Jiang Ci lay by the window, watching the silver flakes swirling in the courtyard. She glanced back at the hourglass and pouted helplessly before blowing out the candle.
Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she vaguely heard the door open. Her heart leaped with joy, but she kept her breathing slow and even, feigning deep sleep.
In the darkness, he quietly approached the bed and sat down, gently stroking her forehead.
His fingers were as cold as snow, making her shiver involuntarily. She sat up, chiding, “You knew I was pretending to sleep, yet you did that on purpose.” She took Wei Zhao’s icy hands and held them to her chest. The cold made her shudder again, and her stomach churned. She leaned over the bed and began to retch.
Wei Zhao quickly patted her back, asking anxiously, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Ci gasped, “I might have caught a chill.”
Not wanting her to see his night clothes, Wei Zhao fumbled in the dark for a teacup. Jiang Ci rinsed her mouth and lay back down. Wei Zhao quietly removed his night clothes and slipped under the covers, holding her close. They cuddled silently as snowflakes danced outside, and their cold bodies gradually warmed.
“Wu Xia.”
“Mm?”
“Are you… going to do something very dangerous?” She finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind for days.
He was startled and took a long time to reply, “Don’t worry, I am doing some things, but they’re not dangerous.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You’re not lying to me?”
“I’m not lying to you.”
“If you’re lying, you’re a puppy.”
He held her tighter and said softly, “Why don’t you learn? We’re not puppies, we’re two cats.”
She laughed, saying proudly, “Now I think two cats aren’t fun enough. We should have a litter of kittens running all over the house. That would be fun.”
Will that day ever come? He was stunned, suddenly overwhelmed by an intense fear. He had always gambled with his life and always longed for death, but now he had someone to care for. If something happened to him—what would become of her? What would become of Yueluo?
She sensed his unease and clung to him tightly. He sighed inwardly, allowing this faint flame to envelop him in boundless warmth on this snowy night.
The heavy snow continued for three days.
From the 10th day of the 11th month, Pei Yan and other Grand Scholars like Dong Fang spent their days in the Inner Cabinet, preparing for the winter imperial examinations and the grand sacrifice at the imperial mausoleum on the winter solstice.
On the 10th, Pei Zifang set out from the capital, heading to Liangzhou to mediate and oversee river works.
That night, the heavy snow finally began to subside, but knee-deep snow covered the capital, leaving the cold, desolate streets empty.
Grand Scholar Yin Shilin was drafting questions for this year’s winter examinations by lamplight. When he wrote “The threat of death and loss, brothers deeply cherish,” he slowly put down his brush.
He opened the window and gazed at the dark northwestern sky. Would he ever again climb the back mountain of Xingyue Valley and quietly watch the boundless autumn colors with those as close as brothers?
He returned to his desk, his gaze falling on a jade seal—Yin Shilin. He shook his head and smiled bitterly. The real Yin Shilin had been killed in Wild Boar Forest twenty years ago on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations. Who could know that the current Yin Shilin was Mu Shi, a quiet, bookish youth from Yueluo?
Outside the window, a figure silently dropped from the eaves and entered through the window. Yin Shilin quickly closed the window, turned, and bowed, “Sect Leader.”
Wei Zhao removed his mask and glanced at the desk, “This year’s winter examination questions?”
“Yes.”
Wei Zhao said, “We won’t make it for this year’s winter examinations. In the future, I’ll have to trouble Fifth Uncle to find ways to admit more of our Yueluo disciples.”
Yin Shilin was startled, “Sect Leader means—”
Wei Zhao sat down and said, “Please sit, Fifth Uncle.”
Yin Shilin sat down, his posture straight, exuding the dignity and seriousness of a scholar. Wei Zhao felt pleased and recounted his dealings with Pei Yan.
The past year had been tumultuous and heart-stopping, but Wei Zhao spoke of it calmly. Yin Shilin listened silently, only realizing he was drenched in sweat when Wei Zhao finished.
He wanted to kneel before Wei Zhao, prostrate himself, and perform Yueluo’s most solemn ritual, but Wei Zhao beat him to it, slowly kneeling before him.
Yin Shilin finally couldn’t hold back his tears, reaching out to gently stroke Wei Zhao’s head. Feeling this familial affection, Wei Zhao suddenly felt like a child again and said softly, “Uncle, all these years, I’ve had nightmares every night, not knowing if I’d live to see the next day.”
Yin Shilin sighed deeply. Wei Zhao’s voice choked as he continued, “Uncle if this succeeds, that’s best. Wu Xia can continue to serve our people wholeheartedly. But if it fails, or if I must sacrifice my life, Wu Xia may never return.”
Yin Shilin knew the emperor’s formidable nature and was speechless.
“Uncle, Fourth Uncle has the talent to govern. I’m at ease leaving Yueluo to him. But here in Hua Dynasty, I can only entrust everything to you.”
Yin Shilin pulled Wei Zhao up, “Wu Xia, stand up and speak.”
Wei Zhao said solemnly, “Uncle, if this fails and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, as part of the Qingliu faction, please strongly advise him not to force our people to offer male concubines. If we succeed but I’m not here, you must keep an eye on Pei Yan.”
Yin Shilin knew Pei Yan well and nodded, “I will do so.”
“What we can do now is to strive for several decades for Yueluo. During these decades, we must prevent Pei Yan from ascending the throne, but also ensure he doesn’t lose his current power.”
“Yes, if he becomes emperor, he might renege on his promises. If he has no power, he naturally can’t benefit Yueluo.”
“Exactly. Although Prince Jing’s influence is weak, he’s no pushover. Uncle, your task will be to maneuver between him and Pei Yan, maintaining a balance of power between them, and ensuring that what we have on Pei Yan remains effective. Abolishing the enslavement of our people, allowing Yueluo to establish a vassal state—we must make Pei Yan fulfill all these promises!”
Wei Zhao’s voice was solemn and authoritative. Yin Shilin couldn’t help but kneel on one knee, saying firmly, “Mu Shi will obey the Sect Leader’s orders until death!”
Wei Zhao helped him up and said, “Uncle, there’s one more thing I need to entrust to you.”
“Please speak, Sect Leader.”
Wei Zhao took out a booklet from his bosom and handed it to Yin Shilin, “Over these years, I’ve used the property granted by His Majesty and the bribes I’ve received to establish several businesses across the country, currently managed by Manager Sheng of Tongsheng Hall. If I’m not here, these people and businesses will be in your hands. Uncle, you’re a scholar, but you should understand that without substantial financial backing, we’ll achieve nothing.”
“Yes, Mu Shi understands.”
“Also, over the years, I’ve gathered evidence against many officials and planted spies in their households. It’s all recorded in this booklet. Uncle, please use this information as you see fit.”
Yin Shilin opened the booklet and read it through twice. Then he closed his eyes for a moment before throwing the booklet into the charcoal brazier.
Wei Zhao had heard from his master about Fifth Uncle’s photographic memory, so he wasn’t surprised. He smiled and said, “Uncle’s caution is truly reassuring.”
Yin Shilin seemed hesitant. Wei Zhao said, “Uncle, if you have something to say, please speak.”
“Sect Leader, what about the evidence of Pei Yan’s crimes and the edicts he wrote?”
Wei Zhao had pondered this for days and made a decision, “Uncle, you’re in the Hua Dynasty, dealing with wolves. Keeping those things with you is risky.”
Yin Shilin knew that navigating the treacherous waters of court politics and maintaining his reputation among the Qingliu faction had made him many enemies. There was always a risk of failure or being stripped of his position and having his property confiscated. Keeping such sensitive documents with him indeed posed a great danger. He obviously couldn’t return to Yueluo personally to hand them over to Fourth Uncle. But he couldn’t help asking, “Who does the Sect Leader plan to entrust these items to? It’s too late to send them back to Yueluo now.”
Wei Zhao stood up and said, “I want to entrust these things to someone. If I don’t return, I’ll ask him to take them to Yueluo and give them to Fourth Uncle.”
“Oh? Who?”
“He is a gentleman, the person in this world who understands Pei Yan best and is most capable of protecting these items!”
The heavy snow blanketed the capital, and Chaoyang Manor, over 200 li north of the city, was buried under even deeper snow.
In the black night, the snow-covered ground emitted a faint, cold glow. At the end of the hai hour, a convoy of carts transporting military rations entered the Hexi Army camp.
Upon receiving the report, Gao Cheng personally went to inspect the granary. He cut open a sack with his knife, and white rice poured out from the slit. Gao Cheng caught a handful and examined it closely, then smiled coldly without saying a word before returning to his quarters.
As soon as he entered the room, his expression changed, but he quickly composed himself, closed the door, extinguished the candle, and said loudly with a hint of anger, “Everyone disperse, don’t stand around outside.” The guards on duty, aware of his recent bad mood and fearing becoming collateral damage, quickly retreated.
Gao Cheng knelt and said softly, “Your Highness, why did you come personally? It’s freezing out there.”
Prince Zhuang sat in the darkness, his eyes glimmering, “How could I not come personally to instruct you on how to proceed? I couldn’t rest easy otherwise. How are the preparations going?”
Gao Cheng lowered his voice, “Last night, I walked the route according to the terrain map Pei Yan provided. There is indeed a hidden mountain path from Matihao to the imperial mausoleum that bypasses the Jinshikou garrison of the capital. However, we need to pass through a cave with a large boulder blocking the way. Only one person can crawl through at a time, which will likely cause some delay.”
“If we move troops too early, it might arouse suspicion,” Prince Zhuang pondered.
Gao Cheng said, “We can’t use explosives to blast the rock, but I have an idea.”
“Speak.”
“We still have ten days. We can bring in some stonemasons to chisel away at the boulder. Once the job is done, we’ll kill them to silence them.”
“That’s our only option.” Prince Zhuang nodded, “The grand sacrifice begins promptly at the si hour. Pei Yan, Third Young Master, and I will keep Father Emperor and the Crown Prince on the Fangcheng platform, preventing them from issuing orders. Third Young Master will have the Guangming Si guards control other areas within the mausoleum. When you hear the bell, quickly subdue Jiang Yuan’s Imperial Guards outside the mausoleum, then change into their uniforms. Enter the mausoleum saying that Prince Jing is staging a coup in the capital, and you’ve been ordered to protect His Majesty. Have some men control the civil and military officials, while the rest go up to the Fangcheng platform to eliminate Father Emperor and the Crown Prince, and subdue Pei Yan.”
Gao Cheng was surprised, “Prince Jing won’t be at the mausoleum?”
Prince Zhuang laughed coldly, “Hmph, Pei Yan wants to use me, so I’ll turn the tables on him. Don’t think I don’t know what he’s planning. Through Third Young Master, I’ve promised him to divide the realm, making him believe I’m truly desperate and seeking his help. He in turn advised against raising troops, suggesting we strike at Father Emperor and the Crown Prince during the grand sacrifice, then frame Prince Jing, after which he’d support my ascension to the throne. I suspect Prince Jing will feign illness to avoid attending the mausoleum ceremony.”
Gao Cheng understood his hatred for the fall of the Gao clan surging. He gritted his teeth, “This is his usual trick—using others to do his dirty work, then discarding them!”
“Exactly. He wants to use us to eliminate Father Emperor and the Crown Prince, then pin the crime on us, claiming we staged a coup so he can support Prince Jing’s ascension. Heh, what a perfect plan he thinks he has! But the Third Young Master anticipated this and told me to pretend to fall for it. As soon as we make our move, Tao Xingde will lead men to kill Prince Jing in the city. With Prince Jing dead and Pei Yan under our control, he’ll have no choice.”
“Why not take the opportunity to eliminate Pei Yan, claiming he and Prince Jing conspired together?” Gao Cheng asked.
Prince Zhuang sighed, “Ning Jianyu has a large army stationed in Hexi. Who dares to move against him? For now, I still need his power to keep Prince Qingde and Yue Fan in check. Once I’ve secured the throne and dealt with Prince Qingde and Yue Fan, we can slowly handle him.”