Autumn of the thirteenth year of Tianyou, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The Emperor sat upright with his hands on his knees, his neatly trimmed short beard quivering slightly along his tense jawline. His gaze, not yet corrupted by the cinnabar poison, was as clear and sharp as lightning as he examined the reddish-brown pill presented by Eunuch Feng.
“Where did this come from?” he asked the slender young boy standing in the hall.
Zhao Yǎn, not yet fully grown, possessed distinctly feminine features despite being male. His eyebrows were like kingfisher feathers. Hearing the question, he bowed respectfully and replied: “This son received it as a birthday gift from an alchemist of Prince Yong’s household. I am told it is a ‘supreme secret medicine’ contributed by a Shen Guang Priest, which has become quite popular in the Fangling region. From aristocratic officials to common folk, all consider it an honor to take this medicine. This son dared not keep it privately and specially requests Father Emperor’s judgment.”
Fangling was the place where the former Crown Prince had been exiled and died of illness.
The Emperor had heard of the “Shen Guang Religion” as early as the tenth year of Tianyou. Rumors claimed that “Priest Shen Guang” was skilled in refining elixirs that could cure all diseases and regrow flesh on bare bones. That year, if not for Crown Prince Zhao Yǎn’s inadvertent comment exposing the truth, even the Emperor himself might not have resisted the temptation of immortality and might have invited Priest Shen Guang to the palace to discuss the Dao.
The Emperor had originally thought such a minor sect would naturally disappear within a few years. But unexpectedly, three years had passed, and the tentacles of the Shen Guang Religion had extended from Fangling to the capital, even establishing connections with Prince Yong’s household…
Fangling. Of all places, Fangling.
Most likely, behind the Shen Guang Religion, someone was using supernatural matters to resurrect the former Crown Prince’s faction.
This heretical cult that spread rumors and bewitched people’s hearts could not be allowed to continue.
…
…
The Emperor was wary, his gaze becoming sharp, only softening slightly when looking at Zhao Yǎn. He lowered his voice and said, “You did well to report this as soon as you learned of it. I will handle it. Now that the northern border conflict has been resolved, the Wenren family of father and four sons has submitted a memorial and is returning to the capital. You have reached the age to begin interacting with court officials. Prepare well for the victory banquet. You may go.”
Zhao Yǎn knew his father had made up his mind and said no more. He gently responded with an “As you command,” then bowed and withdrew from the hall.
The autumn sun was like a thin golden veil, laying a warm layer upon his body.
Zhao Yǎn emerged from the Gate of Supreme Harmony, raising his hand to the light as if trying to feel the temperature of this world, slightly curling his slender, pale fingers.
Flexing freely—truly his own body.
Having been awake in this world for three years, Zhao Yǎn still could hardly believe such a supernatural event had happened to him.
In his memory, he had died in late summer of his fifteenth year.
A poison letter written in imitation of his sister’s handwriting had unexpectedly ended his young life. At the moment of death, Zhao Yǎn had finally realized that only one person in the world had such exquisite forgery skills and understood both his and Yan’er’s personalities so thoroughly.
Unfortunately, Zhao Yǎn had realized too late.
As he died, he had only managed to burn the incriminating forgery, preventing his twin sister in Huayang from being implicated in his death.
He didn’t know if his current existence was a time reversal or soul transmigration. All he knew was that his soul, filled with unfulfilled ambitions, had drifted in the void for a long time before touching a ray of white light.
When he awoke again, he found himself back in early winter of the ninth year of Tianyou.
The trajectory of this world largely matched his previous life. For instance, his father had ascended to the throne with the assistance of General Wenren and General Huo Feng. And the death of the former Crown Prince remained an unbridgeable chasm between his father and grandmother…
But there were also subtle differences.
For example, in this world, there was no Uncle Wei Yan, nor was there the palace maid Liu Ying.
“I am the orphaned daughter of the Marquis of Ningyang. Years ago, the Empress Dowager took pity on me as the descendant of a loyal family, yet alone and helpless, and arranged my marriage to the Emperor. After giving birth to you two siblings, I was established as Empress. I have Liu Yun and Liu Yue by my side, but never been called Liu Ying, nor do I have any brothers. I don’t know where you heard of this ‘Wei Yan’,” his mother had replied when he inquired.
The Empress hesitated for a long time, placing her soft hand, adorned with exquisite rouge, on the small boy’s forehead, frowning, “Could it be that the recent serious illness has confused you with fever?”
Zhao Yǎn didn’t know how to explain, nor did he know at which link fate had deviated.
It took him only a few days to accept this reality.
Since Heaven had been merciful enough to let him live again, he needed to remedy the regrets of his previous life and make this one more valuable.
Zhao Yǎn could vaguely guess that his father had developed nightmares and headaches due to the heavy guilt of causing the deaths of 100,000 soldiers through a mistaken strategy at Yanluoguan Pass. That was why he had desperately sought immortality through Daoist practices, allowing the Shen Guang Religion to exploit.
Zhao Yǎn knew that only by preventing the Yanluoguan isolated city tragedy from happening at its source, saving the Wenren family and 100,000 soldiers, could he prevent the tragedy of his previous life from repeating.
Zhao Yǎn knew not to remonstrate recklessly as he had in his previous life. He only asked one question: “If General Wenren withdraws his troops to return to the capital to report, what will happen to the lives of the hundreds of thousands of common people in Tongzhou?”
His father couldn’t answer and fell into silence.
On another front, Zhao Yǎn used the pretext of his mother summoning Huo Zhenzhen to inform Princess Shoukang about the urgent military situation at Yanluoguan, indirectly mobilizing Huo Feng to assist as quickly as possible.
Without Wei Yan’s instigation and interference, everything went much more smoothly. His father finally set aside his prejudices and allowed Huo Feng to assist General Wenren in concluding the northern border situation before returning to the capital.
When he learned that 100,000 soldiers had successfully escaped danger and the northern border had achieved a great victory, Zhao Yǎn was so happy he couldn’t sleep all night.
He had changed the origin of the previous life’s tragedy—everything was still possible.
While following the imperial physician’s instructions to strengthen his body, Zhao Yǎn spent three years understanding the connection between Priest Shen Guang and the former Crown Prince, and began working to resolve the emerging issues with the Shen Guang Religion and Prince Yong’s heir.
Without the poison of the golden elixir, although his father was somewhat stubborn and opinionated in this life, he was not as muddled as in the previous one. As long as Zhao Yǎn was cautious and tactful when speaking, guiding his suspicious father to see through things himself was far more effective than directly remonstrating as he had in his previous life.
Everything was developing in the brightest direction.
The carriage stopped in front of the Eastern Palace gate, and Zhao Yǎn gathered his thoughts before bending to exit.
Just after passing through the gate, he heard the voice of his cousin Huo Zhenzhen, clear as a bell, coming from the central courtyard.
“This pearl dagger was war spoils my father seized from the Northern Wuwu people. There’s only one in the world. Do you have one?”
The courtyard was quiet for a moment, then another young girl’s voice, weary and gentle, responded indifferently: “I don’t.”
Huo Zhenzhen had a childish nature. Hearing this, she immediately became proud: “I knew you wouldn’t have one. Zhao Yān, it seems being Princess Changfeng isn’t all that impressive!”
“But I have a brother who loves me dearly. Do you?”
“…”
Straight to the point—that was indeed his Yan’er.
Huo Zhenzhen had been hit where it hurt.
Her round face turned bright red as she looked at the pearl dagger she treasured, then at Zhao Yān. Finally, she steeled herself and said: “Then I’ll give you the dagger, and you give me your brother. How about that?”
Standing outside the door, Zhao Yǎn heard this and smiled with curved eyes.
Children indeed—how could something like “blood ties and family affection” be given away so easily?
“Not acceptable,” Zhao Yān flatly refused.
Zhao Yǎn felt quite pleased hearing this. Yan’er indeed cared most about her brother.
He was about to step forward and add a comment when he heard his sister’s voice again, saying with complete seriousness: “I only have this one brother. At the very least, I’d need ten sets of mermaid silk dresses and ten thousand taels of gold to consider trading with you.”
“Pfft!”
Shadow Ah Xing, beside him, struggled desperately to hold back his laughter.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s reproachful gaze, Ah Xing hugged his sword and turned away, pretending to look at the scenery, though his lips still twitched with suppressed laughter.
Zhao Yǎn’s smile took on a helpless quality as he slowly entered the gate with his sleeves gathered, saying good-naturedly: “Yan’er, is your brother only worth ten dresses and ten thousand taels of gold?”
Zhao Yān was lying on a beauty couch under the corridor, tree shadows covering her body, with a book hiding her face as she pretended to doze. The hand resting on her abdomen was as delicate as white jade, and the tip of one foot peeked out from under her pomegranate-red skirt, dangling slowly from the beauty couch, appearing completely natural and at ease.
Hearing him, she immediately removed the book and straightened up, blinking her ink-like clear eyes, asking guiltily: “How are you back already?”
“Crown Prince Brother!”
Seeing the gentle young man with his red lips and white teeth, Huo Zhenzhen immediately took her hands off her waist and performed a lady’s greeting as befitting a noble family’s daughter.
Zhao Yǎn returned the greeting properly, smiling as he greeted her: “Princess Yongle.”
The young man’s shoulders were still childlike, and his face resembled that of a beautiful woman, but one could already see the extraordinary grace of the gentleman he would become in a few years.
Huo Zhenzhen’s heart fluttered wildly. She snorted, “I’ll go save up ten thousand gold now. Zhao Yān, you wait,” and left, looking back every few steps.
Zhao Yǎn coughed lightly, sat down beside Zhao Yān, and smiled: “Sigh, brother is a bit hurt.”
Zhao Yān feared most when he used this smiling, gentle tone to express words of hurt. With her hand propped on the beauty couch, she swung her foot and explained in a small voice: “I was just playing a trick on Huo Zhenzhen. Mermaid silk is just a legend; how could she possibly save up enough?”
Zhao Yǎn raised his hand to rub his sister’s head, advising: “Yan’er should have answered: ‘My brother is one of a kind, not even a million gold could trade for him.’ Understand?”
“So sappy.”
Zhao Yān wrinkled her delicate brows, using the book to block Zhao Yǎn’s hand. “Zhao Yǎn, I’m not a child anymore! Stop patting my head all the time.”
Zhao Yǎn froze, then tilted his head and smiled: “Sorry, Yan’er is just too adorable; brother couldn’t help it.”
“We have identical faces. Are you complimenting me or yourself? You’ve been so strange these past few years. Every time we meet, it’s like a reunion after a long separation, saying such puzzling things.”
Zhao Yān tossed the book back into Zhao Yǎn’s arms and stood up somewhat awkwardly. “Anyway, I’m going back to Mother’s place.”
“Coming specially to visit your brother, only to leave so soon?”
Zhao Yǎn smoothed out the wrinkled book and said gently, “The palace has bestowed autumn crabs. I was just about to have the kitchen make your favorite crab roe buns. This dish becomes fishy when it cools.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yān swallowed helplessly, her pomegranate skirt bright as fire, as she said without much conviction: “Who came specially to see you? I was just passing by out of boredom.”
She paused, then couldn’t help asking: “Between late autumn and early winter, how is your cough… doing?”
“It hasn’t recurred this year. Brother has been taking good care of himself, Yan’er needn’t worry.”
Zhao Yǎn wore an expression of seeing through but not exposing her concern. He stood up and said, “I have a close friend whose tough exterior but soft heart resembles Yan’er’s. Next time there’s an opportunity, I must introduce you.”
Zhao Yān turned around, her beautiful, clear eyes flashing with suspicion: “You spend all day in the Eastern Palace, at most visiting Father or attending lectures at Chongwen Hall. When did you make such a close friend?”
Zhao Yǎn was momentarily speechless.
Indeed worthy of being his spiritually connected twin sister—even such a small discrepancy couldn’t escape her notice.
“A friend from a previous life—does Yan’er believe it?”
Zhao Yǎn held the scroll behind his back and said with curved eyes.
Zhao Yān said nothing, looking at him as if he were crazy.
Zhao Yǎn laughed softly to himself without explaining.
In the thirteenth year of Tianyou, the Yanluoguan tragedy had not occurred, the Northern Wuwu envoys had not entered the capital to humiliate them, and his sister had not been implicated. She was still being raised safely in the palace, free to whine and play in front of him.
How wonderful.
Late December, near the New Year.
After guarding the border for four years, the invincible General Wenren and his family returned to the capital with their troops. The civilians’ morale soared as they lined the streets cheering, throwing fruits, silks, and flowers until they nearly filled the entire street.
Unmarried noble ladies of official and wealthy families took this opportunity to gaze from teahouses, each excitedly blushing.
“General Wenren has the bearing of a tiger and leopard, and each of his sons is outstanding and extraordinary in his way!”
“What a pity that two of the three young masters are already engaged. We can only get a distant glimpse of them.”
“I heard that before setting out on the expedition, Wenren Cang’s marriage arrangement with the Rong family was about to fall through. Perhaps there’s still a chance!”
“Oh, who is that young officer in dark armor riding the black horse? Like a dragon or phoenix among mortals, so handsome, truly a divine figure!”
“Don’t you recognize him? That’s General Wenren’s third son, Wenren Lin.”
“Wenren Lin? I don’t remember him looking like that.”
“You remember?”
The noble lady giggled, “When the Wenren family left for the northern expedition, it was four years ago. Four years ago, Wenren Lin was just a fifteen-year-old boy, indeed not standing out among his two adult brothers. Who would have thought that after four years, he would grow to be so gallant—look at those broad shoulders and narrow waist…”
“My! Where are you looking? You have no modesty as a lady of the inner chambers!”
“Don’t even think about it! My father is a high official at court and has heard that His Majesty intends to form a marriage alliance with the Wenren family. Such a talented young man will likely become the husband of some princess.”
Hearing this, all the noble ladies felt their hopes wither, sighing with regret.
At noon, the Emperor and Crown Prince led court officials in hosting a welcoming feast in the Western Garden to celebrate the victory of the troops.
Empress Wei had also gone to attend the banquet, leaving Zhao Yān alone in Kunning Palace, quite bored.
Zhao Yān lay back on the arhat couch by the window, her head hanging in the air, the red and blue ribbons binding her hair swaying downward, listlessly watching the winter sun projected on the ground.
Getting an idea, her eyes brightened. She rose and called out: “Shi Lan, Shi Zhu, go invite Fourth Sister to come over. Let’s go to the ball court to play polo.”
Shi Lan responded enthusiastically and went to arrange it.
Shi Zhu, being slightly older and more thoughtful, hesitated and said: “Today, there’s a victory banquet in the Western Garden. If Your Highness goes there and happens to encounter some man…”
“The ball court is separately enclosed, a hundred yards away from the main hall where the banquet is being held. What is there to worry about?”
Zhao Yān dismissed her concern, patted her skirt, and headed out, saying, “Let’s go.”