments, the Grand Duke’s assassins should be arriving. If Ji Yantao was already inside at that time, it would make things much more difficult to clean up afterward if they had to break into the courtyard.

“Ah, hot!” Sun Zhong’e drew her hand back, giving Ji Yantao an apologetic look, continuing to drag out the interaction.

“Easy, easy, take your time, don’t burn yourself,” Ji Yantao urged.

Sun Zhong’e began the process anew, taking her time with pulling out five flatbreads and wrapping them up. She took Ji Yantao’s money and began fumbling for change.

Why are they not here yet? She withheld a grimace and dropped the coins.

“Oh no! Really, what is with my luck today?” Sun Zhong’e said in mock dismay, bending down to gather the coins. Ji Yantao followed suit, helping her to pick them up.

“It happens, don’t worry too much about it, it might just be bad luck for your zodiac today,” Ji Yantao assured her. “Perhaps you should take it easy for the rest of the day.”

He dropped the coins he gathered back into her hands, and Sun Zhong’e gave him his change as she sensed the assassins approach via the rooftops.

Finally.

“You’re so kind, Uncle Ji,” Sun Zhong’e said. “Have a wonderful day.”

“You as well, Miss Sun,” Ji Yantao replied. He turned and began to head back, the naan tucked under his arm. Sun Zhong’e glanced back out of the corner of her eye as a flash of black entered her line of sight.

“Watch out!” Sun Zhong’e shouted. She whipped out a dagger and blocked the blow heading for the back of Ji Yantao’s head. Ji Yantao let out a high-pitched screech. Eight men dressed in black began to emerge across the rooftops, agilely leaping about as though they weighed nothing.

Around her, several peddlers sprang into action, tossing aside their hats and wares to draw out blades and crossbows. Sun Zhong’e yanked a longer blade out of her sleeve and began exchanging blows, keeping Ji Yantao safely behind her. A second assassin leaped at her, and Sun Zhong’e shoved Ji Yantao backward, sending the man tumbling away. Blocking blows left and right while keeping an eye on Ji Yantao’s safety, Sun Zhong’e grew more harried in her movements. A third assassin dropped onto the ground right before Ji Yantao, just outside of Sun Zhong’e’s reach.

“No!” Sun Zhong’e shouted, mustering a burst of strength to kick one of the assassins out of the way. The blade aiming for Ji Yantao clashed against metal with a clang, and the third assassin was kicked aside. Tao Qian stepped forward with a butcher knife in hand, having rushed over from where he had been posing as a pork vendor.

He easily dispatched the two men before Sun Zhong’e, both of whom had shifted their target the second Tao Qian appeared. Between the crossbows and the ambush, the other five assassins were being made short work of as well.

“Good heavens,” Ji Yantao squeaked, backing himself up against a wall. Sun Zhong’e set aside her weapons and approached him with open hands.

“Uncle Ji, are you alright?” Sun Zhong’e asked him gently. He stared at her in disbelief as she knelt on one knee before him, taking his wrist to check his pulse.

“Miss Sun, just who are you? Who-who are all these people?!” Ji Yantao asked in a trembling voice. “Just what’s going on?”

Sun Zhong’e gave him an assuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Ji. We’re here to protect you.”

Kayla sat in her room, having returned to the Wei household after work. The reports Zhao Chao had given her brought her relief and concern with equal measure.

There had been an attempt on Ji Yantao’s life, just as she’d hoped. Ji Yantao had been taken into protective custody, drawing the curtains on a small success, one that she hoped would be the first of many. It was now up to how Qu Boyong reacted. But regardless of whether or not he was actually grateful, he would at least have to play nice before Xianchun.

And if he doesn’t, I’ll need to find some way to have him gain Xianchun’s ire. But it was a dangerous game to play–messing with Liu Boyue was already dangerous enough, even when she had the perfect excuse of not knowing he existed. Qu Boyong was also their cousin, and Kayla would be the one on the wrong side of Xianchun’s temper should she get caught trying to sow discord.

It was the assassination attempt from the day before that bothered her. Five men had been caught, but not a single person so much as hinted at the Grand Duke, no matter how they were questioned. Not that the questioning had actually gone anywhere. Three of the assassins had killed themselves within an hour of arriving in the holding cells, and two were killed for trying to frame the Seventh Prince and Third Prince respectively. Kayla tossed the report aside, feeling a headache coming on.

I need to make sufficient progress with Feng Yi while I still have Xianchun’s trust–until the Grand Duke dies, he’ll be placing his faith in me, but what about after that?

“I’ve already gone around acting pitiful before the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and I still had to go and cry to Xianchun,” Kayla grumbled under her breath. “And now I’ll have to keep bouncing between him and the Third Prince like this is Infernal Affairs…Just how much longer will I have to keep this up?”

Too bad that artificial tears haven’t been invented yet, I could really use some.

“A great man can bow and extend himself as needed,” Wei Guang’s voice rang out, startling Kayla into dropping the scrolls in her arms.

“Godfather! I didn’t realize you were here,” Kayla said, shooting to her feet.

“It was not my intention to frighten you,” Wei Guang replied. He moved further into the room, gesturing for her to sit down as he settled into a chair.

“I was merely lost in thought,” Kayla said. Wei Guang glanced at the reports on her desk.

“All of this must be quite difficult for you to balance,” he said sympathetically.

“It is due to my lack of ability,” Kayla said.

“There’s no need to disparage yourself. But I came here in hopes of helping you with the troubles you’re currently facing, if you’re willing to hear my advice,” Wei Guang said.

Why is he being so reticent about it? Kayla had a strange sense of foreboding, but could only go along with it.

“I’d gladly wash my ears with your words,” Kayla replied.

“In terms of how to deal with the Grand Duke in a way that satisfies the Seventh Prince and Qu Boyong without stirring up too much of a fuss with the palace, do you have any ideas yet?” Wei Guang asked.

“So long as I seal up the Zhao household, I can operate within a contained space. More importantly, the Seventh Prince and Qu Boyong will be able to take their revenge to their hearts' content,” Kayla said.

Wei Guang shook his head. “That puts you in too passive of a position. What will you do if things spiral out of control? You need to take charge of the whole process, not just go along with their actions.”

“Then what would you recommend, godfather?”

Wei Guang gave her a thoughtful look.

“Have you studied the reign of Emperor Wen of Han?” Wei Guang asked.

“Of course, my history teacher loved talking about the reign of Wen and Jin as an example of good governance,” Kayla replied, drawing from Wenyuan’s memories.

“Good governance…indeed, Emperor Wen truly deserves his posthumous title. But he faced no small amount of difficulties in the court, and got rid of plenty of political opponents and unruly officials, including his own maternal uncle, and yet he is not criticized as cruel or unjust,” Wei Guang said. “And why is that?”

Kayla frowned, hastily pawing through her mind. “Because they…committed suicide? No, because he forced them to commit suicide. That’s what he did with his own uncle.”

“And how did he do that?” Wei Guang prompted her.

Kayla hesitated. “I…remember that he sent officials to convince his uncle Bo Zhao to commit suicide, but Bo Zhao refused. And then Emperor Wen had the officials of the court go to Bo Zhao’s house in mourning clothes and start the funeral rituals, wasn’t that the case?”

Wei Guang nodded. “Exactly. Bo Zhao was still alive, and yet everyone was dressed in white cloth and kneeling before an empty coffin, wailing and crying with everything they had. With no other choice, Bo Zhao committed suicide in humiliation, and yet Emperor Wen retains his reputation.” He leaned forward slightly, staring into Kayla’s eyes. “Wenyuan, do you understand?”

That is…wow. A fitting end for a shitty person. But why is Wei Guang refusing to say it outright? Kayla gulped in unease. I have to rope him into this–no, perhaps he’s testing to see if I’ll try to do that…or is this a test to see if I can accurately assess the situation and rope him in? No, he already knows I can hold my own in court…then why?

“Godfather, I’m faced with numerous difficulties, each of which is more insurmountable than the last. May I ask for your advice on what I should watch out for?” Kayla asked, refusing to answer outright.

Wei Guang slowly leaned back, his eyes glinting with approval.

“Nothing that you haven’t thought of already. First, you need to completely control the Zhao household–no one enters or leaves without your permission. No information in, no information out. Second, you need to cut off communications and surveillance without inciting suspicion. For that, you already have the Third Prince’s backing, but I’d recommend you obtain Senior Investigator Li Que’s as well. Once the deed is done, the Emperor will look the other way. Lastly, you need to ensure that the Grand Duke doesn’t lash out. The last burst of strength from a beast is the most likely to take down a hunter, do not allow him to become a trapped beast, but rather crush him entirely. The Seventh Prince must not come to harm. As for Qu Boyong…it’s too risky to kill him by the Grand Duke’s hand.”

Kayla nodded. It wasn’t too far off from what she was already planning.

“Then so long as I watch out for these, it wouldn’t matter if a few people went…missing, would it?” Kayla asked. It wasn’t possible for her to take control of the household without any bloodshed, but the problem was how much would be permissible.

“So long as it’s contained and can be muffled into silence, it doesn’t matter,” Wei Guang replied. “If you avoid making a mess, then you can always reduce a large problem into a small one, and a small one into nothing.”

“I understand,” Kayla replied.

Wei Guang smiled slightly before his face settled into a cold expression.

“Wenyuan, you made the right choice,” he said.

Kayla instinctively knew he was referring to her refusal to answer. Her stomach dropped.

I basically admitted I didn’t trust him, didn’t I?

She chose to keep quiet, watching to see whether Wei Guang was upset or approving.

“Even those closest to you, even a wife or a child, cannot be fully trusted,” Wei Guang said. “Seeing that you know this, I feel satisfied in entrusting this task to you.”

Kayla nodded. So he thinks I can kill the Grand Duke. It was reassuring to have his approval, even if it left a larger pit of unease in the back of her mind.

“If the Emperor should choose incorrectly, I will be relying on you to rectify that decision,” Wei Guang added.

“Wh–what?” Kayla choked out the words as her heart skipped a beat in shock.

“Listen carefully to what I’m saying, Wenyuan. The current Emperor was not the heir chosen by the previous Emperor,” Wei Guang continued. “I was the one to put your uncle on the throne.”

“What?!”

“The previous Emperor grew to dote on a young concubine in his late years and wished to change the Crown Prince to her son. On his deathbed, he did so. I was the one to seal off the palace and lead the Imperial Guards to coronate your Uncle,” Wei Guang said.

“A–” Coup. Kayla swallowed the word, staring at Wei Guang in disbelief.

“The country would’ve spiraled into instability with a child on the throne. I did what I had to, and I trust you to do what you have to, should it come to that,” Wei Guang continued calmly.

“I’ve never heard of having an uncle so close to my age,” Kayla said.

“That was your grandmother’s doing,” Wei Guang admitted.

“Then he’s…” Kayla trailed off meaningfully. Wei Guang nodded.

“Good heavens,” Kayla muttered, putting a hand over her pounding heart. “Godfather, I-I’m grateful for your faith in me, but something like this may be beyond my capabilities.”

“Not in the slightest. Wenyuan, with your nullification abilities, only a small force of Imperial Guards would be necessary to take action. I’ve arranged for Captain Jiang to learn of his debt to you, but the rest still depends on whether you can grab hold of that opportunity,” Wei Guang said.

Kayla reeled back in disbelief. Are you fucking kidding me–Jesus Christ!

“My nullification has limited applications for combat,” Kayla pointed out.

Wei Guang gave her an unimpressed look. “Wenyuan, you have no experience in coups, so you don’t know this.”

Yeah?! No kidding?! Even the Grand Duke didn’t plan a coup?!

“Cutting off communications usually entails sealing off the palace, which requires a ridiculous amount of manpower. However, you can simply cut off all magic. The palace would automatically go into lockdown in such a case, and communications would also be cut off as a result. Then all you would have to do is get the Third Prince into the room before the Seventh Prince, and that would be all there is to it,” Wei Guang explained. “From the tests I’ve done so far, you are more than capable of nullifying magic over the entire capital, taking care of the palace should be effortless for you.”

Really?! I didn’t even fucking know that. Did he get that just from making me nullify a few talismans?

“That’s not something we can afford any uncertainties on,” Kayla said.

Wei Guang shook his head. “I am completely certain. I did not tell you, and you did not seem to sense it, but the talismans I had you nullify in the past were not just any common spells. They were extremely high-level spells crafted by your mother and her fellow researchers, specifically to test just how high the limits are for mages, not just as individuals, but collectively.”

Kayla reared back, staring at him in disbelief. Fuck, are you kidding me? I didn’t even realize what he was doing! As expected, older ginger packs more heat.

“Godfather, do you believe the Emperor would decide incorrectly?” Kayla asked.

Wei Guang leveled her with a steely gaze. “Would you take that chance?”

Kayla shook her head vehemently. “Of course not.” She knew what kind of future lay with Xianchun’s ascension to the throne and wanted no part in it.

“Then you ought to prepare accordingly,” Wei Guang replied.

Kayla bowed her head in response, sweat beading at her collar.

A coup…we’re really going down a dangerous path here, aren’t we? But what other choice do we have?

She straightened as Wei Guang pushed a pile of scrolls into her line of sight.

“And these are…?” Kayla prompted.

“Your mother’s writings in code, as I promised,” Wei Guang said.

“Thank you very much for taking the time, godfather,” Kayla replied.

In terms of slapping you in the face and then feeding you a date, godfather really is on a whole other level, Kayla griped to herself.

“Then I’ll leave you to it,” Wei Guang got up, and Kayla stood up to send him off. Once he had left, Kayla began to pace the room nervously.

Right, if the Emperor chooses incorrectly, there’s still a small window in which we can change things…through a coup. Fuck.

Forcing her thoughts away from the source of anxiety, Kayla turned to the scrolls and unrolled the one on top, not expecting much. Wenyuan would’ve been the one most likely to decipher a secret code by his mother, but he was no longer here.

As the contents of the scroll finally registered in her mind, Kayla dropped it in shock.

“What the fuck?!” Kayla said in alarm.

With trembling hands, she squatted down and picked it up, looking it over with frenzied eyes.

“Is this…katakana?”

Cultural Notes

权钱色/Power money lust: A common phrase used to encompass the three major motivating factors in a very nihilist worldview.

不怕一万就怕万一/Not fearing something ten thousand percent certain but fearing that which has a one in ten thousand chance of happening: A Chinese colloquialism meaning that you need not fear that which is certain but that which is possible, also used to mean that you should always be prepared for anything to happen and plan meticulously since you will definitely prepare for a certain outcome but it is the uncertain results that will hit you in the face when you least expect it.

断袖/Cut-sleeve: An Ancient Chinese term for male homosexuality. It originates from the story of an Emperor who cut off his sleeve to avoid waking his sleeping lover.

嚼舌根/Chew on the root of your tongue: An Ancient Chinese term meaning to talk behind someone's back, especially when that someone is your employer.

牌位/Plaques: Plaques are usually for one's family members, especially one's ancestors and parents, but also for any siblings, spouses, etc. who died before you. People also set them up for close friends.

打狗看主人/Check with the owner before hitting the dog: A Chinese saying meaning not to cut loose on someone unless you're certain of who's backing them up. An example would be refusing to punish Hu Qing until they've confirmed he works with Wenyuan and given Wenyuan a chance to resolve the matter peacefully. The reverse of this is often used in popular culture for when the subordinate is stronger than the superior, 打主人看狗/Check with the dog before hitting the owner.

芝麻饼/Sesame flatbread: A food popular in the capital city during the Tang Dynasty, it was brought over by traders from Western Asia and Central Asia, similar to modern-day naan.

无间道/Infernal Affairs: A Hong Kong movie about a cop who infiltrated the mafia and a mafia member who infiltrated the cops. The movie features the two of them running circles around the other until a fateful clash determines both their fates. The name 无间道 also refers to a Buddhist term for a specific circle of hell, which is why Wei Guang didn't find it strange when Kayla said it.

大丈夫能屈能伸/A great man can bend or extend himself: An Ancient Chinese proverb stemming from a quote by Confucius, meaning that a great man will bend but not break, and can rise to the occasion when needed.

洗耳恭听/Wash my ears and respectfully listen: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to indicate respect for someone's words.

文景之治/The Reign of Wen and Jin: Refers to the period in the Han Dynasty during which the country was ruled by Emperor Wen, and then his son, Emperor Jin. The two of them didn't meddle too much with the people's affairs and tried to improve the economy and reduce the power of local nobles in order to consolidate the central government's power. They built the foundation for the numerous campaigns of Emperor Wu of Han.

汉文帝/Emperor Wen of Han: He succeeded Liu Bang, the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wen was the son of Liu Bang's most neglected concubine and was sent to rule a remote fief at a young age. He and his mother were forced to supplement their meager stipend with additional side jobs, but as a result, their pitiful situation caused Empress Dowager Lu to spare them when she was killing off all of Liu Bang's other women and sons (excluding her own kids). After a very complicated succession crisis in which the Lu family was exterminated, Emperor Wen became the Emperor. Though he was not without his faults, he was an excellent politician and was kind to the people, repeatedly granting amnesty, reducing taxes, and redacting unreasonable laws and punishments. When he died, he forbade the country to undergo a long and expensive mourning period, decreeing before his death that his concubines should return to their homes rather than stay at his grave or in the palace (as was customary) and that the people and court should not mourn for more than three days.

薄昭/Bo Zhao: Emperor Wen's maternal uncle, he came to abuse his power as the years went by, and killed a messenger from the palace. Note that after the fiasco of the Lu clan, the early Han dynasty was extremely sensitive to political interference from the Emperor's maternal relatives. Since Emperor Wen did not want to execute his own uncle, he sent officials to persuade Bo Zhao to kill himself. Bo Zhao refused, and Emperor Wen sent the officials to go mourn at his house (note that this was very loud and included a host of noisy instrumentals and artistic wailing) until Bo Zhao was forced to commit suicide.

垂死挣扎/Struggling on the verge of death: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the desperate and often frenzied struggle of someone/something on the verge of death.

大事化小小事化了/Turn a big matter into a small one and a small one into nothing: A Chinese proverb.

宫变/Palace Coup: A specific type of coup in Ancient China that usually involved leading the Imperial Guard against an Emperor, whether to force him into abdicating, changing the heir, or eliminating key officials. It can also take place after an Emperor's death, in order to crown a new Emperor by force.

姜还是老的辣/Ginger packs more heat when it's older: A Chinese saying referring to the fact that older people tend to have more wiles/ploys at hand, largely due to experience.

打个巴掌给个枣/Slap you in the face and then give you a date: A Chinese version of "hit you with a stick and then give you a carrot."

Katakana: A Japanese syllabary consisting of 48 characters that follow the endings of -a,-i, -u, -e, -o, as well as a character that is pronounced -n ("nnn"). It is one of the three writing systems used in Japanese, which includes hiragana, kanji, and katakana. Katakana is usually used for imported terms.

103-Hope for the Best

Character Index

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother, she was responsible for the magic that brought Kayla to this world.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with the Imperial Princess. She showed Kayla a vision of the future that prompted Kayla to step up her game.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and the man who got the current Emperor onto the throne. He is currently Kayla's godfather, being deeply trusted by the Emperor and detested by the Empress Dowager.

Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, he has agreed to help Kayla take revenge for Wenyuan's parents, and offered to arrange an agreement between Kayla and Qu Boyong.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he is seeking revenge against the Grand Duke.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Liang Shen and the rightful heir to the Liang household, he was passed off as an illegitimate son for many years and did the dirty work for his older brother. He is now Kayla's retainer.

Minister Liang/Liang Shen: The eighth son of the former Lord Liang and older half-brother to Hu Qing. He is now the Minister of Justice and head of the Liang household, and a member of Xianchun's faction. Being the son of a neglected concubine, his father rarely gave him any attention, even while naming him.

Liang Bailu: The sixth son of the former Lord Liang and deceased older half-brother to Hu Qing. Like Liang Shen, he was the son of a neglected concubine and was named and raised rather carelessly.

Ji Yantao: Formerly an accountant for the Xiang household, he was dragged out of a peaceful life and into Qu Boyong's revenge plot.

Tao Qian: A reliable young man recommended by Hu Qing, he was formerly sent to protect Ji Yantao and served as Kayla's bodyguard before that.

Zhao Chao: One of the men on Kayla's payroll, brought on by Hu Qing. He currently works as Kayla's bodyguard and recently saved her from an assassination attempt arranged by the Grand Duke.

Kuang: The Third Prince, who Kayla has decided to throw her support behind.

Consort Chen: Mother of Xianchun, she was poisoned and killed by the Grand Duke to clear the path for his niece, Consort Zhao. Consort Chen used to be a palace maid until the Emperor took interest in her.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.

Kayla gripped the scroll with shaking hands, suddenly terrified that she would accidentally damage it somehow. She placed it on the table, leaning over to look at it carefully.

The Imperial Princess wrote in katakana?! What the fuck?! Holy shit, did she know Japanese?

Kayla tried to draw on the rudimentary Japanese she’d picked up as an anime fan during her high school years.

I should’ve taken a Japanese class instead of Spanish. Is this read -wa or -hu? Fuck. Has katakana even been invented yet?! Probably not, or Wei Guang would recognize it, he handled diplomats from Japan before, didn’t he? That means I can’t even find someone from Japan to ask.

She grabbed a piece of paper and began scribbling down all the characters she could remember, writing their pronunciations beneath. Going between the scroll and the page, she slowly began to fill in the blanks, scrounging through her brain to piece together the full set. Kayla scribbled down the characters’ pronunciations as she read through the scroll at a snail’s pace, trying to figure out just what the hell this was trying to say.

I don’t know enough phrases in Japanese to deal with this, Kayla wanted to bash her head in against the desk. If worse came to worst, she could go hound a traveler from Japan to figure out what it meant so long as she had the pronunciation. Even after ten minutes, she had only managed to read the phonetic pronunciation of a single line. Yi-to-ha-su-bi-nu-a-ro-nn-ta-i-mu-shi-nn-su-ai-ha-fu-bi-nu-ri-bo-nn-i-nn-chu-u-go-ku.

Kayla blinked at the transcription in confusion.

“The fuck? What is this supposed to mean?!”

Squinting at it in confusion, she mumbled the characters aloud as she traced her finger along.

“Is this Japanglish?!”

It has been a long time since I have been reborn in Chuugoku.

Kayla reread the sentence. A long time since she had been reborn? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!

Kayla closed her eyes, leaning back and taking several deep breaths. She vaguely remembered that Chuugoku was the Japanese phrase for China, but it had been in use for at least a few centuries, and it was hard to pin down a time period from that. However, the fact that Kayla could understand the English being used meant the Imperial Princess definitely was from a time period closer to the modern era.

Kayla pinched at the bridge of her nose, continuing down the scroll. After another agonizing hour or so, she had finally deciphered the first two pages, being left with more questions than she had answers.

Just how many times has this woman been reborn?!

Both of the scrolls were from when the Imperial Princess was only six years old, but one thing was clear. The Imperial Princess’ mental age was at least several centuries old, and she had been reborn multiple times in different eras and different countries. It wasn’t the Imperial Princess’ first time being reincarnated in Ancient China, but Kayla couldn’t tell just how many times it had happened before. Evidently, it was the princess’s first time in this particular era.

Lady Lin and Wei Guang said there were multiple worlds, was the Princess continuously reincarnating in this world, or was she jumping around?

Kayla took a deep breath and let out a sigh, staring at the papers with bleary eyes. She didn’t have enough time to go through the stack of scrolls, not at the moment. The priority was moving forward with Xianchun and Qu Boyong. Negotiations were coming up, and while Qu Boyong was already in her debt, she needed to drag Xianchun down as well.

And all that with the coup…I can only hope it doesn’t come to that. Kayla could feel a headache coming along.

There was a brusque knock and the window swung open. Kayla hastily flipped over the paper with her scribblings. It was a subconscious movement since no one could speak English anyways.

“Hu Qing,” Kayla greeted him as he flipped in, “How are things going? I didn’t think I’d see you for the next few days.”

“Things are going well, my lord. Or, as well as one can expect. Did you know that Fifth Uncle of yours has seven mistresses?” Hu Qing said gleefully.

“Seven?! Why does he need so many? That is so unnecessary! He already has four concubines,” Kayla complained.

“That’s what the men thought as well, it seems that at least two of the mistresses have been discarded by now. Not sure if they’ve found a new man yet, but one of them seems to be raising a child by herself,” Hu Qing replied. “Anyways, most of your uncles really get around. Your male cousins too.”

“Good grief, I should’ve expected this,” Kayla groaned. She felt her headache intensify. Had those people also died when the Zhao clan was exterminated? Kayla didn’t know and had no one to ask now that Lady Lin was dead.

“Overall, we’re through with everyone on the list, and now we’re just combing through the affiliated persons and people hired off the book,” Hu Qing summarized. “It shouldn’t take much longer, we’ll probably be finished by tomorrow or the day after.”

“That’s fast,” Kayla said in surprise.

“They’re not exactly subtle,” Hu Qing pointed out.

“That’s fair. You’ve done well, I’ll make sure to give you and the men a bonus,” Kayla promised.

Hu Qing grinned. “That’s exactly what we want to hear. Speaking of, the men have been getting curious about the plaque in the safe house. Do you want me to move it somewhere else?”

“They’re curious about it?” Kayla frowned slightly. “I didn’t think it would seem so strange.”

Hu Qing shrugged. “What can I say? They love gossip. And they haven’t had too many chances to meet with you either, so of course they’d be curious.”

Kayla let out an exasperated sigh. “If you think that’s for the best, then go ahead and move it. But where to?”

“I’ll just move it into the study space and limit access,” Hu Qing replied. “It’ll stir them up even more for a few days, but out of sight, out of mind. If it disappears for long enough, they’ll stop chattering about it.”

“Alright then. I’ll leave it to you,” Kayla agreed. Hu Qing nodded. He fell silent for a moment, long enough for Kayla to glance at him inquisitively. Hu Qing’s brows were knitted together, an uncharacteristically troubled look on his face.

“Is something the matter?” Kayla asked cautiously.

“Nothing,” Hu Qing said immediately. After a moment, he let out a frustrated sigh. “This is ridiculous. I had my mind made up before I got here, but now I’m indecisive again.”

“It’s fine, just take your time,” Kayla said.

“Forget it.”

Kayla frowned. “Are you sure?”

Hu Qing hesitated, crossing his arms. He started to speak before cutting himself off again. Kayla waited patiently, keeping her silence until Hu Qing gathered his thoughts again. It wasn’t like Hu Qing to be so reticent. A shred of worry began to worm its way into Kayla’s mind.

“That matter from before, I’m willing to try it.”

Kayla blinked in surprise at Hu Qing’s sudden statement.

“You mean…” Kayla leaned forward in anticipation.

Hu Qing nodded. “Becoming the lord of the Liang household, I’ll do it.”

Kayla stood up, making her way over to clap Hu Qing on the shoulder.

“You have no idea how glad I am to hear that!” Kayla said in relief. “But are you sure?”

Better to have him back down now rather than resent me later.

Hu Qing let out a sigh. “I’m sure. I wasn’t interested before, but that plaque changed my mind.”

“That plaque? The one for my friend?” Kayla asked in surprise.

“Exactly. I used to think I wasn’t afraid to die. Sometimes I even had fun seeing how far I could go and still come back from death’s door, and my brother never really stopped me either. But even with everything I’ve done for him, he would never place my plaque in the family shrine. He probably wouldn’t use my real name either. In fact, I doubt that he would even make me a plaque in the first place,” Hu Qing said, his voice taking on a note of bitterness.

“I’m sorry,” Kayla said sincerely. “You deserve better than that.”

Hu Qing scoffed, shaking his head. “I’ve done what he wanted, for his sake, but all of my efforts seem to flow away eastwards with the water. Thinking about it, you’re probably the only one who would consider burying me under my real name.”

“Of course I would.”

“I know, I trust you. It’s a good thing that I left the Liang household, wasn’t it? No one wants to die without even having someone to burn paper money for them,” Hu Qing said.

“I’d rather you didn’t die before me, but if you did, I’d just as gladly burn real money for you,” Kayla said. She had actually done that as a young child when burning offerings on the seventh day after her grandfather’s passing, not realizing that she was supposed to use the fake money they’d bought from the 99-cent store. Kayla’s mother had a massive fit, only realizing after Kayla had already tossed two twenty-dollar bills into the flames. Her mother had forced Kayla to dig through the apartment building’s trash for plastic bottles until she had enough to earn back the forty dollars, intending the impossible task to teach Kayla a lesson about valuing money. They had to stop an hour in because Kayla was crying too hard and the janitor threatened to call the cops.

Regardless, she wouldn’t mind burning actual money for Hu Qing if that was what the theatrical man wanted, in hopes that the promise itself would push back the day of parting.

“You’re serious?” Hu Qing said, laughing at her nod. “That’s ridiculous, they don’t even accept real money in the afterlife! How would you even burn the coins? It would just melt.”

“I could burn brocade,” Kayla offered jokingly. “But the point stands.”

Hu Qing guffawed, throwing his head back in mirth.

“That’s too dramatic, even by my standards,” he chuckled. “I’ll accept your good intentions though. If you don’t compare, you don’t take any damage. I used to think my brother treated me quite well, but now…well, before it was impossible for me to do anything, so I was satisfied and went about living a carefree life. But now there’s a chance, and the things I could have won’t stop bothering me. I don’t want to go to the Yellow Springs without having even lived under my real name.”

Kayla nodded, listening attentively. It wasn’t like Hu Qing to say things like this, and it must have taken a great deal of effort for him to voice his deepest thoughts. She almost felt as though any additions she could possibly make would cheapen his determination. But Hu Qing glanced at her, waiting for a response.

“Indeed, hope can drive a man to madness,” Kayla murmured. “One does not fear solitude but rather inequality; one does not fear poverty but rather instability. But where there is injustice, there will be resistance. You deserve nothing less than your full birthright. So long as that is what you wish for, I will do everything within my power to help you attain it.”

“It can be done, right?” Hu Qing asked.

“Yes,” Kayla said confidently. “I believe that Minister Liang bribed one of Dong Shiqing’s former subordinates–once we investigate the Ministry of Revenue, that will also come to light.”

“Then he would be charged with a crime,” Hu Qing said, frowning with concern.

“If you don’t want to cause him harm, we can just change the records to make it one of your family members who has already passed away,” Kayla replied. “That might actually be even better–he would have to step down of his own volition, and in doing so, preserves both his reputation and enhances yours.”

Hu Qing hesitated before nodding. “Alright then.”

“Give me a name, and we’ll work off of that,” Kayla said.

Hu Qing thought it over for a while, scrounging for a suitable scapegoat.

“Liang Bailu,” he finally said. “He’s my Sixth Brother, he passed away about a year or two after my eighth brother became the head of household. He got a lung disease while on the run, from back when our clan was being persecuted, so he didn’t last for much longer afterward. He doesn’t have any children, his wife already died, and he didn’t have any concubines, so this won’t affect anyone.”

“Your eighth brother…that’s Minister Liang, right?” Kayla confirmed. At Hu Qing’s nod, she jotted down Liang Bailu’s name. “Got it, we’ll go with this.”

“Thank you,” Hu Qing replied.

“Not at all. But this won’t happen overnight, it’ll take a while before we get to this step,” Kayla told him.

“That’s fine, you still need to focus on dealing with the Seventh Prince and Qu Boyong, don’t you? Neither of them are easy opponents, and the Grand Duke certainly isn’t one either. If you let down your guard even a little, they’ll swallow you whole,” Hu Qing said.

Kayla nodded. “I know. But if you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how will you retrieve the tiger’s cub? I’m going back to the Zhao household tomorrow to set the stage properly. I need to turn a generational feud into a debt, so I can’t skimp on the details.”

“Ji Yantao’s already safe, so take Tao Qian with you. It’ll be too dangerous otherwise,” Hu Qing warned her.

Kayla gave him a nod. “I will.”

The disbelieving looks from the household guards greeted Kayla as she re-entered the Zhao household. No one greeted her, and no one tried to stop her as she walked down the corridors at a relaxed pace, surrounded by the bodyguards that Hu Qing had insisted on.

Kayla didn’t bother heading towards her own rooms, walking straight towards the Grand Duke’s study. It was irrationally bold and consistent with the behavior of a man overwhelmed with grief and anger after learning of his parents’ unjust deaths. Though Kayla had already cleared out Xianchun’s spies, she had no doubt that he had more eyes and ears in the household. Kuang did as well, and the palace most certainly had quite a few. Sometimes, she even wondered if there were more spies than actual servants in the Zhao household.

Xianchun has to believe that I took a serious risk to get the information about Consort Chen’s murder. But for that to work, she needed conflict. Given the attempts on her life, the murder of Lady Lin, and the attack on Ji Yantao, Kayla had expected to be confronted upon reaching the Inner Quarters, but everyone continued to ignore her. The guards would stiffen and then step aside, staring into the distance with glassy eyes as they determinedly pretended Kayla and her bodyguards weren’t there.

What’s going on? Did the Grand Duke realize something? Kayla glanced around, forcing herself to keep her cool.

“Is there anything unusual?” Kayla asked Tao Qian quietly. He shook his head.

“Nothing, Minister.”

Kayla approached the study and glanced at the guards on either side of the door expectantly. Both of them acted as though they didn’t see her, even when Zhao Chao leaned in provocatively. Kayla reached for the door, but Tao Qian hastily grabbed her arm.

“There’s someone inside,” Tao Qian warned her.

Kayla nodded. “Of course, it’s rude of me not to announce myself,” she said calmly before knocking on the door. “Pardon the interruption, it’s Zhao Wenyuan.”

Tao Qian opened the door and stepped in ahead of her. Kayla entered after, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. All the windows were closed and the curtains were drawn. Combined with the cloudy weather, the room was encompassed in shadows. In the center of the room, she could make out two familiar figures, that of the Grand Duke and Housekeeper Wang.

So they were waiting for me here, Kayla thought wryly.

“You unfilial brat, you still know to come back?”

The Grand Duke’s voice was much raspier than she remembered, but Kayla found herself instinctively stiffening regardless. Upon closer examination, the Grand Duke wasn’t sitting in his usual mahogany chair, but a wheelchair, with Housekeeper Wang standing behind him.

“This one humbly offers his greetings to you, grandfather,” Kayla replied, remaining safely behind Tao Qian. “I hope that you have been well.”

A sliver of rage emerged in the Grand Duke’s eyes before it was replaced with cold hatred.

“I’m surprised you dare to show your face before me,” the Grand Duke snarled. “But if you think you’ve gained the upper hand, then you’re deluding yourself.”

“There’s no point in exchanging threats at this point,” Kayla brusquely cut him off. “The end result will be decided by our abilities. No amount of arguing will change anything.”

The Grand Duke smiled without mirth, his eyes and teeth taking on a sickening glint in the darkness of the room.

“You refuse the toast to drink the penalty wine. If you had kept your place, you could’ve still met a good end,” the Grand Duke said ominously. “As they say, if the heavens impose calamities, you can still live. If you bring calamities upon yourself, there will be no path left to survival. You haven’t even written a single character yet, and yet you’re already thinking of how to frame the calligraphy. Youngsters really shouldn’t be too arrogant.”

“I’ll be careful then,” Kayla shot back. “Did you send assassins to kill me the night before last?”

“That’s slander. Have you broken neutrality?” The Grand Duke replied without a shred of hesitation.

“How ridiculous, I would never. Did you kill Consort Chen?”

The Grand Duke’s glare intensified but managed to keep his reaction under control.

“What need have I for meddling in the affairs of women? Thinking yourself too clever will only trip you up. Does the palace know of your nullification magic?”

Kayla carefully maintained her bland smile. “I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, grandfather. But I’m sure that the palace has a good grasp of what’s going on in this household, so I wouldn’t worry about it. How did you murder my mother?”

“As you said, the palace has a good grasp on the affairs of this household. If there’s something they should know, then they surely know it. You shouldn’t waste your time on such things,” the Grand Duke said coldly.

Kayla nodded slowly. “Of course not, thank you for your advice, grandfather. Then I’ll return to my own rooms and stop disturbing you.”

“You’re quite confident for a fool waltzing in the wolves’ den,” the Grand Duke said in a low voice.

“That would only apply if there were wolves present,” Kayla shot back. “And unless you’re calling yourself one, I don’t see any reason to be worried just yet.”

“Get out!” The Grand Duke finally lost his temper, slamming his hand onto the desk. Kayla bowed her head slightly and obeyed, leaving the study without another word.

Tao Qian and the other bodyguards silently followed Kayla back to her own rooms, which were now covered in dust. Tao Qian and Zhao Chao entered with her, the others remaining in the corridor. Zhao Chao patted the dust off a chair and gestured for Kayla to sit.

“Thank you,” she said, activating a privacy talisman before turning to Tao Qian. “So, what did you think?”

Tao Qian straightened. “The airflow in the room doesn’t match its structure, and the floor doesn’t sound right given its material. It’s just as you suspected, Minister. There’s probably a secret room in there, but you wouldn’t know it unless you knew what you were looking for.”

“So it’s under the floor?” Kayla asked in surprise.

“I believe so. Given the layout of the house, there isn’t space for a secret room unless it’s underground,” Tao Qian replied.

Damn, that makes things more difficult. Thinking back to the shitshow that set the Grand Duke’s study on fire, most of the scrolls should have been damaged, if not outright destroyed. And yet the Zhao household hadn’t begun taking Plan B measures to consolidate their control over the faction even with the loss of compromising evidence, which could only mean that the study wasn’t where the evidence was being kept.

The novel had clearly stated that Liu Boyue found the evidence of Consort Chen’s murder in the Grand Duke’s study, but not where in the study. It was why Kayla had asked Tao Qian to enter the study with her, ignoring all norms of propriety.

So it’s underground…

“I had hoped that suddenly barging in would startle him into trying to move or destroy the evidence, and then we would have an opportunity to act. But rather than throwing a brick to find the location of the jade, I’ve only turned a trick into a mistake,” Kayla said thoughtfully. “Well, no matter. I don’t actually need the evidence just yet.”

“Minister, if you want to make him bring out the evidence himself, then there is a way,” Zhao Chao said.

“Let’s hear it,” Kayla replied.

“If it’s meant to be secret, it’s definitely encrypted, isn’t it?” Zhao Chao pointed out. “Then, if you could nullify the magic on the scrolls, he’ll be forced to re-encrypt them.”

“No, security would be too tight. It would be impossible to make a move during such a window of time,” Tao Qian said.

“It’s alright. As I said, I don’t need this evidence right now. I’ve more or less confirmed everything I need to know, with you two present as witnesses. Tao Qian, I’d like you to make another attempt to enter the study–you don’t even need to be subtle, just make a show out of trying,” Kayla said. “If you use a ruse, you have to follow the complete act. My goal is to show all the eyes on us that I’ve tried and succeeded, in gaining key information. That’s the point of this entire trip.”

“I understand, Minister. But you should prepare to leave before I go, or there may be danger,” Tao Qian replied.

“I will. Would you be alright?” Kayla asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Tao Qian said firmly. “Don’t worry, Minister. I definitely won’t let you down.”

Cultural Notes

Katakana: A Japanese syllabary developed in the 9th century, about a century after Kayla's current time period. Many katakana characters may be difficult to differentiate for beginners, for example, this character フ is read hu. This character ワ is read wa.

Japanglish: The Japanese version of localized/pidgin English. Other counterparts include Singlish (Singaporean English) and Chinglish (Variation 1: Anglicized Chinese-Long time no see; no can do; good good study day day up; you see see you one day day only know sleep sleep sleep no know study. Variation 2: Combining English words into nonexistent phrases or replacing some Chinese words with English and vice-verse.) Japanglish is popularly noted for the vowels added after every consonant in pronunciation. For example, Mcdonald's becomes Makudonarudo.

Chuugoku: The Japanese term for China, believed to have been in use from as early as the 13th century.

眼不见为净/Not seeing is cleaner: The Chinese equivalent of out of sight, out of mind.

Family shrines: Members of the family who have passed away usually had their names/plaques in the family shrine in Ancient China, but illegitimate children and concubines often wouldn't be given plaques, especially in later dynasties after people became more conservative (looking at you Song Dynasty).

没有对比就没有伤害/Without comparison there is no damage: A popular Chinese saying in modern China, often in reference to growing wealth inequalities. However, similar phrases have been used throughout history.

烧纸钱/Burning paper money: In Chinese folk tradition, burning paper money is considered a way of giving your deceased loved ones money to spend in the afterlife, as a way of continuing to care for them even after they've passed on. In earlier dynasties, before there was paper currency, paper money was made in the shape of coins or folded into the shape of gold ingots. Nowadays, paper money is made in the shape of paper bills, and in many Chinese immigrant circles, localized currencies are also available. They can be found in Chinese supermarkets, and also in 99-cent stores, another small business popular among first-generation immigrants.

Below, from left to right paper Chinese dollars (I believe this was recently banned because some people got a little too good at making them look realistic) and paper American dollars:

头七/First Seven Days [After passing away]: A folk tradition that is heavily influenced by Buddhism, in which the spirit of the deceased is believed to be somewhat in limbo for the first 49 days after death, during which you should commit good deeds in the deceased's name to improve their karma. In folk tradition, the seventh day after someone passes away is believed to be the day on which they return home to see their loved ones, and is often when people will burn paper money. Traditions vary by locality, and some people will offer wine while others prohibit it, and so on so forth.

付之东流/Flow east along with the waters: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that all your efforts are for naught, that everything disappears as though carried downstream by the rivers. It stems from the line of a Tang Dynasty poem, "世事尽付东流水/Everything floats away with the east-flowing waters". Since China's geography has a higher sea level in the West that gets lower as you approach the ocean, most major rivers that cross the country tend to flow eastwards into the sea.

Brocade as a form of storing wealth: Since the Tang Dynasty did not have paper money yet, brocade became a convenient form of informal currency due to how highly prized it was, and because it was relatively easier to transport compared to heavy loads of coins.

不患寡而患不均，不患贫而患不安/Not afraid of solitude but of inequality, not afraid of poverty but of instability: A quote by the Confucian philosopher Mencius, from the pre-Qin era. Mencius was well-known for taking kings to task on behalf of the people.

黄泉/Yellow Springs: A term for death in Ancient China. It is believed to have been formed from the yellow waters that people encountered when digging underground in regions where the soil was naturally a shade of dark yellow.

哪里有压迫哪里就有反抗/Wherever there is oppression, there is resistance: A quote from Mao’s Little Red Book, though Kayla has never read it, like a good number of second-gen immigrants whose parents grew up during the decades before and during the Cultural Revolution (and would have been required to memorize the whole thing), she would be familiar with some of the most famous sayings, though she might not even know where it’s from.

敬酒不吃吃罚酒/Refuse the toast to drink the penalty wine: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning to refuse the face that someone is giving you and seek humiliation instead.

天作孽犹可活自作孽不可存/If the heavens bestow calamities, you can still live; if you bring calamity upon yourself, you cannot survive: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that humans are often the ones who screw themselves over the most. You still have a chance of surviving a natural disaster, but you're much less likely to crawl your way out of the grave you've dug for yourself.

聪明反被聪明误/Cleverness will be tripped up by cleverness: A Chinese saying meaning that being overconfident or overthinking something through your own cleverness is likely to come back and bite you in the end. For example, you overthink a simple task you were given by your boss and do something he never asked for–in the end you get yelled at for not doing your work properly.

抛砖引玉/Tossing a brick to discover jade: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to use something of lesser quality to draw out something with better quality. However, it can generally be meant to lure out what you want–for example, pretending you have evidence so that the criminal panics and goes to check if his evidence is still hidden, so if you follow him, you’ll find where the actual evidence is.

弄巧成拙/Trying to be clever and making a foolish blunder: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to try and fail to make a clever move, and instead trip yourself up.

104-Old Feuds and New Conflicts

Character Index

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he is seeking revenge against the Grand Duke.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Maternal cousin of Qu Boyong and the former serving girl of Wenyuan. Kayla made use of Chujiao's romantic feelings for Wenyuan to take her hostage against Qu Boyong.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince. His mother was Consort Chen, who was rather well-liked by the Emperor before the Grand Duke murdered her.

An Haoyang: A former Imperial Investigator and Qu Boyong's retainer.

Ji Yantao: Former accountant of the Xiang household, he was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot against his will.

Tao Qian: Kayla's bodyguard, recommended by Hu Qing.

Zhao Chao: Kayla's bodyguard, recommended by Hu Qing.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.

Qu Boyong moved through the shadows of the trees, carefully keeping himself out of sight. His movements were timed to be exactly consistent with the swaying of the trees, which disguised the sound of his leaps. He was following another man, carefully covering his own movements so as not to be discovered by his target.

Qu Boyong was almost certain that he was about to find Chujiao’s location–Zhao Wenyuan’s new hires were unexpectedly careful, and Qu Boyong had never successfully tailed one of them to a destination, always being thrown off one way or another. And yet, if a move is made, an opening will appear. The increasing frequency at which Zhao Wenyuan’s men moved about the city finally gave him an opportunity.

He needed to get Chujiao out of Wenyuan's control before negotiations began with the Seventh Prince. Qu Boyong's hands were tied with Chujiao being held as a hostage, and even if he asked Xianchun to intervene, Zhao Wenyuan would likely reveal their relationship and claim that Chujiao willingly remained with him.

There's absolutely no way I can let that happen, Qu Boyong seethed silently, his blood boiling at the thought of it. If Zhao Wenyuan so much as said the words, the Seventh Prince would accept that Chujiao was Wenyuan’s woman. If Xianchun was stupid enough, he might even try to arrange a match between the two, which would all but ascertain that Chujiao would live her entire life as a concubine.

Zhao Wenyuan, you underhanded bastard…I’ll see how long you can keep Chujiao hidden. I’ll never allow her to suffer such an indignity, not while I’m still alive and breathing!

Even if Wenyuan didn’t have an upcoming political marriage that could only relegate Chujiao to concubinage, it made Qu Boyong grind his teeth to think about a union between their houses. With all the blood that had been spilled, it was unfilial to even consider such a thing.

The man he was following had stopped, and Qu Boyong hastily stilled as well. The man glanced around for a few moments before nodding to himself, satisfied that he was not being followed. Qu Boyong followed as the man began moving again. He stopped again as the man flipped over a wall and into the courtyard of a small household.

Qu Boyong cautiously peered into the courtyard and its surrounding streets, a sheen of cold sweat beginning to form on his forehead.

Just how thorough is that Zhao bastard? On one hand, the security made it impossible to make a move. On the other hand, the level of security all but confirmed that Chujiao was definitely here. Qu Boyong bit the inside of his cheek as he took in the situation. The courtyard itself looked perfectly normal, located in a residential neighborhood. And yet, there were at least five of Wenyuan’s men inside and around the courtyard. There appeared to be a sixth man circling the rooftops in a wide loop, still a good distance away from Qu Boyong.

How can I get her out like this? Just as he was thinking of her, Chujiao came into his line of sight to greet one of the men, who had wandered into the courtyard to hand her a basket of what was probably food. Qu Boyong could vaguely smell the fragrance of roasted sesame seeds as the wind blew in his direction. To his relief, Chujiao seemed to be in good health, and good spirits as well.

Qu Boyong quietly backed away before someone could notice him, retreating to a safe distance to consider how he could possibly whisk Chujiao away under the eyes of at least six skilled individuals. Taking them head-on wasn’t an option, but sneaking around them was unlikely to work either.

He’s much more prepared than before, Qu Boyong grimly thought to himself. He was pulled out of his brainstorming by his communication talisman.

Qu Boyong glanced down at the message from An Haoyang, rearing back as his plans took a second blow.

“Ji Yantao was attacked by the Grand Duke’s men.” The message had evidently been written in a hurry, with several characters written incorrectly.

Damn it! It’s sure to pour when your roof is leaking, you’re sure to meet a headwind when your boat is already late, everything’s going wrong recently! Cursing under his breath, Qu Boyong turned away from the courtyard and left, leaving a gust of wind in his wake.

Kayla glanced up as Tao Qian landed with a thud on the roof of the moving carriage. She opened the window, and then thinking better of it, thoughtfully opened the door for him. In a swift movement that would put trained acrobats to shame and also broke at least three different traffic safety regulations, Tao Qian flipped into the carriage and closed the door just as they began to turn a corner.

“Are you alright?” Kayla asked. Tao Qian bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you for your concern, Minister. This one is fine. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find the entrance to the Grand Duke’s secret vault before I was discovered and made to leave,” he replied.

“I’m impressed you even managed to get into the study with how things are inside the household right now,” Kayla said. “They weren’t too rough with you, were they?”

“No, Your Grace. They didn’t seem upset at all, in fact, they seemed a little smug,” Tao Qian replied. “The ones who escorted me were dressed like normal guards, but they were unusually skilled. I believe they were the Grand Duke’s private assassins. I suspect they know of the secret vault, and knew that I wouldn’t be able to find it.”

“Interesting,” Kayla muttered thoughtfully. She glanced back to Tao Qian and softened her expression. “You’ve done well, this much is enough for my needs. I’ll be heading over to the Seventh Prince’s residence, so I’ll be troubling you to accompany me again.”

Tao Qian nodded. “As you wish, Minister. Will I be going in with you?”

“No, just wait on standby. It’s best if you stay hidden unless needed. If worse comes to worst, I’ll need your help to get out.”

Since Kayla hadn’t returned to the Zhao household in a while now, any eyes and ears Xianchun had would’ve reported the incident at the first opportunity. At this point, she had no doubt that he already knew of the trip, making her next steps that much easier.

Kayla’s communication device made an almost-silent buzzing sound inside her robes, and she hastily checked it.

“Guard duty suspects the location of the young lady has been exposed, transfer to a safe house has been completed.”

Kayla frowned, making to reply. Chujiao’s location was exposed this quickly? I thought we had been rather careful.

She sent back a message. “Do you have confirmation whether it was Qu Boyong? Which safe house are you taking her to?”

Deep inside her mind, she rankled against the idea of Chujiao inside the safe house Kayla frequented. She didn’t want Chujiao to see the plaque for Wenyuan. Part of it was fear of a woman’s sixth sense, and part of it was simply finding it too cruel for Chujiao to see the plaque and yet not realize who it was for. Kayla didn’t know whether it would be too cruel for Wenyuan or for Chujiao, or perhaps for herself, the only person who knew the truth behind it.

The instantaneous reply put her fears to rest.

“The secondary safe house outside the Fabric District. We have yet to substantiate our suspicions, but it was most likely Qu Boyong who breached our wards.”

Kayla tucked the communication device away with a sigh of relief. A few moments later, the carriage pulled to a stop before the Seventh Prince’s household. Tao Qian remained in the carriage at a blind spot where he couldn’t be seen from the door, and Kayla got out and headed straight to the gates. Zhao Chao followed two paces behind.

“Minister Zhao,” the doorman hastily greeted her, seeming a little surprised at the unexpected visit.

“Is His Highness in?” Kayla demanded in an urgent voice.

“He is, Your Grace. Please come this way,” the doorman bowed his head slightly and led her in. One of the guards hastily jogged in ahead of them to announce Kayla’s arrival to Xianchun, while Kayla was led to and deposited in a sitting room, with Zhao Chao escorted to a different waiting room for guards. Before she could even be offered a cup of tea, the steward came to ask Kayla to head over to the study.

Strangely, even though she was essentially holding a live bomb, Kayla felt no apprehension. There wasn’t the sensation of drowning in anxiety with no driftwood in sight, only a heaviness in her bones.

If it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t.

Kayla stepped into the study.

“I humbly greet His Highness the Seventh Prince.”

“Wenyuan, I wasn’t expecting you today,” Xianchun greeted her. “But it’s good that you’re here, I wanted to talk with you about Qu Boyong.”

Kayla bowed her head to hide her awkward expression, delaying it just long enough for Xianchun to catch sight of her face.

“That is…gladly, my prince.”

Xianchun paused for a moment, a frown flickering briefly over his face.

“Look at me, jumping into another topic so quickly. Before we speak about that, was there something you needed?” Xianchun asked.

Kayla hesitated and lowered her gaze further, nervously clenching her hands into the sleeves of her robes. Xianchun did not miss the movements, and he furrowed his brow again.

“What is it? You trusted me before, why do you now swallow your words?” Xianchun demanded.

“It is just… well…earlier, I went back to the Zhao household,” Kayla admitted reluctantly.

Xianchun pressed his lips together to keep his expression from showing that he knew.

“Isn’t that quite dangerous?” Xianchun asked reprovingly.

Kayla lowered her head sheepishly. “Yes, but if you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you retrieve the tiger’s cub? I thought that I should at least try to get something out of the Grand Duke, or I wouldn’t be able to face my parents.”

“Wouldn’t that just be beating the grass and startling the snakes?” Xianchun chided her. “You really ought to be more careful. Did you get anything?”

Kayla hastily broke eye contact, avoiding his inquisitive gaze.

“I confirmed that my parent’s deaths were his doing,” she said quietly. “And also…”

“Go on,” Xianchun prompted.

“He let it slip that…that Consort Chen…” Kayla trailed off, her voice steadily getting softer. Before she could react, Xianchun had shot to his feet and closed the distance between them, clutching her collar in a vice grip.

“My mother?! What about her?!” Xianchun shook Kayla forcefully. She stammered for a bit, and Xianchun shook her with even more force, eliciting a wince. "Spit it out!"

“He…he didn’t say anything specific! I couldn’t get any evidence either. He only implied it,” Kayla said in a pleading tone, holding up her hands. Xianchun’s grip only tightened. The wild hatred in his eyes was frighteningly familiar.

“What did he imply?” Xianchun grit out.

Kayla gulped nervously. “That…Consort Chen’s death was…was his doing,” she said in a small voice. Xianchun let go of her with a shoving motion, and Kayla stumbled backward. She steadied herself against a chair, glancing up just in time as Xianchun grabbed his sword from the wall, unsheathing it in a single fluid movement.

“My prince!” Kayla cried out in alarm. Xianchun was shaking with rage, his knuckles white on the hilt of the sword.

“That mongrel! See if I don’t hack him into eight pieces!” Xianchun roared. He whirled around and headed for the door.

Ah, shit. Kayla rushed forward to block his path, cautiously taking a step back as she glanced at his sword.

“My prince, don’t be hasty!” Kayla pleaded.

“Move!” Xianchun snarled.

“Please, we don’t have evidence yet! If you act so rashly, it’ll only backfire upon you!”

“Move! What evidence?! Am I meant to sit and stew here in silence while my mother’s killer walks free?!”

Kayla flinched back at Xianchun’s bared teeth but held her hands up placatingly.

It’s fine, right? Even if I can’t stop him, Liu Boyue will intercede….right?

“I’ll find it! I swear that I will! And once I do, I will not only stay out of your way but actively assist you in butchering him if that’s what you wish to do. But please don’t act impulsively! Not only will you be likely to fail, but this’ll spin out of your control. Without evidence, this’ll only be used against you!”

Xianchun’s glare intensified as Kayla spoke.

“Enough of your blabbering! Move!”

Kayla hastily scrambled for the right words. Xianchun lost patience and shoved her aside with one hand. Kayla crashed to the ground, and Xianchun stepped over her towards the door.

Fuck, why the hell does he have to be so ridiculously strong?! Stop working out, damn it!

“Wait!” Kayla hastily grabbed onto his robes. “Stop it! Just think about it for a second, even if you can kill the Grand Duke like this, it’ll only be seen as murdering a veteran official who has served the court for three generations!”

“I don’t have the time to care about that right now!”

“You must! Not only will your mother not receive justice, but you’ll also be eliminated from the competition for the throne!”

Xianchun hesitated for a moment before his eyes narrowed with steely determination.

“It’ll be worth it if that’s the price of revenge,” he snarled. Kayla scrambled to her feet, using Xianchun’s robes to pull herself up. She latched onto Xianchun’s free arm with a death grip.

“What are you saying?! Are you willing to give up on everything just like this?” Kayla said in disbelief.

“I said to get out of the way!” Xianchun shouted, throwing Kayla off. She dashed forward to block the door.

“A mother gains prestige through her son–where will you leave Consort Chen if you’re charged with murder?!”

“Fuck off, you bastard! You don’t understand shit!” Xianchun’s vision went red. The sight of Kayla determinedly blocking the door further added fuel to the fire, and his mind went blank with rage. He grabbed an inkstone off the desk next to him and flung it at Kayla. She ducked too late to avoid it completely, and it struck her on the forehead.

Pain flooded her senses before blending into a rushing heat that filled her head. Kayla stumbled and caught her balance on the doorframe, her vision flashing with spots of light. The inkstone had struck her head harder than she'd expected. Kayla's ears rang with a high-pitched noise, and she had the strange but not unfamiliar sensation of being distant from the world around her as though she was underwater. There was blood dripping down her face, much more than she expected, and Kayla had to squeeze her right eye shut to avoid getting blood in.

Xianchun had stilled. Shock, concern, and regret mixed on his face before he hastily smoothed over his expression.

Calm down, head wounds bleed a lot, Kayla assured herself. The worst thing I can do right now is panic or lash out–the more you respond according to Xianchun’s expectations, the more he can justify himself out of feeling guilty. Wasn’t that what he was like in Lady Lin’s visions?

She forcibly pulled herself together, hiding a wince to bow slightly toward Xianchun.

“My prince, I’m sorry for disobeying your commands. It’s an unforgivable crime on my part. Yet if I allow you to act emotionally, then the consequences are unthinkable. For a great man to take revenge, ten years is not too late. One moment’s impulsiveness will result in a lifetime of regret, please reconsider!” Kayla said earnestly. She ignored the blood on her face altogether, acting as though Xianchun’s future was more important to her than her own health.

Xianchun’s face flickered with guilt. His temper had died down, quenched by the unexpected bloodshed. He was wavering, but far from convinced.

“Please believe in me, my prince. My trip was not without its fruits. I have confirmed that the Grand Duke conceals crucial evidence in an underground vault–to know your enemy is the most crucial step in a battle, is it not? My own parents died by his hand, and I have no intention of letting him off the hook. The Grand Duke will most certainly die in humiliation and agony, but the time is not right yet,” Kayla pressed on, striking the iron while it was hot.

At the mention of Wenyuan's parents, Xianchun breathed in sharply, glancing aside. After a moment, he let out a sigh.

“Curse the heavens! I can finally confirm that my mother was murdered by him, and yet I can’t take revenge,” Xianchun spat the words out with resentment.

“Believe me, I understand that bone-scraping frustration,” Kayla softly replied. “But we must treasure the precious lives that our mothers suffered to give us, and plan before we act.”

Xianchun stewed in anger for a moment longer before sheathing his sword. He set it back upon its rack with a loud clang and turned to face Kayla reluctantly.

“Sit down, you need a healer,” he said gruffly. Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you for your concern, my prince.” Kayla picked up the inkstone from the ground and wiped the blood off with her sleeve before setting it back in its original position on Xianchun’s desk. Xianchun watched with an expression of discomfort. Kayla was covering up the tracks of Xianchun’s tantrum to save him face, and he knew it. More importantly, Kayla needed to sharpen whatever flickers of guilt Xianchun felt. She sat down close to the door, prepared to block Xianchun should his temper suddenly flare up again.

Xianchun glanced at the inkstone uneasily before calling over a servant to send for the healer. Once they were alone again, Xianchun stepped closer with an awkward expression.

“I didn’t expect the inkstone to hit,” he said stiffly.

“I understand, my prince. It’s perfectly normal for people to let out their anger in private,” Kayla agreed. “It was my fault for reacting so slowly.”

Xianchun’s discomfort seemed to increase.

“The underground vault, where is it?” He asked, changing the topic.

“Under the Grand Duke’s study,” Kayla replied. “My servant couldn’t find the entrance, and I didn’t get a chance to look.”

“No need, if it’s underground, we can just blast right through,” Xianchun said.

“There may be wards that would cause the vault to self-destruct if accessed by force,” Kayla pointed out.

Xianchun furrowed his brow. “Can’t we torture it out of the Housekeeper then?”

“I don’t know,” Kayla said. “Given his loyalty to the Grand Duke…he might commit suicide before we can even get hold of him.”

“Damn it!” Xianchun hissed. He began to pace the room with forceful strides before stopping abruptly.

"Could we nullify the wards somehow?" Kayla prompted.

“That's right! I have a nullification talisman from grandmother,” Xianchun said in realization. “Couldn’t we just make use of that?”

“Please wait, my prince. You shouldn’t use it on such a thing, what will you do if you need it later? Grandmother meant for you to use it in self-defense,” Kayla protested.

“Don’t be ridiculous! This is much more important!”

“How about this? You can use mine,” Kayla offered. “I also received one from grandmother, but I have much less need of it than you do.”

Xianchun frowned. “If it’s for self-defense, you’re the one who needs it the most,” he said bluntly.

“As you said, this is much more important,” Kayla replied. “Third Cousin and Fifth Cousin haven’t used theirs yet. I can’t sit by and let you put yourself at a disadvantage because of that old codger. I’ll just be more careful in my daily life. Let’s use mine.”

I don’t need one anyways. Piling on the favors is much more important, so long as I'm the reason he was able to take revenge, he won't be able to rear back and bite me for it.

“Alright then,” Xianchun said, his tone softer than before. “Thank you, Wenyuan.”

Kayla bowed her head humbly. “Not at all, my prince. This is only what I should do.”

Jackpot.

Cultural Notes

有行动就会有破绽/When you make a move, there will be an opening: A Chinese saying meaning that nothing can be done perfectly, there will always be mistakes or openings to take advantage of, so sometimes it's best not to act at all.

屋漏偏逢连夜雨，船迟又遇打头风/When the roof leaks it rains all night, when the boat is running late there will be a headwind: An Ancient Chinese couplet meaning that everything that can go wrong will go wrong, all at once.

女人的直觉/第六感/Women's intuition/sixth sense: I believe there is a Western equivalent of this as well, but a common Chinese trope that has been used for centuries is that women have abnormally sharp intuitions/sixth senses, especially when it comes to the men in their life. For example, a common trope is that whatever the male lead doesn't want the female lead to know, she will definitely find out in a laughably short amount of time, regardless of how well he hides it. One of the best examples is Nirvana in Fire, where the male lead underwent full-body plastic surgery to hide his identity and also underwent serious personality changes, but the female lead realized his true identity very quickly, almost entirely by instinct. The male lead's grandmother took even less time, recognizing him at first glance.

不入虎穴焉得虎子/If you do not enter the tiger's den, how will you retrieve the tiger's cub: An Ancient Chinese proverb that you cannot make gains without taking risks. Goes as far back as the Han Dynasty. As for why they need a tiger cub, they didn't write that down, and it's no longer common knowledge for most people.

打草惊蛇/Beating the grass and startling the snakes: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to tip off/scare off your opponents before you're ready to act.

大卸八块/Hack [you] into eight pieces: A Chinese saying that's been in use for at least two to three centuries. We no longer know exactly which eight pieces it originally refers to, but it basically means to dismember someone into pieces.

三朝老臣/Old official who has served three generations [of Emperors]: A category of officials in Ancient China who were both skilled and lucky, and most importantly, long-lived (unless the Emperors were just ridiculously short-lived for that stretch). Having served the court for so long makes them hard to kill without making the Emperor look bad, unless they have pretty sound evidence.

母凭子贵/Mothers gain prestige through their sons: An Ancient Chinese saying that has two meanings, that a woman in a polygamous marriage would increase her position by having a son, and that a woman's position improves when her son achieves great things.

君子报仇十年不晚/A great man's revenge is not late even if it takes ten years: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that one should bide their time and seek the right opportunity to serve vengeance.

知己知彼/Know thyself know thy enemy: An Ancient Chinese proverb stemming from Sun Tzu's Art of War.

刻骨铭心/Carve onto one's bones and heart: An Ancient Chinese proverb to express the intensity/depth of one's emotions (usually after learning a lesson the hard way or after a bad experience, but can also be used for romance, especially ill-fated loves).

Filial Piety as protecting your health/body: It was considered unfilial to cut your hair in Ancient China because your body is given to you by your parents, and therefore it would be ungrateful to damage it in any way. Similarly, it was considered unfilial to self-harm, commit suicide, or throw yourself in harm's way.

105-Irreversible Course

Character Index

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, has suspected that his mother (Consort Chen) was murdered since childhood, but had no way to prove it.

Liu Boyue: Xianchun's childhood friend and right-hand man, currently more or less in the doghouse, so to speak, after he was found to have gone behind Xianchun's back.

Zhou Ying: The current Emperor, father of the three surviving princes. He is also Wenyuan's maternal uncle.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and Princess Chu, also a maternal nephew of the Emperor.

Imperial Princess: A reincarnator with a mysterious background that Kayla has yet to fully uncover. Wenyuan's mother and the younger sister of the Emperor.

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice, a level-headed man and one of Kayla's supporters.

Chen Caichun: Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review, an intelligent young woman and the younger sister of Imperial Investigator Chen Jian. Kayla's supporter.

Liang Bailu: One of Hu Qing's deceased half-brothers. Hu Qing offered Liang Bailu's name as the scapegoat for the Liang clan's actions to remove Hu Qing as the heir.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Youngest son of the previous Lord Liang and the legitimate heir, his mother was a courtesan who fell in love with his father while the late Lord Liang was still a fugitive.

Feng Yi: A kind-hearted merchant with a lot of luck in both directions, previously got involved in Kayla's plot to drive a wedge between Xianchun and Liu Boyue. He is currently selling communication devices at affordable prices in the provinces as part of Kayla's newest plan to gain a support base among the populace by targeting the local clans' monopolies on power and resources.

Shen Liangjun: One of the two Vice-Directors of the Court of Judicial Review, he is secretly aligned with the Third Prince, but unbeknownst to him, Kayla and her supporters already know this.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the position of heir.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Qu Boyong's younger cousin, and Wenyuan's childhood friend/romantic interest. She was previously cajoled into leaving the Zhao household, and essentially became a hostage against Qu Boyong as a result.

“Do you feel any discomfort? Any pain, ringing of the ears, blurriness of vision or hearing?” The healer inquired.

“No,” Kayla replied.

“Any strange taste in your mouth or feeling of your tongue becoming swollen? Any dizziness or nausea?” The healer went on, determined to be as thorough as possible. Kayla couldn’t help but feel a little impressed. Most of the healers she’d encountered thus far had been courteous, but never followed the line of insistent questioning that she was used to in emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

“No, I feel fine,” Kayla said.

The healer nodded to himself. Kayla held still as the healer finished his work. He stepped back, peering carefully at Kayla’s face to ensure that the healing magic hadn’t left any visible traces. Satisfied with his work, he nodded at Xianchun.

“It is done, my prince,” the healer said respectfully.

Xianchun cleared his throat slightly. “Good, you may go. My steward will pay you,” he said.

The healer bowed at Xianchun, and then at a lesser angle towards Kayla, before leaving the room with his medicine box in hand. Once they were alone again, Xianchun awkwardly approached Kayla.

“How do you feel?” He demanded.

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you for calling the healer,” Kayla replied.

“He sure had a lot of questions, couldn’t he tell via magic?” Xianchun commented.

“Looking, listening, asking, and taking one’s pulse are the four fundamentals of medicine, aren’t they? Even if he doesn’t need to ask, it makes me feel more at ease to hear the questions,” Kayla replied placidly.

Xianchun nodded, his gaze flitting to the inkstone on his desk again. The healer had quietly accepted Kayla’s excuse of having tripped, even though the wound on her head was evidently not from a fall, but the healer was smart enough to refrain from asking any further. Glancing back to Kayla, Xianchun turned the topic to their revenge.

“About the Grand Duke, how do you intend to proceed? Surely you have some inkling of a plan,” Xianchun said.

Kayla nodded. “All difficult tasks under heaven are solved through simple solutions, all major events under heaven are decided through the details. I will take the most direct path forward and face him within the sanctuary he has built for himself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean to launch a coup within the Zhao household,” Kayla replied. “I am already putting things in place in preparation–making sure that everyone is accounted for and brought under control, and preparing to completely seal off the Zhao household. Once that is done, we will be able to gain whatever evidence we need, and dispose of the Grand Duke as we wish.”

“Are you certain this will work?” Xianchun asked.

She gave him a confident nod. “Yes. The Grand Duke wouldn’t keep key evidence anywhere else–he’s much too paranoid to do so. Once we have full control over the household, his fate will also be ours to decide.”

“The Zhao clan will listen to you so obediently?” Xianchun said dubiously.

“Most of them are subservient to the Grand Duke, but those bonds are based on fear, and not on loyalty or affection. If they bow to him in fear that he will harm them, then they will bow to me if their lives are in my hands,” Kayla said. “Their spines have softened from years of remaining bent, and their knees are more used to kneeling than standing. They are wholly unsuitable for being officials, but that grants us an opportunity. Of course, it also leaves us open to betrayal, hence why the only involvement I want from them is for them to shut up and stay still.”

“Will you be able to take control over the Zhao household though? You don’t have enough men of your own. Or do you plan to make use of the Court of Judicial Review?”

“No. I do not wish to involve the Court of Judicial Review because any action would require paperwork to be filed ahead of time and leave openings for being preliminarily discovered by the Grand Duke’s people,” Kayla explained. “He has eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Then I’ll need to lend you some guards,” Xianchun said thoughtfully.

“I would be deeply grateful, my prince. However, it’s best not to use guards registered under your household, but rather persons who are not officially affiliated. Just in case something goes wrong, you need to be able to extricate yourself. I would be fine, since this is an internal struggle within the Zhao clan, and Uncle is unlikely to press the issue, but your involvement would be damning for your career,” Kayla pointed out.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Xianchun said.

Kayla gave him a few more assurances and agreed to a three-way meeting with Xianchun and Qu Boyong before taking her leave. It wouldn’t do to say too much, but rather to withhold a few cards for future use. Things had proceeded relatively smoothly thus far, but there was no guarantee of whether the gentle winds and calm waves would suddenly surge into a howling tempest.

As she followed the steward down the hall and disappeared past a corner, Liu Boyue stepped out of the shadows. He had been waiting in tense silence. The vague sound of muffled shouting from the soundproofed room had been loud enough for Liu Boyue to pick up on, but he couldn’t make out any words.

Just what happened? Liu Boyue was in the dark more and more often now, the other members of the household and the Seventh Prince’s faction picking up on Xianchun’s shift in attitude towards his strategist. Whether it was to curry favor with Xianchun or to take advantage of the opportunity to increase their own position and supplant Liu Boyue as a trusted advisor, the change had been obvious and almost immediate.

He couldn’t tell if Xianchun had tacitly approved of isolating Liu Boyue, or if the prince simply didn’t take notice. Xianchun’s attention to detail often left a lot to be desired, but he could also be unusually perceptive at other times. As one born into the Imperial Family, it was a common occurrence for Xianchun to overlook the far-reaching influences of his actions, including how his supporters watched his every move with hawkish eyes, as those in a subordinate position had to in order to climb the ranks. That had been one of the reasons why Liu Boyue often chose to take care of things in the dark.

Liu Boyue could only hope that Xianchun had simply overlooked the consequences. The alternative would be that Liu Boyue had become an abandoned chess piece–he had no influential relatives, no wealth beyond a decent amount of savings that looked pathetic in comparison to the Seventh Prince’s household budget, and no political power in court beyond his position as the prince’s off-the-books advisor. Once, when Xianchun lacked friends and support beyond Liu Boyue and Yu Bianfu, Liu Boyue was the best Xianchun could get on such limited resources and connections, an advisor who ate distiller's grains with the prince. Now, however…the prince had rich and powerful supporters and had shot into a prominent position within a short period of time. Whether or not Liu Boyue had been abandoned was yet to be seen, but he was beginning to worry.

Liu Boyue took a deep breath and approached the study, knocking on its door. If Xianchun confided in him, there was still hope. If Xianchun turned him away or used an excuse to stop Liu Boyue’s questions, then his fate was sealed.

If he’s really tossed me aside, what do I do? Stay here and wait until any lingering affection has faded? Or leave before I’m discarded?

Liu Boyue cleared his throat. “Please pardon the interruption, my prince, it’s Liu Boyue.”

“Come in,” Xianchun called. Liu Boyue entered the study, immediately sensing Xianchun’s mood. The prince was pacing the room, his heart in his throat.

“My prince,” Liu Boyue said in concern. Seeing Liu Boyue’s expression, Xianchun seemed to grow even more agitated.

“What happened?” Liu Boyue asked. Xianchun stopped mid-step, turning to face Liu Boyue.

“My mother was murdered by the Grand Duke!”

“What?!” Liu Boyue stared at him in disbelief. “Are you certain?”

“Of course I’m certain! I wanted to march over and hack that old bastard to pieces right this moment, but Wenyuan promised to help me get evidence first,” Xianchun said.

“Good heavens…it’s just as we thought then, your mother’s death wasn’t just due to illness,” Boyue said in shock. “Was Zhao Wenyuan the one to tell you? Does he not have evidence yet?”

“He told me as soon as he heard it from the Grand Duke,” Xianchun said. “As you know, he went to the Zhao household today, but he wasn’t able to get evidence. Our people also confirmed that there was a confrontation between him and the Grand Duke, and Wenyuan’s servant tried to sneak into the study afterward but was forcibly removed.”

“I didn’t know that, no one reported it to me,” Liu Boyue said, taking the chance to file a subtle complaint. “But did the Grand Duke say it to him? I didn’t think the Grand Duke would be so careless after their argument last time.”

“Wenyuan said it was heavily implied. I also didn’t think the Grand Duke would admit it outright, but I’m not surprised that he did. The Grand Duke has always had a short fuse when it came to Wenyuan. Not to mention that even the servants haven’t seen the Grand Duke in days now, though they’ve heard his voice. Perhaps their last fight took a toll on him as well,” Xianchun said. “But my mother really was murdered, we both know this. Even though father, grandmother, and the Imperial Healers all pretended not to know, everyone knew what was really going on! It’s been eating at me for years and—Gods above! I wish I could cut him apart with a thousand knives!”

Liu Boyue withheld a wince at the rage simmering just beneath the boiling point in Xianchun’s heart, wracked by an aftershock of fear as Xianchun explained the events of what had happened earlier.

If Xianchun had actually stormed out of the room and towards the Zhao household, it would’ve been up to Liu Boyue to stop him. The thought of it had caused a cold lump to form in his stomach. Liu Boyue couldn’t make the assurances Wenyuan could, nor could he strike Xianchun, and the prince certainly wouldn’t have listened to reason otherwise in the height of rage. Liu Boyue’s only option would have been to make an emotional appeal, but the whisperings of fear in his mind gleefully told him that approach might not work, not anymore.

If Wenyuan hadn’t stopped him, I might not have been able to either, Liu Boyue realized. The momentary crisis had passed, but a larger one loomed, a dark cloud that hung over Liu Boyue alone. Xianchun still confided in Liu Boyue in moments of distress, but an irreversible change had already taken place, and Liu Boyue had no choice but to come to terms with that.

“I understand your feelings, my prince, but I’m glad Zhao Wenyaun stopped you,” Liu Boyue said earnestly. “Marching into the Grand Duke’s household like this would’ve ruined you even if it didn’t kill you.”

Xianchun relaxed somewhat. Zhao Wenyuan had always stirred up Liu Boyue’s suspicions and was unwittingly the cause of many disagreements between the prince and his advisor. To Xianchun’s relief, Liu Boyue had conceded on Zhao Wenyuan’s case for once. It wasn’t a show of being deferential and the etiquette of a servant that Xianchun wanted from Liu Boyue, but a genuine concession towards Xianchun’s judgment, one that would serve as an assurance of both Liu Boyue’s loyalty, and that he would not go behind Xianchun’s back again.

The visible relief on Xianchun’s face scratched at Liu Boyue’s insides, but he hid the inexplicable writhing of emotions with admirable restraint.

“What do you plan to do now, my prince?” Liu Boyue asked.

“I’ll pull Qu Boyong in as well,” Xianchun replied. “Better to have his help than not to. As for the Grand Duke…first, we’ll have to gain the evidence from the secret vault. Zhao Wenyuan’s coup will probably do the job, especially if he uses his nullification talisman. After that, then I’ll be able to take my revenge without anyone to stop me.”

There’s an underground vault? Liu Boyue lowered his head slightly to hide the annoyance that flitted across his face.

“What can I do for you?” Liu Boyue asked instead.

“You contact Qu Boyong,” Xianchun said. “And I want you to listen in on the meeting as well, I’ll need your help for the next steps.”

Liu Boyue hesitated for a moment and bowed his head again. The words that should've brought him relief seemed to only sharpen his anxieties.

“As you wish, my prince.”

Kayla flipped through the scrolls on her table, steadily growing more irritated.

Did I fucking lose a scroll? She doubted any of the servants would have touched the table clearly labeled DO NOT TOUCH in giant red characters, especially with Wei Guang’s strict instructions to leave her things alone. Yet the scroll with the Imperial Princess’ self-introduction was missing. Kayla had already transcribed the contents, and technically had more important things to tend to, but couldn’t stop herself from all but turning the room upside down to find where the hell she had put it.

Xianchun’s burst of fury hadn’t frightened Kayla as she’d expected, and even the inkstone to the head hadn’t invoked instinctive reactions of uncontrollable fear or anger. It had, however, left her with an erratic energy that had been suppressed beneath the rational thought process that guided her interactions. It had simmered under her skin on the way back, and now, with nowhere else to go, all of the energy had latched onto the missing scroll.

A knock on the door drew her out of her frenzied search, and Kayla got up from where she was checking along the ground on all fours. She hastily smoothed down her robes and tried to hastily rearrange the mess she’d made.

“Please pardon the interruption, Minister. Left Secretariat Sun and Chamberlain Chen are here to pay a visit,” the steward announced.

“Please come in,” Kayla called.

The steward opened the door, bowed, and stepped aside. Sun Ruhui and Chen Caichun came in, offering their greetings as the steward closed the door behind them.

“Left Secretariat, Chamberlain, thank you both for coming,” Kayla said. She hadn’t called for them, but it was evident that they were here about the Seventh Prince.

“Apologies for disturbing you so late at night,” Sun Ruhui said, as though Kayla hadn’t messaged or called for them way after midnight multiple times before.

“Not at all, I’m glad you’re both here. There are a lot of moving parts to this plan, and I lack the ability to navigate it alone,” Kayla gestured for them to sit, belatedly realizing she’d overturned one of the cushions. Chen Caichun turned it back and sat down without comment.

“My lord, would I be correct in assuming that you succeeded?” Caichun asked, leaning forward in anticipation.

“I think it would be safe to say yes,” Kayla replied. She quickly recounted the events, letting out a deep sigh as she finished. “Hopefully, Qu Boyong will cooperate.”

“You have both Ji Yantao and Miss Chujiao, he can’t just clench his jaw and act out on his own,” Sun Ruhui assured her. “More importantly, there is yet to be news from Feng Yi, and at this rate, the Seventh Prince will staunchly think of you as his one of his men. We need to prepare for how to transition to supporting the Third Prince without incurring the Seventh Prince’s wrath, for he will surely feel betrayed.”

“Hu Qing will serve as a turning point. My investigation will uncover the records of Liang Bailu bribing an official to change Hu Qing’s status from the heir to an illegitimate son, and that’ll allow us to back out of further cooperation without having an emotion-based falling out,” Kayla explained.

A subtle frown furrowed Sun Ruhui’s brow.

Oh shit. Right. He was the one who told me not to touch Hu Qing’s lineage! Kayla did remember the warning, but it had faded into background noise when faced with the urgency of the future Lady Lin had shown her, not taking a center position until now.

Kayla glanced at Sun Ruhui apologetically. “I’m sorry, Left Secretariat. Your warning was well heeded, but the situation has changed drastically from before. We’re now taking offense rather than playing defense, so I changed my tactics accordingly. But I should’ve consulted your advice first.”

“No matter,” Sun Ruhui said calmly. “I admit that if you had asked me, I would not have approved. But you had your own considerations regarding the situation, and moreover, once you’ve stretched the bow, there is no arrow that can reverse its course. Since the decision has been made, it must be followed through to the end.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Left Secretariat,” Kayla replied.

“However, there is one thing you must keep in mind, my lord. Since you kindled Hu Qing’s hopes and set him on this path, you must be prepared to take responsibility should things go wrong,” Sun Ruhui said in a heavy voice. “You should prepare yourself for losing both the battle and a general.”

Kayla breathed in sharply. “I will,” she said quietly.

“In saying so, please understand that I cast no conjectures upon Hu Qing’s character. I do not believe he would betray you or cease to be loyal simply because things did not work out, but the Liang clan will not sit still and allow him to live in peace should he make an attempt to disturb their current structure,” Sun Ruhui said. “Regardless of Hu Qing’s own wishes, you will have to send him out of the capital.”

Kayla nodded pensively.

“And if you do succeed, you must continue to bear this responsibility, perhaps for the rest of your life. The Liang clan will not take this lying down–even if Hu Qing is successfully reinstated as the head of the household, they will not accept him so easily. In their eyes, even if Hu Qing’s mother saved the late Lord Liang and supported him while he was living as a fugitive, she is still only seen as a prostitute who came from the lowest rungs of society. As such, they will reject Hu Qing for a long time to come. He will continuously need strong backing and support, and you will need to bear the gossiping that comes from interfering in another household’s affairs. That is what I mean by taking responsibility, my lord,” Sun Ruhui said. “It cannot just be a one-time ploy to gain the upper hand over the Seventh Prince.”

“I understand your meaning, Left Secretariat,” Kayla said. She looked Sun Ruhui in the eyes earnestly. “I understand.”

He really is a good person. It’s a good thing for me to have him here, but I’m not sure whether it’s a good thing for him.

Sun Ruhui gave a small smile, accepting her assurances.

“All things considered, Hu Qing’s case is a good impetus,” Chen Caichun noted. “But you will need an excuse to expose this without consulting the Seventh Prince first, or you’ll expose your earlier moves with Feng Yi as part of a plot. The Seventh Prince will wonder why you dragged Feng Yi to his house under the guise of protecting his reputation but chose to expose Minister Liang, whose actions also affect his reputation. Consistency is key for maintaining his trust.”

“Good point,” Kayla said. “Any ideas?”

“Have someone from the Third Prince faction discover it,” Chen Caichun said without hesitation. “Vice Director Shen would be the best fit–his position is high enough that you can’t just forcibly suppress him, and he’s been subtle enough that you could get away with saying that you didn’t know he was the Third Prince’s man so that the Seventh Prince couldn’t accuse you of any wrongdoing or deceit.”

“As expected of Caichun, your plans don’t even allow a single drop of water to leak,” Sun Ruhui said. “My lord, I believe that is the best path forward. You should communicate with the Third Prince ahead of time, but Vice Director Shen’s discovery should be at least semi-public, and it should come as a surprise to both of you. Or at least, that is what the witnesses should think.”

“If you act a play, you need to perform the whole set. It would be best if one of the Seventh Prince’s men were among the witnesses. After all, what the eyes see is perceived as truth. Personally seeing it is much better proof than hearing eyewitness accounts,” Chen Caichun added immediately.

Kayla nodded at both of them with a pleased smile.

“The two of you truly are irreplaceable,” Kayla said. “Then we’ll proceed accordingly with Hu Qing’s case. Qu Boyong’s situation is also under control for now, hopefully, things will all go smoothly.”

Sun Ruhui hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat. The atmosphere immediately grew solemn, Caichun and Kayla watching him in anticipation.

“Speaking of Qu Boyong, my lord, perhaps it would be best if you spoke with Miss Chujiao before negotiations,” Sun Ruhui said.

“Chujiao?” Kayla echoed.

“Indeed. She has been staying in my household under the guise of protection, but she is a very intelligent young woman. With the transfer to the safe house, she’s surely realized something’s wrong by now,” Sun Ruhiu said gravely.

“I…I see,” Kayla said, her voice growing heavier. For some reason, she was strangely resistant to the idea of seeing Chujiao now that Wenyuan was gone. It felt almost voyeuristic to approach Chujiao in Wenyuan’s image when the actual person was no longer anywhere to be found.

“I understand that you do not wish to deceive or manipulate her, and your kindness is commendable,” Sun Ruhui said gently. “But Miss Chujiao is an unyielding woman. If she realizes that she is a hostage, more likely than not, she would rather kill herself than allow herself to be used against Qu Boyong.”

“Do you really think that?” Kayla asked urgently, her heart skipping a beat in fear.

Was Chujiao like that? She never seemed it in Wenyuan’s memories, but Sun Ruhui’s eye for people is quite good…

“Yes, I have no doubt about it,” Sun Ruhui replied.

Kayla took a deep breath, slowly leaning back in her chair. It seems I have no choice.

“Then if that’s the case, I will heed your advice.”

Cultural Notes

望闻问切/Looking, listening, asking, and taking one’s pulse: Four of the main diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine.

天下难事必作于易，天下大事必作于细/All difficult tasks under heaven are solved through simple solutions, all major events under heaven are decided through the details: A quote by the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu.

背都挺不值了/Can't even straighten his back anymore: A phrase common in modern Chinese, meaning that someone has been giving in for so long that they can no longer stand up for themselves.

跪着跪着就习惯了/Kneeling on and on, you get used to it: Another saying common in modern China, similar to the above phrase.

风平浪静/The winds are gentle and the waves are calm: An Ancient Chinese proverb describing a peaceful/calm state.

巨浪掏空/Huge waves pull [at] the sky: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to extremely stormy seas, describing the jarring sight of the waves that seem almost to swallow the sky itself.

槽糠之妻/Wife [who ate] distiller's grains [with me]: An Ancient Chinese phrase that referred to a wife that someone had while they were still poor and without influence. Distiller's grains represent a state of poverty where you can only eat the husks of rice or the discarded bits of distiller's grains. A common saying goes "槽糠之妻不可祁/You cannot abandon the wife who ate distiller's grains with you". Since the wife may have been someone the man married while he was still poor, she is likely to be older/less educated/not so pretty or refined, etc., especially if (as was not uncommon) the husband was supported by the wife selling her embroidery while he was studying for the Imperial Exams. Often, by the time he was successful, she would show signs of age and wear from long years of toil. Many men would abandon their wives once they were rich and influential, or marry a pretty young concubine and neglect their original wives, especially since they now think themselves better than the wives who accompanied them along this path.

The term is often used to refer to your original wife who married you before you were successful, regardless of whether or not the couple suffered abject poverty or not. Xianchun certainly did not, but Liu Boyue still compares himself to a wife who ate distiller's grain. Note that officials often compared themselves to wives and their lords to husbands because of the power hierarchy between them and their lords, especially in poems and the such. Another reason was that it would hurt their careers/land them in jail (depending on the Emperor) if they were to complain outright, so drawing comparisons was the most common solution. If an official's talent is not recognized by an Emperor, he might go around writing poems from a first-person POV about a beautiful young woman whose husband doesn't see how much effort she puts into her appearance, and if an official has been discarded, he might write poems about an abandoned wife who misses her husband dearly.

上行下效/The higher-ups act, and the subordinates imitate: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that the leader's actions influence what the people below them do.

损兵折将/Waste soldiers' [lives] and lose a general: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a lose-lose situation where you fail to preserve your resources.

滴水不漏/Not leaking a single drop of water: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to be immaculate/to do or plan something perfectly without missing anything.

做戏做全套/If you act a play, you have to perform the whole set: A Chinese colloquialism meaning that if you're going to put on an act, you have to pay attention to completing every part of it, or you'll be given away.

眼见为实/What the eyes see are truth: An Ancient Chinese proverb, part of a saying that goes 眼见为实耳听为虚/What the eyes see are truth what the ears hear are false, which essentially means to stop buying into random rumors. Caichun makes use of this mindset to continue hoodwinking Xianchun.

刚烈/Unyielding/Upright: This phrase is often associated with 1) someone who would rather die than betray their country/dynasty/lord/family, or 2) a woman who would rather die than submit to her captor, etc. It took on a twisted edge of extremity during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when extremely harsh standards were imposed on women's chastity, including cultural taboos against remarriage after a divorce or being widowed, etc. If a woman killed herself rather than remarry, she would get a plaque erected in her honor and she would be praised for being unyielding. Though these practices stemmed from Neo-Confucianism, it was very far from the original intentions of Confucianism. If you look back to the pre-Ming dynasties, or even the pre-Qin era, arguably when they would've been closer to Confucius' times, there weren't many places that had these practices, save for perhaps some remote or extremely conservative areas. Back in the Tang Dynasty, however, the term 刚烈/Unyielding had yet to take on such twisted cultural connotations, and would have been used in the context of 1) rather than 2) (see beginning of paragraph).

106-Irrevocable Change

Feng Yi: A kind-hearted merchant who was sent to spy on Kayla by Liu Boyue and subsequently dragged into Kayla's plot to drive a wedge between Xianchun and Liu Boyue. He has since been drawn into Kayla's plan to gain support from the populace by tackling the influence of local clans, doing so by provoking the clans into committing a crime.

Shu Ling: A woman on Kayla's payroll, one of the five employees present at the safe house after the events of Chapter 89 (When the Grand Duke tried to kill Kayla). She was sent to guard Feng Yi.

Sun Zhong'e: A middle-aged woman on Kayla's payroll, one of the five employees present at the safe house after the events of Chapter 89. She uses unorthodox healing magic and was previously sent to guard Ji Yantao.

Zhao Chao: A man on Kayla's payroll, one of the five employees present at the safe house after the events of Chapter 89. He is currently one of Kayla's bodyguards and accompanied Kayla to her latest confrontation with the Grand Duke.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Qu Boyong's cousin, she was sent to infiltrate the Zhao household at a very young age and became Wenyuan's personal serving maid. She is in love with Wenyuan, and her feelings are requited by the original Wenyuan.

Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice and Kayla's supporter. Chujiao was previously sent to live in his household after being removed from the Zhao household.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu. He is seeking revenge against the Grand Duke, and was infuriated by Kayla's hostage-taking.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and the MVP of running surveillance and security operations.

Tao Qian: One of Kayla's employees, he was recommended to Kayla as a bodyguard by Hu Qing. She brought him to her latest confrontation with the Grand Duke.

Feng Yi cooed at the baby in a customer’s arms, waving his goodbyes as the peasant woman finished paying and left. Feng Yi had grown up in a village not too far from the capital, and while he had traveled a little bit here and there along the route used by merchants from the Western Regions, it still shocked him how different life was when you left the major transport hubs.

Feng Yi’s party had begun selling their wares as they slowly made their way through the rural areas of Jizhou, near the commandery of Jiangxia. Despite how cheap the prices were, few families approached him to buy communication devices for the first two days. Feng Yi had found it strange, but the guards Zhao Wenyuan arranged for him didn’t seem to find anything odd about it.

“But it’s a good deal! People like good deals,” Feng Yi had said in confusion, to which the others only chuckled and nodded.

“Don’t worry about it and take your time,” one of the guards, a stocky woman named Shu Ling told him. Feng Yi had been left befuddled, but he could only drop the matter for the time being.

Business had begun to pick up as they got nearer to the major towns, even though sales inside the towns was practically nonexistent, and Feng Yi was now so busy that he could barely remember the tranquility of the last few days.

“Only one per household, we have limited stock,” Feng Yi said to a man who reluctantly set down four of the five devices he had grabbed. As one of the guards stepped in to change shifts for customer service, Feng Yi turned to Shu Ling.

“How much longer do you suppose our stock will last?”

Shu Ling glanced back at the covered wagons. “Depends, we’ll probably need to keep moving for a bit. We’ll still have about two-thirds by the time we’re finished here, I reckon it’ll take another day or two, but then there’s some distance in-between. We’ll probably have some luck if we make a few stops a decent distance outside the major towns.”

“I thought the towns would be the major hotspots, but I suppose not,” Feng Yi said. “If we could sell there, the stock would go much faster.”

“The towns are where the local influentials live,” Shu Ling said pointedly. “You’re not selling to them, and the residents who have stayed there long enough would know better than to buy one.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Feng Yi asked.

Shu Ling shook her head. “As I said, it’s hard to explain. You’ll see when you see.”

Feng Yi sighed. “Alright then.” He joined Shu Ling in silently watching the customers. A woman with a small child strapped to her back was admiring a communication device, her eyes bright with amazement. She stepped away and pulled over a man by his sleeve, the two murmuring for a bit before leaving without purchasing any. Though the stall was crowded, a large number of customers didn’t buy anything, even with the devices being so cheap that it was almost the same price as cabbage. For families that would never leave the area, that is, with no money to start or join a business except as cheap labor, and with no resources to invest in a child’s education, even that small amount of money was better saved than spent.

Unlike the capital region and the trade routes, many of the people in the provinces lived in poverty or close to it, the latest fashions and trends having no effect on their clothes. It wasn’t that they lacked a longing for fine things or beauty, and Feng Yi had seen several young women with wooden ornaments or flowers in their hair, most likely gifts from a beau or husband.

However, there were practically no magical talismans for household or cosmetic use, and evidently, none to ease the burden of laboring at the plow or the loom. Unlike at the capital, many of the residents showed signs of past malnutrition, likely from the famine that had taken place about two and a half decades back, and those who had either been born or grown up during that era showed it in their bodies and expressions. The children who had grown up in good years showed it too, with sturdier limbs and taller heights. It wasn’t as though there wasn’t abject poverty in the capital region–Feng Yi himself had often wondered where his next meal would come from while growing up, but the contrast between the lights and luxury of Luoyang compared to what Feng Yi saw before him left him with a strong sense of discomfort.

Someone gave a shout, his voice heavy with the local dialect. It was incomprehensible to Feng Yi’s ears, but Shu Ling immediately tensed and moved to dispel the customers, covering up the wares hurriedly. Feng Yi stepped forward quizzically but was quickly shooed out of the way. The customers scattered away from the stall, congregating by the dirt road and murmuring among themselves.

“What’s going on?” Feng Yi asked. A small procession of local guards came into sight, a prisoner in shackles between them. The prisoner was inside a human-sized cage, his head and hands bound by a cangue. The man was easily identifiable as a farmer by his weathered skin and sinewy forearms, and looked about forty-five but was probably younger than that. There was a look of soul-crushing misery on the prisoner’s face. That expression horrified Feng Yi, and he couldn’t help but move closer to the road to see the man go by. Shu Ling made a small noise of discontent but didn’t stop Feng Yi, instead following him over.

“What did he do?” Feng Yi asked a man who had bought a device earlier. The man now had on a nervous expression, his device tucked safely away and out of sight while the man had been holding it with glee earlier.

“That’s Old Lin from our village, word has it that he stole something from the Su house,” the man told Feng Yi.

“The Su house?”

"Their clan is a pretty big deal around these parts. Several of their men are officials in the capital, and their women marry well, so they’re well-connected. They basically run things around here,” the man explained.

“Too bad for that guy, he looks like he regrets it,” Feng Yi said sympathetically. “How long is he going to be sent to prison?” The man he was speaking to shook his head.

“No, he’ll be executed. His family’s farm will probably also be taken by the Su clan.”

“Executed?! Just what did he steal?!” Feng Yi asked in shock. “Did he kill someone?”

“He didn’t! He’s not that kind of person!” A second man chimed in, hearing their conversation.

“Then how can they execute him? That’s illegal!” Feng Yi said in shock. “Even if he stole something worth ten rolls of brocade, he’d only be beaten and imprisoned for a year–there’s no way he could’ve stolen something worth more than that, right?”

“Worth ten rolls of brocade? That’s ridiculous, he wouldn’t have the guts to steal something like that. Word has it that he stole a jade pendant.”

“That’s only worth a public beating, not execution,” Feng Yi said.

“As if the magistrate cares,” the second man said. “Oh, here comes his wife. Poor woman, why didn’t her neighbors stop her from coming out here?”

A weeping woman came into view, trailing far behind the soldiers. She also looked about forty and walked with a severe limp.

“Goodness, she followed them on that leg?” Feng Yi said in sympathy.

“She hurt her leg a few years back, but she’s just as stubborn as she was before,” the first man replied. “Poor woman, how on earth will she live without her man and her farm?”

“Doesn’t she have any children to go to?” Feng Yi asked.

“No, they had eight children but only two of them lived past infancy. One son, but he got swept away in the flash flood about ten years back–several little ones in our village did. Her oldest daughter grew up just fine and got married two years back, but died in childbirth.”

“Good heavens,” Feng Yi said, feeling sick to his stomach. He was never good at dealing with misfortune, whether it was his own or that of others. “Are they really going to kill Mr. Lin?”

“‘Course they will,” a third man jumped into the conversation with a sigh. “He even fled all the way to the village over the next one, but what man can outrun a horse? Pity, it really is. Old Lin was an honest man all his life, but one mistake and he’s doomed.”

Feng Yi watched as the prisoner cart slowly moved out of sight, the weeping woman still limping behind it despite the people telling her to give up on it. Increasingly discomforted, he moved away from the crowd and the dusty road, unable to watch any longer.

Kayla frowned at her communication device, closing the newest message from Feng Yi’s group. They had made some sales, but nothing had happened yet.

Well, good things take time. Once the screen is ripped apart, all the filth hidden from sight will come spilling out. And how much time and effort will it take to deal with that? Perhaps it’s for the best that nothing happens just yet.

Her impatience melted away into unease as they approached the secondary safe house in which Chujiao was now residing. Kayla was meeting with Qu Boyong and Xianchun later in the evening, but it was this meeting that made her nervous. The carriage came to a stop and Kayla went into the building, filled with trepidation. Her heart rate increased as Kayla walked down the corridor. She steeled herself and turned the corner, sucking in a sharp breath as Chujiao came into sight.

Shit.

Kayla couldn’t help but stare with wide eyes for a moment, suddenly overwhelmed with a rush of longing and affection. Panic and hope flared simultaneously.

Wenyuan?! Is that you?!

There was only Kayla. But there was that familiar sense of fondness and love, so strong that Kayla could almost smell the fragrance of roses in the air. Before, it had always been distinctively Wenyuan’s, but Wenyuan was gone. And yet Kayla was still filling up with the same emotions.

Is it because our souls merged? But I’m almost certain that Wenyuan moved on…

“Young lord,” Chujiao said, her voice filled with relief and shyness under Kayla's intense gaze. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you…but why do you stare at me so?”

“I–I–” Kayla hastily broke eye contact, swiveling her gaze to an orchid in a vase. “You guys can go.” Zhao Chao, who had come with Kayla, and Sun Zhong’e, who had been watching over Chujiao, both left with visible reluctance, not wanting to miss out on the drama.

Since when did I find Chujiao hot?! Kayla mentally slapped herself out of it, barely stopping before physically slapping herself as well, and smiled at Chujiao.

“I was just shocked that your beauty has increased since last time,” Kayla said.

That’s right, it’s nothing to do with me. It’s just that the reality was different from what I remembered so I was shocked. Right?

Chujiao flushed slightly. Wenyuan had been too shy to offer straightforward compliments most of the time, and certainly too timid to say them with confidence.

“Goodness, young lord! Since when did you say such frivolous things?” Chujiao protested. At her coquettish reaction, Kayla hastily pulled herself out of it.

Shit, that sounded like I was flirting–Fuck! Why the fuck did I say something so stupid?! Since when did I spout bullshit like that?! Kayla’s thoughts flitted to the severity of the situation, and the fluttering in her chest completely died down. Whatever the strange emotions were, Kayla didn’t have the luxury of entertaining them. Not to mention that giving Chujiao more hope is the last thing I should be doing right now.

Kayla awkwardly cleared her throat, gesturing for Chujiao to sit. The mood shattered, and they both sat down.

“Have the living conditions been to your liking?” Kayla asked, once again pleasantly polite. Chujiao hastily collected herself as well.

“Of course, it’s been very comfortable. I’ve barely had to do anything, and Left Secretariat Sun has been very kind to me,” Chujiao said, glancing at Kayla hesitantly. “But did something happen? Is Left Secretariat Sun in danger?”

Kayla shifted uncomfortably, looking away. The silence dragged on for an uncomfortable long stretch as Kayla fumbled for words.

“It’s not Left Secretariat Sun that’s in danger, Chujiao. It’s you.”

Chujiao frowned, a fearful expression creeping onto her face. “Is…it the Grand Duke?”

“It’s related to him,” Kayla said evasively. Catching on to Kayla's discomfort, Chujiao's frown intensified.

“Is that really the only reason?’ Chujiao prodded. To Kayla's mounting horror, she paused for a moment before managing to reply.

"Yes." Only a single word came out.

Fuck, what the fuck is wrong with me today?! Despite the words Kayla had prepared ahead of time, she was now drawing a blank. Chujiao's presence was eliciting inexplicable reactions from Kayla, ones that left her shaken and uneasy.

"I find that a little hard to believe," Chujiao said insistently. At Kayla’s silence, she drew her breath in sharply, her eyes taking on a glint of hurt. “Young lord, are you sure it doesn’t have to do with my cousin?”

It’s just as Sun Ruhui expected, Kayla thought grimly. Between her wits and instinct, it would be stranger if she didn’t figure it out. At this point, I might as well be honest.

“That too,“ Kayla admitted.

Chujiao’s face fell. “So I really am a hostage…I couldn’t bring myself to believe it before, but young lord, you…”

“Not a hostage,” Kayla hastily assured her. “It’s not quite like that, Chujiao.” The words came out sounding much more evasive and insincere than Kayla had intended. Wenyuan had never been able to lie to Chujiao, and Chujiao knew that, but Kayla could lie without so much as blinking an eye. It had been part of the reason why Chujiao believed Kayla again and again; she didn't think "Wenyuan" could lie to her. To Kayla's horror, that ability for deception had eroded with Wenyuan's departure, and Kayla now fumbled before Chujiao as foolishly as Wenyuan did.

The soul magic really did merge our souls, or at least it merged something, Kayla realized. Is that why I cried at the Empress Dowager's palace? But I wasn't afraid when it came to the Grand Duke! And I didn't feel anything when I saw the Imperial Princess's things. Is there not a pattern or anything?! What's wrong with this magic?! Kayla was dragged out of a whirlpool of increasingly panicked thoughts by Chujiao's pained reaction.

All of the brightness had seeped out of Chujiao’s expression, and the young woman teared up with an aggrieved expression.

“Young lord, I couldn’t help but feel that something was strange about you these days, but I still can’t believe that you would make me a hostage! No, it's my fault for thinking that. I should have expected this from the start!”

Ice filled Kayla's veins at the sight of Chujiao's tears, an almost instinctive reaction that she'd never had before.

“And why on earth should you expect this?! Chujiao, do you really think I’m that type of person?” Kayla demanded, hastily trying to smooth over the situation.

“I don’t know anymore! You weren’t before, definitely not. But now…I…I don’t know,” Chujiao said tearfully.

“Chujiao,” Kayla stumbled over her words, unable to keep the shock off her face. Wenyuan had often been upset that he wasn’t enough like Kayla, but it was the first time that Kayla had been caught shorthanded on account of not being enough like Wenyuan.

“I used to pray that you would become stronger, strong enough to protect yourself from the Grand Duke and the Secretariat Director, but you’ve changed so much that I don’t know who stands before me anymore!”

Chujiao really did recognize the difference. Shit, she realized a long time ago, didn't she? Wenyuan, if you had heard this, what would you have thought?

Kayla scrambled for words, stammering for a bit. “Don’t say that, Chujiao. I’m still–I’m–”

The same Wenyaun. The words lodged in her throat, almost as though being physically restrained there.

I can’t fucking say it. Kayla sucked in a deep breath. Not to her. Fuck.

“I still want to protect you, Chujiao. I always did,” Kayla said instead.

Chujiao glanced up at Kayla through her tears.

“I’m sorry, Chujiao. I admit that I didn’t take you here just to protect you from the Grand Duke. That was the main purpose, but it wasn’t the only one. I also did it because I’m a coward. I don’t want you to hate me, I don’t want you to get hurt, and I don’t want to get hurt either,” Kayla said, her tone increasingly pleading as she went on.

Chujiao’s expression softened. “I don’t think you’re a coward, young lord. I never did. Cowards aren’t those who are reasonably afraid, but those who refuse to act when they can. You’re not that type of person.”

Kayla sucked in a deep breath.

“In either case, I owe you an apology. I really did want to take you away from the Zhao household, but it was also because I wanted to make sure your cousin couldn’t make any moves. I’m worried that he’ll do something that crosses the line or misses the mark, and then what? The Grand Duke will find a way to cast him as a traitor and have everyone associated with him imprisoned or executed, and that includes me and you as well! I thought that if I was keeping you safe, he would at least restrain himself a little for your sake. I’m sorry, Chujiao,” Kayla said, her words tumbling out in a rush. It was as close to the truth as she could go.

Disappointment and relief mixed in Chujiao’s gaze. Chujiao seemed to come to terms with the explanation, lowering her head as she accepted it. On the surface, it seemed as though the issue had been clearly communicated, but there had been a subtle shift in the air, and Kayla instinctively understood that there was no coming back from this. Unlike chasing Chujiao away from the Inner Quarters, or even taking her hostage in the first place, this marked an irrevocable shift. In what direction, Kayla wasn’t sure, but it certainly wasn’t towards the future Wenyuan had daydreamed of.

Speaking of which, I can’t leave that unaddressed any longer, Kayla decided with a heavy heart. If she was going to negotiate with Qu Boyong, Chujiao had to know ahead of time. Nothing would ever come to fruition between the two of them. I owe it to her to clear that up.

“I've always wanted to pretend that the things most important to me wouldn’t change. Remember when I tried to arrange a match for you?” Kayla said quietly.

Chujiao let out a soft sigh. “Yes.”

Kayla winced a little, recognizing the look of someone who had been deeply hurt by an oblivious loved one.

“I’m sorry. I know that must’ve been hurtful.”

Chujiao lowered her head further, not saying anything. Kayla knew that Chujiao was probably biting back tears. From experience, Kayla understood that even a small, insincere apology was enough to evoke such a reaction. Ignoring the twinges of guilt in her gut, Kayla softly continued.

“It’s because I can’t make you my wife, but I won’t make you my concubine. I want to give you the world, I really do, but I only have the keys to a cage full of tigers. You deserve better, Chujiao. And I’m sorry that I hurt you because I couldn’t come to terms with that.”

The silence dragged on for a moment.

“I used to dream of becoming your wife,” Chujiao said abruptly. Kayla bit the inside of her cheek, frowning.

“Chujiao…”

Chujiao went on, a distant look in her eyes. “Not to live among riches or as the respected matron of a household, but that we would run away together and live a quiet life together. We would get up and work at sunrise and rest at sunset, just like all other families. It would be simple without luxury or extravagance, but we would be happy.”

New tears welled up in Chujiao’s eyes as she spoke, and Kayla winced, looking away.

“I had hoped that I could save you from your fate, and you could save me from mine. Of course, I knew it was just a fantasy, but I would run it through in my head over and over. But then you joined the court and I knew it was all over. There could never be such a world where we could live together like that,” Chujiao said, her voice increasingly aggrieved.

Kayla lowered her eyes guiltily. It never could’ve happened, that much was true. Even if Wenyuan died, “Wenyuan” still needed to exist. Evidently, even the Imperial Princess had thought that way.

“I’m sorry, Chujiao. I wish it were different.”

Chujiao turned her face away, hiding her expression of raw hurt.

“There’s something I need to do, something really important,” Kayla said heavily. “I’m going to work with your cousin to take revenge on the Grand Duke, and after that, you’ll be safe.”

Chujiao turned back to look at Kayla in surprise.

“What?”

“I’ll kill the Grand Duke, and avenge us all. And after that…after that, you and your cousin will be reinstated to your original positions,” Kayla said. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that everything goes well for your cousin. As I said, if you’re safe, he’ll at least think for your sake when acting, and I will too. We’ll finish this, and then everything will change for the better. You’ll be able to live a much happier life.”

Chujiao broke eye contact, a bitter smile on her face. “That depends on how you define happiness, young lord.”

Kayla paused, not knowing what to say.

“What will you do after the Grand Duke is dead, young lord?” Chujiao asked, freeing Kayla from needing to respond to her previous statement.

“I have my responsibilities to shoulder and things I have to do at court,” Kayla said simply.

Chujiao watched Kayla for a moment, before smiling softly. “You were never the career-oriented type before, young lord.”

“I suppose not,” Kayla admitted.

“It suits you though. I wish you all the best, young lord.”

She’s saying goodbye to the Wenyuan she knew, Kayla realized. Withholding a sigh, Kayla nodded.

“Thank you, Chujiao. I also wish you all the best. Please wait just a little longer, and then you’ll be able to go home.”

Kayla bid her goodbyes and left the room as quickly as she could. Did I fix anything? Or did I just make things worse? Kayla felt like a driver whose car had fallen apart while she was still in it. She glanced up as Sun Zhong’e and Zhao Chao approached her with curious smiles, which faded as they took in her solemn expression.

“Sun Zhong’e, please keep a close eye on Chujiao for me,” Kayla said.

“I will, Minister. Please be assured,” Sun Zhong’e promised.

Kayla nodded at her before exiting the building with a heavy heart.

The Grand Duke frowned down at the scrolls on his desk before waving for Housekeeper Wang to come over.

“That little brat certainly is careful,” the Grand Duke said scornfully.

“Indeed,” Housekeeper Wang replied, carefully glancing at his master’s expression. “Given his current security detail, it won’t be so easy to kill him off. The only chance we’d have would be when he enters the palace, but that…well, we would have to be more careful. The Empress Dowager’s gotten more careful in recent years.”

“To catch a band of thieves, you ought to first catch the leader. Send down the orders. If an opportunity appears in the palace, poison him,” the Grand Duke said. He used his good arm to point at another scroll. “But we can’t just sit around and wait for a chance to appear. This man, we need to get rid of him.”

Housekeeper Wang leaned in to squint at the scroll. “Hu Qing? That’s the young lord’s retainer, isn’t he? The one in charge of security.”

“If we get rid of Hu Qing, Wenyuan’s security detail will also fall into confusion,” the Grand Duke said. “Set up an ambush and kill him off–make it ugly.”

Housekeeper Wang glanced at him uncertainly. “Word is that this man is extremely skilled. No one knows just how strong he really is.”

“Outarmed and outnumbered, there’s only so long that he can last without backup. Lure him into an anti-communication ward, and he won’t even be able to call for help,” the Grand Duke said. “Is that so hard?”

“Of course not,” Housekeeper Wang hastily replied. “I’m just worried whether there will be a suitable opportunity.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the Grand Duke scoffed. “For a weakling like Wenyuan who doesn’t even have the arm strength to truss a chicken, a good security detail is his only lifeline. But the more skilled a man is, the bolder he becomes. You will definitely be able to catch Hu Qing alone.”

“Understood,” Housekeeper Wang bowed his head slightly.

“Once Hu Qing is dead, pick off the other skilled ones, especially the two who came with Wenyuan last time,” the Grand Duke said.

“I believe they were Tao Qian and Zhao Chao,” Housekeeper Wang began, the Grand Duke cutting him off with a glare.

“I’m not interested in the names of corpses.”

Housekeeper Wang hastily bowed his head again.

“Understood, my lord. I will see it done.”

Cultural Notes

荆州/Jingzhou: An administrative province in Tang Dynasty China, a region that includes the southeast of modern-day Hubei and north of modern Hunan.

江夏郡/Jiangxia Commandery: A commandery (Tang Dynasty administrative district within a province) in Jingzhou, located in modern-day Hubei.

拨浪鼓/Chinese rattle: A traditional Chinese toy, it looks like this. You shake it back and forth to what is essentially a drum with the beads on the attached strings.

Child Mortality Rates in Ancient China: You may have heard that the average lifespan in Ancient China was 35 years old. This is mostly on account of including infant and child mortality rates, which were high in areas with limited resources, as seen in the history of every country. For those who did make it past childhood, people generally were expected to live until at least their sixties, if not longer. While there were indeed advanced midwifery techniques, access varied greatly, and long-term exhaustion and/or malnutrition on the part of an impoverished mother can also lead to mother and infant mortality during childbirth.

大水给冲走了/Washed away by the water: A phrase often used in Chinese to refer to someone who is presumed to have drowned, especially when a body wasn't found.

洛阳/Luoyang: The capital city of many dynasties, it actually was not the capital of the Tang Dynasty. However, for artistic purposes, the capital of the Wu Dynasty is Luoyang to reflect the relatively tense situation with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate (the Tang Dynast capital of Chang'an was much further West, and therefore more susceptible to attack from the Western border).

Cangue: A device used for restraining and humiliating prisoners in Ancient China (also used in the rest of East Asia to some extent). These were extremely uncomfortable to be in, and prisoners were often publicly paraded before their punishments were enacted (as one also sees in other pre-modern societies). A cangue usually went around one's neck, and sometimes also bound one's hands. Here are ones with and without hand restraints respectively:

Tang Dynasty Laws on Theft: Robbery and theft were punished differently in the Tang Dynasty depending on whether or not you worked for the government. If yes, your punishment was heavier, and if not, then your punishment was lighter. Punishments also differed depending on how much you managed to steal (if you got nothing, it would be relatively light), and also on how much damage (to both property and to your victims) you caused (If you didn't hurt anyone, you got off lighter). Going by value in lengths of brocade, the more the value, the harsher the punishment. If you steal something worth one length of brocade, then you would receive twenty strikes in public, versus for something worth ten lengths worth of brocade, it would be a beating and then one year of imprisonment. If you killed someone in the process, you would be executed.

日出而作日落而息/Beginning work at sunrise and ceasing at sunset: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a busy but fulfilling life of labor and simple happiness.

擒贼先擒王/Catching thieves [you must] first catch their king: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to strike at the head in order to destroy the whole organization.

手无缚鸡之力/Arms lack [even] the strength to truss a chicken: An Ancient Chinese phrase used to scoff at someone (usually a scholar) for being weak.

艺高人胆大/Highly skilled [people] are bolder: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning that someone who is more skilled is also more likely to be bolder (and careless).

107-Three Families of Chu

Character Index

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer, he has decided to take back his rightful position as the head of the Liang household.

Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees, brought on by Hu Qing. Previously worked with Hu Qing in running surveillance.

Zhou Xianchun: Seventh Prince, seeking revenge for his mother's (Consort Chen's) murder.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Cousin of Xianchun and Wenyuan, he is seeking revenge for his clan's demise.

Ji Fangluo: A pregnant woman who was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot on behalf of her kind but weak-willed father.

Ji Yantao: Former accountant of the Xiang household, he was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot. Kayla recently took him into custody after leaking information about him to the Grand Duke.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Qu Boyong's cousin and Wenyuan's childhood friend/servant/love interest. Kayla took her into custody from the Zhao household.

An Haoyang: Qu Boyong's right-hand man, formerly undercover as an Imperial Investigator.

Feng Yi: A merchant who got dragged into Liu Boyue's plots, and then Kayla's. Currently working for Kayla.

Old Lin: A farmer who was arrested for stealing a jade pendant from the local influentials.

Shu Ling: A woman who works for Kayla, she was sent to protect Feng Yi on his journey.

Hu Qing crossed another name off the list as the other four men in his team finished setting up an array of talismans. They were in a lower-income residential area, one where low-tier prostitutes and seasonal laborers tended to reside–it was also where a few off-the-book hires of the Zhao household resided.

Hu Qing glanced up as his team members reconvened.

“We’re basically done, aren’t we?” Ke Yongqian asked.

Hu Qing nodded. “We just have to track down two more people, and then we’re completely done.”

“But when are we going to make a move? Isn’t there any word from the Minister yet?”

Hu Qing shook his head. “We’ll move when the Minister says so–and he still has to go through the Seventh Prince first.”

The men were eager to see some action after days of reconnaissance and surveillance, but the real battles were fought inside the studies and sitting rooms, where fates were decided over tea and wine. A good blade would neither interfere nor concern themselves with a battleground that did not belong to them, but Hu Qing had never made any claims as to quality, and Wenyuan didn’t just want a knife.

“Do you reckon the Seventh Prince’s men have to avoid the Imperial Investigators? Or do they just go about with their heads high on account of their master?” One of the men asked curiously, jerking Hu Qing out of his thoughts.

“Depends on the task,” Hu Qing replied. “In any case, we probably won’t be working side-by-side with them, so it has nothing to do with us. Even if we do end up bumping into each other, don’t let them see your faces, and avoid using your real voices.”

“Alright,” the man replied, lowering his voice an octave. The others broke out into laughter.

“Try a higher pitch,” Ke Yongqian urged, eliciting another wave of chuckles. Hu Qing joined in for a bit before the smile dropped from his face. The others glanced at him in concern.

“What’s wrong?” Ke Yongqian asked.

Hu Qing frowned, taking in their surroundings.

“Someone’s following us,” Hu Qing said in a low voice.

“I’ll go grab them,” Ke Yongqian volunteered.

“No, don’t. They probably have communication and tracking spells on them, we need to confuse them as to what we’re doing first and then take him out without leaving traces that it was us,” Hu Qing said. “He’s probably from the Zhao household, if they figure out exactly what’s going on, we might startle the dog into jumping the wall.”

“Then what?”

“Split up into pairs and scatter,” Hu Qing ordered. “Whichever pair he follows should head over towards the Seventh Prince’s household. Once he’s gotten enough time to digest the information, the other two launch a sneak attack and take him out before he can send any more intel.”

“Then what about you?” Ke Yongqian asked.

“I’m going to go eat dinner,” Hu Qing said flatly before swatting at Ke Yongqian. “I’m going to continue the mission, you idiot.”

“Alone?” One of the other men jumped in. “Is that safe?”

“I mean, it’s Hu Qing. He usually works alone to begin with,” Ke Yongqian pointed out.

“Exactly. Now get moving, we’re basically plotting in loud voices at this point,” Hu Qing ordered. The other four nodded, and the group of five split off into three parties. Ke Yongqian and one of the others began to head toward the Seventh Prince’s household in a roundabout route–given Ke Yongqian’s skills, that pair was certain to be seen as more important and followed accordingly. The other pair headed off towards the slums, keeping their distance until the man tailing them headed off after Ke Yongqian.

Hu Qing continued on alone, relaxed and carefree now that he was free to act as he pleased without needing to keep a team of operatives in line. He went quite a distance before stopping on a rooftop, frowning as he rewound the events in his mind.

Something’s strange about this, Hu Qing frowned. I made the best choice possible, and everyone’s skilled enough to carry out the steps. So why does it feel like something’s about to go wrong? Before he could fully realize what was bothering him, Hu Qing sensed a number of people approaching him at high speed.

So that was what it was. He took off, sprinting across the rooftops, seeking out a location that would be more beneficial for him to take on multiple opponents. Hu Qing landed on a rooftop with steep inclines on both sides made of slippery tiles, with only a narrow ridge where it was possible to balance.

He reached for his communication device, rearing back in surprise as he saw it wasn’t working. Hu Qing let out a bark of laughter, glancing around. I fell for it and walked right into a trap with my own two feet.

“They set all this up just for me? Really, how flattering,” Hu Qing bared his teeth in a feral grin, tucking away the communication device. He couldn’t tell how large of an area the anti-communication wards encompassed, and he didn’t have enough time to find a better spot， which meant he had to either leave an advantageous arena and bet on backup arriving in time or simply bet on his own skills. And if Hu Qing had to choose, he would rather rely on himself.

So what if I’m outnumbered? Given this terrain, I still have the upper hand, Hu Qing thought to himself confidently. He drew his dual blades with a flourish, smirking as the assassins closed in to form a loose circle on the surrounding rooftops. They didn’t immediately attack, taken aback by Hu Qing’s air of stark certainty.

“The Grand Duke sure considers me important, doesn’t he?” Hu Qing said, not bothering to lower his voice though they were in a residential area. The assassins kept their silence, though no doubt several of them were silently wondering if there was something wrong with Hu Qing’s brain for him to be acting so flippantly.

Three of the assassins leaped over to land on the narrow ridge on the rooftop Hu Qing occupied. They appeared to be the most skilled of the group. Hu Qing brazenly grinned at them.

“I was wondering where to track you guys down, but you’ve done me the favor of coming over yourselves,” Hu Qing taunted. “Since you’re so eager to cut your lifespans short, how can I not indulge you?”

The assassins remained silent, but there were glints of irritation in their eyes. Both parties watched each other for a moment, evaluating their opponent. The moment of tense stillness stretched and felt longer than it actually was.

Hu Qing swung the first blow. In the darkness of the moonless night, a death match had begun.

Kayla sat in Xianchun’s sitting room stiffly. Xianchun was mediating negotiations between herself and Qu Boyong to form a three-way alliance, though in truth he was the one who had the final say, and the setting had been moved from the privacy of Xianchun’s study to one of the nicer sitting rooms.

The air was tense. Though it was meant to be a peaceful negotiation, they hadn’t even begun talking yet and Kayla could already sense the glint of blades and shadows of swords. Qu Boyong hadn’t brought An Haoyang, but rather a pregnant woman that Kayla recognized from the files as Ji Fangluo. Both of them were regarding Kayla with open hostility.

“Thank you both for joining me today,” Xianchun said. “Wenyuan, I’d like to reintroduce you to our cousin, Xiang Daozong.” He gestured at Qu Boyong. Kayla nodded politely, not needing to feign confusion since Xianchun had explained everything ahead of time.

“Daozong, I believe you’re already familiar with our cousin Wenyuan,” Xianchun continued.

“I am, but my prince, may I ask why he is here? I was under the impression that…” Qu Boyong trailed off, glancing at Kayla suspiciously.

“He is here for the same purpose,” Xianchun assured him. “Wenyuan recently learned that his parents were murdered by the Grand Duke and has played a crucial role in uncovering the truth behind my mother’s murder. I hope that since we all share the same enemy, we can align our hearts and combine our strengths to destroy the Grand Duke, putting aside any past disagreements.”

A look of shock crossed over Qu Boyong and Ji Fangluo’s faces, but it was quickly replaced by disbelief and dissatisfaction.

“My prince, my disagreement with him is not yet in the past! This scoundrel has abused his authority to extralegally imprison my cousin Chujiao and Ji Fangluo’s father!” Qu Boyong protested.

Xianchun frowned, glancing at Kayla inquisitively.

“You slander me, cousin. Neither Chujiao nor Mister Ji are ‘imprisoned’ as you so claim–if you prefer that I hadn’t made use of my position to save them from the Grand Duke, you might as well say it outright that you wish them dead,” Kayla shot back.

“You–!”

“Wenyuan, explain yourself clearly,” Xianchun cut in before Qu Boyong could erupt. Kayla bowed at him slightly, giving him an aggrieved look.

“My prince, it is true that I have taken both Chujiao and Ji Yantao into my protection and that their mobility has been restricted as a result, but it was for their own safety. Ji Yantao’s case had reached the Grand Duke’s ears already–he still has eyes inside the Ministry of Justice, and Ji Yantao was attacked by the Grand Duke’s assassins as a result. I had been keeping tabs on his safety to ensure he wasn’t silenced and was able to stop the attack in time. I transferred Ji Yantao to a safe house and have been providing for his safety ever since,” Kayla said.

“Then what about Chujiao?! You kidnapped an unmarried young woman and kept her as a hostage against me–and now you’re turning around to play hero?!” Qu Boyong demanded, losing his temper.

“It’s not as though I kept her in my residence, I left her under the care of an older woman with whom she shared a residence! My prince, please don’t misunderstand. Chujiao has been my serving maid for over ten years now, and she’s like a sister to me. Her identity was in danger of being exposed, so I hastily made arrangements for her safety. It wasn’t as though I had the time or means to communicate any of this to Daozong, which led to this misunderstanding,” Kayla said.

Doubt and relief mingled on Qu Boyong’s face along with a hint of confusion at Kayla’s claim of platonic feelings for Chujiao.

Xianchun nodded, accepting the explanation without further question. To Kayla's surprise, Ji Fangluo's hostility had faded as well.

“And how exactly was she exposed? Did you not direct and act out everything yourself to take Chujiao for yourself?” Qu Boyong asked.

Kayla shook her head, letting out a sigh. “Boyong–no, Daozong, do you think Housekeeper Wang is blind? You’re not as subtle as you thought. They already knew that one of the guards was rendezvousing with a serving maid at night, but they didn’t immediately narrow it down to you. They did, however, figure out which maid was sneaking out to meet with someone at night. If you didn’t want to expose Chujiao’s identity, then you shouldn’t have put her at risk like that.”

The first time Hu Qing had snuck in to speak with Kayla in the Zhao household, he had seen Qu Boyong meeting with a woman.

“By the way, that Boyong of yours has got game. I just saw him rendezvousing with a female servant.” Kayla wryly thought back to the gleeful look Hu Qing had on his face at the time. Though Hu Qing hadn’t paid any attention to who the woman was, focusing on Qu Boyong instead, in retrospect, it was easy to piece together that the woman had been Chujiao.

“Even Hu Qing had seen the two of you together before, and he didn’t enter the Zhao household that many times,” Kayla added.

Qu Boyong paled, his fists tightening at his sides.

“And I’ve never had any interest in taking Chujiao for myself. There have been clan members and guests who were captivated by her beauty and offered me their support in exchange for having Chujiao. I’ve refused every single request, and not out of personal greed either. If I wished any harm upon your cousin, she would not have remained unscathed to the present day,” Kayla emphasized. Wenyuan could’ve made his life easier at many points in time by giving up Chujiao as though she was an object to bribe someone with, but thankfully, the young man had been cowardly but not a piece of shit.

“Why wait until now? I could’ve taken her as a bedroom maid at any point in time, or made her my concubine. Instead, I’ve treated her with courtesy and guarded her prospects against the Grand Duke’s allies. Your accusal is understandable, given your concern for Chujiao, but I will not be misconstrued in such a light,” Kayla went on.

If Wenyuan actually had taken Chujiao as a concubine, he might’ve avoided the brutal death Xianchun visited upon him–it had been Chujiao who leaked Wenyuan’s itinerary, but Kayla was almost certain that it was on Qu Boyong’s orders. Most likely, Qu Boyong had offered up a Wenyuan who was of no use to him in exchange for Xianchun’s support, and Chujiao unwittingly became an accomplice. If Chujiao had already been married, Qu Boyong would have had to find another way to avoid placing Chujiao under suspicion or gaining her the reputation of being bad luck for her husband, one that would destroy her future prospects.

Probably still wouldn’t have survived though, Kayla lamented. Qu Boyong would still have killed Wenyuan for taking Chujiao as a concubine, though Wenyuan’s death might’ve been an easier one. Even if Qu Boyong held back, unlikely as it was, Xianchun would still have killed Wenyuan sooner or later.

Sure, Wenyuan missed a chance, but that single chance wouldn’t have saved him anyway. But then again, whether or not someone misses a chance is the result of their accumulated choices, not just whether they were lucky or not in that specific moment. If Kayla didn’t have the preknowledge that she’d gained from the novel and later on, from Lady Lin, she wouldn’t have fared much better than Wenyuan had.

Kayla made eye contact with Qu Boyong. A vein throbbed on the man’s jaw and he resolutely turned away. In Xianchun’s eyes, Wenyuan had done Qu Boyong a favor simply by not ruining Chujiao’s life, even though that was the bare minimum of human decency. Kayla could practically hear Qu Boyong mentally cursing her out for being so shameless.

“I also believe that Wenyuan is not such a person,” Xianchun said. “I’ve never seen or heard of him acting in an untoward manner towards an unmarried woman. He’s barely even been seen entering a brothel. You can put your concerns to rest–if you worry about your cousin’s reputation, perhaps she would be better hosted in my household. I’m happy to host Ji Yantao as well.”

“An excellent idea,” Kayla chimed in. “I would be greatly relieved if the prince is taking charge of their safety.” Since Xianchun had already offered, she didn’t have a good reason to refuse.

It doesn’t matter. If you should give up, you ought to give up before it comes back to bite you. In Xianchun’s eyes, Qu Boyong and Ji Fangluo already owe me, and he wouldn’t tolerate them trying to backstab me anymore. Giving Chujiao and Ji Yantao to him will only cement my position, and Qu Boyong won’t be able to use them as an excuse to attack me later on.

“Then it's settled. We’ll arrange the transfer tomorrow,” Xianchun said. “Daozong, I trust you have no objections?”

Qu Boyong grit his jaw and shook his head. “I’ll follow your arrangements, my prince.”

Xianchun nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, let’s move on to the topic at hand–taking revenge against the Grand Duke. This will not be an easy task, which makes working together all the more important.”

“The Zhao clan is like an enormous beast, it won’t be an easy task,” Qu Boyong said. “I’ve been working towards revenge for a long time, and have yet to achieve success–in fact, I seem to be getting further away from my vengeance with every step I take.”

“I have also been opposing the Grand Duke for years, and yet it wasn’t until very recently that the mountain began to crumble,” Xianchun agreed. “But while taking on a faction is difficult, the same can’t be said of taking on a single old man.”

“I beg your pardon, but I would not be so certain of that,” Qu Boyong warned him. “The Grand Duke is not just any normal opponent, and to think of him as such would be the end of us.”

“Even if only three families are left in Chu, the one to destroy the Qin will be the Chu,” Kayla jumped in. “Given their participation, I believe our success is pre-determined.”

Xianchun glanced at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Kayla bowed her head towards the prince slightly before nodding at Qu Boyong’s party.

“After the Qin Dynasty destroyed the Six Kingdoms and unified China, Lord Nan of Chu said, ‘Even if only three families are left in Chu, the one to destroy the Qin will most certainly be the Chu.’ Counting our cousin Xiang Daozong, Ji Fangluo, and An Hoayang, we have three families of Chu on our side, and our opponent is one who wrongly wields and abuses excessive power–is this not a scaled-down version of the same situation?” Kayla said.

Xianchun frowned, scoffing at her. “Enough with the comparisons, you bury your head in books too much.”

Kayla only bowed her head slightly, not offering a retort.

Who cares if Xianchun gets it or not? I said that for Qu Boyong’s sake. It was obvious how strong Qu Boyong’s attachment to the concept of Chu was, even now that the region wasn’t even called Chu anymore. Appealing to Qu Boyong’s regional pride and cultural heritage was key to Kayla’s strategy for dealing with him, and she had to take it step by step, pushing Qu Boyong onto a high platform before he realized it so that he would be forced to accede to her moral blackmail or lose face before the prince.

Qu Boyong did seem to warm up to the comparison, though his resentment towards Kayla didn’t decrease in the slightest.

“In any case, the three of us share the same goal. As such, it’s only reasonable that we work together. I propose that we join hands and rid the dynasty of this poisonous parasite,” Xianchun said.

“I would be honored to serve Your Highness in this endeavor,” Kayla said, bowing her head again.

A vein twitched on Qu Boyong’s forehead as Xianchun smiled at Kayla.

“I am deeply honored by your proposal, my prince. But I cannot accept joining hands with a member of the Zhao clan,” Qu Boyong said. “I do not wish to work with him.” He jerked his head in Kayla’s direction.

Ah, really, this little shit. This isn’t just about Chujiao and Ji Yantao, is it? He’s just trying to jockey for a better position in the alliance by using me as a stool. Kayla clenched her jaw for a second before bringing her expression under control. If he refuses to drink the toast, then I can only pour him the penalty wine.

Feng Yi woke up in a cold sweat in his inn room. He couldn't remember his dream clearly, but it had been a terrifying one. Out of an instinctive urge to bear witness to the spectacle, Feng Yi had gone to Old Lin's execution in the village square against his better judgment. The sight had, as Feng Yi had feared, given him nightmares.

The poor farmer was practically dragged into the center of the square, which was really just a dirt clearing. His wife wept on the side, held back by the guards as her neighbors tried to calm her down. Like a worm drying out under the harsh sunlight, the old farmer had curled toward the ground, his weathered skin covered with so much dust that he seemed to be part of the dirt before he had even been buried.

The sight had been sickening, and Feng Yi wasn't alone in turning away at the moment of execution, as though not seeing the blade swing down would keep the farmer's head attached to his neck. The ear-splitting wail of Old Lin's wife had signaled the farmer's death, and Feng Yi had hastily left the site as though he were a fleeing thief.

"Killing a man just for stealing a jade pendant...just what is this country coming to?" Feng Yi muttered softly to himself. He let out a heavy sigh and lay down again, trying to ease himself back into sleep.

A strange glow from the window caught his attention, and Feng Yi sat up again with a frown.

What's that?

Just as he was wondering, a loud knock sounded on his door.

"Mister Feng! Wake up!" Shu Ling shouted. "Our wagons are on fire!"

Cultural Notes

狗急跳墙/A cornered dog will jump the wall: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that if you push someone too far, they'll lash out.

大声密谋/Loudly conspire: A Chinese saying that's often used to mock scenes in TV dramas where people are loudly conspiring in public.

清水脊/Clear Water Ridge: A type of architecture in Ancient China similar to what we think of when we say a "house" today, where the roof has two slanting sides. The ridge refers to the thin ridge connecting the two sides. Since the roofs used tiles rather than materials more common in the modern day, it would be much harder to maintain your balance on the slopes of such a roof. The ridge and roof would look something like this:

真看得起我/[Someone] Really puts me in their eye: A Chinese saying meaning that someone thinks highly enough of you to either actively help or harm you.

自己找上门来了/They've found their way to my doorstep [themselves]: A Chinese saying referring to a situation where someone you're looking for (especially in situations when there's an unresolved debt/grudge before you two) appears before you without you needing to seek them out.

掩人耳目/Hide [from] people's eyes and ears: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning to keep something hidden from someone/to confound someone.

齐心协力/Align our hearts and combine our strengths: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to work together towards the same goal.

刀光剑影/Glint of blades shadows of swords: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to dangerous situations where everyone is on the edge of launching an attack (whether verbal, physical, or political), and ready to screw over their opponents. However, this is specifically referring to a situation where fighting has not broken out yet, hence why you only see glints and shadows but no actual blood has been spilled.

克夫/Unlucky [for one's] husband: A way to disparage widows or women whose husbands suffered extremely bad luck. It would be believed that at least part of it was the wife's fault in some situations (such as if your husband dies a really terrible death with no clear series of events to explain it).

通房丫鬟/Bedroom maid: Refers to maids who serve their masters in the bedroom, both for normal menial tasks and, in many cases, sexually as well.

当断不断反受其乱/If you can't end things when you ought to, you'll be thrown into trouble as a result: An Ancient Chinese saying that refers to situations where you need to draw a clear line or break things off when needed instead of delaying the matter because you're too afraid to take responsibility for the consequences.

见好就收/Pull back the moment your goal is achieved: A Chinese saying that means you should stop once you've gotten what you wanted. If you get taken in by your own greed, you'll lose everything you've already gained. While you might end up missing out on greater benefits if you stop right at the mark, you at least will have gotten that far instead of screwing yourself over by wanting more.

庞然巨兽/An enormous beast: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to describe either an enormous beast, or to describe a clique/faction/group that is extremely powerful.

敬酒不吃吃罚酒/Refuse the toast to drink the penalty wine: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning to refuse the face you are given in favor of losing face by your own actions.

楚虽三户亡秦必楚/Even if only three households are left in Chu, it will [definitely] be Chu that ends the Qin: A prophecy from the Qin Dynasty. After Qin destroyed all six kingdoms, there was widespread resentment due to both the bloody destruction of the kingdoms and the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty. It was then prophecied by a former noble of the Chu Kingdom that even if only three households were left in the former population of the Chu, they would still destroy the Qin Dynasty. This ended up coming true, as both Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, the two generals who overthrew the Qin Dynasty, were from the Chu Region. Xiang Yu was an excellent warrior but not a great politician, and eventually lost out to Liu Bang, who would go on to found the Han Dynasty.

108-Glints of Blades Shadows of Swords

Character Index

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu (older half-sister to the Emperor), seeking revenge against the Grand Duke. Kayla's transmigration drastically changed the circumstances under which he was acting, throwing several wrenches into his plans.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, son of Consort Chu and cousin to Wenyuan and Qu Boyong.

Ji Fangluo: Daughter of Ji Yantao (accountant of the Xiang household), she was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot because of her father. Not afraid of talking back or voicing her own thoughts despite her relatively low social status.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and right-hand man, targeted by the Grand Duke's men due to his relevance in Kayla's faction.

Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees, usually works with Hu Qing.

Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.

“I am deeply honored by your proposal, my prince. But I cannot accept joining hands with a member of the Zhao clan,” Qu Boyong said. “I do not wish to work with him.” He jerked his head in Kayla’s direction.

“Why? We share the same goals, don’t we?” Xianchun demanded, his impatience showing in his voice.

“Blood is thicker than water–we can’t trust him to expose the Grand Duke’s crimes, much less to kill him,” Qu Boyong said determinedly. “And if he is indeed someone who can brutalize and murder his own blood, then a white-eyed wolf like him can’t be relied upon.”

Already trying to cement his future position with the Seventh Prince by pushing me down, isn't he?

“May I remind you that he killed my parents?” Kayla pointed out dryly. “I have no direct relation to him within three generations back–and guess who shares a direct relation to me within two generations?” She looked pointedly at Qu Boyong, and then at Xianchun.

“He raised you,” Qu Boyong shot back. “I’ve seen the relationship between the two of you up close, and while I admit that it was hardly harmonious, it’s clear that even if the lotus root is broken apart, the threads still connect the halves.”

“If you see it like that, then your cousin and my friend Jing Shuyou also grew up under his ‘care’,” Kayla said. “Would she then be ungrateful for spying on the household?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Our family was exterminated because of the Grand Duke, how on earth could seeking revenge be unjust?!”

“My parents were also killed by the Grand Duke, so how on earth would I be a white-eyed wolf for seeking revenge?” Kayla retorted.

“Enough!” Xianchun cut in before Qu Boyong could respond. “Daozong, I can understand your concerns, but I’m certain of Wenyuan’s intentions. Did the Orphan of Zhao not take revenge against his adoptive father for the sake of his clan, despite being raised by their enemy? This isn’t what we should be focusing on when there’s a greater enemy before us. Lay rest to your resentment.”

At Xianchun’s forceful order, Qu Boyong lowered his head reluctantly, still grinding his teeth together in discontent.

“Thank you, my prince. It is not that I cannot understand our cousin’s concerns, but I cannot simply back out of taking revenge,” Kayla said to Xianchun. He nodded slightly at her in reassurance.

Qu Boyong’s fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had gone white.

“Since His Highness says so, I’ll accept it,” Qu Boyong said venomously. “I’ve been preparing to avenge my clan for over ten years, abandoning my given name to live as Qu Boyong. I’ve suffered through far worse than you two can possibly imagine–I will not be denied my revenge, no matter what.” He shot Kayla a cold glare, emphasizing his final words.

Kayla watched him calmly. Qu Boyong didn’t have any targeted resentment towards Wenyuan beyond a generalized distaste towards the members of the Zhao clan, but Kayla’s interference in Ji Fangluo’s court case and the way she grabbed Ji Yantao and Chujiao had definitely provoked him. And even so, despite Wenyuan’s relation to the Grand Duke, it was clear that Xianchun valued Kayla in the alliance more so than he did Qu Boyong–it was no wonder Qu Boyong was upset.

I’ve gained the advantages I wanted, and I’ve expressed what I needed to. It’s about time I smoothed down his fur a little, or he'll find some way to have this come back and bite me, I just know it.

“Then our goals are aligned,” Kayla assured him, lifting her hands in a pacifying gesture. “I have nothing to withhold from you, nor any qualms for your involvement despite your previous breaches of trust. Regardless of what has happened between us in the past, let bygones be bygones. Someone who took their name from the poem Lisao must be a person who at least aspires to Qu Yuan’s virtue–that is enough assurance for me.”

The focus had all been on Kayla’s actions in opposition to Qu Boyong, while Qu Boyong’s rumor-spreading and betrayal hadn’t been brought up even once. Now that Kayla had reframed herself as sharing the status of victimhood, the justifiability of Qu Boyong’s actions also became questionable in retrospect.

As if I’d let Xianchun forget who struck the first blow. She carefully avoided glancing at Xianchun from the corner of her eye, watching as Qu Boyong’s gaze nervously flitted over to the prince.

“I chose my name from Lisao because it was a work born from resentment–so that I would never forget my goal of taking revenge no matter what hardships I faced,” Qu Boyong said, quickly changing the topic away from his past actions and in the direction Kayla had already pointed for him.

Perfect. Kayla withheld a smile, keeping her expression serious.

“It is just as the Master Historian said, ‘The heavens are the origins of humanity and parents are the basis of a person’s existence. In poverty and ruin, one returns to one’s nature, hence when exhausted to the core, one does not fail to cry toward the heavens. When wracked with pain and disease, one does not fail to cry for one’s parents. Qu Yuan walked straight on a proper path, dedicating his loyalty and wisdom to his king. Yet sycophants isolated him and thus brought him to ruin. His trust was repaid with suspicion, his loyalty with slander, how could he not be resentful?’ What better reflects the plight of my clan than that of our fellow man of Chu?” Qu Boyong said bitterly.

“Indeed, brilliance attracts attrition. Being brought to ruin by wrongful accusations and condemned by the words and spittle of sycophants, the Xiang clan has been dealt a great injustice in which no one can claim their innocence,” Xianchun agreed. “Your feelings are justified but do not mistake your target. Direct your resentment towards our common enemy, and you will have the vengeance that Qu Yuan was denied.”

Qu Boyong bowed his head. “Thank you, my prince. I only hope that you understand the strength of my resolution and that I am not simply acting unreasonably when I express my frustration regarding his involvement,” Qu Boyong said, gesturing at Kayla. She cut in before Xianchun could reply to him. The prince’s previous words were already enough to soothe Qu Boyong’s anger, but Kayla didn’t want to settle for a reluctant compromise that left her in an awkward position, as though she were the one who shouldn’t be involved. Kayla turned to Qu Boyong, pulling on an earnest expression.

“Though the Lisao was written from resentment, it nonetheless contained the lines ‘I heave a long sigh to hide my tears, lamenting the difficulty of the populace’s lives’. That is enough to show that Qu Yuan’s anger did not cloud his compassion or his virtue. Is that not why the Master Historian praised the Lisao?” Kayla asked.

“Indeed,” Xianchun replied.

Dude, I wasn’t asking you. Kayla bowed her head slightly in Xianchun’s direction before continuing, softening her tone.

“‘Clarifying the broadness of virtue, bringing chaos to order, it leaves nothing unclear. Qu Yuan’s words are simple, his resolutions are pure-hearted, and his actions are proper and incorruptible, hence why he did not allow himself to yield even in death. He distanced himself from the muddy waters, discarding the filth around him like a cicada discards its shell. He floats above the dust, not contaminated by the world’s evils. Such resolution and willpower he had, that it would not be an exaggeration to compare his brilliance with the luster of the sun.’ The Master Historian gave Qu Yuan such high praise that few could compare, though the ones who shared the same pages counted among kings and Emperors,” Kayla said.

“That’s quite impressive praise, Minister,” Ji Fangluo said, speaking for the first time since Kayla had assured her of Ji Yantao’s safety. “But I’m an uneducated person–forgive me, but I fail to see the relevance of these words. Why dally on historical records when we have unresolved matters before us?”

Kayla observed Ji Fangluo’s expression. The pregnant woman seemed to be a candid person, the type to strike at you directly rather than going in circles. Ji Fangluo’s face was placid and unreadable.

This woman’s no simpleton…is she trying to help me build a staircase to let Qu Boyong step down on? At this point, Qu Boyong’s position in the alliance was the weakest–there wasn’t much further he could press the issue without drawing Xianchun’s ire, but Qu Boyong needed a slope to get off the mule while going downhill.

“As Confucius said, without learning poetry, one cannot express themselves in diplomatic encounters. Similarly, it has been said using history as a mirror allows you to understand the benefits and pitfalls of the present,” Kayla explained to Ji Fangluo courteously. She turned to Qu Boyong again, neither he nor Xianchun having caught the buried barb hidden in Kayla’s quotations.

“You are a man of honor,” Kayla said with a sincere expression, not believing a single word she was saying. “Since you have taken a name from the Lisao, I’m sure it’s because you aspire to the virtue of Qu Yuan and the great men that have graced Chu history. I entreat you to take upon yourself the same compassion and broad-heartedness as them and look upon me not as an enemy but as a comrade, if only for a short period of time. Not just for the sake of revenge, but for the legacy of Chu and the Xiang clan.”

Qu Boyong pursed his lips, but couldn’t wriggle his way out of the moral blackmail when Xianchun was already out of patience. Reluctantly, he chose to back down while Kayla was still giving him face.

“Since you’ve said it to this extent, what room have I to refuse without construing myself as unfilial and disloyal?” Qu Boyong said coldly. “In consideration of His Highness, I’ll keep the peace.”

Kayla dipped her head slightly in response.

Xianchun glanced between the two of them. “A great man’s words are worth nine cauldrons, once they have been spoken, there is no reason for them to be taken back. Since you’ve both agreed to cooperate in good faith, I’ll hold you two to that promise,” he said with finality.

“As you wish, my prince,” Qu Boyong and Kayla said in unison.

“Now that the two of you have reconciled your differences, let’s discuss our plan,” Xianchun said. “Wenyuan, you said that you were planning to take over and shut down the Zhao household by force, how is that progressing?”

“Everything’s proceeding according to plan, my prince. All of the clan members are accounted for, and I’ll make sure that all of them are kept under control. I’ll be able to take over the household with minimum difficulties whenever you wish to act,” Kayla said. “The problem is what comes after I put the household into lockdown. I can find a way to access the underground vault by using my nullification talisman, but how will we deal with the Grand Duke? Ideally, he would be charged for his crimes and publicly executed, but I can only contain the Zhao clan, not the rest of the Grand Duke’s faction.”

“When you leave your seat your tea cools down, I don’t believe that his faction members are loyal enough to risk their own necks to speak on his behalf,” Xianchun said shortly.

“That’s hard to say, especially since a thorough investigation would likely implicate them in many of his crimes,” Kayla replied. “The Grand Duke is related to the late Empress of Emperor Gaozong and has further served the court for three Emperors’ reigns. If this drags on, there will be room for people to call his crimes into question and downplay their severity. Also, once the evidence has been revealed, they can fake counterevidence. It’s not impossible that the Grand Duke would end up avoiding execution.”

“It’s not just the Grand Duke’s faction that doesn’t want to see him executed,” Ji Fangluo jumped in. “Once the birds have been shot out of the sky, the bow is put away. When the hare is caught, the hunting dog is butchered. Those who depend on opportunities that only arise from opposing the Grand Duke would also resent being deprived of their lifeline.”

“Then what on earth do you suggest we do?” Qu Boyong cut in coldly. “If we kill him before releasing the evidence, as Minister Zhao is sure to suggest, who knows if the Minister will then turn around and use our complicity against us?”

Xianchun’s brow furrowed at the notion.

“I would never. But I do wish to suggest that we kill the Grand Duke before uncovering the evidence,” Kayla said calmly. She bowed towards Xianchun. “My prince, I promised you evidence, and I promised you the Grand Duke’s life. It is my intention to keep my promise on both accounts.”

“And precisely how will you do so?” Xianchun asked.

“I believe it may be safe to say that none of the people present here today will be satisfied unless the Grand Duke suffers a humiliating end. I’ll give him his just desserts, but I wish to do so by his own hand.”

Xianchun’s frown deepened. “You would allow him to commit suicide?”

“I would force him to commit suicide, there’s a difference,” Kayla said.

“What do you mean?” Xianchun demanded.

Kayla allowed a malicious smile to spread over her face. “My prince,” she said pleasantly. “Have you heard of how Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty dealt with his uncle?”

Hu Qing rolled off the sloping sides of a roof and landed with a thud, his steps heavier than usual. He was panting with exertion, covered in blood, both from the Grand Duke’s assassins and his own wounds.

Damn it, those fuckers… Hu Qing’s feral thirst for blood had been quenched after taking out most of the group that had ambushed him, but their backup arrived just as Hu Qing had worn out most of his energy. The Grand Duke’s hired hands were rather skilled, but most of them were like appetizers for Hu Qing. The problem was the select number of highly skilled assassins who attacked in rotations. One of them would dash forward to slash at Hu Qing but only engage for a high-intensity bout of combat that lasted for a very short period of time before disengaging and allowing someone else to take their place. It didn’t take long before Hu Qing was completely out of strength, while the worst of his opponents were still fresh and full of energy.

I need to steal that tactic, Hu Qing thought to himself as he ducked through the dark alleyways. If I survive, he drily added. He was still being chased, and even worse, his communication device had been destroyed in all the fighting.

The only way he could get out of this alive was to find a place to hide. Hu Qing was too exhausted to throw off the assassins, and backup wouldn’t arrive in time–even with Ke Yongqian’s sharp instincts, the man wouldn’t know where to look after sensing that something was wrong. Where the hell am I supposed to go?! He had made it into an area with a denser population, making it both harder to hide and to find someone who was hiding. So long as he managed to find an occupied building to take refuge in, the Grand Duke’s assassins wouldn’t be able to easily find him–and even if they did, they would be hard-pressed to make a move without creating a disturbance and attracting Imperial Investigators who patrolled the rooftops.

Hu Qing glanced around with wild eyes, his frustration mounting as he moved through the alleyway, his steps growing slower as he went. If it were before, he wouldn’t have cared so much–life had been like a lively entertainment district and he a passing guest, death being no heavier in his mind than a goose feather. Now that Hu Qing actually had something to hope for in his future, it was different.

No wonder they say the barefoot isn’t afraid of those with shoes, Hu Qing wryly thought to himself. Just then, a door opened a few feet away, light spilling out over the ground. A young woman stepped into the alleyway, stretching her arms. She was skimpily dressed and wore the heavy makeup of a prostitute. She took note of Hu Qing to her right and paled, hastily moving to step back.

Hu Qing reacted more by instinct than by plan. In a single fluid movement, he clamped one hand around her wrist.

“Miss, please let me stay here for a night, I’ll repay you handsomely!” Hu Qing said in a hushed voice. The young woman tried to shake him off to no avail.

“No! Anyone with eyes could tell that you’re trouble. Hurry up and get away from me!” She tried to wrestle his hand off. “Let go or I’ll scream!”

“I’ll give you fifty silver to hide me for the night!” Hu Qing blurted the words out in a rush. The young woman blinked at him, considering it for a moment before yanking him into the building without a second word. Hu Qing let her pull him down an empty hallway, obediently entering a small room with a single bed in it.

“Don’t tell anyone I’m here,” Hu Qing warned her. The young woman rolled her eyes.

“Do you think I’m stupid? As if I’d split the money with anyone else!”

“That’s not the…whatever suits you. Here, this pouch is yours. Fifty silver as I promised,” Hu Qing said, handing over his money bag before sitting on the ground. The young woman took it in one hand, frowning at it dubiously as she tossed him a wet towel. Upon closer look, the young woman wasn’t quite out of girlhood yet, seeming to be only seventeen or eighteen.

“Wipe that blood off, you look gross,” she ordered, turning her attention to the pouch. She turned it upside down onto her bed, repressing a meep of surprise as more coins came out than the bag should’ve been capable of holding. “Oh my god! There’s really silver in here!”

“Of course there is, did you expect there to be gold instead?” Hu Qing shot back.

“There’s sixty-two silver, not fifty,” the girl said under her breath before turning towards Hu Qing defensively. “You said all this was mine, you can’t take back your words!”

“If there’s sixty-two silver then there’s sixty-two silver. It’s all yours,” Hu Qing assured her. The young woman relaxed a little.

“You must be rich to carry around so much money,” she said in admiration. “Hold on a moment.” The young woman got up and moved towards the door. Hu Qing shot to his feet, stepping forward to block her way.

“Sorry, but you’re not going anywhere until morning,” Hu Qing said firmly.

“I was going to get you some medicine!” The girl protested.

Hu Qing shook his head. “If you can save me for sixty-two silver, you might sell me out for a hundred. I’d rather not take that chance and end up having to hurt you.”

“Whatever!” The girl huffed, sitting down on her bed and crossing her arms. Hu Qing relaxed a little, returning to his previous spot.

“Thank you for helping me,” Hu Qing said, softening his tone a little. “May I ask the name of my benefactor?”

“Yan’er, no surname,” the girl replied. “Don’t tell me your name if it’ll get me into trouble.”

“Alright then,” Hu Qing agreed. “What time is it now?”

“Probably around midnight? It’ll be a while before morning yet,” Yan’er replied.

“If you can help me get to the morning market safely, there’s more where that came from,” Hu Qing said, gesturing to the moneybag as Yan’er shoved it into her robes.

“That’s riskier than hiding you,” Yan’er said.

“So I’ll pay more,” Hu Qing agreed.

“Fine, but the money is only for hiding and transporting you. If you want to do anything tonight, you have to pay extra,” Yan’er added.

“Do I look like I have the energy to do anything? I’ll make sure to pay you a good amount if you hold up your end of the deal,” Hu Qing said in exasperation.

“If I get called in to testify against you, I’ll tell them everything,” Yan’er said.

“That’s fine. I’m not particularly worried.”

“Well, I am! A few years back, one of the girls I knew got all her fingers broken because some asshole decided to use her as an alibi for some conspiracy or whatever! They even ruined her face, she couldn’t work anymore after that,” Yan’er shuddered at the memory.

"The Ministry of Justice doesn't do that anymore," Hu Qing pointed out.

Yan'er fixed him with a glare. "How can I be sure of that? Even if they've cleaned up their act on the surface, how do you know they won't torture a prostitute with no family members to petition on her behalf? If you drag me into something like that, I’ll haunt you even if I become a ghost!”

“Yes, yes, I know. Don’t worry, there definitely won’t be anything like that,” Hu Qing assured her. “Can you turn off the light? I want to sleep for a bit.”

Yan’er complied. Hu Qing lay down on the floor, letting out a heavy sigh.

“And don’t try to leave the room, I’ll notice,” Hu Qing warned her drowsily.

“Yes, I get it,” Yan’er replied in exasperation.

Wenyuan’ll probably throw a fit, Hu Qing thought blearily before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.

The Grand Duke glared at the assassin kneeling before him.

“What do you mean you lost him?!” The Grand Duke demanded.

“I’m so sorry, my lord, but we lost track of him after he escaped from the ambush,” the assassin said nervously. Despite his bulky frame, he was close to trembling in fear.

“And how did he manage to escape from the ambush? It sounds to me that you’re just finding excuses for your incompetence,” the Grand Duke said icily. The assassin lowered his head, squeezing his eyes shut in despair.

“I don’t care what it takes, find him and kill him. I want to see his head by morning,” the Grand Duke ordered.

“A-as you wish, my lord!” The assassin bowed his head and practically fled the room, disappearing into the night. The Grand Duke let out an angry huff, glancing over to Housekeeper Wang.

“It seems that man has more up his sleeve than we expected,” the Grand Duke said in a disdainful tone.

“No matter what, he can’t escape from the center of your palm,” Housekeeper Wang hastily assured him. “But perhaps we should also make other plans…”

“Indeed. Tell our man in the Empress Dowager’s palace to poison Wenyuan on his next visit no matter what,” the Grand Duke said.

Housekeeper Wang winced slightly. “That’s too dangerous, my lord,” he protested.

The Grand Duke shot him a cold look. “Then have him take poison ahead of time. What secrets can a dead man spill?” The Grand Duke’s control over his eyes and ears in the Inner Palace far exceeded that of those in the court–if a eunuch answered to the Grand Duke, that meant his family members were already in the Grand Duke’s hands. No matter what the eunuch’s feelings on the matter were, he would have no choice but to die as ordered if he wanted his family to survive.

Housekeeper Wang nodded, ascertaining that the plan could work. He smiled conspiratorially and bowed his head.

“Understood, my lord.”

Cultural Notes

引经据典/Citing classics referencing works: Refers to a rhetoric style often used in arguments between scholars or members of the court. Since everyone was (usually) highly educated, people tended to quote and reference classics in their arguments, which we've seen in earlier chapters as well. Using classics that directly referenced someone's self-claimed ancestors and origins in order to shame them or morally blackmail them was also a common tactic. The argument style used in this chapter can be found in multiple instances through historical records and draws reference from many of the (highly stylized) recorded speeches.

血浓于水/Blood is thicker than water: An Ancient Chinese proverb with the same meaning (and surprisingly, almost the exact same wording) as its English counterpart.

白眼狼/White-eyed wolf: A Chinese term for someone who bites the hand that feeds/an ingrate.

赵氏孤儿/Orphan of Zhao: Refers to the pre-Qin historical incident in which the clan of Zhao in the Kingdom of Wei was wrongfully exterminated, and only a single baby boy survived through the loyalty of his father's retainers. This baby boy grew up as the godson of the man who killed his entire clan, oblivious to his own lineage until the truth was revealed, after which the boy (who became known as the Orphan of Zhao) killed his godfather and avenged his clan.

炸毛、顺毛/Fur explodes, smoothing fur: Modern Chinese internet slang that Kayla is probably the only living person who knows in that time era, exploding fur refers to someone losing their temper (like an angry kitten whose fur gets all ruffled up), while smoothing fur refers to soothing someone's temper (like stroking a cat to calm it down).

离骚/Lisao/Encountering Sorrow: A poem by the pre-Qin poet Qu Yuan, who hailed from the Kingdom of Chu. Qu Yuan was known for being an honest and loyal statesman who was isolated and forced out of the court by sycophants, after which the kingdom went downhill. Upon the defeat of the Kingdom of Chu by the Qin, Qu Yuan killed himself in despair. Lisao, which has been translated as Encountering Sorrow (not an entirely correct translation, hence why I don't use it), is one of the earliest long-form poems in Ancient China and one of the most well-known for its emotional and heartrending expressions of the poet's feelings, as well as its beautiful and delicate descriptions. It holds great cultural significance, and is widely hailed as a literary masterpiece. Qu Boyong's name comes from the second line of Lisao "正皇考曰伯庸/My esteemed father's name was Boyong".

屈原/Qu Yuan: A statesman and poet of the Kingdom of Chu, he was the author of multiple long-form poems that are renowned as classics. He is also known as Qu Ping/屈平, as his name was Ping/平, while he is more commonly known by his courtesy name of 原/Yuan. His suicide is commemorated in the Dragon Boat festival, and the traditional food Zongzi (glutinous rice steamed in a pyramid shape inside bamboo or reed leaves) originates from offerings that were tossed into the 曲江/Qu River where Qu Yuan killed himself, in hopes that it would keep the fish from feeding on his corpse.

Lisao is born from resentment: A quote from the 史记/Historical Records, a famous Han Dynasty historical record of the events of early Chinese history, it comes from the Biography of Qu Yuan/屈原列传. The original quote is "屈平之作《离骚》，盖自怨生也。"/"Qu Ping's work Lisao is born from resentment." Due to the significance of the 史记/Historical Records in shaping future histology in Ancient China, its author Sima Qian is often referred to as 太史公/Master Historian.

I also wanted to note that I translate everything myself unless otherwise cited, so if you run into other translations floating around, you'll see that there are differences in how the text is interpreted and translated. This poem is relatively famous and has been translated along with its related materials, but I generally prefer to do my own translations to tailor the style and pacing to my own work. A lot of different choices go into a final product of a translation, so a hundred people might end up with a hundred different versions.

The heavens are the origins of humanity: Another quote from the 史记/Historical Records' biography of Qu Yuan. "夫天者，人之始也；父母者，人之本也。人穷则反本，故劳苦倦极，未尝不呼天也；病痛惨怛，未尝不呼父母也。屈平正道直行，竭忠尽智以事其君，谗人间之，可谓穷矣。信而见疑，忠而被谤，能无怨乎？”, which translates into "The heavens are the origins of humanity; parents are the basis of a person. In poverty and ruin, one returns to one's nature, hence when exhausted to the core, one does not fail to cry to the heavens. When wracked with pain and disease, one does not fail to cry out for one's parents. Qu Ping walked straight forward on a proper path, dedicating his loyalty and wisdom to his king. Yet sycophants isolated him, one could say he was thus ruined. His trust was repaid with suspicion, his loyalty was repaid with slander. How could he not be resentful?"

长太息以掩涕兮，哀民生之多艰/I heave a long sigh to hide my tears, lamenting the difficulty of the people's live[lihoods]: One of the most famous and well-cited lines from the Lisao/离骚, it reflects Qu Yuan's deep-rooted concern for his country and its people.

[Lisao] clarifies the broadness of virtue: Another quote from the Biography of Qu Yuan in the Historical Records, this is the section in which Sima Qian/Master Historian offers his take on the significance of Lisao: "明道德之广崇，治乱之条贯，靡而不见。其文约，其辞微，其志洁，故其称物芳。其行廉，其称文小而指极大，举类迩而见义远。其志洁，故其称物芳。其行廉，故死而不容。自疏濯淖污泥之中，蝉蜕于浊秽，以浮游尘埃之外，不获世之滋垢，皭然泥而不滓者也。推此志也，虽与日月争光可也。” This translates into "[The poem] clarifies the broadness of virtue, it is the metric by which chaos is brought to order, it leaves nothing unclear. His words are simple, his intentions are subtly conveyed, his ambitions are pure-hearted, his actions were proper and incorruptible. His poem speaks of the small yet encompasses the great, he speaks of what is before the eye yet his meaning extends far and wide. His ambitions are pure, hence why his poem describes the fragrant and beautiful. His actions were incorruptible, hence why he did not yield even in death. He distanced himself from the muddy waters, discarding the filth around him like a cicada discards its shell. He floats above the dust and dirt, not contaminated by the world's evils, emerging from mud and waste without being sullied. Such ambition and willpower he had that it would not be too much to compare his brilliance with the luster of the sun and moon."

不学诗无以言不学礼无以立/Without learning poetry, one cannot express themselves in diplomatic encounters. Without learning rites, one cannot establish themselves: A quote by Confucius, stemming from his admonishments towards his son, urging his son to study the Book of Poems and the Book of Rites (the classics in the pre-Qin era, also formed the basis for literary canon in Ancient Chinese education). Diplomacy between pre-Qin kingdoms often used poems and songs to express their meaning, though the reason is now unclear, I personally understand it to have been a way to mediate tense relations and prevent talks from erupting into violence by using an intermediary form of expression. As for rites, it's the same as etiquette in the modern day, so you'd be hard-pressed to make it in a political career without knowledge of basic etiquette.

以史为镜，可以知兴替/Using history as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall [of the present dynasty]: A quote by the Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (the second and arguably most influential Emperor of the early Tang dynasty) that originated from his praise for his subject, the official Wei Zheng, who was known for giving straightforth remonstrations to Emperor Taizong regardless of the Emperor's mood, only caring for what was right and wrong. Wei Zheng was able to keep Emperor Taizong from making bad decisions, and Emperor Taizong never punished Wei Zheng no matter how insulting Wei Zheng's remonstrations were, keeping his advisor in high regard. Emperor Taizong praised Wei Zheng as "以人为镜，可以明得失/Using [Wei Zheng] as a mirror, you can understand the pros and cons of each situation."

君子一言九鼎/A great man's words are as heavy as nine cauldrons: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that your words bear weight and can't be taken back. The cauldrons in reference here are huge, insanely heavy bronze cauldrons used for religious/ritualistic purposes in Ancient China.

人走茶凉/When you leave the tea cools: A Chinese saying meaning that people will be less willing to help you/do you favors once you're no longer in power.

飞鸟尽良弓藏/When the flying birds are gone, the high-quality bow is put away: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that someone loses value when their master no longer needs them to fight an enemy.

兔死狗烹/When the rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked: An Ancient Chinese proverb similar to the above, but a tad more sinister in that an official who has achieved great merits through taking people on for the sake of the throne might not be permitted to survive once the Emperor's enemies are gone, especially if they have great military power or renown.

汉文帝/Emperor Wen of Han: One of the greatest and most benevolent Emperors in the Han Dynasty, he was well-respected by future generations for his care for the people. Having suffered as a child, he was well-acquainted with how difficult the populace's lives were, and tried to reduce taxes and levies whenever possible, getting rid of unreasonable laws and punishments. He was also a highly skilled politician and had many ways of getting rid of his enemies. Most famously, he got rid of his uncle who was beginning to become a threat to the court's stability, by sending officials to convince his uncle to commit suicide. When that failed, Emperor Wen sent the court officials to his uncle's home in mourning clothes to start mourning rites. Humiliated and forced into a corner, his uncle committed suicide.

敢问贵姓/Dare I ask your esteemed surname: A polite way of asking someone's surname in Ancient China, still in use today. The common response is _姓，免贵/My surname is __, no [need to refer to it as] esteemed.

光脚的不怕穿鞋的/The barefoot are not afraid of the man with shoes: A Chinese saying meaning that someone with nothing to lose has nothing to fear, as compared someone who has things at stake.

109-Morning Light

Character Index

Yan'er: A young prostitute who helped Hu Qing hide from the Grand Duke's assassins.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer who loves drama, he is also the rightful heir to the Liang household and has resolved to retake his position.

Zhao Chao: One of Kayla's employees and bodyguards.

Li You: One of Kayla's employees and bodyguards.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather. He was responsible for the coup that placed the current Emperor on the throne.

Ji Yantao: Formerly an accountant for the Xiang clan, he was dragged into Qu Boyong's revenge plot and subsequently into Kayla's contrivings.

Tao Qian: One of Kayla's employees who sometimes serves as her bodyguard, being constantly moved around to where he is needed most.

Hu Qing jolted awake as someone nudged him in the ribs with their foot. He winced, blinking away the bleariness in his eyes as he propped himself up on his elbows. Yan’er stared down at him owlishly.

“It’s morning,” Yan’er announced. Hu Qing squinted at her.

“It’s not even bright out yet,” Hu Qing pointed out.

“The morning market’s opening, are you going or not? I’m not sneaking you out any later–the madam will kill me if she finds out!” Yan’er said.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go then,” Hu Qing assured her. She flung a robe at him.

“Put this on and wipe your face a bit, you look terrible,” Yan’er said. “I was worried you would die in your sleep.”

“As if I would,” Hu Qing replied. He wiped his face with the wet towel Yan’er handed him, ignoring her look of distaste as he handed the towel back. Hu Qing glanced at the robe curiously as he put it on–it seemed to be the clothing of a merchant, and a large one at that, given its width. It sagged unseemingly on Hu Qing’s frame, completely obscuring his figure. He accepted the ugly and mishappen hat that Yan’er gave him before following the girl out of the room. Yan’er tiptoed down the hallway with exaggerated motions before grabbing Hu Qing and yanking him out the door, speeding up as they wound through the alleyways.

“Where are we going? This isn’t the right way,” Hu Qing said.

“What are you, a walking map? I know what I’m doing!” Yan’er shot back. She clambered over a series of large pickling jars in between two people’s houses, treating the narrow space as though it were a public alleyway. Shaking his head in exasperation, Hu Qing followed her as the girl confidently barged through a series of laundry lines, not bothering to shake off Yan’er’s grip on his arm.

“It’s really the morning market,” Hu Qing said in surprise as they emerged into the square from a bunch of shrubberies.

“Of course it is! Like I said, I know what I’m doing!” Yan’er said indignantly.

“You’re incredible! Thank you, Yan’er. I’ll definitely repay you for this,” Hu Qing said.

Yan’er cast him a look of disbelief, reaching out to latch onto his arm with both hands as Hu Qing turned to enter the market. “Wait! You’re not just leaving like that! You promised to pay me!”

“I gave you all my money!” Hu Qing protested. “I know your name and where you live, I’ll come back to pay you later!”

“No! That’s what every man says before disappearing off the face of the earth! If you don’t have money, give me something as a deposit,” Yan’er demanded.

“Fair enough,” Hu Qing reached into his inner robes, fumbling for something to give Yan’er. After some hesitation, he handed her the bronze plaque that proved his employment to Wenyuan. “This is my work plaque, hang on to this for now, and I’ll come back to pay you back.”

Yan’er scrutinized the plaque a bit before nodding in satisfaction, letting go of his arm.

“Alright, you can go. Be careful not to die on your way back,” the girl said, waving as she stepped back. Hu Qing nodded.

“Don’t show that plaque to anyone, and keep quiet unless someone from the Ministry of Justice asks you. You’ll be safer that way,” Hu Qing warned her.

Yan’er nodded, and Hu Qing made to wave his goodbye, stopping short as he caught sight of the men loitering at the entrances and exits of the market.

Fuck, how many are there? Hu Qing glanced around, annoyance surging in his chest. There were at least a dozen fighters in plainclothes with weapons hidden in their robes at each exit.

There’s not much I can do with so many civilians around, and I’m not in a state to fight either. Yan’er seemed to sense Hu Qing’s mood becoming grimmer and quickly took a step back, turning to leave. Hu Qing hastily grabbed her by the arm.

“Yan’er, actually, can I ask you for another favor?”

Yan’er scrunched up her face. “No. I can tell it’s nothing good.”

“I just need you to take me to a different location through your little paths, it won’t be far and it won’t take long. I’ll give you fifty silver more!”

Yan’er shook her head furiously. “No! It’s dangerous, isn’t it?! I’ll be risking my head!”

Hu Qing sighed, his grip loosening. It was dangerous, and he wasn’t about to force the hand of someone who had saved his life.

“That’s true,” Hu Qing admitted.

“That's why fifty is too little! Pay me a hundred, at least a hundred!”

So it was about the money?

“You want money but not your life?” Hu Qing couldn’t help but say in disbelief.

“No money no life! Women in my line of work retire early, I’ve got decades' worth of money to save up for,” Yan’er shot back.

“Fine! A hundred it is, with extra if you take me through the shortcuts again.”

“Okay, but you can’t use my secret paths after this, or they won’t be secret anymore,” Yan’er agreed.

“Fine. Do you know the Wei household? I need you to take me there.”

“Hell no!” Yan’er shot back. “That and this are completely different! A market and all is fine, but that’s some fancy guy’s house! I'll get arrested if I so much as take an extra peek at it!”

“I’ll pay you a hundred fifty.”

“Fine, let’s go.” Yan’er grabbed Hu Qing’s hand and took off again through a web of leaves in the narrow space between two houses, flippantly stepping on someone’s wine jars.

“Don’t kick that bowl,” Yan’er warned him. Hu Qing carefully avoided the bowl of water on top of one of the jars.

“You know how to get there, right?” Hu Qing asked.

“Of course I do!” Yan’er shot back. “Just shut up and follow.” Shaking his head, Hu Qing complied.

“Still no news?” Kayla asked as the door opened. Zhao Chao bowed his head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, Minister. We haven’t found any sign of him.”

Kayla let out a sigh for the umpteenth time. Fuck, where the hell did Hu Qing go? He’s not dead, right? No, there’s no way he would die…but he got injured fighting An Haoyang one on one before, would he be alright if he were outnumbered? Then again, I don’t know how strong the Grand Duke’s men are, if they were like the ones who attacked me before, then Hu Qing shouldn’t have too much trouble–he’s stronger than Zhao Chao and Li You, and they didn’t struggle much with those guys.

Kayla resisted the urge to groan. “How does this even happen? I go out for a few hours and my retainer’s gone off the face of the earth,” Kayla mumbled. She cleared her throat and turned back towards Zhao Chao. “Sorry, what did you want to say again?”

“There’s a summons from the palace, Your Grace. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to speak with you,” Zhao Chao said.

“Right now?” Kayla straightened. Had she been going to Xianchun’s house too frequently, enough to warrant an emergency summons in the early morning?

“No, at the hour of Si.”

So around nine o’clock…but what for?

“Did they say what for?” Kayla asked.

“It’s about your marriage.” Wei Guang’s voice rang out.

Zhao Chao hastily stepped aside, bowing. Wei Guang entered the room, waving off Kayla’s greetings. Zhao Chao quietly left, closing the door behind him.

“Good morning, godfather. I hope you had a good rest,” Kayla said politely.

“I did, but it doesn’t seem like you got any rest,” Wei Guang replied, glancing at Kayla’s countenance. “You must value that retainer of yours a lot, you weren’t even so frazzled when it came to attempts on your own life.”

Kayla awkwardly dipped her head. “It’s easier for me to deal with danger than with uncertainty at this point,” she replied.

“It’s most likely the Grand Duke’s doing,” Wei Guang said. “But lucky men will have the blessings of the heavens. If he’s not meant to die, he won’t. In any case, you should be focusing on your own battleground. Did the three of you not agree to act tomorrow night? That means the two days are crucial. This meeting with the Emperor is nothing to make light of either.”

“I understand, godfather. Please be assured that I won’t let this affect my performance,” Kayla replied. “You said that this meeting was about my marriage?”

“Indeed. It’s also crucial that you don’t arouse any suspicion from the Emperor and Empress Dowager–both will want to speak to you, and the Empress Dowager will most certainly prod at you to see what she can find out. If she asks about your meetings with the Seventh Prince and your visit back to the Zhao household, you can’t make her feel even a sliver of suspicion. The easiest way to do that is to let her think that you do have something to hide, and let her think she’s figured out what it is,” Wei Guang said. “That way, her self-confidence will inevitably cause her to loosen her guard.”

“Then what do you recommend?” Kayla asked.

“The palace must have already heard about the attempt on Ji Yantao’s life–if she presses you, pretend to let it slip that you tampered with the Ministry of Justice’s case so that you could use it against the Grand Duke. Create a weakness for her to grab onto so she doesn’t latch onto the real opening.”

“I understand. Thank you, godfather,” Kayla bowed her head slightly.

“And one other thing–after you leave the Empress Dowager’s palace, open this package and follow the instructions inside. That will be both your alibi and your excuse,” Wei Guang said.

Kayla withheld a frown as she accepted the sachet he handed over, a lieu of questions popping into her mind.

“May I ask what you mean by that?”

“It might be better if you didn’t know–the less you know, the more effective it will be,” Wei Guang said with finality. Sensing that it was useless to ask any further, Kayla gave in. Wei Guang’s fate was tied to her own, and he, more so than anyone else, understood the necessity of “Zhao Wenyuan”’s continued existence to the point of entrusting her with a potential palace coup.

He benefits much more from my survival than my death, I can at least trust him on that point.

“I…understand, godfather. Thank you.”

Wei Guang nodded, his voice heavy as he spoke. “The path is long and the burden is heavy, Wenyuan. Don’t forget that.”

Kayla couldn’t tell whether Wei Guang was referring to Hu Qing’s disappearance or the upcoming coup, or perhaps both, but she knew better than to ask any further. She silently bowed her head as Wei Guang left the room.

“Here we are,” Yan’er announced as they reached the backdoor of the Wei household, emerging from a narrow alleyway that was filled almost entirely with discarded furniture and broken jars, covered in shadows by overgrown branches from seeds brought there by the birds. Hu Qing hadn’t even realized it was an alleyway despite being in the area for a while, which wasn’t unreasonable given how unusable it was for everyone except stray cats and the young prostitute before him.

“You’re incredible,” Hu Qing said in amazement. Yan’er tilted her chin up proudly.

“Of course I am! Now pay me. 150 hundred silver in full,” Yan’er demanded. Hu Qing grinned at her.

“Sure thing, just hold on one moment.” He raised a hand in greeting as Tao Qian dropped down from the rooftop, eliciting a squeak of surprise from Yan’er, whose first instinct was to kick at his face. Tao Qian avoided it, turning his attention to Hu Qing.

“You’re back!” Tao Qian said in relief. “We were looking all over for you!”

“So were the Grand Duke’s assassins. The only reason I managed to hide out safely until morning was because of this girl,” Hu Qing waved at Yan’er. He glanced at the girl, who had her hands clamped over her ears.

“I can’t hear anything,” she loudly proclaimed. "Stop talking about important things in front of me, I don't want to know the details of anything you're involved in."

“Don’t worry, since you’ve helped me, I’ll ensure your safety,” Hu Qing promised her. Yan’er dropped her hands, shooting him a glare.

“Just pay me,” she said petulantly. “I still have to go back to the brothel.”

“Tao Qian, could you pay her 150 silver?” Hu Qing asked.

Tao Qian raised an eyebrow. “It seems the young miss is good at bargaining.”

“Indeed,” Hu Qing said pleasantly. “Yan’er, I’m really grateful to you. If there’s anything you need from now on, feel free to contact me–” Hu Qing patted at his robes, remembering that his communication talismans had been destroyed during the fight. He gave Tao Qian an expectant look. The man dutifully took out a communication talisman and handed it over.

“Feel free to contact me with this,” Hu Qing finished his sentence, passing the talisman to Yan’er.

Yan’er nodded, handing him back his bronze plaque of identification, and Hu Qing gave her one last smile before entering the household.

He was greeted almost immediately by Zhao Chao, whose relief was practically written on his face.

“That glad to see me back?” Hu Qing teased him.

“We were worried, you bastard,” Zhao Chao said in fond exasperation. “Are you hurt?”

“Not too badly,” Hu Qing answered as Zhao Chao trundled him down the corridors toward Wenyuan’s rooms.

“Good, the Minister was frantic,” Zhao Chao said. “He hasn’t slept all night, hurry up and go report your return to him.”

Hu Qing nodded sheepishly, touched and guilty at the same time. So he really did throw a fit, Hu Qing thought to himself, knocking on Wenyuan’s door. The action was unfamiliar to him since Wenyuan had always indulged Hu Qing’s lack of etiquette to the point where Hu Qing barely ever used a door, much less knocked on one.

“My lord, it’s Hu Qing,” Hu Qing said, opening the door and stepping inside. Wenyuan whirled towards him. The Zhao heir had stopped mid-stride from pacing the room, and Hu Qing couldn’t help but feel like a child who had been caught sneaking back at midnight.

“Hu Qing! Are you alright?!” Wenyuan demanded.

“I’m fine,” Hu Qing replied.

“I can smell the blood from here,” Wenyuan said. It wasn’t true in the slightest, Hu Qing was professional enough to mask the stench of blood when trying to keep his cover, but Wenyuan’s guess was on the mark. Hu Qing’s wounds weren’t serious but they had been left untreated all night.

“Sit down! I’m calling a healer,” Wenyuan said, pointing at the sofa.

“I don’t need one,” Hu Qing protested as he removed his outer robe and sprawled onto the sofa lazily. “Just give me some healing talismans.”

Wenyuan handed him a stack of talismans and a cup of water.

He really was worried, Hu Qing noted as he caught sight of the dark circles under Wenyuan’s eyes. Zhao Chao wasn’t kidding when he said Wenyuan didn’t sleep all night.

“You’re spacing out,” Wenyuan said with a frown. “Are you sure you’re alright? How do you feel?”

“I’m fine,” Hu Qing assured him.

“What happened? If you’re tired, you can tell me later. Just let me know if there’s something I need to take care of immediately,” Wenyuan said.

“I need to pay a prostitute a hundred fifty silver from our funds,” Hu Qing immediately replied. “I know it’s not within the usual range of reimbursement, but Yan’er hid me for the night and brought me back here, so I owe her money.”

Wenyuan nodded, accepting it without further question. He listened attentively as Hu Qing gave a brief summary of the events.

“Since this Yan’er has helped you, it’ll be dangerous to leave her there. How about buying up her contract and hiring her?” Wenyuan offered.

“That’s a good idea,” Hu Qing replied. “She’s a bit of a fierce one though.”

“That’s not a problem. In any case, I’m glad you made it out alright,” Wenyuan said. “Rest up for now, I’ll handle the rest.” He stood up, straightening his robes.

“Be careful, my lord. The Grand Duke’s serious about killing you, he doesn’t even care about maintaining appearances anymore,” Hu Qing warned him. “Even if you’re already planning to strike, you’ll still be at a disadvantage if he strikes first.”

“I know, I’ll be careful,” Wenyuan said. “But since the Grand Duke’s in such high spirits, it would be rude of me to hold back.”

Hu Qing smirked at the steely edge of anger in Wenyuan’s voice. “Of course.”

“If you think of anything else you need to take care of, just tell Li You. Save your energy,” Wenyuan added on.

“Got it. Did everything go well with Qu Boyong?” Hu Qing couldn’t resist asking.

Wenyuan nodded. “As well as I could expect, I guess. We’re making our move tomorrow night. I have a meeting with the Emperor that I need to get to, and then I’ll be heading back here. Let’s talk about the details then.”

The palace? Hu Qing felt his instincts prickle at the information.

“A meeting with the Emperor?”

“And the Empress Dowager. Now that you’re back, I can go without any further worries. It seems my marriage has been decided, and since it’s a state affair, there’s certain to be a lot to prepare for,” Wenyuan explained. “Uncle and grandmother will have plenty to talk about, though hopefully it won’t take too long.”

He stopped at the door, giving Hu Qing a smile. “Then I’ll be off.”

Hu Qing sat up properly, an inexplicable sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Be careful,” Hu Qing said again. “I have a strange feeling about this. Take Tao Qian with you and make sure the security’s tight enough–there’s not a single person in the Grand Duke’s payroll that you could win a fight against.”

“I will,” Wenyuan replied. “Don’t worry and just rest up.”

He left, closing the door behind him.

The Empress Dowager frowned as the Imperial Investigator kneeling before her finished his report.

“The Grand Duke and Wenyuan are just openly fighting now! What are you lot doing, allowing them to clash in the streets like this? Even if they don’t care about losing face, I do!” She snapped.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness.”

The Empress Dowager waved off his apology, her eyes narrowing in thought.

“Your Highness, Minister Zhao has been meeting repeatedly with the Seventh Prince over the last few days and even had another confrontation with the Grand Duke. Shouldn’t we interfere a little? He’s acting out on his own a bit too much for someone representing the palace, isn’t he?” The Imperial Investigator asked cautiously.

The Empress Dowager leveled him with a cold look. “This is why you couldn’t become a Senior Investigator even though I’ve shown you so much favor, Investigator Qi. Why would I interfere while Dong Shiqing and the Grand Duke are still like nails in my eyes and thorns in my flesh? I’ll give him a small warning, but there’s no reason that I, or anyone else for that matter, should be restraining his movements at this point.”

Investigator Qi gulped nervously, lowering his head. “I-I apologize for my foolishness, Your Highness.”

“That’s not to say, however, that you shouldn’t begin an investigation covertly,” the Empress Dowager continued. “I have no intention of raising a tiger to become a threat–wherever possible, such a thing should be nipped in the bud. Once Wenyuan’s fulfilled his duties, there’s no need for him to become an official who has served the throne for two generations.”

Investigator Qi nodded slowly, half-comprehending her meaning and half-befuddled. Sensing his confusion, the Empress Dowager let out a soft huff.

“There was a young prostitute who helped Wenyuan’s retainer, wasn’t there? See what you can get from her,” the Empress Dowager ordered.

“Understood!” Investigator Qi bowed his head.

“You can go now.”

Investigator Qi bowed again and took his leave. The Empress Dowager heaved a sigh of exasperation.

“What a fool he is,” her serving lady commented. “Your Highness, why not change him out for someone quicker on the uptake?”

“The ambitious ones aren’t obedient, the obedient ones aren’t loyal,” the Empress Dowager said darkly. “Aren’t Wenyuan and Investigator Qi the best illustrations of that?”

The serving lady gulped, stepping back with a small bow. She gestured for the serving maids and eunuchs to bring out some tea and snacks from the side room in a bid to distract the Empress Dowager from her foul mood.

“We better be careful, the Empress Dowager’s in a bad mood,” the head serving maid whispered to her coworkers. They all nodded, save for a sweating eunuch who was blanking out in the corner. One of the serving maids nudged him, and he gave a start of fright.

“What are you doing?” she hissed at him.

He dabbed the sweat off his face, shaking his head. “Nothing, sorry.” She frowned at his dark eye circles and sweaty countenance.

“Get it together! The Empress Dowager’s in a bad mood,” she said. “Hopefully she’ll cheer up a bit once Minister Zhao comes to appease her.”

The eunuch gave a shaky chuckle, tucking his handkerchief away.

“I doubt it,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing.” The eunuch moved forward to take a tray, scuttling out to serve the Empress Dowager her morning tea.

Cultural Notes

酸菜坛/Pickling jar: Traditionally, pickling jars were rather huge. In the countryside, there would be enough space to place them, but in the crowded city, people would be forced to find other storage options, such as placing them in the alleyway or the courtyard. For size and shape, see this image for reference:

酒坛/Wine jar: Similar to pickling jars, these were also quite huge. There were, of course, smaller ones, but the larger ones were often for rice wine/yellow wine and not the super high-quality ones. However, they were different in shape from pickling jars, and often had the character for wine on the jar, as seen below:

Placing a bowl of water: Sometimes used to adjust the fengshui of a place or as an anti-burglary tool. Fengshui refers to the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects, buildings, and even landscaping in order to achieve harmony with the natural world and thus improve your luck/quality of life. It was born from folk wisdom regarding the natural environment and how to maximize your living space, but it also incorporated various geomancy practices and beliefs.

100 Silver: So how much was 100 silver in the Tang Dynasty? At the peak of the Tang Dynasty, 1 silver was equal to about 2000 (aka 293 to 586 USD). So 100 silver would be 200,000 RMB, aka 29302.40 USD (compare this to Kayla's yearly salary of approximately 1,016,000 RMB or 158,880 USD a year), hence why Yan'er accepted without a second thought. Wenyuan has a deep wallet, since he had little reason to spend any of his own money and also has an inheritance from his parents (separate from the Zhao household's finances), so Hu Qing didn't even hesitate to offer this much. On the other hand, Yan'er would be earning enough to buy out her contract and to purchase some land and housing of her own, and still have enough savings to live off of, so she wouldn't refuse such an offer no matter what.. However, one should also note that going to an upscale brothel cost and buying drinks there could cost at least 20 silver, and staying the night would cost even more, depending on how in demand the courtesan was. In other words, you needed some savings to have the ability to make connections over drinks. And of course, the thriving Silk Road economy would have increased both the level of prosperity in the capital and the prices in the capital, thus why there are examples of leading scholars having to save up for 30 years to pay off the initial payment for a house in the city.

巳时/Hour of Si: Refers to the two-hour period from approximately 7:00 am to 9:00 am in traditional Chinese timekeeping.

吉人自有天相/Lucky men have their own blessings from the heavens: An Ancient Chinese idiom meaning that everyone has their own fate, and that if you're meant to be lucky, you will be protected by the heavens no matter how dangerous things get.

任重而道远/The burden is heavy and the path is long: A quote from Confucius' student Zengzi, "士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远。仁以为己任，不亦重乎？死而后已，不亦远乎？/A great man cannot fail in being broad-hearted and resilient, for his burden is heavy and his path is far. To take kindness/humaneness as one's responsibility, is that not a heavy burden? To not stop until one's death, is that not far?" It refers to the broad-hearted ambitions and sense of responsibility that an ideal person should have.

要钱不要命/Want money [but] not want [your] life: A Chinese saying that refers to someone valuing money over their own life.

莫得钱莫得命/No money no life: A somewhat more rustic/extremely colloquial way of replying to the above.

他们不怕丢脸我怕/[He/She/They're] not afraid of losing face but I am: A Chinese saying often used to express one's frustration and indignation, especially in regards to the shameless behavior of someone related/associated with them.

眼中钉肉中刺/Nail in one's eye thorn in one's flesh: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a thorn in your side.

养虎为患/Raising a tiger to become a threat: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to create a threat to oneself, often in reference to raising someone to power purposefully or inadvertently, or for the surviving son/child/sibling of an enemy.

两朝功臣/Official of merit for two generations of Emperors: An Ancient Chinese term for someone who served the throne during the reign of two consecutive Emperors and wasn't deposed in the process. Relatively easy to achieve for someone younger who entered the court while the Emperor is getting on in his years.

110-Alibi and Excuse

Character Index

Feng Yi: A merchant Kayla hired to sell communication devices in the provinces at ridiculously cheap prices, for the express purpose of stirring up a mess so the Court of Judicial Review can step in. Feng Yi, however, does not know the true purpose of his trip and is taken aback when there is an attempt to burn his stock.

Shu Ling: One of Kayla's employees, she was sent to chaperone and guard Feng Yi.

Su Clan: The influential local clan in Jiangxia Commandery, with several members of the clan serving as officials in court in a relatively impoverished region.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with Wenyuan's mother and assisted in creating the soul magic for Kayla's transmigration.

Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and a magical researcher, she has been reincarnated multiple times.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather, he was also the teacher of the previous generation of the Imperial Family and responsible for the coup that put the current Emperor on the throne.

Feng Yi seethed as he ran a hand over the charred wood of the wagons. The abrupt fire had been put out before too much damage had been done, but a good number of communication devices had been destroyed nonetheless.

“Sabotage,” he hissed venomously. “This is definitely sabotage!” He turned towards the guard who had been on duty last night but withheld his admonishments at the guilt-stricken look on the guard’s face.

“Did anyone catch sight of the arsonist?” Feng Yi asked instead.

“There were two men with their faces covered when I caught sight of them, but they got away before I could get a better look,” the guard said in a small voice.

Feng Yi heaved a sigh in frustration. He glanced at Shu Ling, expecting the woman to coolly announce that the area was no longer safe and that they needed to leave right away, but she said nothing.

“Please step back!” One of the guards took a half-step in front of Feng Yi as the others jolted to attention. Feng Yi peered over the burly man’s shoulder in confusion, paling as he saw a group of thugs armed with axes and sticks. There were at least a dozen of them, accompanied by the local county magistrate and a man in jarringly fine clothes that stood out starkly from the poverty around them. A few soldiers from the local commandery were also present, standing at the back with their spears.

“What the–soldiers? What the hell is this?!” Feng Yi asked uneasily.

“Please get back,” Shu Ling said calmly. “This could get ugly.”

The thugs stopped a small distance away, evaluating the strength of Feng Yi’s guards. They seemed to find themselves at the advantage and stepped closer with smug grins.

“Are you the pieces of trash selling communication devices?” One of the thugs demanded.

“It’s no business of yours,” Shu Ling said coldly.

The thug peered into the wagon and scoffed. “Well, the answer’s self-evident, isn’t it? Which clan do you serve?”

“None.” Shu Ling replied.

“Which Ministry are you associated with?”

“None.”

“Which official are you related to?”

“None.”

The thug let out a scoff in disbelief. “You have no backing and yet you dare to be so insolent on the Su clan’s territory?! How dare you sell these without Sir Su's permission?! Don’t you know that his sons are high-ranking officials in the capital?!”

Feng Yi made to protest but was promptly hushed by the rest of his group.

“We’ve never heard of any law that requires us to seek his permission,” Shu Ling said, her voice still as flat as it had been at the start, even as the thugs were growing increasingly worked up.

“Ha! You bitch, you’ve got some guts to talk back to me like this!” The thug lifted his weapon threateningly and glanced back, not looking towards the magistrate but at the man in fine robes, who gave a small nod.

“Alright, men! Let’s smash this shit!” The thug shouted. His men gave a rowdy roar of malicious glee and promptly began smashing up the wagon.

“Wait, stop! What are you doing?!” Feng Yi cried in protest, moving to step forward. Shu Ling very firmly clamped down on his shoulder and began dragging him away, the other guards cautiously forming a protective circle around them as they retreated. They stopped a short distance away, near the post where the horses were tied. None of the thugs approached them yet, focusing instead on destroying the wagons and the devices.

“No! Stop! You bastards, what the hell are you doing?!”

Feng Yi rushed forward but was stopped by the sturdy arms of one of his guards.

“Let go of me! Can’t you see they’re destroying our stock?!” Feng Yi cried out.

“You can’t go over there, sir! It’s too dangerous!”

“Damn it, can’t you do anything to stop them?!” Feng Yi flailed about, unable to break out of his guard’s grip.

“We were instructed to prioritize your safety, not that of the merchandise,” Shu Ling said bluntly. “We need to leave before they try to stop us.”

“But the devices!”

“They don’t matter,” Shu Ling said.

“How can you say that?! Just one of those things is worth a family’s food and rent for half a year!” Feng Yi protested.

Shu Ling shook her head. “We can procure more, but we can’t risk your safety,” she said firmly.

“Damn it! A communication device is like a lifeline for the families here, but they’re just destroying it without a second thought,” Feng Yi spat out the words, hatefully glaring at the men smashing up the stock.

“It’s precisely because it’s a lifeline that they’re doing this,” Shu Ling said. “If you understand, then you should know that they won’t let us off so easily–we need to leave, and we’ll do so regardless of your wishes. Guys, get ready to move!”

“Let go of me!” Feng Yi cried out as the guard holding him pulled him along. The man from the Su clan caught sight of Feng Yi being manhandled out of the way and gave a condescending smirk.

Feng Yi’s temper exploded and he began to struggle with renewed fervor.

“These fucking bastards! They have no respect for the law!” He shouted.

“Please calm down!” The guard holding him pleaded. Behind Feng Yi’s back, Shu Ling gave the guard a silent nod. The guard gave a minuscule nod in response.

“I curse your ancestors to the eighth generation! They’re the bastards the ancients talked about when they said that a man who steals a pendant is sentenced to death, but a man who steals from the country becomes a noble!” Feng Yi shouted at the top of his lungs. Out of his line of sight, Shu Ling gave a brief smile of satisfaction.

“You goddamn trash! What the hell did you just say to my lord?!” One of the goons stepped towards them, raising his voice in anger.

“You’re the fucking trash!”

“Who the fuck do you think you’re cursing at?!” The goon threatened him. “My lord’s from the prestigious Su clan–”

“Who else would I be cursing?! You parasites are the ones who are ruining this dynasty!” Feng Yi shot back. The guard holding him lowered Feng Yi to the ground but didn’t loosen his grip. “What prestigious Su clan?! He’s nothing but scum!”

The Su clan member’s face darkened and he turned towards the magistrate, softly speaking a few words. The magistrate nodded and gestured at the soldiers.

“Arrest this bastard! Not only did he sell merchandise illegally, he dared to curse the dynasty! This is slander against the court!” The magistrate shouted.

“All my paperwork’s in order, you corrupt piece of–” Feng Yi was quickly cut off by a guard clamping a hand over his mouth.

Shu Ling stepped forward as the soldiers approached, tilting her chin up as she took out Wenyuan’s seal and letter from her robes.

“Make the call,” she ordered over her shoulder to one of the guards as she walked forward.

“Stop where you are! We bear the seal and letters of Zhao Wenyuan, Minister Zhao of the Court of Judicial Review. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on this man will have committed the same crime as laying a hand on Minister Zhao himself,” Shu Ling announced, holding up the talisman. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried far. The thugs didn’t recognize either the name or the seal and began to laugh mockingly, jeering at Shu Ling and Feng Yi. But the soldier who appeared to be in charge frowned, stopping as he caught a better look at the seal.

“To look upon his seal is to look upon his personage, any disrespect will be duly reported and punished,” Shu Ling warned. One of the younger soldiers scoffed and tried to step forward past his commander, but was stopped by a steel grip on his arm.

“Wait, I’ve heard of that man…isn’t Minister Zhao the Emperor’s nephew?” The commander said uneasily.

“This is just a scam!” The younger soldier protested.

“Exactly! What on earth are you all dallying about for?!” The magistrate blustered.

“Look at the magic on this seal, who dares to deny that it’s from Minister Zhao himself?” Shu Ling asked coldly. “If you cannot even recognize such a thing, then you should not be a soldier in the first place. And let me ask you this, since you seem to be so reluctant to comply: Whose position is higher, a Minister’s or a magistrate’s?!”

The commander grew even more hesitant at that.

“There’s no way Minister Zhao’s men would be all the way out here!” The Su clan member hissed. The magistrate nodded.

“That’s right! You little wench, I’ll be adding impersonation and fraud onto your crimes,” the magistrate said. Shu Ling gave a soft chuckle.

“So the local snakeheads really are as powerful as they say…even the court’s orders don’t have any effect these days?” She taunted.

“You–!”

The magistrate was cut off by an excited shout from one of Feng Yi’s guards.

“Shu Ling, the call connected!”

Kayla sat contritely before the Empress Dowager. It had been a long morning after a long and sleepless night–the Emperor had been relatively easy to deal with. He just wanted to congratulate Kayla and offer her a bunch of advice about dealing with a wife, which Kayla knew better than to take at face value.

The Empress Dowager, on the other hand, was just as difficult to deal with as always, if not more so. After a lot of passive-aggressiveness and backhanded comments to express her displeasure towards Kayla’s recent actions, the Empress Dowager had taken an aggressive offensive and started interrogating Kayla about Ji Yantao. Kayla let slip just enough under the intensive questioning to let the Empress Dowager piece together a story about Kayla interfering in Ji Fangluo’s case to use it against the Grand Duke, which toed the line just enough to warrant a reprimand but not quite a punishment and furthermore satisfied the Empress Dowager’s suspicions.

Kayla lowered her head in a convincing act of shame before the Empress Dowager’s chastisement, offering apologies and self-remonstrations until the Empress Dowager felt satisfied. The old woman likely suspected that there was more to this than met the eye, but it was enough for now. By the time the Empress Dowager pressed the matter further, it would no longer matter. The Grand Duke would be dead, and Kayla’s presence would be all the more necessary in order to keep the vacuum of power from being filled entirely by the princes’ factions.

“I truly have no words for expressing my remorse,” Kayla said.

The Empress Dowager leaned back with a sharp sigh.

“I’ll let it go this once since you had good intentions, but there won’t be a next time,” the Empress Dowager warned her. “I can’t protect you every time.”

“I understand! Thank you, grandmother!” Kayla bowed her head further.

The Empress Dowager’s anger faded, and she relaxed back into her chair. Kayla had given her the upper hand.

“You really must be more cautious in your actions, especially with your marriage approaching. As a husband, you’ll have more responsibilities to uphold, your youth will no longer be enough to excuse you,” the Empress Dowager said. Her tone was light, but from the sharp glint in her eyes, the warning was anything but. Kayla lowered her head slightly.

Once Kayla moved into her marital home with the Turkic Princess, there would be far more of the Empress Dowager’s eyes and ears around.

She’s not just spouting empty threats either, Kayla reminded herself. Don’t get cocky and leave an opening.

“I understand, grandmother. I will do my utmost to be worthy of your kindness,” Kayla said respectfully. “There are still many things that I am inexperienced in, I’ll be troubling grandmother for advice.”

“Your godfather would be better for those types of questions as someone who’s taken on the role of a husband and the head of household,” the Empress Dowager said.

So she’s still not done. Damn, this lady really holds a grudge, she’s almost on par with my mom.

“Godfather has experience as a husband, yes, but I wish to be more considerate of my wife’s feelings–not only will she be alone in a foreign land, but our marriage will also be a symbol of the spirit of cooperation between our two nations. It’s quite a heavy burden for both of us, and I would be grateful for your advice on how to make her feel more comfortable,” Kayla replied.

The Empress Dowager’s attitude softened.

“It’s good that you’re being considerate, but it wouldn’t do for you to be too soft-handed in the marriage. You can’t concede to your wife for everything,” the Empress Dowager gently admonished.

“Grandmother’s advice is wise,” Kayla replied, bowing her head.

“That being said, a young bride is often a lonely person, especially if she’s marrying a long distance from home. However, she’s certain to have some pride as well, which means she won’t be so open about the troubles she faces. You’ll have to be more attentive to her moods and be understanding and patient,” the Empress Dowager said.

“I’ll try my best,” Kayla replied.

The Empress Dowager let out a sigh, the last of her anger dissipating at Kayla’s compliant act.

“Don’t trouble yourself too much about it, where the water flows the canal will form,” the Empress Dowager assured her, gesturing towards a eunuch and two serving maids on standby. “Tell me, have you seen the portrait of your bride yet?”

“Was there one? I haven’t seen it yet,” Kayla asked in surprise.

“Goodness, your uncle must’ve forgotten. He was too busy imparting his advice and well wishes, wasn’t he?” She smiled in satisfaction at Kayla’s nod.

“Very well, bring my copy over,” the Empress Dowager ordered as the eunuch and serving maids brought over a tray of tea and snacks. They bowed politely, the serving maids scurrying off to retrieve the portrait. The eunuch finished pouring the tea and backed away again.

Kayla couldn’t help but glance at the eunuch a second time at the dark circles under his eyes. It wasn’t strange to see such a sight in the Zhao household or even the Wei household, but it was her first time seeing such a thing in the palace.

Did something happen in the palace last night? The others look fine though. Damn it, I really need someone in the palace as well, Kayla thought to herself as she drank the tea.

“Have something to eat,” the Empress Dowager added. Kayla smiled and obliged, taking a teacake. The serving maid from before returned with a portrait but stopped before unfurling it, glancing uneasily at the eunuch.

“What’s the matter?” Kayla asked. The serving maid bowed and hastily came over.

“Apologies, it just seems that Sir Lu isn’t feeling well,” the serving maid said.

“If he’s not feeling well, then have him go rest,” the Empress Dowager dismissed him with a wave of the hand. “Come now, show my grandson the portrait.”

Kayla couldn’t help but follow the eunuch with her eyes as the man stiffly made his way toward the exit. A discomforting sense of unease swirled up in her stomach. She hastily tore her gaze away and directed it towards the portrait.

The portrait was done in the typical style of the era, which meant it was far from realistic.

What am I even supposed to see from this? Why did they even bother making one?

“How beautiful,” Kayla said politely. “She looks like a lovely young woman.”

“Indeed! A talented groom and a beautiful bride, it’s the perfect match,” the Empress Dowager said in satisfaction.

How the hell can you tell she’s beautiful from that?!

“Thank you for your kind wishes, grandmother,” Kayla said, the mild discomfort from earlier intensifying as she spoke. She began to feel a little nauseous, the feeling reminiscent of the side effects of Lady Lin’s divination magic. The unease from before ballooned.

There was a sharp squeak from the other serving maid. Kayla’s gaze snapped to her, and then followed the woman’s line of sight to the exit where the eunuch had slumped over.

What the–is he dead? But how? The reason for her inexplicable unease suddenly became clear.

A cold shock ran through her body as Kayla realized what was happening.

Was it poison?! Here?! In the Empress Dowager’s palace?! It was a place with the strictest security in the country save for the Emperor’s personal dwelling. Fuck, the tea!

“Sir Lu!” The serving maid cried out in shock, rushing over to the fallen eunuch.

“Grandmother–” Kayla choked the word out as her throat began to close up. The Empress Dowager glanced over, her eyes narrowing as she saw Kayla’s expression.

Shit. It shouldn’t have even been possible for this to happen in this place, but somehow it had. The room was blurring. Kayla’s fight-or-flight instincts kicked in at the worst moment possible, and her knees gave in as she shot up from her seat.

“Minister!” One of the serving maids squeaked in alarm.

"Call a healer!" The Empress Dowager shouted. "There's been a poisoning!"

Are you fucking kidding me?! Right under the Empress Dowager’s nose?! Was she poisoned too? Her vision was filling with spots. Kayla grabbed at the table's surface like it was her lifeline, her nails scrabbling uselessly on the smooth wood. Am I really going to die here?

“Wenyuan!” The Empress Dowager cried out in a panicked voice.

This can’t be happening! Just one more day and I’d have succeeded!

To the credit of the Empress Dowager, an Imperial Healer arrived almost immediately and rushed over to haul Kayla onto the nearest couch. An entire retinue of serving maids and Imperial Guards swarmed into the room and the Empress Dowager was quickly escorted away within the span of minutes, though Kayla barely registered any of it.

“Please bear with this for a moment, Your Grace,” the healer said grimly as the magic took effect.

Bear with what? Kayla’s question was answered a second later when a strong sense of nausea overwhelmed her. She retched over the side of the couch, vomiting uncontrollably until Kayla was coughing out stomach acid.

Fuck I am going to fucking die–The panic made it even harder to catch her breath, and she was sure that she would choke and die no matter what happened next. Kayla couldn’t sense the healing magic doing much, which only added to an irrational fear that the magic just wasn’t doing anything at all. Just as Kayla was growing certain of her impending doom, her nausea faded away and the vomiting ceased.

The healer patted Kayla’s back and helped her to lie back on the couch.

“You’ll be alright, Minister. Please just bear with it for a moment,” the healer repeated his words from earlier, his tone much lighter than before. Despite the declaration, relief didn’t hit her quite yet.

“The Empress Dowager,” Kayla tried to say, the words coming out in a hoarse voice. The healer somehow managed to understand her.

“The Empress Dowager is fine,” he assured her.

“The eunuch,” Kayla pressed on.

“He passed away,” the healer said. “The Imperial Guards are investigating, but it’s very likely that he was the one who poisoned you.”

Kayla’s mind immediately went to the Grand Duke, her shock melting away into fury.

Not many people are capable of pulling off an assassination attempt right under the Empress Dowager’s nose…and if that eunuch was already dead by the time I started getting symptoms, he would’ve had to poison himself ahead of time. It was probably suicide and not murder, that would explain the dark eye circles. Then if that’s the case, it’s most likely–no, I’m almost certain that it’s the Grand Duke.

Kayla kept her face blank while the healer finished his work.

Fuck, I am going to tear that old bastard to shreds.

“Please drink this, Your Grace,” he urged, helping her to sit up. Kayla instinctively hesitated at the sight of the dark brown potion. Seeing her reluctance, the healer launched into a long explanation of its components. Not wanting to deal with the lecture, Kayla downed it in one go, withholding a wince at the bitter liquid.

“Thank you,” Kayla replied. Her throat had been healed, and she could now speak normally again.

“Not at all, Minister. I’m only fulfilling my duty.”

A senior serving lady approached, bowing her head respectfully.

“Your Grace, Healer Wu,” the lady greeted them. “Her Highness wishes to inquire as to the Minister’s condition.”

“Minister Zhao’s body has been purged of the poison, and the damage has been healed. There won’t be any lasting issues, though His Grace should take it easy and avoid stress for the next few days,” Healer Wu said.

Fat chance of that, I’ve got a coup tomorrow night.

“Your Grace, you’re very fortunate,” Healer Wu said, directing his attention towards Kayla again. “The poison was actually highly toxic and would have taken your life within minutes if not for the fact that your body appears to have some immunity towards it. If it had been another poison, you might not have been so lucky.”

“It seems that the heavens favor you,” the serving lady said with a smile.

“I have immunity towards the poison?” Kayla asked in confusion. The serving lady’s smile seemed to falter somewhat, and Kayla sensed that she shouldn’t say anything more before Healer Wu.

“It seems that I really was lucky then,” Kayla said, meeting the serving lady’s gaze. The lady’s eyes flickered away.

“Is grandmother alright? I hope she wasn’t too startled.” The lady relaxed a little as Kayla changed her line of questioning.

“Her Highness was rather shocked, but she’s alright. Once she knows of your recovery, I’m sure she’ll be able to put her worries to rest,” the serving lady said.

“Of course, please go ahead and convey that to her,” Kayla replied.

The serving lady bowed and took her leave. Healer Wu hovered a moment more before he was shuffled out of the way by an Imperial Guard. Kayla gave her account of what had happened and was politely escorted out of the Inner Palace by a different guard.

“Please get on the carriage, Minister Zhao,” the guard said politely, gesturing at the carriage right outside the Empress Dowager’s residence.

“I can’t ride a carriage within the Inner Palace,” Kayla protested. A eunuch scurried forward.

“This was arranged by Her Highness the Empress Dowager, please accept her goodwill,” the eunuch said.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll follow grandmother’s arrangements. Please convey my gratitude to her,” Kayla replied.

The carriage took off, Kayla uneasily settling into her seat. Even before the Imperial Princess’ death, the number of times Wenyuan had been permitted to ride a carriage or a horse within the Inner Palace could be counted on one hand.

Is it because I was poisoned in her sitting room? Or is it something else? Healer Wu said I had immunity to that poison, but Wenyuan has no memories of being poisoned–and the serving lady seemed to know something too, which means the Empress Dowager definitely knows as well. Is this out of guilt then?

Kayla shook her head, chasing away the thoughts. The unanswered questions could wait, getting rid of the Grand Duke was the major issue at hand, and the countdown had already begun. She remembered the package Wei Guang had given her and pulled it out. Wei Guang had repeatedly emphasized that Kayla needed to open the package before leaving the Inner Palace, continuing his nagging until the very last second before Kayla left.

She retrieved the package from her robes. Though Wei Guang called it a package, it was really just a small piece of paper wrapped around an even smaller sachet.

The inside of the wrapping paper contained a message in Wei Guang’s handwriting.

“Take the contents of the sachet and destroy this note.”

Kayla frowned at the cryptic message, glancing suspiciously at the small sachet of powder beneath the note. She wasn’t exactly eager to down a suspicious substance right after being poisoned. Moving onto the next line, Kayla’s frown deepened.

“This is your alibi and your excuse.”

Kayla hesitated for a moment longer. They were almost out of the Inner Palace now, and she didn’t have much longer to deliberate.

My alibi and my excuse…he said that before as well. But what the hell is this supposed to be? Since it was powder, then her best guess was that it was something that would get her misdiagnosed as bedridden and act as a smokescreen for the palace and the Grand Duke. If that’s the case then this might be the best option. If I can get them to let their guard down, it’ll be much easier for me to act.

Kayla took a deep breath and hastily poured the contents of the sachet into her mouth. It was tasteless and melted away without any grittiness on her tongue. She took out a small inkpad from her robes and completely blotted out the note before she tore it into shreds and folded the pieces into the sachet, tucking both into the innermost pocket of her robes.

Cultural Notes

江夏郡/Jiangxia Commandery: A Tang Dynasty administrative unit located in modern-day Hubei, one of the nine commanderies that composed the administrative unit of 荆州/Jingzhou.

窃钩者诛窃国者诸侯/A man who steals a pendant is executed, a man who steals from the country is made a noble: A quote from the Taoist classic Zhuang'Zi/Chuang Tzi (depending on the romanization), it is often used to condemn inequality and injustice. There is some debate about whether the "pendant" actually means a hook (a farming tool), a jade pendant, or just anything of value, but there is little question as to what was meant by stealing from the country.

诽谤朝廷/Slandering the court: A serious crime in Ancient China, it could end your career or even get you thrown into jail.

水到渠成/When the water flows [over] the canal will form: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that everything will come together when you need it to, essentially that what will happen will happen.

Ancient Chinese portraits: The art style differed greatly from the realism in classical European art, and tended to use simple lines that focused more on capturing the essence rather than the form. As someone who grew up with color photographs, Kayla would have had a lot of trouble imagining what someone looked like based off their portrait. For example, take a look at this picture of a Tang Dynasty maiden:

郎才女貌/The groom is talented and the bride is beautiful: An Ancient Chinese saying still in use today, it's often used to praise a couple as being well-suited for each other.

111-The Brewing Storm

Character Index

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and godfather of Kayla, he prioritizes the future of the dynasty over all else, and has even encouraged Kayla to launch a coup if the Emperor chooses the wrong successor.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and the rightful heir to the Liang house.

Tao Qian: Kayla's employee and sometimes bodyguard.

Zhao Chao: Kayla's employee and bodyguard.

Shu Ling: Kayla's employee, she was sent to serve as Feng Yi's bodyguard and to ensure that there is an incident that would allow the Court of Judicial Review to step in.

Feng Yi: A merchant who was tasked with selling communication devices for cheap on Kayla's behalf, in order to help her build a power base in the provinces. He is unaware that the true reason for his trip is to stir up conflict with the local elites and to give the Court of Judicial Review a foothold in the provinces.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue and one of the Grand Duke's allies, he is also the most cautious man in the Grand Duke's faction.

Shen Liangjun: Vice-Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he is secretly aligned with the Third Prince.

Ma Kaijie: Vice-Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a member of the neutral faction.

Zhou Kuang: Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne.

Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees, primarily works with Hu Qing.

Li You: One of Kayla's employees and sometimes bodyguard.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, currently aligned with Kayla in a temporary alliance against the Grand Duke.

Kayla was pulled from a light and dreamless sleep by someone calling her.

“Minister, we’ve arrived.”

Kayla blinked away the bleariness in her eyes. The Imperial Guard in charge of escorting her back patiently waited for Kayla to get her bearings.

“We’ve arrived at the Wei household,” the guard said politely.

“Oh, thank you,” Kayla replied. “Apologies, I was a little tired.”

“Not at all, Minister. Please take your time,” he said. Kayla moved to get out of the carriage, stumbling a little at the pins and needles sensation in her feet. The guard quickly caught her by the arm, helping her out of the carriage.

“My legs seem to have fallen asleep,” Kayla said sheepishly.

“Please allow me to escort you inside then,” the guard replied.

“Thank you for taking the trouble."

“Not at all, it’s no trouble whatsoever.”

Kayla winced as she made her way inside with the guard’s help. Wei Guang’s steward came out to greet them but didn’t interfere with the guard’s task. Kayla still felt incredibly groggy. Her arms were a little numb, but her feet were worse off.

Fuck this shitty blood circulation, I really need to exercise more, or at least get a better sleep schedule–not that it’s possible in the short term, but eventually.

With a jolt, Kayla thought of the powder Wei Guang had given her. An alibi and an excuse, wasn't it? Self-harming to throw off an opponent was something Kayla was familiar with, but it made her uneasy when it was someone else in charge.

“Minister, are you alright? You look pale,” the steward said in concern.

“I’m alright,” Kayla said. A familiar pain was starting in her temples and spreading to the rest of her head. Rather than disappearing, the grogginess only increased. As Kayla’s worry spiked, a thin trickle of hot liquid dripped down from her nose. Kayla wiped at it instinctively, her hand coming away red.

She looked at the blood in surprise for a second, not registering the shout of alarm from beside her.

“Minister!” The Imperial Guard’s grip on her arm was tightening, and the ground seemed closer than it was before.

Damn it, Wei Guang! Isn't this going overboard?! A rushing sound filled her ears, and her vision blurred. Fear and discomfort faded away, and everything went black.

“Healer! Call a healer!”

Hu Qing jolted out of his nap, starting at the shouts in the hallway. He jumped off Wenyuan’s sofa and headed over.

“What’s happened?” Hu Qing asked a frightened serving maid.

“The Minister collapsed!” The girl replied before scuttling away.

“What the–” Hu Qing stopped short, a cold sensation creeping up his neck.

The Grand Duke must have made a move.

He took off again, following the eyes and footsteps of the servants to locate Wenyuan.

“Tao Qian!” Hu Qing hissed as he caught sight of the man. “What the hell happened?! Why aren’t you with him?!”

“The Imperial Guards were the ones who sent him back, I only just got here!” Tao Qian protested.

Hu Qing withheld a groan at the uselessness of the intel, finding his way over to a sitting room with Tao Qian in tow. A healer had already arrived in record time, so fast that it was almost unbelievable, and was doing a check on Wenyuan where the man lay prone on a couch. An Imperial Guard hovered nervously at one end of the couch, Wei Guang’s steward at the other.

“It must be the poison he ingested,” the healer declared. Hu Qing barged further into the room, ignoring propriety and the whispered protests of a senior servant. The Imperial Guard glanced at him sharply but didn’t protest.

“What poison?” Hu Qing demanded. His question was ignored.

“He was already treated for that and declared fine by an Imperial Healer,” the Imperial Guard said.

The healer shook his head. “It’s highly possible that there were two poisons ingested separately, which may have caused him to focus on the one that took effect first while overlooking the other.”

“That’s not possible!”

“Even the most skilled healer can make mistakes, especially when acting under pressure,” the healer insisted.

“How is his condition?” Hu Qing interrupted their back and forth.

“He’ll be fine. The poison’s effect was mild,” the healer assured him. “However, he’ll need bed rest for the next three days, please ensure that he rests properly and does not push himself–it could take a toll on his health otherwise.”

“Are you sure he’s fine? You said the last healer missed something,” Hu Qing prodded, not caring whether it was rude or not.

“I’m certain, I was very thorough. In any case, I will gladly remain here to observe the Minister’s condition for the night,” the healer said.

Something seemed to click in Hu Qing’s mind, though he had yet to fully piece together what it was.

“Good.”

The Imperial Guard stuck around until Wei Guang returned to explain the situation. Wei Guang thanked the man and dismissed him.

“Your Grace, is this healer yours?” Hu Qing asked bluntly once there was only the healer and steward left in the room with them.

“I am,” the healer replied without waiting for Wei Guang’s response. “Please be assured that Minister Zhao is fine–the side effects will wear off within the next few hours.”

“You poisoned him?” Hu Qing demanded, whirling towards Wei Guang.

“You’re being very rude right now, please watch your tone!” Wei Guang’s steward jumped in. “No matter how much Minister Zhao usually indulges you, there’s a limit to how much can be tolerated!”

Hu Qing didn’t break eye contact with Wei Guang, all but ignoring the steward’s words. Wei Guang lifted a hand and the steward fell silent.

“It was not poison, per se, but I won’t deny that it does cause agitation to the body,” Wei Guang said. “But this is for his sake, and he agreed to it beforehand.”

“Did he know what he was agreeing to?” Hu Qing prodded. From their talk right before Wenyuan’s departure, Hu Qing didn’t think Wenyuan knew what was coming.

“I'm sure he had an idea. He gains multiple benefits with one move. Now, he has an alibi that’ll deceive both the palace and the Zhao clan, and furthermore, this can be pinned on whoever becomes a threat to him–if the palace pushes him too far, he can raise a fuss about being poisoned by someone in the palace. If the court complains about him exterminating his kin for greater justice, then he can blame the Grand Duke for forcing his hand with an attempt on his life,” Wei Guang explained. “If neither situation occurs, he can use this against Dong Shiqing. It benefits him no matter what.”

“But didn't the Grand Duke already poison him?!”

“All the better. This way the fault will rest with them for failing to provide proper medical treatment, and they won’t be able to press the matter of the Grand Duke,” Wei Guang said in a steely voice. “This is politics, Hu Qing, not child’s play.”

Hu Qing shook his head in disbelief. “At this rate, will he even be able to move forward with the plan tomorrow?”

“It should be fine,” the healer interjected. "He'd be alright even if you were moving tonight."

"Are you sure?" Hu Qing pressed. The healer's gaze flickered nervously to Wei Guang and then to the floor, nodding without any confidence. Hu Qing turned his glare back upon Wei Guang.

Wei Guang quietly watched Hu Qing for a moment before letting out a sigh. “If possible, I would also have liked to avoid this, just as Wenyuan surely would. Hu Qing, you’re one of the few people he genuinely trusts, so it’s even more important for you to watch yourself. When you’re restored to your position as Lord Liang you’ll have the right to speak however you like. But right now, you’re just a retainer. Even if you fear nothing, you should be mindful of causing trouble for your employer.”

Sharp pangs of irritation stabbed at his gut. Hu Qing knew better than to respond and dipped his head in an ambivalent gesture.

There was a soft knock at the door, and Hu Qing glanced back at where Zhao Chao was watching him uneasily from the corridor. Seeing it was Wenyuan’s employee, Wei Guang and the healer turned their attention away. Zhao Chao quietly waved Hu Qing over, pulling him into a quiet corner of the corridor.

“How is he?” Zhao Chao whispered.

“He’ll be fine,” Hu Qing replied quietly.

“Isn't this really bad? We're moving tomorrow!"

"I'm getting the sense that Wei Guang wants us to move it up to tonight," Hu Qing grumbled.

"That's insane!" Zhao Chao hissed. "Why would he rush it like this? Will the Minister even be able to go?"

Hu Qing let out an impatient sigh. "Sounds like he'll be fine by then. In any case, there's nothing we can do about it, it's up to the Minister to decide. But what did you want to tell me?"

Zhao Chao shook his head slightly before shifting back into work mode. "There’s word from Shu Ling–there was finally an incident. Feng Yi’s suing the Su clan and the local magistrate for destroying his goods, and he’s been charged with slandering the court and illegitimate business practices. They’re at a stalemate because of the Minister’s seal and documents,” Zhao Chao reported.

“What about the Court of Judicial Review?” Hu Qing asked.

“The Vice-Ministers put a stopper on the case for now and want the Minister’s opinion once he gets back, but…” Zhao Chao glanced over at the sitting room. Hu Qing let out a sigh of frustration.

“I’ll go report it to the Imperial Edict Bearer. They haven’t been arrested, have they?”

“No, they’re under house arrest in the inn but the magistrate doesn’t dare to make a move now that a bigshot’s got their back,” Zhao Chao replied.

“Good. If they end up in jail, they’re dead for sure,” Hu Qing said darkly. “Update Left Secretariat Sun and Chamberlain Chen about what's happened. There's no need to communicate with the Seventh Prince, the Imperial Edict Bearer will handle that.”

“Sure takes a lot of trouble to climb on top, doesn’t it?” Zhao Chao said with a shake of his head.

Hu Qing let out a dry chuckle and gave Zhao Chao a soft clap on the shoulder and went to make his report to Wei Guang, keeping his speech polite this time around.

“What good timing,” Wei Guang murmured. “This way the case can be launched even without implicating Wenyuan in a conflict of interest. I’ll handle this.”

Hu Qing bowed his head slightly as Wei Guang left the room.

Vice-Minister Shen and Vice-Minister Ma glanced at each other uneasily.

“I can’t believe the Minister was poisoned…will he really be alright?” Ma Kaijie asked.

“He is a man of many fortunes, I’m sure that he will be fine,” Shen Liangjun replied. “Rather than worrying about his health, which we can do nothing about, we should worry about that merchant’s case.”

“We put a hold on it for now, but that’s not a long-term plan,” Ma Kaijie sighed. “Since the Minister’s man is involved, we should be consulting him, but the Imperial Edict Bearer shoved everything onto us! He won't even help us a little bit!”

“It can’t be helped, the Minister’s not in any state to deal with this,” Shen Liangjun said. He glanced at the name on the scroll of notes again.

Feng Yi… that’s the man His Highness told me about. So he’s the key person in the Minister’s plan. Ma Kaijie evidently didn’t know what was going on, which meant that Zhao Wenyuan hadn’t told his plan to many people in the neutral faction. Probably worried that they’d side with the palace over him.

In the absence of the Minister, the two Vice-Ministers took charge, and the Imperial Edict Bearer had furthermore authorized them to make use of the Split Seals. The problem was now that Ma Kaijie wouldn’t understand how important this was, nor could he be allowed to understand.

“I’ll go deal with this,” Shen Liangjun announced.

“What?! You’re going in person?!” Ma Kaijie said in shock.

Shen Liangjun nodded. “No need to worry, I’ll take full responsibility for anything that happens. I’ll conduct a full investigation and decide the case. No matter what the results are, you won’t be blamed for it.”

“But isn’t that going overboard?” Ma Kaijie asked. “I mean, it’s a case that can be turned from a big one into a small one, and turned from a small case into nothing. Why do you need to make a trip yourself?”

“No, that won’t do,” Shen Liangjun said firmly. “If we do that, we’ll never be able to handle a case in the provinces again–once they see that we’re a soft persimmon that’s easy to squeeze, they’ll step on our face every chance they get. What will we do in the future if we allow them to start disrespecting us now?”

“But–”

“The Minister’s seal is in use, which means this is important to him,” Shen Liangjun plowed on without giving Ma Kaijie a chance to get a thought in. “If we allow this to be resolved without a ripple, then wouldn’t that be letting the Minister down? Plus, it irritates me to see a county magistrate mess around like this as though all of us had gone and died off! And as I said, I’ll take full responsibility, so what's the matter?”

Ma Kaijie gave him a look of scrutiny before caving in. “Alright then, since you’re so insistent, I don’t have the power to stop you and the Minister’s not here to make a judgment. But you’re the one who said you’ll take full responsibility, don’t come pleading to me when you run into trouble.”

“I won’t,” Shen Liangjun promised. It was the Third Prince’s intention to help Feng Yi’s plan along, and to benefit from it to boot–but more than that, the prince had also warned Shen Liangjun to get out of the capital for the time being.

“When the mountain rains arrive the wind fills the entire building. If you can stay out of this, do so.” Kuang’s warning was cryptic enough to set off alarm bells in Shen Liangjun’s head. Whatever was about to happen, it definitely had to do with Minister Zhao, and it was certain to stir up great waves in the capital.

If it has to do with Minister Zhao, it’ll have to do with the Vice-Ministers–as long as I’m not here, I can avoid the worst of it.

Shen Liangjun withheld a smile and turned his attention back to the discussion on how the workload would be split up.

Kayla sipped at the medicine, grimacing at its taste.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” Wei Guang said. The old man was sitting next to Kayla’s bed, fixing her with a watchful eye as she took her medicine.

“Not at all, godfather. I understand what you mean now,” Kayla said. “My alibi and my excuse, was it? Well, it’ll certainly work if that’s the case–the whole palace knows that I was poisoned, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire court probably knows by now. Who would still expect me to be making a move? Getting poisoned is nothing pleasant, but the payoffs sure are high.”

She had been miffed about it, of course, and Hu Qing’s anger had sharpened her own. But this wasn’t the time to fight with Wei Guang, and Kayla had to admit that it did have its benefits.

“It’s good that you can think this way,” Wei Guang said, his voice heavier than before. “If you are to become the base pillar of the country, it’s a necessary mindset to have.”

Kayla didn’t say anything, dipping her head slightly in tacit deference.

“Don’t worry about anything and just rest up so you’ll have energy for the main event,” Wei Guang said. “The Grand Duke seems to have bought into it, and so has the Emperor and Empress Dowager, the stage is all set for you now. As for Feng Yi’s case, Shen Liangjun’s already heading over to Jiangxia, they won’t be able to sweep the case under the rug. The timing could be better though, I’m surprised it took this long for something to go wrong.”

Shen Liangjun sure knows how to avoid trouble–taking on a local clan would be a thankless and painful task in any other situation, but it’s nothing compared to what’s about to go down in the capital, Kayla thought to herself. As expected of one of the talents hand-picked by the Third Prince…judging from Shen Liangjun’s actions, I guess that means Zhang Dingyong will also back us up from the Ministry of Justice.

She smiled a little, setting down the empty medicine bowl. “I understand, godfather.”

Wei Guang nodded. He gave her a long look that she couldn't make sense of, setting off a faint sense of unease. Before she could ask him what the matter was, he turned and left the room. Hu Qing entered once Wei Guang had left.

“My lord, everything’s prepared. The Seventh Prince’s men are also ready to move,” Hu Qing said. “But are you sure you want to do this?”

“Of course, godfather's right. We can’t sit and wait for the Grand Duke’s reaction–who knows what he’ll end up stirring up? We move tonight. If we strike at lightning speed when we’re least expected, we’re certain to come out on top,” Kayla said. She got up from the bed, pulling on her outer robes. “Will you be alright though? You must be exhausted.”

“I’m fine,” Hu Qing said drily. “You should worry more about yourself.”

“I’m actually in quite a good mood,” Kayla replied. “Thinking about what expression the Grand Duke will make is quite uplifting.” She was strangely calm, all things considered, but the murderous intent she bore towards the Grand Duke hadn’t dissipated since the moment she’d woken up.

“If you say so,” Hu Qing said. He stepped aside and opened the door. Kayla made her way down the hall, nodding at Tao Qian.

“Zhao Chao and Ke Yongqian are already at the Zhao household, your grace,” Tao Qian reported as they headed to the side door.

“And the clan members?”

“We’ve activated all the surveillance and anti-communication wards,” Tao Qian replied. “Everyone’s accounted for–no one will be able to so much as move two inches to the right without our knowing so, much less contact the main house.”

“What about the Grand Duke’s assassins?” Kayla asked.

“Most of them are temporary hires, and thanks to Hu Qing, a good number of them are out of the playing field. The remaining ones all accepted our money when we offered twice the Grand Duke’s rate, so they’ll sit this one out–the guys who are bound to the Grand Duke’s service by magical oath or hostages have also been accounted for,” Tao Qian replied. “Once you give the word, we’ll get rid of them.”

“Clean them up before the Seventh Prince gets there, it won’t do to show him something unsightly,” Kayla said. Tao Qian nodded and sent a message through the communication device.

Kayla got into the carriage waiting outside the side gate. Unlike the high-quality ones she usually took, this one was plain and nondescript, looking exactly like one of the innumerous rental carriages anywhere in the city. Tao Qian stayed with the carriage while Hu Qing went ahead of them, dashing across the rooftops.

They arrived at the Zhao household after taking a few detours to throw off anyone who might try tracking them. Kayla exited the carriage into the side alley by the Zhao household. It was usually abandoned but now had several of Kayla’s employees milling about, most of them only vaguely recognizable to her. One of them was instantly discernable as Xianchun's man, sticking out like a sore thumb with the air of someone who served a royal master.

Kayla was a small distance from the household, just far away enough to stay clear of the fighting. She nodded at the men and glanced up, catching sight of Hu Qing where he was perched on a tree. Kayla could barely see him given the distance and the darkness–if not for her familiarity with where he was likely to be, she wouldn’t have found him at all. Hu Qing seemed to see her as well. He gave her a small nod and threw up his arm.

Several layers of anti-communication wards shot up, encompassing the entire Zhao household, all under the umbrella of a larger privacy ward that muffled the sound from within the boundary. Kayla waited a moment. There weren’t any shouts or cries from the doormen and guards, the men moving too quickly to silence them for anyone to raise an alarm. Nonetheless, the wards could not have gone unnoticed.

“I wonder if the Grand Duke was startled?” Kayla murmured softly.

“Pardon?” Tao Qian asked. He couldn’t have failed to hear her given his sharp hearing but knew better than to give a serious response.

“No, it’s nothing,” Kayla replied. She glanced down at her communication device, which had a new message from Xianchun. “It seems the Seventh Prince will be here soon, we should make preparations to greet him.”

“As you say, Minister,” Tao Qian said, bowing his head slightly.

Kayla swept her gaze around. Hu Qing was no longer on the tree, likely having led the main team into the household.

This is going to be a long night, Kayla thought grimly to herself.

She began to walk towards the front gate, Tao Qian following her half a pace behind. Several of the men in the alleyway peeled from their spots to follow. The front gate came into view, and Kayla slowed her footsteps, tendrils of apprehension curling up as she approached.

Everything ended tonight, and everything began anew. As Kayla stepped towards the doors of the gate, they swung open before her.

A blood-splattered Li You bowed before stepping aside to let Kayla through.

She took a deep breath and entered the Zhao household.

Cultural Notes

大义灭亲/Destroy one's kin for the greater good: An Ancient Chinese proverb that means to kill one's kin (unfilial) for the greater good (loyalty). In this case, the greater good excuses one's unfilial behavior.

一举多得/One move multiple gains: An Ancient Chinese proverb that means to kill multiple birds with one stone.

撑腰/Support [one's] waist: A Chinese saying meaning to receive support from someone (usually someone more powerful or with more seniority), aka for someone to have your back.

多福之人/A person of many fortunes: An Ancient Chinese proverb.

长久之计/Longlasting plan: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a plan that can be in use for a long time, often used in the context of "非长久之计/Not a longlasting plan", in reference to a plan that will only provide a temporary solution.

Split Seals: Fictional construct in which the second and third-highest-ranking people received two halves of a seal that when used together, would replace the seal of the person in charge. Inspired by 鱼符/Fish Seal, a tiger or fish-shaped (it was a fish in the Tang Dynasty so we're calling it a fish seal) seal that was split into two halves for military command, where one half was given to the commander of an army, and the other half was kept on hand by the Emperor. Only when both halves were present could you be authorized to command the army and lead it away from your post.

大事化小小事化了/Turn a large matter into a small one and a small one into nothing: A Chinese saying referring to a common method of problem-solving.

山雨欲来风满楼/When the mountain rains arrive the wind fills the entire building: A line of poetry from a poet in the late Tang Dynasty, it comes from the couplet "溪云初起日沉阁，山雨欲来风满楼/As the clouds rise over the creek the sun sinks into the towers, the mountain rains are about to arrive and the winds fill the building". However, this line is often taken out of context to say "when something is about to go down, everyone tangentially related to it will be affected regardless of their actual involvement." In this situation, for example, Kayla's move will certainly spark a political storm that will affect all her subordinates, including the two Vice-Ministers.

软柿子好捏/Soft persimmons are easy to squeeze: A Chinese saying referring to picking on the weak, or more specifically, being someone that assholes are more likely to pick on by virtue of being weak.

蹬鼻子上脸/Use your nose as a stair to step on your face: A Chinese saying referring to someone being shameless and pushing the limits after getting some leeway. The more polite way of saying this is to use the Ancient Chinese proverb "得寸进尺/Moving forward a foot when you've gained an inch."

国之栋才/A pillar-like talent of the country: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to an official/talent whose importance is like that of a central pillar for the country.

Jiangxia Commandery: One of the administrative districts in the Tang Dynasty, where Feng Yi is currently suing the Su clan, the local nobles.

坐以待毙/Sit and wait to be killed: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to take no action/to remain passive and allow your enemy to gain the advantage.

雷厉风行/As forceful as thunder as fast as wind: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to act at lightning speed. Note that the term for thunder 雷 in Ancient China was often used to refer to both thunder and lightning, usually in reference to the combination, not just to thunder.

112-Coup

Character Index

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, seeking revenge for the murder of his mother.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's retainer and right-hand man.

Housekeeper Wang: Loyal servant of the Grand Duke.

Li You: One of Kayla's employees, often works as her bodyguard.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, maternal cousin of Xianchun and Wenyuan. Seeking revenge against the Grand Duke.

Tao Qian: Kayla's employee and bodyguard, recommended by Hu Qing.

Sun Zhong'e: A woman who uses unorthodox healing methods, Kayla's employee.

Zhao Yihui: One of Wenyuan's uncles, a low-ranking official who reluctantly switched allegiances to side with Wenyuan against the Grand Duke at Zhao Wei's behest. Officially promised Kayla his support (see Chapter 88).

Zhao Wei: One of Wenyuan's uncles and the former Minister of War, he was removed from his position on charges of corruption uncovered in an investigation in Dengzhou, where many Archdukes reside. Though Kayla was the cause of his downfall, he realized that there was no future for the Zhao clan under the leadership of the Grand Duke.

Zhao Ke: One of Wenyuan's uncles, a low-ranking official who followed Zhao Wei's lead to change allegiances to side with Kayla (back in Chapter 88).

Zhao Yuanji: One of Wenyuan's uncles, a mid-ranking official who followed Zhao Wei's lead to change allegiances to side with Kayla (same as above).

Kayla walked through the Zhao household, flanked by her guards. Xianchun’s men had arrived and were primarily taking up guard positions, while Hu Qing and the others were focusing on the takeover. The household was unusually quiet despite the coup going on, and Kayla could clearly hear the sound of their footsteps on the paved ground.

She should have felt exhilaration or apprehension, or perhaps both, but it was instead a sense of nostalgia that overwhelmed her.

These must be from Wenyuan’s memories, Kayla distantly thought to herself.

The Zhao household had been a site of suffering, but it hadn’t only been that. It had also been the only place Wenyuan could call home and the place where his loved ones were. Now, not a single person was left, not even Wenyuan.

The places remain but the people are gone. What a pity that Wenyuan couldn’t see this. Though perhaps that was for the best, the gentle-hearted Wenyuan probably would never be able to stomach it. All things considered, the coup was going really well. Almost too well, to the point where Kayla couldn't help but wonder when things would start falling apart. But Hu Qing had been the one to set everything up. That alone was enough to quiet some of her more paranoid concerns.

“My lord!” Hu Qing practically skipped over, looking very pleased for someone with blood on his clothes.

“Well, you certainly look like you’re having fun,” Kayla said, not surprised in the slightest.

“Perk of the job,” Hu Qing replied. “We’ve found the housekeeper, but what do you want to do with him?”

“The housekeeper?” Kayla repeated. “Let me take a look.”

Hu Qing led her to a storage closet. At Kayla’s questioning look, he shrugged.

“He ran into there himself, so we decided to just lock him in there,” Hu Qing said. Though he left it unsaid, Kayla could sense that the last part of the sentence was because it was funny.

The man standing before the door evidently thought so as well. Kayla shook her head slightly in exasperation and gestured for him to open the door. The employee bowed and opened the door, stepping aside to let Kayla and Hu Qing through.

“Housekeeper Wang,” Hu Qing greeted him. The room was dark, and Housekeeper Wang had yet to catch sight of Kayla standing behind Hu Qing.

“You bastards! Do you really think you can get away with this?!” Housekeeper Wang screeched. His eyes narrowed as he saw Hu Qing. “You, you’re the young lord’s retainer! Are you here to take revenge for your master? I’m telling you, it’s useless!”

“No, I’m not here for revenge or anything,” Hu Qing said, a wide grin on his face. He stepped aside so Housekeeper Wang could see Kayla. “That’s up to the young lord.”

Kayla stared down at him impassively.

“What?! The young lord?! B-but you were poisoned!” Housekeeper Wang stammered.

“Oh? Is that what they’re saying?” Kayla asked.

“You shouldn’t even be able to move right now!”

Yeah, you shouldn’t have used the same trick twice. I had immunity to that poison, you fucking idiot. Kayla kept her retorts to herself.

“Well, here I am,” Kayla said.

“So all of it was an act?! You even fooled the palace!”

“What of it?”

Housekeeper Wang paled even further and made to run. Hu Qing shoved him back easily, with the curious playfulness of a child poking at a beetle.

I’m glad someone’s enjoying this, Kayla thought dryly. She certainly wasn't.

“Young lord, how can you do this?!” Housekeeper Wang cried in outrage. “Who do you think has kept you alive this long?! You wouldn’t have lasted a day in court if not for the Grand Duke! Don’t do this, you can still–”

We’ve gotten to this point and he’s still sticking to that ridiculous argument? I’m almost impressed.

Kayla nodded at Hu Qing. She watched impassively as Hu Qing struck Housekeeper Wang’s pressure point, paralyzing the man. Housekeeper Wang made a small choking sound, frozen halfway through his sentence. His eyes darted about in increasing horror as Hu Qing hoisted him up and onto the noose one of the men had set up while they were talking. Kayla averted her eyes.

Housekeeper Wang had been a source of suffering for Wenyuan, but Wenyuan hadn’t wanted revenge, and Kayla didn’t need it. Even if his death was well-deserved, it didn’t interest her. She turned away and silently walked down the corridor.

“Minister, the Seventh Prince has arrived,” Li You said as he jogged over.

“Have you shown him in?”

“Yes, Minister. This way,” Li You said. Kayla followed him over, bowing her head slightly as she approached Xianchun.

“My prince, it’s good to see you here,” Kayla said.

“Oh, here you are,” Xianchun greeted her. “Are you alright? I heard you were poisoned.”

“I'm fine, my prince. Thank you for your concern.”

“That’s good to hear.” Xianchun’s tone was strikingly casual, but Kayla knew better than to assume everything was going smoothly. Xianchun’s eruptions were much more dangerous when they came out of nowhere rather than when he built up to them.

“Your men said they’ve secured the Grand Duke already. They certainly move quickly.”

“Indeed. Shall we head over then, my prince?” Kayla asked.

“Let’s wait for Daozong–oh, here he comes,” Xianchun said.

Qu Boyong approached them, glancing around with some unease.

“Xiang Daozong humbly greets His Highness,” Qu Boyong bowed towards Xianchun and then nodded at Kayla reluctantly. “Minister.”

“Daozong, you’re finally here,” Xianchun greeted him, “We were just wondering when you’d arrive.”

“It’s good to have you here,” Kayla added diplomatically. Qu Boyong nodded tersely.

“Minister, if I may ask, since when did you have so many employees?” Qu Boyong asked.

“Over half of them are the prince’s men,” Kayla explained. “Many of mine are temporary hires brought on by Hu Qing, but they’re professionals who are bound by confidentiality contracts. There’s nothing to worry about in terms of security, Hu Qing and Tao Qian have vetted all of them.”

A good number of the employees actually weren’t present at the moment, having gone off to herd over the members of the Zhao clan who had sworn allegiance to Kayla. After all, the Grand Duke’s humiliation required an audience and needed one that had to stay silent. She had left the communication to Sun Zhong’e after giving the woman a few basic messages to work off of.

“There’s no need to worry, Wenyuan’s more than capable enough of making the appropriate arrangements,” Xianchun said, his patience visibly eroding by the minute. “Are we ready to go now?”

“Yes, my prince,” Kayla bowed her head slightly. “This way, please.”

Zhao Yihui had been woken up in the middle of the night by the communication talisman from Wenyuan. Blinking blearily, he picked it up to squint at the message.

“Come to the Zhao household right now.” The message cleared all drowsiness from his mind. Zhao Yihui balked at the order. He half-considered pretending not to have seen it. It was late enough at night to get away with it. The second message immediately put an end to that thought.

“Don’t put the communication talisman back into your desk. Get dressed and come over here.”

Zhao Yihui broke out into a cold sweat, glancing around at his closed curtains and the empty room. He was definitely alone.

Surveillance magic?! But when?!

Hands shaking, he hastily sent back a reply.

“I’m afraid it’s very inconvenient to make the trip this late at night, I’ll pay my respects tomorrow morning.”

The third message arrived within seconds.

“Who was it that said he would follow my arrangements again? Those who understand the times become heroes, those who do not are like fish under the filleting knife. Please think thrice before you choose. The carriage is waiting outside your side gate.”

Zhao Yihui sank into a squat, burying his face into his forearms with a groan.

Damn it! Damn you, you little shit!

If the surveillance magic could tell exactly what he was doing, it had to be a high-level spell.

Such a thing can’t be put up so quickly…just how long has that been there?! Zhao Yihui doubted that Zhao Wenyuan would come here to drag him out if he refused, but there would be consequences. Zhao Wenyuan was personally raised by the Grand Duke–the last thing Zhao Yihui wanted was to find out for himself just how much the pupil took after the master.

If Zhao Wei’s right, then it’s not just a matter of being on par with the Grand Duke, but rather that green comes from blue but surpasses blue. But what if Zhao Wei was wrong and Wenyuan can’t win over the Grand Duke? He couldn’t take the chance of complying, nor could he take the chance of failing to do so.

He wavered a while longer before gritting his teeth and going through with it. No matter what, it was Zhao Wenyuan who currently held the upper hand and it was Zhao Wenyuan who was watching his every move–he didn’t have any other choice.

Zhao Yihui threw on his robes and headed out, avoiding the night-shift servants as he did so. He finally poked his head outside the side gate, looking about nervously. A small, unremarkable carriage without any decorations of note stood a few feet away. He hesitated for a moment longer before approaching the carriage and getting on. The horseman had his face completely covered in black cloth, only adding to the ominous atmosphere.

Zhao Yihui gnawed at the inside of his cheek, fuming silently as the small, nondescript carriage headed towards the Zhao household. It was the last place he wanted to be right now. Even at the best of times, Zhao Yihui avoided going to the main household when it was unnecessary, knowing all too well the sting of the Grand Duke’s unpredictable temper. And now, the household had become the most dangerous arena in the capital city thanks to his nephew.

Wenyuan must be insane–no, not just him, why the hell did Zhao Wei insist that we go along with that brat?! Damn it! Look at the mess he's gotten us into! Zhao Wei, the lucky bastard, was too far from the capital to be involved.

The carriage stopped and the door opened. Zhao Yihui got off, shooting the horseman a hostile look. They were at the side gates of the Zhao household. Rather than the usual guards, unfamiliar men in all black were manning the gates. Zhao Yihui’s feelings of apprehension grew, and he reeled back, considering the idea of turning on his heel and leaving.

“Sir, please come this way,” one of the men said politely, an unsheathed sword in hand. Zhao Yihui thought better of his idea and followed the man inside.

“Where are we going? Where is the young lord?” Zhao Yihui demanded.

“This way please,” the man said, avoiding a clear response. Zhao Yihui scowled and followed the man into the main courtyard of the Inner Quarters. Everywhere around him, there were no servants to be seen, and it was ridiculously quiet even though there were unfamiliar men milling about. There were none of the blood-splattered walls and blazing torches he had expected. In fact, it was all so orderly that it made him increasingly unsettled as they walked further in. By now, he could almost be certain that Zhao Wenyuan had seized control.

Then what does he need me for?

Zhao Yihui’s footsteps faltered as they entered the main hall, which had been redecorated for a funeral. An empty casket lay open, and an altar had been prepared with wreaths of white flowers and dark incense burners before it.

“Whose funeral is it?” Zhao Yihui asked in alarm, already knowing there could only be one answer.

He died?! How? When? Was it Zhao Wenyuan? Or–

“You’re the first person here, sir. The young lord is this way,” the man said, interrupting Zhao Yihui’s thoughts. He lead Zhao Yihui to the door that led to the Grand Duke’s quarters and bowed, stepping away. Gulping nervously, Zhao Yihui knocked on the door.

“As you can see, my prince, he’s currently confined to this room,” Kayla said, showing Xianchun and Qu Boyong the image from the projection magic device. It was a side room of the Grand Duke’s quarters and currently had both its door to the corridor and its door to the main hall sealed off. Within the small, dark room, the Grand Duke’s increasingly frantic expression looked almost pitiful. The old man had been in bed when everything had happened and was still in his thin sleeping robes when he had been dumped into his chair and locked into the side room.

“He’s really in a wheelchair,” Xianchun said, his voice dangerously low.

“Yes,” Kayla agreed. She glanced at Xianchun subtly, trying to see how close he was to eruption.

“With your permission, I would like to face him first,” Kayla said. “I’ll have him understand the situation clearly before Your Highness meets with him.”

The projection device she had chosen to use only showed sight but not sound. The last thing she needed was for Qu Boyong to secretly record a sensitive conversation and use it against her later. Xianchun accepted without further question.

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you, my prince. My uncles should soon be arriving as well, we’ll quash out any remaining hopes the Grand Duke is clinging to.”

Kayla entered the room, greeting the Grand Duke with a cold smile.

“Grandfather,” she called. The Grand Duke jolted slightly, turning towards her in disbelief.

“Wenyuan! You bastard, just what the hell are you doing?!” The Grand Duke demanded.

“I came here for your funeral, grandfather. A sad event indeed. Your coffin’s quite nice though, I bought one of the more expensive options available. Aren’t I a filial grandson?”

The Grand Duke would have leaped up and throttled her if he could. His glare alone was almost enough to bore a hole through her head. Before he could say anything in response, there was a knock on the door that connected to the main hall.

That must be one of the uncles, Kayla thought.

“Excuse me, it’s Yihui.”

“Please come in, Uncle,” Kayla called. Zhao Yihui came in, paling as he saw Kayla and the Grand Duke.

“Yihui, you bastard! You’re in cahoots with him? Have you forgotten all that I’ve done for you?!” The Grand Duke shouted.

“Uncle, it is my deepest sorrow to announce that grandfather has passed away during the night,” Kayla said, speaking over the Grand Duke. “As my elder, I hope you will assist me with the funeral rituals.”

Zhao Yihui paled even further. “No, I don’t have the ability to do so,” he hastily replied.

“There’s no need to worry, uncle. I wouldn’t make you do all the work alone. My other uncles are coming too,” Kayla said. “Uncle Ke, Uncle Yuanji, and all the others too.”

“All the others? Who are you talking about?! Those ungrateful bastards–I was the one who fed and clothed you! Do you think you could've become an official without my help?!” The Grand Duke shouted, his face reddening in fury.

“Ah, you're curious about who the others are? Why, grandfather, you have a list, don’t you? You even threw it at my head before,” Kayla replied. The Grand Duke paled just as quickly as he had reddened, realizing that he had failed to seize control of the Zhao clan back from Kayla.

“You bastard! I should’ve strangled you as a babe!” The Grand Duke shouted.

Kayla ignored him. “Uncle, we’ve already prepared the mourning clothes for you. If you would kindly get changed, I believe it is time to begin the mourning rites.”

“Young lord, this is going too far, I couldn’t possibly–” Zhao Yihui said in a small voice.

“Didn’t you say you were willing to put your life on the line, uncle?” Kayla asked coldly. “When Uncle Wei promised me that, the rest of you did as well. I didn't take you for a man who would go against his word. I’ve already done all the work, but you want to back out now?”

“Promised? As expected, you’re a bunch of white-eyed wolves! How dare you bite the hand that feeds you?!” The Grand Duke roared.

Zhao Yihui winced slightly.

“I’ll take all responsibility, so just do your part,” Kayla said. “You all want to live, don’t you? Do you think the Grand Duke will still take you back?”

Zhao Yihui hesitated a moment longer, but Kayla could see that his resistance had faded away. It wasn’t as though he actually had a choice.

“Don’t you dare!” The Grand Duke shouted.

“Uncle, please go and help with setting up the altar,” Kayla said pleasantly, speaking over the Grand Duke. Zhao Yihui hesitated, glancing uncertainly between Kayla and the Grand Duke. She smiled serenely, the sight of it sending chills down Zhao Yihui’s spine. He gulped, bowing his head before he left the room with quick steps, ignoring the Grand Duke’s shouts for him to come back. The door closed, leaving the two alone. But rather than Kayla being left alone with the Grand Duke, it was now the other way around.

“Bastard! I see what you’re trying to do now–you think you’ll get away with murdering me?!”

“I will do no such thing, grandfather. You’ll kill yourself,” Kayla replied confidently.

“Ha! You must have hit your head too hard to think of such fantasies! You’re no Emperor Wen of Han, and I’m certainly no Bo Zhao! You’d better think again if you think I’ll play along with your childish games!” The Grand Duke snarled.

“Of course, grandfather, you’re right.” She leaned closer, her smile widening. “But why do you think Duke Bao killed himself? Was it because he couldn’t bear the humiliation? No, it was because he had no other choice. A dead man does not need to eat or drink, nor does he need to be cleaned, or treated for disease and injury, or served in any kind of way. After all, ghosts have no such needs, do they?”

“You–!” The Grand Duke’s snarl was cut off as Kayla clamped a hand down on his bad shoulder, squeezing with force. She felt a small surge of satisfaction as the Grand Duke grunted in pain.

“Grandfather, you best think about what you should do right now–without food and water, you’ll only last three days, perhaps less with your current state of health. All the rooms will have been sealed off to you except for the funeral hall. Without help, you can only seep in your own filth, growing wretched and weak before your kinsmen and servants until you finally die the miserable death that you deserve. Any last bit of dignity and reputation will be stripped away from you until all anyone remembers of you is the pathetic image of your dying visage. But I’m not so cruel as that, am I? I’ve left you an option, a way out. It’s all in your hands, grandfather. No matter how much you suffer, it’ll be the consequence of your own decision,” Kayla said.

“Three days? What on earth makes you think you’ll have that long?! Forget three days, the palace will have noticed by morning! Dogs that run off their leash are exactly what the palace hates most, do you think they’ll overlook this and forgive you?” The Grand Duke asked mockingly.

“They still need me,” Kayla replied.

“And for how much longer will that last once I’m gone?” The Grand Duke taunted her. “You’re digging your own grave, you fool!”

“It’s not as though I haven’t considered that. If there isn’t a reason for them to need one, isn’t it fine if I just create one on my own? I’ve already sowed the seeds of chaos in the provinces. They’ll still need me for quite a while yet,” Kayla said. “And I’m confident that I can outlive the ones who want me gone the most, for that matter.”

The Grand Duke scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re still much too soft-skinned to go against the palace, you yellow-haired brat. What makes you think you can trust Wei Guang?”

“Stirring up conflict between us won’t help you now, grandfather. I know your methods of manipulations all too well by now,” Kayla said patiently, as though she was speaking to a child. “But you’d best extinguish whatever foolish hopes you’re clinging to, the palace won’t interfere even if they realize what’s happening, not when they see I’ve already made a move, and certainly not when your little stunt in the Empress Dowager’s palace has given them an excuse to overlook this. This is the result they’ve wanted all along, I’m just pushing the boat along the current, why on earth would they step in?”

“Ha! You really are much too young,” the Grand Duke laughed triumphantly. “If they don’t step in, then that means they’re already set on getting rid of you, don’t you understand that?! No one can prove that I was behind the poisoning, do you really think they won’t pull this out for reinvestigation the second they need to get rid of you? All those years of studying and yet you can’t tell that they’re already preparing to crush you! Tell me this, throughout all of history, which official favored by the Emperor to this extent has met a good end?”

Kayla didn’t respond to his question. Even with several more dynasties’ worth of history to go, very few officials who received the Emperor’s favor and indulgence were able to die of natural causes.

“That’s for me to worry about,” Kayla said with finality. “You should be getting on your way.”

The Grand Duke’s glare took on a mocking glint. The door swung open forcefully and Xianchun stepped into the doorway. Impatience was written all over his face, and his dissatisfaction only grew when he saw the Grand Duke still squabbling with Kayla.

“What’s taking so long?” Xianchun demanded. Kayla took a step to the side to avoid blocking Xianchun’s view of the Grand Duke, who was now looking at her with a mix of astonishment.

“No wonder you were so confident, you’ve roped a prince into this boiling pot!” The Grand Duke exclaimed, giving a startled laugh as he glanced between Kayla and Xianchun. “Who would’ve thought that you would take after me to this extent?”

“Silence! You impertinent bastard, it’s your own actions that have brought you to your current state! Do you not remember what you did to my mother?!” Xianchun demanded.

The Grand Duke glanced at Kayla in disbelief. Before he could react, Xianchun hit him in the face with an open-handed slap, following it up with a backhand. Kayla hastily took a step back to let him have at the Grand Duke.

“You’ve got some guts, haven’t you? Well?” Xianchun snarled, slapping the Grand Duke repeatedly on the same side of the face as he asked each question. “Don't you hear me? Why don’t you say something, you old bastard?!”

The damage it inflicted was relatively minimal, but the humiliation was several times more than being struck with a fist. The Grand Duke’s hair had come undone, and he was shocked into silence at the sudden onslaught. It had been decades since he’d last been on the receiving end of such treatment. Xianchun paused as someone knocked on the door.

“My prince,” Qu Boyong poked his head in. “May this Daozong enter?”

“Come in, cousin,” Xianchun ordered. The Grand Duke’s eyes widened and then narrowed as he put together the pieces.

“So this is what you’ve been working on,” the Grand Duke said flatly, not looking at Kayla. His voice was significantly hoarser.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid?” Kayla taunted him.

He scoffed, shaking his head. “What a filial grandson I’ve raised,” he spat out the words resentfully.

“If the heavens bring misfortune, you can still find a way to live on. If you make your own misfortune, there will be no way to survive,” Kayla shot back.

“Doing such a thing, you’ll be punished by the heavens,” the Grand Duke replied.

“Who are you to say such things?! You thief of the nation! Do you still remember my father?” Qu Boyong strode forward, eyes flashing with rage.

“General Xiang’s son, was it?” The Grand Duke said with a low chuckle. “Who would’ve thought you were right under my nose this whole time? But I suppose one rat‘s scent is covered by another.”

Kayla ignored the jab. Qu Boyong, unlike Xianchun, seemed to prioritize damage over humiliation. If she let him have the Grand Duke, it was likely to end up as a bloody mess.

“My prince, cousin, I believe the Grand Duke understands his predicament, but he doesn’t seem very convinced yet. If it would please you, shall we head to the funeral hall so he can clear up his doubts?”

“Wenyuan, just what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” The Grand Duke demanded. There was a small note of panic in his voice that wasn’t there before.

Xianchun and Qu Boyong were both glaring at the Grand Duke as though they wanted to flay him to the bone.

“A man of great pride wouldn’t break under torments of the flesh, especially when his body has already deteriorated to the extent that simple blows are enough to send him to the next life before he’s paid his dues,” Kayla said mildly. “On the other hand, tearing down the purpose of his very existence and making him watch is perfect, isn’t it?”

“The vault,” Xianchun said between gritted teeth.

“Ah yes, the one under his study,” Kayla replied. The Grand Duke stiffened in his chair. “Would you like to access that now or later? I’ll nullify the wards for you.”

“Damn you! You think you’ll emerge unscathed if you go this far?! You’ll destroy yourself and the Zhao clan!” The Grand Duke hissed.

“I’ll destroy what needs to be destroyed for the sake of the dynasty,” Kayla shot back. “I’m no coward.”

“No, you’re a fool!”

“Enough from you, old man!” Qu Boyong snarled. “I should cut you open right here and now, I didn’t wait ten years for this day to hear you blather on!”

“It seems he won’t shed tears until he’s seen the coffin. If that’s the case, go ahead and show it to him,” Xianchun ordered.

“Understood, my prince. Please use the disguisement spells before we enter the hall,” Kayla replied. The two men complied.

This is going better than I expected, Xianchun and Qu Boyong are being quite cooperative, and the Grand Duke’s already cornered to this extent…it should be able to wrap up smoothly.

“This way please,” Kayla said.

“Wenyuan!” The Grand Duke grabbed onto Kayla’s sleeve with his good hands, eyes wild as he searched her face for relentment. He found none.

Murder doesn’t sit well with me either, old man. It was your own actions that forced my hand. Don't make things harder now.

“What’s the matter, grandfather? Your funeral’s already started, why are you still sitting around like this?” Kayla asked.

The Grand Duke’s expression distorted with rage, shock, and then a cold realization.

“You little bastard…” To her relief, he didn't beg, but rather faced her with the same hatred and rage as he always had.

Kayla smiled at him pleasantly, grabbing the handles of his wheelchair. “Come on now, grandfather. You should get going.”

Cultural Notes

物是人非/Objects remain but people do not: An Ancient Chinese proverb lamenting the fleeting nature of human life, often in remembrance of what used to be, especially when revisiting a place after circumstances have changed. Often used when returning to a place where you used to live, but the people who lived there with you are no longer there (either because of changing life situations or because they've passed away).

识时务者为俊杰，不识时务者任人鱼肉/Those who understand the times can become heroes, those who do not are like a fish under the filleting knife: The first part of the sentence is one of the most famous quotes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which the main character Liu Bei gives his inspirational recruiting speech to his sworn-brothers-to-be. The second part is derived from the Ancient Chinese proverb "人为刀俎我为鱼肉/They are the filleting knife, I am the fish", which is used to describe a position of helplessness and vulnerability.

三思而后行/Think thrice before you act: An Ancient Chinese proverb that stems from a conversation between Confucius and his student, it means to think carefully before you act. However, this is often taken out of context. The original quote is "Ji Wenzi (a student of Confucius) always thinks thrice before he acts. Confucius said to him, '[Thinking] twice is enough.'" Scholars have repeatedly debated whether Confucius meant the response as a general teaching or simply as a pointer for this specific student who is already overly cautious and thoughtful. As such, think thrice before you act is often used as a standalone proverb instead of "Think twice before you act", which doesn't actually have a proverb for it. It's common to see officials plead for the Emperor to "三思/Think thrice" as a replacement for the full proverb.

青出于蓝而胜于蓝/Green emerges from blue but surpasses blue: Another Ancient Chinese proverb from the pre-Qin era. It comes from the pre-Qin classic "Recommending Learning", by Xun Zi, one of the many pre-Qin thinkers. It often is used to refer to surpassing your predecessors or surpassing your surroundings/background via talent or effort.

言而无信/Speak but have no faith: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to speak without following through, to go back on your words, to be an unreliable person.

白眼狼/White-eyed wolf: A Chinese term for someone who is ungrateful/backstabs their benefactor. Another example of "Ancient people thought it was common sense so didn't write down an explanation and now we don't know the exact reason why it's this specific phrasing", we don't know exactly why it's a white-eyed wolf specifically.

薄昭/Bo Zhao: Maternal uncle of Emperor Wen of Han, who was a benevolent ruler who had some serious political skill. Even though he was ruthless in crushing his opponents, he often did so with methods that didn't land him with the blame, and since it benefitted the dynasty as a whole, he was praised for it. Bo Zhao began to interfere with politics and became a threat to the Emperor's authority, so Emperor Wen forced him to commit suicide by first sending officials to convince him. When that failed, Emperor Wen sent the court to cry and wail (traditional mourning rites) in mourning clothes at Bo Zhao's house as though he were dead. Bo Zhao was then forced to kill himself in humiliation. Kayla's just speculating when she says Bo Zhao was denied food and water, there are no historical records of this, but Kayla's making use of that to threaten the Grand Duke. Again, Kayla's description is not historically accurate, saying this again for emphasis so my roommate doesn't get mad at me for embellishing history.

不堪其辱/Not withstanding the humiliation: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to someone who committed suicide to avoid humiliation/after being humiliated. It's been a while since I've brought this up, but the educated class placed a lot of emphasis on their reputation and pride, including how they would be recorded in history, so there's also that to take into account.

太嫩了/Too tender: A colloquial Chinese phrase used to refer to a brat who's much too green to go head-on with the old-timers.

黄毛小儿/Yellow-haired youngster: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to refer to a youngster (in relative terms, given how early people married, someone in their late thirties could say this to someone in their twenties on account of being in their parent's generation). It derived from the term "黄口小儿/Yellow-mouthed youngster", which compares a youngster to a baby bird with yellow beaks (not sure exactly what species is being referred to here). It later evolved into the term yellow-haired, likely due to the trend of infants and toddlers having paler hair due to nutritional or mineral deficiencies.

离间计/Divide and conquer gambit: Refers to a specific category of strategies used in Ancient China to drive wedges between your enemies' faction to make them easier to take on. What Kayla did to Xianchun and Liu Boyue counts among this category.

顺水推舟/Push a boat along the water: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to go with the flow, often used in reference to doing someone a favor along the way.

宠臣多死于非命/Favored officials tend to die of unnatural causes: Favored officials, more directly translated as "spoiled officials", refers to someone who the Emperor dotes on and indulges beyond the treatment given to normal officials. These tend to fall into two main categories (with exceptions and less notable subdivisions): 1. Genuinely favored by the Emperor for various reasons, they tend to incur the jealousy of their fellow officials and are targeted in various schemes, eventually either leading to their downfall during the Emperor's reign or their downfall once the next Emperor comes into power. If they're lucky enough to not outlive their Emperor and to receive protection for the duration of their life, their family can generally avoid downfall. However, that takes a lot of luck and skill, unless you have some serious backing/bloodlines to shield you. 2. Favored by the Emperor as a means to the end, the Emperor recklessly indulges them and allows them to get away with anything because they're currently useful. However, the Emperor will generally get rid of them sooner or later, either because they've outlived their purpose, or because they've grown arrogant with the treatment they've received.

搅入沸锅/Stir into a boiling pot: Meaning to drag someone into a mess from which they cannot possibly emerge unscathed. Not actually an Ancient Chinese proverb, but it was often used in the 秘史/Secret Histories series (a series of Qing Dynasty period dramas that included 孝庄秘史/Secret History of Empress Dowager Xiao Zhuang, 皇太子秘史/Secret History of the Crown Prince, and 太祖秘史/Secret History of Emperor Taizu, from 2002 to the late 2000s), so I'm just including this for childhood nostalgia.

伤害不大侮辱性极强/Not a lot of damage but a lot of humiliation: A modern Chinese saying originating from a meme of third wheels taking emotional damage as their friends engage in various PDAs, but later evolved to refer to any situation that fits the term.

天作孽犹可活自作孽不可存/If the heavens bring misfortune, you can still find a way to live on. If you make your own misfortune, there will be no way to survive: An Ancient Chinese proverb, it essentially means that natural disasters and bad luck can still be overcome, but screwing yourself over is a hole you can't dig your way out of.

遭天谴/[Will be] punished by the heavens: A Chinese saying meaning that you will receive karmic punishments even if you get away with a crime.

国贼/Thief of the nation: A Chinese insult referring to corrupt officials. Variations of this include 老贼/Old thief (same meaning, but specifically for someone who's old, often also used for an old lecher), 逆贼/Rebel thief (someone who outright grabs power/rebels), 奸贼/Traitorous thief (self-explanatory), or [Insert surname]贼/thief (a famous example is 曹贼/Cao thief, in reference to Cao Cao from the Three Kingdoms who took power from the Emperor in all but name).

不见棺材不落泪/Not shedding tears until you see the coffin: A Chinese saying referring to not repenting until you see the consequences upfront. In this case, it takes on a more literal meaning.

113-The Red Towers Crumble

Character Index

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, seeking revenge for his mother's death.

Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, seeking revenge for the Xiang clan's extermination.

Zhao Ke: One of Wenyuan's uncles, changed allegiances to Kayla after realizing the Grand Duke was done for.

Zhao Yihui: One of Wenyuan's uncles, changed allegiances to Kayla under Zhao Wei (former Minister of War)'s leadership.

Zhao Yuanji: One of Wenyuan's uncles, changed allegiances to Kayla under Zhao Wei's lead.

Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees, he typically works with Hu Qing.

Lady Lin: A blind divinator who exchanged her sight for the ability to see into the future, worked with Wenyuan's mother and was involved in bringing Kayla to this world. She was murdered by the Grand Duke's assassins after revealing the future to Kayla.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's friend and retainer, the rightful heir to the Liang household. He has made up his mind to retake his position.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince and Xianchun's main competitor for the throne.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather.

Sun Zhong'e: A woman who works for Kayla as a guard and healer.

Consort Chen: Xianchun's mother, formerly a serving maid who received the Emperor's favor and became a consort.

General Xiang: Qu Boyong's father, formerly a General who was loyal to the Emperor. He was killed after being framed.

Dong Shiqing: Minister of Revenue. He is a member of the Grand Duke's faction, but has been extremely careful, leaving no openings for Kayla to take him down.

Liu Hongyu: Former Secretariat Director and the Grand Duke's ally, he died after being stripped of his position for lese-majeste.

Zhao Chao: One of Kayla's employees who usually serves as her bodyguard.

Li Que: A Senior Imperial Investigator who worked with Kayla in the past and has secretly helped her out by allowing her to gain confidential information.

Kayla pushed the Grand Duke’s wheelchair forward, Xianchun and Qu Boyong following her at a leisurely pace.

“Stop, you bastard!” The Grand Duke snarled. “I’ll make you pay for this!”

Once, the words would have caused her greater unease, given the Grand Duke’s ruthlessness and cruelty. But now, his words were nothing but empty threats.

Pitiful bastard, Kayla thought with a tug of twisted satisfaction.

“Are you ignoring me?! You piece of shit–you’ll be struck by lightning for this!”

Kayla responded by continuing to ignore him.

“Stop! Let go of me!” The Grand Duke’s voice took on a frantic edge.

“Do hold still, grandfather. You’ll fall,” Kayla said mildly as she pushed his wheelchair through the corridor. Rather than going straight into the main hall from the connecting door, they entered from the corridor.

The members of the Zhao clan she had summoned were already in the hall, dressed in mourning clothes and murmuring nervously among themselves. Other than Zhao Ke, Zhao Yihui, and Zhao Yuanji, the remaining dozen or so were selected from among the list of Zhao clan members who had pledged their allegiance to Kayla, chosen by Hu Qing after days of observation to determine who would be most suitable.

Upon seeing Kayla enter with the Grand Duke, the hall fell completely silent. Xianchun and Qu Boyong followed her in. Both of them were using cosmetic spells that disguised their appearances, but anyone with eyes could sense their strong animosity. Moreover, the steely pride that radiated from Xianchun was unmistakably that of someone who hailed from power. The way Qu Boyong walked was also that of a trained martial artist, but he had a noticeably different aura from the rest of the fighters present.

Just what the hell is going on? The same question was reflected on everyone’s faces.

The Grand Duke’s temper exploded, letting out a litany of insults and accusations. The words fell flat given the frailty of his position. Glancing around, the Grand Duke found that his insults were met with fearless expressions. He fell silent, panting in exertion. He had commanded fear and respect over the entire court and the Zhao clan for the vast majority of his life, but it only took a single night to destroy all that.

Looks of disbelief and sadistic glee bore into the Grand Duke’s skin. As silent as his kinsmen remained, their gazes spoke louder than any words.

To think that even you would have such a day.

Is this what’s become of the Grand Duke who stood at the pinnacle of power?

So he’s nothing but a weak old man after all.

Fears, hopes, greed, and anticipation mingled together, clogging the air with a viscous thickness. The Grand Duke’s face had gone completely pale, his jaws grinding together in rage and humiliation. Kayla stopped before the altar, turning the chair so that the Grand Duke faced them.

“What are you lot doing?” Kayla asked. “Proceed with the mourning rites.”

The Zhao clansmen stared at her in shock for a moment, Zhao Yuanji reacting first. He dropped to his knees before the altar, dramatically wailing lamentations with the expertise of a paid mourner. One could tell he was experienced at funeral rites at a single glance.

Must have had a lot of older in-laws, Kayla thought to herself. Zhao Yihui jolted out of his shock and joined in, followed by the rest of the clansmen.

“Silence! Be silent! Shut up, you damn fools!” The Grand Duke shouted. His voice was too hoarse to carry far. In any case, no one paid him any mind.

“Did we not get a suona player?” Kayla asked Ke Yongqian, who was guarding the hall.

“We thought it might be a bit much for the middle of the night,” Ke Yongqian quickly replied.

“That’s true,” Kayla said. The Grand Duke gave her a look of outrage.

Xianchun and Qu Boyong had stopped a few feet away, standing between the mourners and the Grand Duke, watching the old man’s reactions with vindictive pleasure. Strangely, it made Kayla feel a little sick to her stomach. She couldn’t quash the tingling sense of apprehension crawling up her spine.

Is this going too far? Will I end up going even further?

The Grand Duke’s mocking voice resurfaced in her mind. “One day, you will be just like me, and you will face the same fate.”

Yeah right. If he'd stopped digging earlier he wouldn't be standing in his grave.

She took a deep breath, careful not to show her unease to the Grand Duke. It was not the time to dwell on such things.

The Grand Duke finally wore out his voice cursing at the mourners, and sat seething in rage, his face alternating between shades of white and red. Xianchun’s face curled into a cruel smile as he strode forward to loom over the Grand Duke.

“Well, you old bastard, do you understand now?” Xianchun crooned, a gleeful note in his voice that made the Grand Duke stiffen. “You’re a dead man, so why don’t you do us all a favor and act like one?”

“You impudent scum–you’re only the son of a lowly serving maid and yet you dare to–!”

The Grand Duke was cut off by Xianchun striking him in the face. The mourners faltered at the sound of the sharp blow but continued as Kayla fixed them with a flat stare.

She zoned out Xianchun’s taunting. It was a little too familiar for comfort after what Lady Lin’s visions had shown her.

“Wenyuan,” Xianchun’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Sir," she said, careful to avoid giving away Xianchun's identity.

“It’s about time to send him along,” Xianchun said darkly.

“Understood,” Kayla said. “Please come this way.”

She pushed the Grand Duke back into the side room, Ke Yongqian opening the door for them. The door swung shut behind them, casting the room into shadows.

“Do it,” Xianchun ordered. He pulled out a dagger from his robes, tossing it onto the table before the Grand Duke with a clatter. Kayla took a closer glance at the blade, silently marveling at the extent of Xianchun’s vindictiveness. The dagger was dull and rusted–it couldn’t have been easy to dig out such a thing from the well-maintained household of an Imperial Prince.

Kayla had agreed to allow Xianchun to handle the means but had prepared poison as a backup plan. Looking at the two of them, it was clear neither Xianchun nor Qu Boyong could possibly be satisfied with that. While it was impossible to satisfy Qu Boyong from the start, since he wanted nothing less than a public beheading in the market square, she could at least go along with Xianchun’s wishes.

“There’s no point in dragging it out, do it yourself or I’ll do it for you!” Qu Boyong snarled when the Grand Duke gave no response. “This bastard, is he ignoring me?!”

The Grand Duke lowered his head, his shoulders beginning to shake. While Xianchun and Qu Boyong assumed he was crying, Kayla was standing close enough to hear his chuckles.

Before she could step away, he reached out and grabbed the front of her robes, mustering his fury into a steely grip as he threw his head back and laughed into Kayla’s face.

“Fools, the lot of you!” He laughed before yanking Kayla closer. “And especially you, you accursed bastard! If there’s anything that I regret in this life, it was taking you into my care!”

“Let go!” Kayla made to pull away, but the Grand Duke only tightened his grip, his fingernails catching in the fabric.

This crazy bastard!

“My today is your tomorrow! You’ll only know to regret this when it’s much too late!” The Grand Duke laughed maniacally, throwing his head back in twisted mirth.

Kayla sucked in a deep breath, pulling out of his grip. She gulped uneasily as a few of his fingernails broke in the process, leaving bloody spots on her collar.

“Enough of your ravings, you old bastard!” Xianchun snapped, tightening his grip on his sword.

“My prince, don’t,” Kayla warned him. Xianchun gave her a look of discontent but didn’t go any closer.

“It’ll all come to ruin,” the Grand Duke cried out, a wild glint in his eye. “You, the princes, the Emperor, and this country itself, all of it will be cursed to destruction!”

Kayla couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably.

“Ha! He’s gone mad!” Qu Boyong scoffed. The Grand Duke lifted his left arm, his right arm trembling with effort but failing to respond, and grabbed the dull dagger Xianchun had thrown before him.

Clenching his teeth, he shot them a furious glare. Everything was over. All the power and wealth he had accumulated through endless plots and toil couldn’t save him now.

You really shouldn’t be surprised that it was Wenyuan who would bring your doom, Kayla silently remarked. After all, weren’t you once in the same position? I guess it’s easy to forget when you’re no longer powerless.

The dagger shook in the Grand Duke’s hand. Whether it was rage or the atrophy of his muscles, Kayla couldn’t tell. The only thing she could be certain of was that it was not fear.

“Mark my words,” the Grand Duke warned. “You, all of you, will come to a violent end!”

“This piece of shit!” Qu Boyong started violently.

“I’m prepared for that,” Kayla replied. Her flat response seemed to spark something in the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke’s eyes widened and then narrowed, and he seemed to come to a realization of some sort. Shaking his head, he let out a dry laugh.

“So that’s how it was,” he muttered. He gave Kayla a mocking look and drew the dagger across his neck.

The dull edge of the dagger couldn’t make a proper cut, and the Grand Duke was forced to try again, sawing his own artery open with great effort. The old man grunted in pain, shaking and perspiring all the while.

Kayla found herself watching the scene emotionlessly. The expected feelings of satisfaction or discomfort didn’t emerge, and she watched just as passively as a young boy watches an ant burn under a magnifying glass.

“Watch as he constructs red towers, watch as he throws banquets for his guests, watch as the tower falls.” I never really understood that line until right now, when I'm finally seeing it happen with my own eyes.

The Grand Duke made a gurgling sound, blood seeping through his hands and down his arms, trickling down his neck and into his robes. The dagger fell to the floor with a clang. After a moment that seemed to drag on eternally, the Grand Duke slumped over and fell from his chair. Blood pooled under him, spreading out over the floor.

“Pathetic piece of shit,” Xianchun snarled, a look of vindication on his face. Kayla bowed towards him slightly.

“Thank you, my prince. I could not have done this on my own. Please allow me to offer my gratitude and congratulations, to you and to our cousin as well,” Kayla said politely. Xianchun gave her a pat on the shoulder before strolling forward to bask in his vengeance.

A strange sense of emptiness filled her mind. Her greatest obstacle was gone now, but so was the main reason why Wenyuan had been valuable in the eyes of the palace.

It’s all up to my own abilities from now on, Kayla slowly let out a deep breath, staying where she was as Qu Boyong went to join Xianchun.

A few moments later, Kayla entered the funeral hall with the wheelchair again. This time, it was empty.

Kayla pushed the wheelchair before the Zhao clan members who were gathered there, coming to a full stop before them. The hall was plunged into a breathless silence.

The Grand Duke is dead. Kayla didn't need to make an announcement for them to understand.

The silence lasted for what seemed to be forever, before Zhao Yihui began the ritualistic wailing again, continuing with the mourning ceremony. The others took his cue and joined in.

Hu Qing watched from an adjacent rooftop, throwing a handful of white paper money into the air and watching as it slowly fluttered down to settle in the courtyard. The Zhao clan members in rough white muslin carried on in the center of the hall, an empty coffin before them, with Kayla standing in between, as still as a statue. After a moment, she took a piece of white cloth from the altar and wrapped it around her head.

Of the people crying before her, not a single one was genuinely sad. Instead, they were each filled with their own hopes and fears, already watching their new head of clan with eager eyes, looking for any openings, weaknesses, or chances that they could grab onto.

Everything had changed within the span of a night, but strangely enough, Kayla felt that nothing had actually changed at all–rather than the Grand Duke, Kayla had become the new vessel for the greed that had given rise to the Zhao household.

All that changes by tomorrow, once the evidence is submitted, these people pretending to mourn right now will genuinely want to cry.

The Zhao clan was done. Kayla would be the only one to emerge relatively unscathed, while everyone else was condemned to obscurity as footnotes on the pages of history. They would certainly resent her for it. But at this point, all the choices had been made, and all the chances had been squandered, what could they possibly do about it?

Kayla lifted her gaze to the incense smoke as it curled upwards into the rafters, trapped within the confines of the roof.

The Third Prince glanced at the sky. The moon was half-obscured by clouds, its dim and murky light flickering in and out of sight as shadows crossed its surface.

“Things must be wrapping up in the Zhao household by now, wouldn’t you say?” He murmured.

His host only dipped his head slightly, offering no reply.

Kuang sipped at the tea, offering a smile. “This tea is excellent,” he complimented his host.

Wei Guang bowed his head, finally breaking his silence. “Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I’ll have my servants pack some for you.”

Kuang shook his head. “No need, its exquisiteness is because of the one who poured it for me, there’s no point in having just the leaves.”

Wei Guang smiled. “I am unworthy of your praise, my prince.”

“I’ll have to come more often,” Kuang remarked. “We’ve spoken so many times, but it’s the first time I’ve sat with you face-to-face like this.”

“The honor is mine,” Wei Guang replied. Once Kuang set down the teacup, Wei Guang handed him a scroll.

“Here is the evidence, my prince,” Wei Guang said.

Kuang opened the scroll, glancing it over.

“Unfortunately, it is scanter than I had originally intended, but please do not misunderstand. It is not that I’m trying to protect my godson, but rather the result of his cautious nature. Even though he lives under my roof and calls me his godfather, he has not fully placed his trust in me,” Wei Guang explained as he saw Kuang’s brow furrow.

“No, that’s fine. This is more than good enough,” Kuang said, setting the scroll aside. He gave Wei Guang a look of amusement. “But are you really alright with this? He is your godson after all.”

Wei Guang bowed his head. “My priority has and always will be the future of the dynasty. No matter who it is, they cannot hold greater importance to me than that.”

At those words, Kuang’s eyes narrowed briefly before he resumed his smile.

“Your strength of will is truly exemplary,” Kuang said. “If only all subjects were as loyal as you, there would be no need to use such methods. I’m quite grateful to your godson though, it’s a great help to me that he’s dragged Xianchun into these murky waters.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Wei Guang replied. “Then with your permission, my prince, I’ll send this to the palace.”

Kuang’s smile widened. “Go ahead.”

He glanced out the window again just as the moon emerged from the clouds, his smile fading into a look of grim determination.

“From here on, it was the beginning of a new era,” he murmured.

Kayla took out the nullification talisman from the Empress Dowager with ceremonial reverence. She took a deep breath and activated it, acting as though the act took a great deal of resolve. Nullification talismans were few and far in between–it would be suspicious if she used them without even a shred of hesitation.

The wards on the vault came undone, and Sun Zhong’e got to work forcing its doors open.

“Please wait for a moment, allow me to ascertain the safety inside,” Sun Zhong’e said. She went in first, checking for any traps before emerging to give them a nod. “It is safe.”

“Thank you, you can go now,” Kayla said. Sun Zhong’e bowed and left.

“My prince, allow me to lead the way,” Kayla said to Xianchun. He nodded, following her lead as they entered the vault. It was a small room, only the size of a supply closet, but it was stacked ceiling to floor with scrolls.

“There are so many scrolls…just how many crimes has this bastard covered up?!” Xianchun exclaimed.

“It’s a good thing we killed him on our own terms after all,” Qu Boyong said with grudging approval. “With this much, there’s no telling how many people this will implicate.” He glanced at Kayla, who gave him an affirming nod. He reluctantly returned it.

“We need to think about how we’ll use this. If you pull a single hair, it’ll move the whole body,” Xianchun said.

Wow, that’s something I never thought I’d hear him say.

“I found a catalog!” Qu Boyong had an unfurled scroll in his hands. “It seems this records everything in here.”

Kayla stepped forward to take a look, already having a good idea of what the contents were.

It was the contents of this vault that screwed me over in the future Lady Lin showed me, but now we're all wandering around here together, Kayla thought to herself. Looking at Xianchun and Qu Boyong now, at least their anger wasn't directed toward her anymore. Did I make it? Did I really succeed?

“Come here and take a look, Wenyuan. Tell us what you think,” Xianchun called her over.

She immediately complied. They went through the scrolls for a bit, agreeing on which ones to submit, where, and to whom.

“First, let’s completely crush the Grand Duke’s reputation with Consort Chen and General Xiang’s case, and then we’ll be able to destroy the rest of his faction with the evidence without any resistance.”

“Yes, and look here, these officials will probably jump in. But if we push Dong Shiqing out into the line of fire first, they’ll try to pile everything onto him–best to distract them with that for now and withhold the fact that we have dirt on them as well.”

“This guy…didn’t he already die? And Liu Hongyu’s also dead.”

“All the more reason why we need to hold on to their cases for now, or everyone implicated will push all the blame onto them.”

“But look here…”

The discussion went on until Kayla’s head spun, with Qu Boyong and Xianchun each arguing into one of her ears without pausing for the other to finish speaking.

“My prince,” Kayla jumped in, forcibly cutting him off. “I understand your concerns, but it’s too idealistic to think that way. If those old-timers realize there is something on them, they’ll probably immediately go and turn themselves in for a lesser crime, and cry until the Emperor is morally blackmailed into giving them a light punishment or simply allowing them to retire. Even if more evidence is uncovered on them later, it’d smear the Emperor’s honor to go back on his decisions. It’s best to simply pull the carpet out from under their feet in one go.”

“Those old codgers should just drop dead rather than cause us so much trouble!” Xianchun threw his hands up in exasperation. Qu Boyong immediately gave his vehement agreement, and Kayla had to dig her heels in to keep the discussion on track.

Almost an hour later, they finally had a preliminary plan of action. Copies of the catalog and key scrolls were created with talismans and distributed between the three of them. Finally done, they exited the vault and into the quiet air of the study. Kayla could still vaguely hear the mourning rites continuing in the hall.

“My prince, it’ll be morning soon,” Kayla said, glancing up at the sky. “The two of you should return before it arouses suspicion.”

“Very well,” Xianchun assented.

Qu Boyong bowed his head towards Xianchun, before giving Kayla a crisp nod. The worst of his enmity seemed to have melted away over the course of the night.

“Then at risk of being impolite, I’ll take my leave first,” Qu Boyong said.

“Alright, keep your head down for now, it won’t be long until we restore your position,” Xianchun said, Kayla nodding along. Qu Boyong bowed deeply and took off over the rooftops. He passed by Hu Qing, who gave him a friendly wave that went ignored.

Xianchun walked over to a stone stool in the courtyard and sat down with a sigh.

“I’m surprised at how tiring that was,” Xianchun said.

“Are you satisfied, my prince?” Kayla asked in a quiet voice.

“It could’ve been better, but I suppose this is enough. But this won’t really be over until the evidence has been taken care of,” Xianchun said.

“I’ll submit the evidence first thing tomorrow morning,” Kayla said.

Xianchun let out another sigh. “Alright,” he said grimly.

The silence stretched out for a moment. Kayla found that she was also exhausted now that everything was over.

“I’ll head back first,” Xianchun said, standing up and dusting off his robes. Kayla quickly followed suit.

“Let me walk you to the door,” Kayla said.

“No need, you have plenty of work to do here,” Xianchun said, gesturing at the household at large.

“It’s alright,” Kayla replied. “Hu Qing’s keeping an eye on things, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“You certainly place a lot of faith in him,” Xianchun remarked.

“Yes, he’s very capable.”

“You’d do well to keep an eye out,” Xianchun said, his voice taking on a weary note. “If you give him too much leeway, there’s no telling if he’ll end up going behind your back.”

Aren't you just projecting your household troubles onto me? Kayla kept her thoughts to herself and bowed her head, accepting the warning.

The two of them walked out of the household in silence, Xianchun’s men already waiting for him at the side gates.

“Please have a safe trip, Your Highness,” Kayla said. Xianchun nodded and stepped onto his carriage, soon disappearing into the dark. Kayla let out a sigh and turned back, nodding at Zhao Chao who was waiting for her by the gate. He moved to step aside, but suddenly started and rushed forward.

“Minister!” Zhao Chao shouted. Kayla jolted, and a hand clamped down firmly on her shoulder. She froze, a feeling of unease creeping over her.

“Apologies for startling you, Minister,” a familiar voice said. Kayla glanced over her shoulder at the face of Li Que.

“Investigator Li,” Kayla said in surprise, trying to keep a tremor out of her voice.

What is he doing here?

“I’m very sorry to disturb you, Your Grace, but I need you to come with us,” Li Que said. He loosened his grip on her shoulder, and Kayla turned around to face a team of five Imperial Investigators. Other than Li Que, all of them were in full uniform, with masks covering their face.

“What’s the matter?” Kayla asked.

Li Que’s face was unreadable as he spoke. “Minister Zhao, you’re under arrest for deceiving the Emperor and conspiring against the court. Please come with us quietly.”

Kayla breathed in sharply, her hands clenching into fists at her side.

Ah, fuck. She couldn’t refuse and risk a forceful arrest. The Imperial Investigators were evidently choosing not to search the Zhao household even though they knew what was going on, which still left her employees and the Zhao clan members in the clear. More likely than not, they knew whose men they would find inside.

They’re choosing to maintain the Seventh Prince’s image by overlooking this, Kayla realized. That means they know of his involvement, but who could've–Wei Guang! It can only be him. But why?! Doesn’t he still need me right now?

Unless he didn’t.

Did he make a deal behind my back? Since when?! With who?

Kayla felt like the ground would crumble away under her feet at any moment, and she almost wished that it would.

Fuck, will they go after Hu Qing too?

“Your Grace,” Li Que prompted her, his voice polite but firm as he interrupted her thoughts.

Damn it! Kayla sucked in a deep breath.

“Yes, I understand. I am innocent, but I’ll comply with your investigation as required by the law,” Kayla replied, forcing her voice to remain as calm as possible.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Li Que said, bowing his head slightly. “Then please excuse me.”

He took out a pair of shackles and Kayla extended her arms. The cold metal clamped around her wrists. Taking one final glance over her shoulder towards the Zhao household, Kayla followed Li Que to the carriage in silence.

Cultural Notes

眼看他起朱楼，眼看他宴宾客，眼看他楼塌了/Watch as he raises red towers, watch as he hosts banquets for his guests, watch as the tower crumbles: A famous quote lamenting the fleetingness of power and riches, it comes from the Qing Dynasty play 桃花扇/Plum blossom fan. At the end of the play, when everything has already come to pass, an old singer laments the rises and falls he has seen through fifty years of life, ending the play on a ruminative note. This line is also used to lament how people in power have little thought for their future downfall, following the Taoist tradition of thought that "金玉满堂，莫之能守；富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功遂身退，天之道"/Even with gold and jade filling your halls, you cannot protect it. Growing proud on riches and power, you create the path for your own downfall. To retreat [and live modestly] once your merit is attained is the way of heaven." Though this has been around since the pre-Qin dynasty, the number of powerful people or clans who were able to hold themselves to it are few and far in-between.

哭丧/Ritualistic mourning: A funeral tradition in which family members, or in some circumstances, paid mourners, weep and wail, lamenting the passing of their family members. To express one's filial piety, it was expected that one would cry loudly, and for an extended period of time. Paid mourners also emerged from this tradition, and men or women (usually widows) who were good at wailing in a heartrending manner could make a decent living off of that.

唢呐/Suona: A traditional Chinese instrument usually used for "Red or white affairs", aka weddings or funerals. It has a sharp, clear tone that is rather distinctive and has regained popularity in the modern day since it is surprisingly compatible with dubstep. It originated in Ancient Iran, and appeared in China around the 3rd century, where it gained prominence in folk music. Here is an example of a famous suona piece, 百鸟朝凤/Hundred birds pay respects to the phoenix.

丧服/Mourning clothes: Traditional Chinese mourning clothes tend to be made of rough white cloth (usually muslin). White was the traditional color of mourning. Mourners often wear white cone-shaped hooded capes (that do not cover their faces) or tie strips of white cloth around their foreheads.

纸钱/Paper money: Traditional Chinese funerary practices involved the burning of paper money for the dead to use in the afterlife.

拖入浑水/Drag into murky waters: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to drag someone into trouble from which they cannot emerge without sullying their reputation to some degree, just like you can't emerge from murky waters with clean clothing.

牵一发而动全身/Pull a hair and move the body: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to affect a large range of affairs/people by making a small move, often used in reference to important cases of conspiracy or corruption where a single person's prosecution may end up damning hundreds of officials, and thus the court is most likely to band together and rally against any effective punishment/investigation.

先走一步/Take a step [away] first: A common Chinese saying meaning to leave first, it's often more polite than straight up saying "I'm going now." The common response to this is "慢走/Walk slowly".

Table of Contents

Information
Glossary/Character Index
1-The Main Character's Political Rival
2-The Grand Duke
3-The Zhao Household
4- The Original Zhao Wenyuan
5-Xianchun Appears
6-The Secretariat Director
7-The Court Convenes
8-The Court Convenes (II)
9-The Empress Dowager
10-The Emperor’s Verdict
11-The Girl with the Red Jade Necklace
12-Xianchun Appears (Again)
13-The Female General
14-Consort Zhao
15-A New Alliance
16-Xianchun Keeps Appearing
17-The Imperial Court
18-Making Amends
19-A New Ploy Begins
20-The Prince’s Strategist
21-Lèse-Majesté
22-Qu Boyong
23-The Fifth Prince
24-The Wrath of a Prince
25-Sworn Warriors
26-Reinvestigation
27-Imperial Decree
28-Head of Investigation
29-Testimony and Evidence
30-Nullification Magic
31-The Turbulent Court
32-The Resolution
33-Back to the Ministry
34-The New Minister
35-The Third Prince Returns
36-Court of Judicial Review
37-Path of the Forefathers
38-Path of the Forefathers (II)
Title Change Announcement
39-The Offers
40-Action and Reaction
41-Uncovered Truths
42-Knives in the Shadow
43-The Three Princes
44-The Accusation
45-Coercion and Bribery
46-Scapegoat
47-Shame and Honor
48-Shame and Honor (II)
49-The Cyclical Nature of Fate
50-On the Same Boat
51-Victim of Victory
52-Ties of Blood
53-Temptation
54-The Precipice
55-The Burden of Responsibility
56-The Gears of Fate
57-Blade in Moonlight
58-Candle in the Wind
59-The Stone-Cold Palace
60-The Imperial Princess’ Villa
61-Whetstone
62-Sharpening the Axe
63-Double Edged Sword
64-Broken Mirrors
65-The Traditionalists
66-Ten-Thousand Feet Abyss
66.5-The Red-light District
67-Sleepless Night
68-Left Secretariat
69-Two Sides of the Same Blade
70-Imperial Edict Bearer
71-Contender
72-Magical Research
73-Crumbling Cliff
74-Disloyalty Without Betrayal
75-Tipping the Scale
76-Bargain
77-Revelations
77.5-Extras: Meme Collection
78-Moonlit Encounter
79-Act of Mercy
80-Imperial Bestowment
81-Expanding the Playing Field
82-Favors and Exchanges
83-Feeding the Tiger
84-The Qualities of an Emperor
85-Inevitability
86-Internal Discord
87-Repayment
88-Confrontation
89-Crisis and Chance
90-Three-Way Melee
91-Divinator
92-Original Timeline
93-Paths of the Future (Part I)
94-Paths of the Future (Part II)
95-Returning to the Capital
96-Consequences Past and Future
97-Power Base
98-The Privilege of Choice
99-The Palace Walls
100-Theatrics
101-Shadows of Truth
102-Plan for the Worst
103-Hope for the Best
104-Old Feuds and New Conflicts
105-Irreversible Course
106-Irrevocable Change
107-Three Families of Chu
108-Glints of Blades Shadows of Swords
109-Morning Light
110-Alibi and Excuse
111-The Brewing Storm
112-Coup
113-The Red Towers Crumble