“Empress Dowager Xia conspired with the former imperial physician to secretly poison the late emperor, manipulated the imperial relatives’ monopoly of power that misled the nation, and has been stripped of her Empress Dowager title by His Majesty and imprisoned in the Lateral Courts.” This news seemed to grow wings, flying over the palace walls in a single night and spreading throughout the capital’s streets and alleys.
That Empress Dowager Xia could fall from her lofty position into the abyss overnight truly shocked many people. Once this news reached the common folk, it was like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly stirring up a seething response. Those who had hated the Xia clan for years, though not daring to openly celebrate, all spread the word privately and even secretly felt vindicated on His Majesty’s behalf. Many astute individuals sensitive to political currents silently calculated in their hearts: the winds at court were about to change completely!
Indeed, after several days, His Majesty elevated the former Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor and Minister of Personnel, Wu Yue, to the position of Right Chancellor. As soon as Wu Yue took office, he immediately submitted a memorial angrily denouncing the current Left Chancellor Xia Mingyuan for ten crimes including usurping imperial authority, forming cliques for personal gain, and embezzlement over the years. The thousands-word manifesto, with its resounding phrases, directly accused Xia Mingyuan of being a treacherous minister and rebel whom everyone should eliminate. Xia Mingyuan, in the midst of grief over his sister’s imprisonment, found himself speechless when questioned. In his agitation, he tried to refute but actually coughed up blood, then clutched his chest and collapsed. The court immediately fell into chaos, and His Majesty could only order him to be carried back to his residence for treatment. Thereafter, Xia Mingyuan claimed illness and hid in his mansion, never emerging again.
However, just as the outside world buzzed with claims that Xia Mingyuan was deliberately feigning illness to avoid disaster, he was truly ill. In the main chamber of the Chancellor’s residence, heavy medicinal odors masked the incense. Under dark blue brocade covers, Xia Mingyuan’s chest rose and fell violently with continuous heavy breathing. Upon closer inspection, white hairs had actually begun growing at his temples. This powerful minister who had dominated two reigns finally completely collapsed when facing his approaching doom.
Luo Yuan stood with lowered arms before Xia Mingyuan’s couch, sighing deeply: “Chancellor must take better care of your health. The winds at court are unclear now. If Chancellor doesn’t recover quickly, I fear the entire situation will become even more passive.”
Xia Mingyuan’s eyes dimmed. How could he not know that the Empress Dowager had been placed under house arrest, and he now shouldered the safety and survival of the entire Xia clan? But he had grown old and truly felt overwhelmed. He sighed heavily, then coughed up thick phlegm before speaking with slight gasps: “How is the current situation? What moves has His Majesty made?”
Luo Yuan immediately replied solemnly: “The Censorate has submitted many memorials, all impeaching Xia clan officials, but His Majesty has kept them all without issuing any, so his attitude cannot be discerned. However…” His expression grew grave as he stepped forward: “His Majesty seems to intend drafting an edict to summon General Qin and the others back to court for debriefing!”
“What!” Xia Mingyuan felt his heart contract, immediately sitting up in terror. Qin Xuan was his eldest son-in-law, who had been leading eighty thousand troops stationed in Yanzhou to guard against the feudal princes’ movements. If even he had his military authority stripped and was summoned back to the capital, the Xia clan would be completely without support. It seemed His Majesty intended to use the strategy of removing the firewood from under the cauldron – first gradually reclaiming the military power in the Xia clan’s hands, cutting off all their escape routes, then delivering the final devastating blow.
Thinking this, Xia Mingyuan felt a cold wind eerily penetrate his heart, chilling his limbs. He only blamed himself for being too careless, having consistently underestimated Zhao Yan. He never imagined that this emperor whom he had confidently believed he could control would possess such deep scheming.
Seeing his ashen complexion, Luo Yuan quickly bowed to console him: “We haven’t reached the worst moment yet. Chancellor needn’t worry too much. However, in this student’s view, Chancellor should plan countermeasures early. If General Qin truly surrenders his military authority and returns to the capital, the situation may become irreversible.”
Xia Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, studying Luo Yuan before him. He had always known this young man was ambitious and appreciated his drive and intelligence, so over the past year he had assigned him various tasks, yet never dared trust him completely. Who could have imagined they would reach this point – the Xia clan’s great edifice was about to collapse, all officials connected to the Xia clan were being monitored by His Majesty’s agents, and ironically he could only rely on this previously inconspicuous minor figure to gather intelligence from the court. But was this person truly trustworthy?
Sensing that suspicious gaze, Luo Yuan immediately knelt down: “Wenqian’s loyalty to Chancellor is absolute. If Chancellor doesn’t trust me, Wenqian dare not argue, and can only depart in grievance.”
Xia Mingyuan quickly gestured for him to rise, then smiled bitterly: “When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Given my current state, if Wenqian were truly one of those opportunistic sycophants, you would have avoided me long ago. How could I not trust you? So… what do you think should be done now?”
Luo Yuan stood up, a flash of sharpness in his eyes. He walked to Xia Mingyuan’s bedside and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Forgive this student’s bluntness, but Chancellor’s current predicament is the result of His Majesty’s long planning and calculated steps. Therefore, he will never easily spare the Xia clan. The only strategy now is to burn the boats – only by placing ourselves in mortal danger can we find life!”
Xia Mingyuan’s body shook, then he pointed at him angrily: “Insolent! You want me to rebel and usurp the throne! Don’t you know this crime would implicate nine generations of the clan!”
Luo Yuan quickly prostrated himself, his arms trembling yet his voice remaining firm: “This student wouldn’t dare, but if Chancellor wishes to preserve the Xia clan, this is the only way!”
Xia Mingyuan seemed furious beyond measure. He grabbed a porcelain pillow from beside him and threw it at Luo Yuan: “Get out! Given that you’ve remained loyal to me until today, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. Otherwise, even your life would be in danger!”
Luo Yuan was covered in cold sweat but still stood up and bowed steadily before turning to leave.
Xia Mingyuan, over-excited from the confrontation, felt sharp chest pains. He clutched his chest gasping heavily. The servants guarding the door noticed something amiss and hurried in to ask if they should summon a physician, but Xia Mingyuan only waved weakly and roared: “All of you get out! Don’t enter without my orders!”
The room returned to silence, echoing only with suppressed low coughs and the dripping of the water clock. Xia Mingyuan leaned against the brocade cushions, suddenly filled with an inescapable sense of tragedy. How could he not know that what Luo Yuan said was the only way out? Since His Majesty had made his move, he would never leave the Xia clan any chance of survival – he would certainly pursue them to utter destruction. Recalling Qin Mu to the capital was only the first step; his next target would definitely be himself. But if they truly rebelled, they would be gambling with the lives of the entire clan. How could he make such a decision lightly? Moreover, besides the eighty thousand troops in Yanzhou, the most crucial military power the Xia clan could mobilize was the thirty thousand Imperial Guards under Xia Qing’s command. But Xia Qing had an unruly character and had always been very close to His Majesty – he was truly an unpredictable variable. The more he thought, the more his head ached as if splitting, his vision seeming white and blank, unable to see the path ahead.
By nightfall, under the cover of heavy twilight, someone couldn’t wait for announcement and hurriedly burst into Xia Mingyuan’s bedchamber. Seeing Xia Qing still in armor with his sword, obviously having come directly from the military camp, Xia Mingyuan had no time to blame him for barging in so boldly and quickly rose to ask: “What happened?”
Xia Qing unbuckled his sword and threw it heavily on the desk, his face dark: “His Majesty summoned me to the palace, ordering me to surrender command of the Imperial Guards tomorrow and await other assignments. Isn’t this obviously kicking us when we’re down, forcing us to a dead end!”
Xia Mingyuan was shocked again but quickly steadied himself, saying slowly: “His Majesty moves truly fast. Before even recalling Qin Mu, he’s already impatiently targeting your Imperial Guards.”
Xia Qing turned to look at him, his eyes fierce: “Uncle, we can’t just sit and wait for death anymore. If this continues, the Xia clan will be gradually devoured completely!”
Xia Mingyuan remained calm: “What do you think should be done?”
Xia Qing walked to Xia Mingyuan’s side and whispered: “Uncle, do you know that Prince Qi has always harbored rebellious intentions!”
Xia Mingyuan raised an eyebrow with an “Oh” – this was indeed the first time he’d heard of this.
Xia Qing sat on the bed’s edge, quietly recounting how Xiao Du had once escaped by instigating Prince Qi’s rebellion, then said gravely: “Prince Qi is just a useless fool who can’t accomplish great things, but he could be useful to us. If someone could tip him off now, letting him know that evidence of his intention to ally with the Xiao family army for rebellion is already in His Majesty’s hands, then send a fake imperial edict summoning him to the capital, he would have no choice but to rebel to save his life.”
He smiled slightly: “For Prince Qi to rebel and advance into the Central Plains, he must pass through General Qin’s military defenses at Yanzhou. General Qin need only pretend to be overwhelmed and let Prince Qi’s forces drive straight through, then pursue them to the capital under the pretext of suppressing rebellion. At that time, my Imperial Guards could coordinate with General Qin from within and without. Once the imperial city falls into chaos, we could take advantage to enter the palace and kill Zhao Yan. With Prince Qi’s meager forces, there’s no way they could resist General Qin and me united. After eliminating them all, we could bring the Empress Dowager out of the Cold Palace, support a new ruler, and wouldn’t the entire realm be in our Xia family’s hands?”
After listening carefully, Xia Mingyuan’s mind brightened considerably. He thought through the plan from beginning to end and felt it was flawlessly arranged with a seventy to eighty percent chance of success. But he still worried: “You must surrender your military authority tomorrow. Will you still be able to mobilize the Imperial Guards then?”
Xia Qing’s face showed arrogant confidence: “The personal troops I trained myself – how could he take them back just by saying so? Even if he immediately appoints someone new, I can guarantee that at least several battalion commanders will only obey me. Moreover, I have this.”
He pulled out a map from his robes and spread it before Xia Mingyuan. When Xia Mingyuan saw it clearly, his face lit up with an unusual glow as he said tremblingly: “This is a complete map of the imperial city’s military strength and terrain!”
Xia Qing smiled proudly: “Exactly. Since His Majesty has always been wary of the Xia family, I naturally had to leave myself an escape route. This map took me a full year to complete. Though the troop deployments and defensive terrain may not be perfect to the smallest detail, there won’t be major omissions. With this map, it would be child’s play for General Qin to attack the imperial city.” He quickly grew serious again: “Uncle, whether the Xia family submits to slaughter or fights back with all we have depends entirely on your decision. This concerns the life and death of our entire clan. With just one word from you, your nephew will absolutely obey without daring to disobey.”
Xia Mingyuan pondered for a long time, his face finally showing resolute determination. But he thought of another matter: “Though this strategy is good, there’s still one hidden danger. Have you considered that Xiao Du won’t just sit by and watch us successfully seize the throne? The Xiao family army is stationed in the northwest. If they also take advantage of the chaos to attack the capital, wouldn’t they catch us off guard?”
Xia Qing said: “That’s simple – we can first form an alliance with him. Uncle can send him a letter, telling him to simply remain inactive. After we succeed, we’re willing to divide the realm and rule with him. Without spending a single soldier, Xiao Du could gain half the empire. I don’t believe he wouldn’t be tempted.”
“This…” Seeing Xia Mingyuan clearly hesitating, Xia Qing continued persuading: “Small hesitations ruin great plans! Our greatest threat now is His Majesty. We and Xiao Du share a common enemy. Now we must first secure his cooperation to ensure this plan doesn’t go wrong. Once we’ve secured our position, we can settle accounts with him later.”
Xia Mingyuan narrowed his eyes and pondered, then said: “Though that’s true, what if I tell him the entire plan and he turns around and reports it to His Majesty? Wouldn’t we be seeking our own destruction?”
Xia Qing laughed: “Uncle, how have you become confused from illness? If Xiao Du tells His Majesty about our rebellion, wouldn’t he be pushing himself to a dead end too? Think carefully – if the Xia family falls, who will be the next to suffer? When the rabbit dies, the hound is cooked, Uncle!”
Xia Mingyuan looked at that face reddened by candlelight and finally exhaled softly: “Fine, we’ll follow your plan for now. Let’s discuss it more carefully.”
The water clock dripped steadily, candles burned out and were relit. The two continued planning until dawn was about to break before finally settling on the entire scheme. Xia Qing replaced Xia Mingyuan’s tea with a hot cup: “Uncle, have you decided who will deliver this message to Xiao Du?”
Xia Mingyuan said: “There’s one person who’s most suitable. Since she’s of no use in this Chancellor’s residence anyway, might as well let her serve a purpose.” He seemed to think of something, remaining silent for a long time before telling Xia Qing: “Also, help me with one more matter.” He then leaned over and gave detailed instructions.
Xia Qing looked surprised: “At such a critical time, why does Uncle think to handle this matter?”
Xia Mingyuan’s face was hidden behind the white mist rising from his tea, revealing a moment of sorrow. His gaze profound, he set down the teacup and slowly said: “This is what I owe her – I must return it to her sooner or later.”
The next day, Xiao Du finished reading the secret letter in his hand, mockingly curved his lips, then burned the letter in the lamp flame. Turning to Yuanxi, he said: “He’s finally going to make his move. Your father would rather die than lose.”
Yuanxi’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t inquire about the details. She simply set down the book in her hands: “Pity he can’t see clearly – this great trend of the realm ultimately comes down to just two words: ‘the people’s hearts.’ Where the people’s hearts turn is the foundation of the empire. Now His Majesty has won the people’s hearts deeply, while the Xia clan is universally reviled as power-grabbing traitors. So no matter what he does, he’s destined to lose.”
Xiao Du raised an eyebrow noncommittally, then walked over to embrace her, saying gently: “Seventh Concubine has come. She’s in the flower hall and says she brought something for you. Do you want to see her?”
Yuanxi’s body stiffened. Seventh Concubine… had her illness recovered? Ever since learning the truth about her infertility, she had deliberately avoided this concubine whom she had regarded as a mother. She didn’t want to know if she had difficulties, nor did she want to think about how much of her kindness toward herself came from genuine feeling and how much from guilt. But after all, people aren’t grass or trees – sixteen years of mother-daughter affection and mutual dependence couldn’t be forgotten at will.
In the end, she went to the flower hall. But even though she had imagined many scenarios in her mind, when she clearly saw the withered, aged figure sitting in the hall, she still couldn’t help covering her mouth and weeping. This wasn’t the Seventh Concubine in her memory – illness and mental torment had nearly stripped away all her vitality, leaving only walking bones.
Hearing the sound, Seventh Concubine turned her head. When she saw Yuanxi’s face clearly, her previously lifeless eyes suddenly ignited with light. She stood up tremblingly, wanting desperately to walk toward her, but just as she took a step, she timidly stopped, her face flashing with countless painful emotions as she murmured: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Then she crouched down and began crying loudly.
The two wept facing each other for a long time. Finally, Yuanxi walked over to help up Seventh Concubine. Seventh Concubine clung to her arm like a drowning person grasping the last piece of driftwood. She stared with swollen red eyes, speaking incoherently: “I didn’t know, I really didn’t know at first, but I had no way to resist your father. Xi’er, it’s all my fault. Seventh Concubine couldn’t protect you – it’s all my fault…”
Yuanxi held her nearly skeletal arms and suddenly embraced her tightly: “It doesn’t matter anymore. None of that matters now. You’ll always be Xi’er’s Seventh Concubine.” She had already seen that Seventh Concubine probably didn’t have many days left. She didn’t want her to spend her final time in guilt.
That evening, thinking the mother and daughter must have much to discuss, Xiao Du specifically let Seventh Concubine stay in Yuanxi’s room. Under the flickering lamplight, Seventh Concubine combed Yuanxi’s hair as before, except the little girl with the charming smile in the bronze mirror had long since grown into a resilient woman who had weathered many storms.
Seventh Concubine sighed deeply, unable to help wiping away tears again. Then she finally remembered to take out a household registration document from her bundle and hand it to Yuanxi. Yuanxi curiously opened it to read carefully, only to see it detailed that she was born to a merchant family in the western part of the city, and her original surname should have been Yang.
Yuanxi felt momentarily dazed, looking up in a trance: “I… I’m not father’s biological child?”
Seventh Concubine touched the top of her head, sighing: “Of course you are. That year when the winter plum blossomed, I personally watched you being born and personally saw how overjoyed your father was.” Her gaze flickered, seeming to contain endless sighs and vicissitudes, slowly saying: “This is the last thing he did for you.”