Crown Prince Guang Yan’s agreement to make peace with the Wuto people and his decision stirred up controversy in Shuo Jing City. The court officials’ memorials failed to change Guang Yan’s mind. The Wuto envoys, previously under house arrest by Emperor Wen Xuan, reappeared near the palace. Though they spoke humbly with courteous smiles to the ministers, their eyes couldn’t hide their triumphant expressions.

After the court dismissed, the officials departed with varying thoughts hidden deep in their hearts. Two days had passed, and tomorrow would be the day of entering the imperial tomb. Once the entombment was complete, the Crown Prince would ascend the throne, and everyone feared the days ahead would only grow more difficult.

Just after leaving Cheng Le Palace, they heard waves of scholarly recitation coming from ahead. The court officials looked up to see dozens of students in blue scholarly robes seated in the open space before Cheng Le Palace.

These students all sat on the ground, led by a white-haired elder in official robes – Wei Xuan Zhang, the elderly headmaster of Xian Chang Academy, who maintained a stern expression.

Wei Xuan Zhang was truly a learned scholar, but his stubborn and unyielding personality offended many people in his youth, leading to his eventual assignment as headmaster of Xian Chang Academy. This position suited his lecturing nature well. Though lacking real power, he had found contentment over the years. Regarding Crown Prince Guang Yan’s agreement to make peace with the Wuto people and establish trading posts in Da Wei, Wei Xuan Zhang strongly opposed it. Besides the censors, he had submitted the most memorials on this matter. However, his current low position meant his carefully written words of counsel were merely added to the pile of rejected papers, not even worthy of Guang Yan’s glance.

“Headmaster Wei?” asked a familiar court official. “What are you doing here?” He moved closer and whispered, “Sir, please return home. His Highness won’t change his mind now.”

This was a former student who knew him well and didn’t want to see his old teacher offend the future emperor.

Wei Xuan Zhang remained unmoved, looking toward Cheng Le Palace and calling out in a long voice: “This humble official risks death to offer counsel. I beg Your Highness to withdraw your command and not allow the Wuto people to establish trading posts on Da Wei soil!”

There was no response from Cheng Le Palace.

The sun quietly cast its light on the open ground before the palace, spreading like scattered gold. The young students stood vigorous and clear-eyed, while the elderly official stood like the setting sun, retaining a last bit of brilliance in the spring wind.

He slowly stood up, his usually strong frame now showing signs of age and slight unsteadiness. Once steady, he suddenly began reciting in a clear voice: “Heaven’s righteous qi flows through all forms. Below it becomes mountains and rivers, above it becomes sun and stars. In humans, it’s called the great moral force, vast and filling the universe…”

His students paused briefly, then joined their elderly headmaster in recitation.

“…The yellow path should be clear and peaceful, harmony residing in the bright court. In times of crisis, true character emerges, each moment worthy of recording in history!”

Worthy of recording in history!

Wei Xuan Zhang was reciting the “Song of Righteous Qi.”

Inside Cheng Le Palace, Crown Prince Guang Yan violently smashed his teacup to the ground. “What is that old fool saying outside? I want his head!”

His trusted advisor quickly knelt and grabbed his robe, “Your Highness, you absolutely must not! At least not before the coronation ceremony! Wei Xuan Zhang has committed no other crime, and as headmaster of Xian Chang Academy, punishing him without cause would only invite criticism from officials and common people…”

“He’s just a mere teacher. I can kill him as I please – who dares to criticize?” Guang Yan raged. “How has he committed no crime? He clearly shows no respect for the royal family. What’s his purpose standing out there – trying to threaten me? Ridiculous! How could I be threatened by an old fool? Should I throw all his students in prison right now and see who else dares to speak up about this matter?”

“Yes, yes,” the advisor wiped his sweat. “But even if punishment is needed, please be patient for a few days. This Wei Xuan Zhang has always been eccentric – even when His Majesty was alive, he often spoke inappropriately…”

“I’m not as merciful as Father,” Guang Yan gritted his teeth. “If he thinks I’ll be as tolerant as Father was, he’s gravely mistaken!”

“Of course,” the advisor hurried to agree. “But for now, Your Highness should not intervene directly. Let him make noise outside – after the coronation ceremony, Your Highness can settle accounts with him.”

Guang Yan snorted and kicked away the broken teacup pieces. “Then let him live a few more days.”

Outside, Wei Xuan Zhang continued his loud recitation, his aged and thin frame standing straight and tall in the wind.

“Some become caps of Liao Dong, pure conduct sharp as ice and snow. Some become farewell letters to troops, moving ghosts and spirits with heroic sacrifice…”

“…Some become tablets striking bandits, rebels’ heads split apart. This qi fills all space, its stern presence lasting ten thousand years.”

The young students followed their old teacher in recitation as if they were not beneath the officials’ watchful eyes before Cheng Le Palace, but in their classroom at Xian Chang Academy, studying on a spring day.

“Looking up at this enduring presence, watching white clouds float by. My heart grieves endlessly, when will Heaven’s limits end?”

“The wise ones grow distant day by day, their example remains in the early dawn. Reading books beneath the windswept eaves, ancient ways illuminate our faces.”

After finishing the recitation, there was still no response from Cheng Le Palace.

Wei Xuan Zhang paused, looking at the court officials before him.

As some officials avoided his gaze while others looked on with pity, Wei Xuan Zhang stepped forward, trembling as he climbed the steps, removing his official hat as he went.

His voice remained steady and clear as a bell as he spoke: “A general must be loyal and righteous, his spirit piercing like the sun, bearing arms with determination, ready to give his life.”

He set down his tablet and continued, “Civil officials differ from military ones. The sage said: that the civil path is moral knowledge, while righteousness means maintaining one’s position. ‘Wen Zheng’ (civil righteousness) is the highest posthumous title, nothing can surpass it.”

He reached the final step, slowly knelt down, and placed his removed official hat and tablet aside. Looking toward the empty great hall of Cheng Le Palace, his voice was desolate yet firm.

“Though this humble official lacks military courage and battlefield merit, I possess a loyal and righteous heart, bright and upright. At Xian Chang Academy, we teach students to read all the sage’s works. Now seeing Your Highness walking the wrong path, if I don’t offer guidance, the fault lies with me.”

“Warriors die in battle, officials die offering counsel – life and death are like floating clouds to me. Today, this old official dares to use his life to urge Your Highness to pull back from the precipice and not make a grave mistake.”

“This old servant begs Your Highness to withdraw your command. Do not let the Wuto people set foot on Da Wei soil. Do not lead wolves into the house and open doors to thieves!”

After these words, he suddenly slammed his head against the vermillion pillar before Cheng Le Palace.

Blood instantly splattered everywhere.

The surrounding officials froze momentarily before crying out in alarm. The Xian Chang Academy students rushed forward, surrounding Wei Xuan Zhang. In the chaos, the discarded tablet and official hat were trampled to pieces, and the area before Cheng Le Palace erupted into disorder.

In Qing Lan Palace.

Noble Consort Lan sat quietly reading, while nearby, Noble Lady Ni watched the rising smoke from the bronze incense burner with an anxious expression.

Tomorrow would be Emperor Wen Xuan’s entombment day, and also the day of their burial alive. If Guang Yan showed mercy, they might receive a cup of poison for a quick death. If he was cruel, they would be sealed alive in the imperial tomb to suffocate slowly.

“Sister, how can you still have the mood to read!” Noble Lady Ni finally couldn’t contain herself. She stood and walked to Noble Consort Lan’s side, snatching away the book. “Tomorrow is our death day – I don’t believe you’re truly this calm!”

No one could truly disregard life and death. Years ago, Noble Lady Ni had competed with Noble Consort Lan for the Emperor’s favor, relying on her youth and beauty, believing she could surely replace Noble Consort Lan. She hadn’t expected to incur Emperor Wen Xuan’s great anger. Afterward, Guang Ji was given to Noble Consort Lan to raise. With Guang Ji in Noble Consort Lan’s hands, Noble Lady Ni had become more restrained, not daring to act too outrageously, though she remained unhappy.

However now, she and Noble Consort Lan had suddenly become burial objects together, no different from the vases and decorations to be buried with Emperor Wen Xuan. Thus, past grievances could all be cast aside. At least at this moment, they were on the same side.

There are no eternal enemies, nor eternal friends. Noble Lady Ni was impulsive and arrogant. After entering the palace, she had no close confidants. Now thinking it over, the only one she could rely on was her former rival.

Noble Consort Lan looked up at her, her tone still gentle as before, “Tomorrow is tomorrow. Why worry about it today?”

“Why worry?” Noble Lady Ni said, “Of course I worry! Can’t you see something suspicious about this imperial edict? His Majesty was always soft-hearted. Never mind others, but why would he make us two be buried with him? I think it’s that bastard Guang Yan taking personal revenge.” She looked at Noble Consort Lan again and spoke mockingly, “I know Sister lives freely and doesn’t care about life or death, but have you thought about Fourth Prince? My Guang Ji is still so young. We both know the Crown Prince’s nature – he’s dealing with us now, but after he takes the throne, Guang Shuo and Guang Ji will be next. Do you want to watch your son die?”

At these words, Noble Consort Lan’s calm expression finally showed a slight ripple.

Before she could speak, a palace servant hurriedly entered and whispered something to the door attendant. The attendant showed surprise, then quickly approached Noble Consort Lan and said softly, “My Lady, there’s trouble at Cheng Le Palace.”

Noble Consort Lan and Noble Lady Ni both looked at her.

“They say Headmaster Wei of Xian Chang Academy risked death to offer counsel, begging His Highness to withdraw the peace agreement. When His Highness didn’t respond, Headmaster Wei died by striking his head against the pillar of Cheng Le Palace. Many officials witnessed it, and now everything’s in chaos outside. The Xian Chang Academy students refuse to leave.”

“Death by remonstration?” Noble Lady Ni frowned. “It’s been many years since we’ve heard such words in the palace.”

Emperor Wen Xuan had been soft-hearted and overly tolerant – he would read at least one out of every three memorials from the censors, so such drastic measures weren’t necessary. However, this incident would give Guang Yan a reputation for forcing an old official to death, even after ascending the throne. Most of the Xian Chang Academy students came from noble families, and young people were most hot-blooded. Having witnessed their headmaster’s death, if Guang Yan still insisted on making peace with the Wuto people as before, the news spreading inside and outside the palace would surely be unfavorable.

Noble Consort Lan gripped her chair’s armrest without speaking.

Noble Lady Ni spoke with indifference, “Here we are struggling to live, while others rush to die. Well, Wei Xuan Zhang was already in his seventies or eighties, so dying now isn’t such a loss. But I haven’t lived enough good days yet – I’m not willing to die like this.” Thinking of Guang Yan, she gritted her teeth. “Despicable!”

Noble Consort Lan sighed softly as her servant helped her stand.

She walked to the window, where the sun shone brightly outside on the flourishing spring day.

“Look all you want, look a few more times,” Noble Lady Ni couldn’t help but laugh coldly. “After tomorrow, you won’t be able to see it anymore.”

“Lady Ni,” Noble Consort Lan turned around and looked at her calmly, “Do you want to live?”

“You already know the answer.”

“If you want to live,” Noble Consort Lan’s voice was gentle, yet in the quietness, it seemed to carry a deeper meaning, “then do as I say.”

He Yuan learned of Wei Xuan Zhang’s death by remonstration immediately and drove to the Wei residence.

The Wei household was already crowded inside and out, with people still arriving. Over the years, Xian Chang Academy has taught batch after batch of students. If Xu Jing Fu’s disciples were spread throughout the court and society, Wei Xuan Zhang’s were no less numerous. However, after students left the academy, Wei Xuan Zhang rarely maintained close contact with them, so his status appeared less prestigious than Xu Jing Fu’s.

But now that he had given his life in remonstration, former students hearing the news rushed from all directions to pay their last respects to their teacher.

He Yuan finally squeezed through the crowd to see He Xin Ying supporting Madam Wei, who was crying nearly to the point of fainting. Seeing He Yuan, He Xin Ying was startled. When other newly arrived students came to help care for Madam Wei, He Xin Ying found a moment to come over and ask, “Sister He, why have you come?”

Actually, given their ages, the current “He Yuan” wasn’t old enough to be called sister by He Xin Ying, but He Xin Ying always felt that if her deceased elder sister were still alive, she would be like He Yuan, so she disregarded many conventions.

He Yuan answered, “Master Wei was Huai Jin’s teacher. Huai Jin is still rushing back from outside the city, so I came first to check on things. How is Madam Wei?”

“Not well,” He Xin Ying shook her head. “Master Wei must have already decided on death. After today’s incident, Madam Wei found several letters in his study drawer – final words written to family members.”

He Xin Ying was also very grieved. Because of her elder sister, she had lived at Wei Xuan Zhang’s residence. Wei Xuan Zhang usually stayed at Xian Chang Academy and rarely came home. He Xin Ying spent more time accompanying Madam Wei, whose gentle nature never minded He Xin Ying’s former status. Who would have thought… such a thing would suddenly happen?

“I heard Master Wei did this to persuade His Highness to withdraw the peace agreement with the Wuto people,” He Xin Ying probed, “So now…”

He Yuan gave a bitter smile. “I’m afraid it won’t work.”

How could Crown Prince Guang Yan change his mind because of Wei Xuan Zhang’s life? He likely felt no shame at all and would instead be angered by Wei Xuan Zhang’s failure to know his place.

Just then, a voice came from behind: “Sister He, why are you here?”

He Yuan turned to see Lin Shuang He and Yan He entering from outside. They too were former students of Xian Chang Academy and had rushed over upon hearing the news.

“Isn’t Huai Jin with you?” Yan He looked around.

“He’s on duty today, training troops at the Southern Garrison outside the city,” He Yuan sighed inwardly at the unfortunate timing. If Xiao Jue had been present today, perhaps he could have stopped Wei Xuan Zhang.

“Is General Yan not here today either?” He Yuan looked at Yan He.

Yan He was furious: “If I had been there, how could I have let this happen!”

Because of Emperor Wen Xuan’s death and Guang Yan’s reckless actions, Yan He had been very dissatisfied and didn’t want to attend court. He had made an excuse to be absent since Guang Yan’s court attendance was just a pretense anyway – it was just an opportunity to eliminate opposition. Who would have thought that in his absence, such a major incident would occur?

“I’ll go see Teacher’s wife,” Lin Shuang He walked inside.

Though Wei Xuan Zhang was rigid and traditional, and very strict with women, he had never taken concubines. All these years, he and Madam Wei had lived together through thick and thin. Now leaving Madam Wei alone in the world, one can imagine the impact on her.

The young students knelt before the elder’s couch. On it lay Wei Xuan Zhang, his blood already wiped clean, peaceful in death. His official robes were wrinkled and stained with dirt and dried blood, yet he seemed purer than anyone.

He Yuan watched with profound grief.

Though this old teacher had been rigid and strict at the academy, and the young students often secretly called him stubborn behind his back, it was he who bravely stood up when other civil officials were all protecting themselves. Just as he had taught them, “Read the sages’ books, do loyal and righteous deeds” – he had given his final lesson.

Lin Shuang He’s voice dropped, his expression no longer as light-hearted as usual, saying only: “Master Wei showed great righteousness…”

“Righteousness means nothing,” Yan He laughed coldly. “Look at that one in the palace – has he shown any response? Want to bet that in a few days, when this blows over, those Wuto people will still appear on Shuo Jing’s streets!”

“I don’t understand,” Lin Shuang He muttered. “Why does the Crown Prince insist on this? Even someone like me who doesn’t understand court affairs can see that those not of our kind must have different hearts – can’t he see it?”

“It’s not that he can’t see,” He Yuan said softly. “He just has his desires.”

Yan He and Lin Shuang He both looked at her.

Lin Shuang He frowned and asked, “Sister He, what do you mean?”

Yan He didn’t question but looked at her thoughtfully.

He Yuan considered for a moment, then gestured for Yan He to step aside. Yan He said impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it quickly. Our positions are different – what if others see and start gossiping?”

He Yuan: “…”

He was particularly careful about such matters, probably due to strict family rules.

Usually, He Yuan might have teased him, but today she had no mood to joke with Yan He. She asked in a serious tone, “General Yan, have you seen the Fourth Prince?”

Yan He was startled, his gaze at He Yuan gradually changing. After a while, he spoke quietly, “Why are you asking about this?”

“Tomorrow is the day of entering the imperial tomb,” He Yuan looked at him. “According to His Majesty’s edict, the Noble Consort must be buried with him. How can the Fourth Prince stand by? And with Master Wei’s incident today… General Yan,” she asked, “you should know.”

Yan He’s expression changed several times, his former arrogant impatience disappearing, gradually becoming cold and calm.

He said, “Lord Wu An, stop here. Don’t ask further.”