Young Master Xiao sat in the kitchen, grabbing a green vegetable and ruthlessly mangling it, continuously muttering under his breath.
If you listened closely, you could vaguely hear words like “bad mommy, stinky mommy”—expressions that conveyed abnormally unfriendly and unloving feelings.
Qin Chang Ge pretended not to hear his complaints, attending to her own business as she stood by the kitchen window gazing outside.
Young Master Xiao pitifully raised his eyes, glanced at his mother who remained unmoved by the eight winds, then squeezed the vegetable while cursing once more, raised his eyes again, then disappointedly squeezed the vegetable and cursed again… repeating this three times.
Bad mommy, oh bad mommy! What White Water Green Jade? Such a nice-sounding name—how could it turn out to be plain boiled vegetables? Waaaah, he wanted crystal pig knuckle, phoenix-tail three-silk soup, jade-green dumplings, golden bird’s nest…
Qin Chang Ge ignored him, only frowning as she watched the front courtyard. Xiao Chen had been inside for a while now. Logically he should have requested the imperial carriage to return to the palace—why was there still no movement?
“You say this wasn’t an assassination?”
Xiao Jue half-reclined against the bedside, a black satin gold-embroidered casual robe loosely draped over him. He frowned slightly, looking uncertainly at Xiao Chen. “That shocking sword intent… A’Chen, you didn’t see it…”
“Your Majesty,” Xiao Chen’s expression was serene, like the pool of autumn water at Yinhui Lake atop Shanglin Mountain. “Precisely because the opponent’s swordsmanship was extraordinary, this subject boldly speculates that the opponent had no intention of harming you.”
“Why?”
“Since gaining some empty reputation in the capital, this subject has also had some martial world figures come seeking refuge. This subject has never been good at refusing people, so I accepted them all. During leisure time, talking with them, I’ve gained some understanding of how martial world people habitually conduct themselves. Before coming to see Your Majesty, this subject already questioned the guards who were present at the time, and also asked Sister Wen Chang who was right beside you then. She said she was right next to Your Majesty but felt no sword energy whatsoever. This indicates the opponent’s swordsmanship has reached a transcendent realm, achieving perfect control over projection and restraint.”
“Hmm,” Xiao Jue sneered coldly. “Very formidable indeed.”
His expression relaxed somewhat, and he looked at his younger brother with satisfaction. In recent days, he had heard rumors about Prince Zhao’s mansion raising dead soldiers, but having always trusted his brother’s character, he had kept silent about it. Now that Xiao Chen voluntarily brought it up with a frank and open expression, it immediately set his mind at ease. He quite approved of his brother’s forthright attitude in not concealing that his mansion employed martial world figures, though he didn’t show it on his face.
Xiao Chen seemed not to notice the emperor’s expression, still immersed in his own thoughts, only saying softly: “Regarding the situation at that time, this subject had people reenact it to observe. With that person’s martial arts skills, at such a distance, no matter how good Qing Sha’s lightness skills were, he seemingly couldn’t have arrived in time to rescue, yet in fact he did arrive. This subject instead suspects that the assassin intentionally slowed his speed.”
“Then why was I still injured?”
“I think…” Xiao Chen slowly pondered, “Either the opponent was provoked to anger and administered a small punishment, or Qing Sha’s movements disrupted his sword energy, causing it to go out of control and injure you… But regardless of which it was, Qing Sha’s loyalty to you is clear as day—please do not blame him.”
“I understand,” Xiao Jue’s gaze was cold as forest shadows. “Then tell me, if that assassin wasn’t trying to kill me, what was he trying to do?”
Xiao Chen pondered again for a long moment before saying: “This subject was not present at the time, so it’s truly difficult to speculate, but I questioned Qing Sha, and he said that person made two movements of surveying the surroundings. Qing Sha is a man of few words, and precisely because he speaks little, he observes surrounding situations more carefully. I believe what he said. In that case, that person’s sword strike was not aimed at you.”
“As for who his actual target was,” Xiao Chen’s gaze remained calm, “this subject doesn’t know. This subject’s feeling is that the person was testing something, but what exactly he was testing, this subject is too dull to know.”
He began coughing slightly, his breathing somewhat unsteady.
If Shangguan Qingxun were here at this moment, he would surely be astonished that someone in this world could, merely through post-event questioning and speculation, unravel the threads and guess the truth with eight or nine parts accuracy. So-called disguises and feints were utterly useless before the bright eyes of one with vast wisdom.
Xiao Jue had always trusted Xiao Chen. This younger brother had been exceptionally clever since childhood. If not for his weak constitution and frequent illnesses, he would rather have him enter court to assist with governmental affairs. However, years ago Ruiyi had advised him, saying Prince Zhao was supremely intelligent, but precisely because of his supreme intelligence, he was unsuited to participate in state affairs, lest it cause incidents. There were always restless people in this world—if something arose and the frail Prince Zhao got swept into it, it would be undesirable. Now, staying away from politics and being a carefree prince might not be a bad thing for him. The pure and ethereal atmosphere of mountains, waters, and pastoral life helped extend life, while court personnel disputes and political turmoil were the sharp blades that hurt people. Xiao Chen understood this principle himself and repeatedly declined Xiao Jue’s attempts to involve him in governance, keeping a low profile and remaining unmovable as a mountain. Only in recent years, after Ruiyi’s death, would he occasionally provide slight guidance when Xiao Jue faced difficulties.
Thinking of Ruiyi, Xiao Jue felt another wave of irrepressible sharp pain. He immediately changed the subject: “Have you been better recently? Are you still taking the Snow Ginseng Pills? If you’ve run out, tell me—I’ll have the Imperial Medical Bureau send you more.”
“This subject thanks Your Majesty for your care,” Xiao Chen bowed slightly with a smile. “There’s still snow ginseng left. When this subject finishes it, I’ll go to the Imperial Medical Bureau myself to get more. Your Majesty is already working tirelessly day and night on state affairs—this subject’s trivial matters dare not trouble Your Majesty further.”
“Why always maintain such formal address?” Xiao Jue smiled. “You’re too cautious—we’re brothers, yet you create distance unnecessarily.”
“The way of a subject cannot be neglected,” Xiao Chen smiled. “Better to be distant than to overstep bounds.”
With these words, both fell silent.
Though the words seemed plain, they were truly spoken in blood and tears.
This was because after Xiao Jue became emperor, his two elder brothers were successively enfeoffed as Prince Chu and Prince Qin, with fiefs in Chuzhou and Qin Commandery respectively. However, the two complained that these places were barren and harsh, constantly claiming illness to delay departing for their fiefs. Moreover, they associated with powerful figures in the capital, privately recruited armies, and engaged in shady underhanded schemes. Prince Qin went even further—taking advantage of trade opportunities, he captured many craftsmen from Zhongchuan and set up weapons manufacturing workshops in secret locations in the capital’s suburbs.
How could such matters escape Qin Chang Ge’s notice? Yet she didn’t tell Xiao Jue, only watched coldly from the sidelines.
She knew that although Xiao Jue had no good feelings toward his brothers, he was extremely sentimental. No matter what, they were his brothers. If she couldn’t provide solid evidence, based on these matters alone, Xiao Jue would at most strip them of their titles.
With Xiao Jue’s capabilities, it was impossible for the two princes of Qin and Chu to attack the palace city without him discovering it. Xiao Jue would enlighten them with righteous principles upon first discovering their rebellious intent, then alert them prematurely. Then the two princes would lower their flags and still their drums but remain unwilling in their hearts, lying dormant with wolfish glances, hiding and waiting to strike, ultimately becoming malignant tumors.
Qin Chang Ge didn’t like leaving any opportunities for enemies, even if they counted as her brothers-in-law.
She remembered that first meeting on the long street years ago, when in grief and fury Xiao Jue split the main gate of Prince Huainan’s mansion with two blade strikes, and the mocking, sarcastic laughter of his blood brothers from behind the gate.
There was no brotherly love to begin with, and desire for power also drove people mad. Keeping them would only bring endless future troubles—why spare them?
Qin Chang Ge ordered the news to be sealed, preventing Xiao Jue from learning of the two princes’ unusual activities.
Then, that winter, the spies arranged by the two princes of Qin and Chu opened the palace city gates, gathering troops to attack the palace. Qin Chang Ge exploited the flaw that due to the extreme secrecy of the matter, the subordinates of both sides couldn’t fully recognize each other. She had someone impersonate a Qin messenger to relay information, changing Prince Chu’s attack route. Prince Chu, unaware of the deception, took the detour and was ambushed and killed by experts hidden in roadside snow drifts.
Prince Chu’s subordinates fell into great chaos. Qin Chang Ge appeared leisurely, and with a few words, the panicked and confused rebellious followers immediately knelt in submission.
Qin Chang Ge ordered the Chu army to wait while she dragged the corpse behind the street. After some maneuvering, she obtained Prince Chu’s facial skin and used special potions to simply craft it into a mask, having a general whose build resembled Prince Chu wear it to continue attacking the palace city.
Before the Golden Water Bridge, the Qin army finally waited for the Chu army. Seeing the golden throne hall’s jade steps and cinnabar stairs right beneath their feet, the heavenly throne within arm’s reach, Prince Qin’s breathing trembled.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jue, who had come upon hearing the news, stood with hands behind his back on the steps, his gaze sorrowful as he looked at his brother whose eyes burned with greedy desire and fire.
He had conquered the realm on horseback and through years of warfare deeply understood the importance of military power. The capital’s defenses and inner palace prohibitions had always been strictly controlled in his hands. Though the armies of Qin and Chu appeared powerful, they might not truly be able to shake his nine-layered palace towers.
He was angry, and also sorrowful. He stood before the main hall of Dayi Palace, his robe sleeves dancing without wind. He was about to say something to the two princes of Qin and Chu.
But then he saw the empress approaching slowly in light garments and loose sash.
Smiling as she parted her lips, lips like cherry blossoms.
She said: “Kill.”