Early the next morning, Xiao Jue had not returned.

Xiao Jing had also entered the palace, while Bai Rongwei and He Yan remained at the residence. Since Bai Rongwei was with child, He Yan didn’t want her to worry and avoided discussing palace matters with her. After servants helped Bai Rongwei to her chamber to rest, He Yan sat alone in the courtyard, waiting for Xiao Jue’s return.

Xiao Jue returned at nightfall.

Darkness had completely fallen, and lanterns were lit in the courtyard. He Yan, who had been absently reading at the table, saw him return with the evening wind clinging to him and a cold expression. She quickly rose and approached him, asking, “How did it go?”

Xiao Jue placed Yinqiu on the table, removed his outer garment, and after a moment’s silence said, “The national mourning begins in three days.”

“So quickly?” He Yan exclaimed in surprise.

“Not only that, but the Emperor left an edict ordering four imperial consorts and twenty palace maids to be buried with him.”

“Impossible!” He Yan blurted out.

While historical records did mention imperial burial customs involving the burial of consorts, this practice had been abolished before the previous emperor’s ascension. Emperor Hezong had deemed it too cruel and discontinued it. This was an already abolished custom, and although Emperor Wenxuan hadn’t achieved much in governance, he was known for being benevolent and tolerant—he would never issue such an edict.

“Consort Lan is among the four consorts to be buried,” Xiao Jue said coldly.

He Yan immediately understood. “You mean this edict is fake?”

Emperor Wenxuan had favored Consort Lan for many years. Now that he was dead, with no one to protect her, a false edict could easily be used to eliminate this thorn in their side.

“If the edict is fake…” He Yan looked up at Xiao Jue, her eyes flickering. “Did you see His Majesty…”

Xiao Jue looked at her. “No.”

He Yan felt her heart race.

If no one had seen the Emperor’s body, there was no way to verify if he had truly died from illness. If it was something else…

“I questioned the palace servants who were in the sleeping chamber. Fourth Prince had visited His Majesty before he retired.”

“What a coincidence?” He Yan frowned, though there seemed to be no reason for the Fourth Prince to harm the Emperor.

“After the mourning period comes the coronation ceremony,” Xiao Jue sat down. “The Crown Prince will ascend to the throne.”

He Yan’s voice grew serious: “This isn’t good news.”

Before any decree changing the heir apparent appeared, Emperor Wenxuan had passed away. Whether the Crown Prince could secure his position aside, once he ascended to the throne, the situation facing the Xiao family would be far from optimistic.

Seeing He Yan’s furrowed brows, Xiao Jue’s lips curved slightly, comforting her: “Don’t worry, I’ll visit the Fourth Prince’s residence tomorrow.”

“You…”

He remained silent, merely looking at He Yan calmly. In an instant, He Yan understood. She lowered her head, saying nothing for a moment. Then she raised her head again, placing her hand over Xiao Jue’s, her voice firm, “Go then.”

Emperor Wenxuan’s death brought twenty-seven days of national mourning. During this period, court officials were forbidden from hosting banquets, drinking alcohol, or engaging in entertainment. The date was set for the imperial burial three days later.

The court was in turmoil over Emperor Wenxuan’s “burial accompaniment” edict. The strongest opposition came from Fourth Prince Guang Shuo and Fifth Prince Guang Ji, as both Consort Lan and Consort Ni were among those to be buried. While Guang Ji was still young and could only cry and make a fuss, Guang Shuo brought censors to protest, but was rejected by Guang Yan citing “absolute adherence to the imperial edict.”

At present, it seemed Guang Yan had secured the throne, but nothing was certain until the coronation ceremony. Even after ascending the throne, history has shown that emperors could be deposed and replaced.

The court was filled with anxiety, and everyone feared for their safety.

After Emperor Wenxuan’s death, Crown Prince Guang Yan temporarily managed all court affairs. His first action was to release the previously confined Wuto envoys. He issued an order approving peace with Wuto and indicated willingness to allow them to establish trading posts in Great Wei.

This decree caused an uproar throughout the court.

If he had proposed this earlier, although there would have been opposition among the officials, it wouldn’t have been so intense. But after the Tianxing Platform incident, knowing the Wuto people’s treacherous nature, Guang Yan’s insistence on peace was truly disheartening.

Memorials from censors flew to the Crown Prince’s desk one after another, all ending up in the waste pile. Guang Yan seemed determined on this matter, ignoring all advice. While the common people of Shuojing City didn’t understand the implications, and most civil officials advocated moderation, the military officials were all indignant but helpless—years ago, Xu Jingfu had already encouraged Emperor Wenxuan to favor civil officials, and now military positions were far less important than civil ones.

At the Shi Jinbo residence, Chu Zhao was reading a long letter.

Moments later, he crumpled the letter in his hand, the wrinkled paper revealing his complex and slightly angry mood.

He rarely showed such emotions. His confidant carefully asked, “Fourth Young Master…”

Chu Zhao threw the letter into the fire basin and pressed his temples.

Although he had known Guang Yan was a fool without brains, he hadn’t expected him to be so audacious. He had already warned Guang Yan that regicide was unacceptable, yet Guang Yan still did it. Empress Zhang and her family must have helped behind the scenes, otherwise everything couldn’t have gone so smoothly.

“Fourth Young Master, in three days His Majesty will be entombed, and the Crown Prince will soon ascend the throne. Isn’t this good news for you?” After all, now that Xu Jingfu was gone, and some of his people had come under Chu Zhao’s command, in some ways, Chu Zhao was also the Crown Prince’s man. When one gains power, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven—once the Crown Prince becomes emperor, their Fourth Young Master’s future would only get better.

Chu Zhao laughed, his eyes devoid of warmth, “He won’t become emperor.”

His confidant looked up at him: “This…”

“He’s too impatient. If not for that burial edict, perhaps this matter might still have had a chance of turning around, but that fake burial edict has only hastened his path to death.” He spoke these treasonous words without a trace of fear in his eyes as if discussing someone far from imperial dignity.

“That edict must be fake, but it’s unknown whether it was the Crown Prince’s doing or the Fourth Prince’s. If it was the Crown Prince, then he’s not only foolish but laughably clever. If it was the Fourth Prince…” Chu Zhao smiled slightly, “Then no matter what, the Crown Prince won’t be his match.”

“You mean, before the entombment…”

“With Consort Lan to be buried, the Fourth Prince won’t allow this to happen. The entombment comes before the coronation, and I fear before he can ascend the throne, this position will already be lost to him.”

Even now, though his words were shocking, his expression showed little fluctuation, as if he had long predicted everything before him.

His confidant felt uneasy: “Fourth Young Master, if the Crown Prince isn’t worth following, what should we do now?”

It was too late to follow the Fourth Prince now, and they had too few bargaining chips to make any deals with him.

Chu Zhao looked out the window.

Though it was spring, the weather was still unusually cold. He had originally followed Xu Jingfu, and without Xiao Jue, Guang Yan under Xu Jingfu’s guidance might have been able to secure his position as emperor. But without Xu Jingfu, Guang Yan would never be a match for Guang Shuo, no matter how long it took.

One day of nurturing an enemy could bring trouble for generations. Sometimes Chu Zhao felt he should thank Xiao Jue. It was because of Xiao Jue that he gained his freedom.

But at the same time, he had lost everything.

Following Guang Yan now truly meant going down a dark path to the end. But if he were to follow Guang Shuo now… at most, he could only live on precariously, and everything he had gained through Xu Jingfu would be lost in an instant.

Fate’s cruelty to him lay in the fact that the path opposite to darkness was not light. Comparing the two, abandoning one path didn’t mean choosing another brilliant road—it was merely weighing what would be lost.

He stood up, “I’m going to visit the Fourth Prince’s residence.”

The night in Jinling remained as prosperous as ever.

Due to the national mourning, few people visited Ruyun Tower. The courtesans had put away their instruments early and merely sat in the building.

Hua Youxian had also changed into plain clothes. Though commoners weren’t required to wear mourning attire during the national mourning period, it was better to avoid any mishaps at this sensitive time.

Night had fallen, and by evening, the rain that had previously stopped began again. Hua Youxian, holding the last package of red bean pastries just bought from Guangfu Shop, took shelter under the eaves of a teahouse by the Qinhuai River. Just as she settled, she glimpsed a familiar figure turning the corner.

“Official Yang?” Hua Youxian called out instinctively.

The man turned to look. Wearing a sandalwood-colored robe with scholarly features, it was indeed Yang Mingzhi, the Governor of Jinling.

Yang Mingzhi was startled to see Hua Youxian. He appeared to be returning from somewhere without an umbrella, his clothes half-soaked. After a moment’s hesitation, he walked over to stand beside her and said, “Miss Youxian.”

Hua Youxian smiled, looking outside. “This rain likely won’t stop anytime soon. Why don’t we sit down for some tea here and wait until it stops?”

Yang Mingzhi pondered briefly before nodding.

During the national mourning period, as an official, he couldn’t drink alcohol, so he ordered just a pot of plain tea and some snacks. The teahouse was right next to the Qinhuai River, and through the open window, they could see the flickering lights of boats on the river, like dim stars in the rainy darkness.

“It seems every time I see Official Yang, you’re alone,” Hua Youxian remarked with a smile.

Though Yang Mingzhi was Jinling’s Governor, unlike his predecessor, he disliked traveling with much pomp. As a result, even after serving as Governor for several years, not everyone in Jinling recognized him.

Yang Mingzhi lowered his head and smiled without speaking.

Hua Youxian felt curious. When she had first met these young men at Ruyun Tower, having shared experiences with them, her impressions were particularly deep. Though Yang Mingzhi wasn’t as strikingly handsome as Commander Xiao, nor as dashing as Young Master Yan, nor as socially adept as Young Master Yang, among the young men, he had been refined and distinguished, with an uncommon air. Now meeting again, though he had become Jinling’s Governor, he seemed much more reserved, having lost the vigor of his youth.

“Does Official Yang know that Young Master Xiao recently married?” Hua Youxian took a sip of tea. “Cailian and I sent wedding gifts. Official Yang must have been too busy with official duties to attend. Speaking of which, though Young Master Xiao appears cold and distant, he treats Miss He exceptionally well.”

Thinking of this, Hua Youxian felt somewhat emotional. Back then, when she discovered He Yan’s true identity as a woman and saw how attentive Xiao Jue was to He Yan, she hadn’t expected them to marry so quickly. It seemed fate was truly mysterious – with the right person, it didn’t take ten or eight years to prove true feelings.

Yang Mingzhi lowered his eyes to the teacup before him, paused, then said, “Indeed.”

Yet his heart was far less peaceful than he appeared.

In truth, Xiao Jue hadn’t invited him. Of course, he hadn’t expected an invitation either. Years ago, the brotherhood between him and Xiao Jue had already dissipated like smoke.

Back then…

Yang Mingzhi turned his head to look at the river outside. The water flowed endlessly and cold, carrying boats on its surface, slowly flowing back to many years ago.

Many years ago, when he was still a student at Xian Chang Academy, ignorant of the world’s treachery and suffering. He had friends he truly admired, sharing the same ideals and sense of justice. He once believed that youthful friendships should last forever.

Until the incident with the Xiao family.

He had been anxious to help, promising assistance, and returned home to find his father. But unexpectedly, his father, who had always praised Xiao Jue in front of him, flatly refused his plea.

Yang Mingzhi was extremely confused at the time and knelt to beg. Perhaps seeing his resolute attitude, Lord Yang finally couldn’t resist and revealed the truth.

Only then did Yang Mingzhi learn that his father had always been Xu Jingfu’s man. The entire Yang family, top to bottom, was under Xu Jingfu’s protection.

“If you help him, you’ll harm the Yang family,” his father stood before him, shaking his head. “The choice is yours.”

The young man collapsed to the ground, bewildered. He couldn’t understand how his father, who had always taught him to live with integrity and righteousness, could be like this. If the family teachings he had learned since childhood were merely empty words on paper, what had he been persisting for all these years?

No one could answer him.

He severed ties with Xiao Jue, choosing his family, and likewise believed he no longer had the right to be Xiao Jue’s “friend.”

Later, when he took the imperial examinations and entered official service, he didn’t stay in Shuojing but deliberately went to Jinling. He couldn’t face the Yang family members, nor himself. He could only pretend here, in this place where he had once traveled with his classmates from Xian Chang Academy, that he was still that youth who cared for the world and clearly distinguished between good and evil.

But it wasn’t until he met Xiao Jue and the others again that Yang Mingzhi suddenly realized that Xiao Jue, Lin Shuanghe, and Yan He hadn’t changed – only he had. They still gathered at Ruyun Tower, drinking and talking, but it no longer felt like old times.

Those old times…

Those old times were like a huge mountain slowly rising from flat ground, imperceptibly becoming insurmountable, with vast distances on both sides.

Hua Youxian seemed to notice the fleeting sadness in his eyes and changed the subject: “Now that His Majesty has passed away, the Crown Prince has approved the Wuto people to establish trading posts in Great Wei. If they intend to set up in prosperous Jinling…”

Yang Mingzhi came back to his senses and shook his head: “The trading posts won’t be set up in Jinling.”

“My Lord…”

“I will prevent it,” Yang Mingzhi smiled faintly, “if I am still Jinling’s Governor.”

Ever since Xu Jingfu’s downfall, the Yang family had sent him messages, asking him to seek out Xiao Jue and appeal to their old friendship, requesting Xiao Jue to show mercy. Yang Mingzhi hadn’t responded. Everyone should be responsible for their own choices, just as he had chosen his family and the Yang family had chosen Xu Jingfu.

Later, when they saw he hadn’t responded, and Emperor Wenxuan passed away, his family members remaining in the capital had likely already made new choices in the shortest time possible.

But he couldn’t.

These years, Yang Mingzhi stayed in Jinling to repay his debt. Now that things had come to this point, he no longer intended to continue acting against his conscience.

The establishment of trading posts would bring countless harms and no benefits to Great Wei’s people. The Wuto people harbored ulterior motives, and once they entered Jinling, who knew what they might do to the common people? It was like letting wolves into the house. The court officials, sitting high above, believed this fire wouldn’t reach them and remained indifferent.

But once the fire started, it wouldn’t distinguish between high officials and common people – all would be treated equally.

He knew clearly that in Shuojing City now, aside from a few bold censors, probably few civil officials dared to raise objections at this time. Yang Mingzhi also understood that when his memorial appeared before Guang Yan, his career as Jinling’s Governor would likely end.

Perhaps he would even lose his life? Perhaps it would implicate his family? But what of it?

In his youth, studying “Seven Requirements for Officials: righteousness in mind, integrity in self-discipline, loyalty in serving the ruler, respect for elders, honesty in dealings, lenience toward subordinates, and reverence in handling affairs,” the youths at Xian Chang Academy had been eager to try, each believing they could achieve it and be good officials. But after many years, how many had persisted?

Young people dared to fight against all the world’s injustices, always believing that after difficulties would come hope, but as time passed, they gradually became helpless and went with the flow.

Just like himself.

Young and ambitious, growing old without achievement, finally perishing like grass and trees.

“Young Master,” Hua Youxian called him with a smile.

Yang Mingzhi looked up.

“If you’re the Governor of Jinling, then you’re Official Yang, but if you’re not the Governor, then you’re young Master Yang,” the beauty of Qinhuai River remained as charming as in his memories, raising her teacup. “In my view, no matter what position Young Master holds, you’re still the hero from Ruyun Tower who hated evil and spoke up for justice.”

“Jinling will keep getting better, so Young Master must not belittle yourself.” Her friendly voice was soft, like times past, forgivingly encompassing his past struggles and unworthiness, like the vast mist over the Qinhuai River – after the mist disperses, there remains a pool of spring water, with gentle music playing.

He lowered his head, and after a long while, suddenly smiled, raising his teacup to gently touch it against his old friend’s cup.

“You’re right,” he said softly, “Everything will keep getting better.”