The Grand Sacrifice Ceremony lasted three days, taking place on Mount Min in the north of the city.
Qiu Xinran had originally been arranged to remain at the Earth Sacrifice Temple to pray for blessings, Bai Jingming would go to the Heaven Sacrifice Temple to lead the civil and military officials in worship, while Yuan Zhou would accompany the imperial procession to the sacrificial platform. But since Noble Consort Shu had not arrived today, Yuan Zhou remained at the Earth Sacrifice Temple to assist the Empress in presiding over the sacrifices, and Qiu Xinran was instead arranged to follow in the procession behind Emperor Xuande, serving as an attendant child, ascending the sacrificial platform together to chant sutras.
On the second day at dawn, Emperor Xuande walked at the very front, behind him were the First Prince and Second Prince, and further back was a group of sutra-chanting monks, escorted by the Feathered Forest Guards, ascending the sacrificial platform to pray for peace across the four seas and bountiful harvests of five grains.
Qiu Xinran followed at the very end of the procession. From afar she could see Li Hanyi today in red robes, cutting a spirited and vigorous figure. In contrast, Li Hantai beside him appeared dispirited, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept well for days. Though he forced himself to rally his spirits, he couldn’t hide his haggardness. Seeing him in this state, Emperor Xuande frowned with displeasure, but considering the ceremony, he ultimately said nothing.
From the Heaven Sacrifice Temple to the sacrificial platform was a total of one thousand and eighty steps. By the time they reached the mountaintop, the sky was already bright. After completing the morning ceremony, at midday Emperor Xuande would have a simple meal in the sleeping quarters beside the sacrificial platform, rest briefly, continue the blessings at noon, then descend the mountain before dark to return to the Heaven Sacrifice Temple. With this, the most important ritual of these three days would be complete.
Qiu Xinran sat in the long corridor near the sacrificial platform, eating lunch together with the other monks who had ascended the mountain. People in the corridor gathered in twos and threes to chat idly. Beside her sat a disciple from Qingyun Temple who took the initiative to speak with her. Learning she came from the Nine Sects Divination school, his brow furrowed, but he still said politely, “The Nine Sects Divination school has produced a few respectable predecessors worthy of admiration, but unfortunately…”
There were countless Daoist sects in the world, but it was inevitable for peers to look down on each other. For instance, places like Qingyun Temple, which considered themselves beyond the mortal world’s three thousand troubles and devoted to single-minded cultivation, generally didn’t think highly of schools like Nine Sects Divination, which first learned a craft to make a living and cultivated the Way as a secondary pursuit. Qiu Xinran had heard such remarks when she descended the mountain at thirteen. When she returned to the mountain and mentioned this to her master, Daoist Baoyu had laughed coldly with considerable disdain: “Cultivating a heart of pragmatism is far better than cultivating a heart of jealousy.”
Therefore, whenever Qiu Xinran heard such remarks, she would touch the money pouch in her sleeve and always maintain an ordinary heart.
She turned her head to look around and felt that compared to the morning, there were unknowingly many more Feathered Forest Guards around them. Moreover, these people all had serious expressions, stern and unsmiling, presenting an appearance as if facing a great enemy. Logically speaking, even if Emperor Xuande was resting in the sleeping quarters, the Feathered Forest Guards shouldn’t be circling around this group of monks and Daoists.
Her mind was feeling somewhat strange when she suddenly heard someone behind her quietly call her name. Qiu Xinran turned to look and discovered it was a young eunuch she knew from the palace. There weren’t many servants accompanying them to the sacrificial platform. The Second Prince’s side had just requested tea, but the servants were rushing about in circles—only now remembering they hadn’t delivered it yet. It happened that Li Hantai’s side also needed tea delivered, and the young eunuch couldn’t be in two places at once. Seeing that among so many people on the mountain she was the only one who regularly came and went in the palace, he held the tea cup and asked her for help, requesting she deliver tea to the First Prince.
Compared to Li Hantai, Qiu Xinran was more willing to run an errand for Li Hanyi. Hearing this, the young eunuch was both surprised and delighted. Li Hanyi had a bad temper—compared to the Second Prince, servants naturally preferred serving the First Prince. He hadn’t expected Qiu Xinran to proactively offer to deliver tea to the Second Prince for him and couldn’t help but be moved to tears of gratitude.
The Feathered Forest Guards standing outside the sleeping quarters raised their hands to stop the two. Hearing they were going in to deliver tea, they still tried to drive them away: “The Emperor is resting in the sleeping quarters. No one is allowed to enter and disturb him.”
“But you know the Second Prince’s temperament. If he waits left and right and no one comes in to serve him, I’m afraid…” The young eunuch said with a bitter face and an ingratiating smile. That Feathered Forest Guard was impatient and raised his hand to drive them away, but was stopped by a companion at his side. That person looked up at the long corridor outside and saw some people in the corridor had already noticed the commotion here and were looking over. He advised, “No harm. Let them in.” The other hesitated slightly before withdrawing his hand and saying gruffly, “Be quick about it—go and come back fast.”
Qiu Xinran’s doubts grew heavier. Her intuition told her something had happened, but having already entered the sleeping quarters, she could only take things one step at a time.
The sleeping quarters at the mountaintop had simple furnishings. The central Kuxin Hall was the main sleeping hall, with side halls to the east and west. After entering, the young eunuch and she split up, walking toward either end of the patrol corridor. There were also Feathered Forest Guards stationed outside the side hall. Qiu Xinran handed the tea to the guards. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a muffled “thud” from inside.
She was startled. The two guards outside acted as if they’d heard nothing at all. Seeing her still hesitating outside the door without leaving, they fiercely drove her away.
Qiu Xinran quickly left with her head lowered, but halfway she still felt uneasy. She quietly circled to the back of the hall and discovered a small window that wasn’t latched. She secretly pushed it open a crack and saw Li Hanyi collapsed on the floor inside the hall, struggling but unable to get up no matter how hard he tried.
Only he was in this side hall—the attending servants had gone who knows where. Qiu Xinran quickly climbed through the window and went forward to help him up, asking as she did, “What happened to the Second Prince?”
Hearing the movement, Li Hanyi raised his head with a fierce expression, but was also startled to see her: “How did you get in here?”
“I came to deliver tea for you. Hearing the strange sounds from inside, I was concerned and climbed through the window to check.”
Li Hanyi gripped her arm and stood up: “Good, quickly help me get to Kuxin Hall! I need to see Father Emperor.”
Qiu Xinran froze: “What exactly is going on?”
Li Hanyi said through gritted teeth, “Someone drugged my food. Wei Yi has rebelled.”
Qiu Xinran’s heart jumped. She never imagined Wei Yi would have such audacity: “He wants to take the Emperor hostage?”
Though Li Hanyi had vague suspicions in his heart, hearing her blurt it out so directly, he still couldn’t help but darken his face, growing even more anxious: “Quick, we absolutely cannot let him succeed!”
Qiu Xinran didn’t know what use bringing along a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken could serve, given Li Hanyi’s current state of being barely able to move. But sitting here waiting for death was absolutely impossible. She could only first help him climb out the window of the side hall to leave.
The Feathered Forest Guards in the sleeping quarters weren’t as numerous as imagined—Wei Yi must have been worried about changes occurring outside and deployed most people to monitor those outside, preventing anyone from discovering the unusual situation and descending the mountain to report.
The side hall wasn’t far from Kuxin Hall. The two avoided a patrol of Feathered Forest Guards in the quarters and came to the main hall window. Looking through the window crack, they indeed saw Wei Yi standing inside. In the center of the hall, thick gauze curtains hung to the floor. Faintly they could see someone lying inside—it should be Emperor Xuande, though they didn’t know exactly what condition he was in.
Li Hanyi was frantic with anxiety and immediately wanted to rush in. Qiu Xinran quickly stopped him: “You’re planning to go in just like this?”
Li Hanyi lowered his voice: “Then what do you suggest?”
Qiu Xinran sighed inwardly: “Did you bring your own guards along for this ceremony?”
Li Hanyi said impatiently, “Though a team of personal guards escorted me when I came, all the ceremonies today are down the mountain. Can we count on them anytime soon?”
“That may be so, but right now if just the two of us go in like this, we’ll mostly be walking into a trap.” Qiu Xinran glanced left and right and said after consideration, “You’re currently inconvenienced in movement. Why not stay here and watch for movement inside, while this subject thinks of another way to see if I can get out and find reinforcements.”
Li Hanyi waved his hand: “Do as you please. There are Feathered Forest Guards everywhere here. Take care of yourself.”
Seeing his attitude, Qiu Xinran knew he thought she was making excuses to run away. She couldn’t help but smile bitterly inwardly, but didn’t explain further. She only left him with a sentence—”Be very careful yourself, Second Prince”—then quietly jogged toward the back of the hall.
The front was definitely impassable, but when she circled around back, she discovered there were also guards stationed there. The Feathered Forest Guards monitored this small sleeping quarters as tightly as an iron bucket. She hid for a while and nearly collided with approaching Feathered Forest Guards, so she had no choice but to retreat into a small room.
After the patrolling Feathered Forest Guards outside had left, she breathed a sigh of relief and sat inside the room beginning to plan what to do next.
Li Hanyi was right—civil and military officials were all down the mountain. Distant water couldn’t quench immediate thirst. But if they didn’t count on that distant water, with just the two of them there was no way to deal with this Feathered Forest Guard force. The urgent priority was still to transmit news from the mountaintop down to the mountain, but what method could make the people below discover the abnormality above?
Her gaze suddenly fell on this room. This should be a storeroom. She stood up and searched around, wanting to see if she could find some useful things. She thought: Since the sacrificial platform is a place for offering sacrifices to heaven and praying for blessings, there naturally must be candles and lamp oil. Perhaps she could find something useful.
Before long, Qiu Xinran stared at a crate in the corner, her eyes brightening. Truly heaven never bars one’s way—she’d actually found it!
There was still one hour before the afternoon ceremony officially began. The officials down the mountain had just finished lunch and emerged from the Heaven Sacrifice Temple when they suddenly saw a ceremonial firework ascend from the sacrificial platform in broad daylight, making a thunderous sound in the sky.
People down the mountain all raised their heads to look toward the mountaintop, just wondering in a daze why fireworks were suddenly being set off, when two more cannon sounds followed! Green smoke filled the sky. They seemed to faintly hear cries for help about “fire” coming from above.
A fire during the ceremony day couldn’t be considered a small matter. The crowd on the mountainside showed grave expressions. For a time, the square in front of the Heaven Sacrifice Temple also fell into chaos. Immediately some people prepared to ascend the mountain to help fight the fire.
Wu Guangda stood at the very front of the crowd. When he heard those three ceremonial cannon sounds from the mountain, his heart had already sunk, but he immediately calmed down and stepped forward to pacify everyone not to panic. After the crowd gradually quieted down, he said loudly, “The Feathered Forest Guards are well-trained. Even if there truly is some emergency, they will certainly be able to protect the Emperor. If we gather a large force to ascend the mountain at this time, we’ll instead add to the chaos. Better to first send people up the mountain to investigate and see exactly what the situation is, then decide what to do—that won’t be too late.”
Hearing this, everyone felt these words made sense. Ceremony day protocols were strict—only the Son of Heaven had the qualification to ascend the sacrificial platform. If nothing major had happened on the mountain and they gathered everyone to ascend, afterward when the Emperor blamed them, no one could bear the responsibility. So they all nodded in agreement.
On the mountain at the sacrificial platform, people in the corridor outside heard the three cannon sounds and were just discussing what had happened when suddenly someone sharp-eyed saw thick smoke faintly rising behind the sleeping quarters, as if some room had caught fire. They couldn’t help but cry out in alarm. For a time, outside the sacrificial platform was in an uproar.
Seeing everyone in chaos, the situation somewhat out of control, the Feathered Forest Guards keeping watch outside shouted sternly, spending considerable effort to suppress the commotion. Before long, the thick smoke behind also disappeared. The air carried a smell of smoke and ash—it seemed the fire had been extinguished just after starting.
A fire on ceremony day was truly an extremely inauspicious omen. Some monks anxiously proposed seeing the Emperor to stop the ceremony. This suggestion drew quite a few people’s support. The Feathered Forest Guards surrounding them had iron-blue faces. Suddenly the leader drew his sword and strode forward with loud threats. Cold sword light reflected on the monks’ faces, and only then did the arguing voices in the corridor gradually cease.
The monks retreated to their original positions. This time everyone began to realize the strangeness of the atmosphere. Their gazes measured the surrounding Feathered Forest Guards with alarm and uncertainty. Both sides fell into a long and tense standoff.
Qiu Xinran had just finished lighting the ceremonial fireworks and set a fire when she was caught red-handed by Feathered Forest Guards who rushed over upon hearing the news. The flames had only produced a few wisps of thick smoke before being immediately extinguished. She was pushed and thrown into Kuxin Hall, just in time to see Li Hanyi also lying on the floor of the main hall. Wei Yi stood to one side with an extremely ugly expression, one hand holding a blade to his throat. Li Hanyi’s eyes were bloodshot, presenting an appearance of wishing he could step forward and gnaw his flesh and bones.
Seeing her suddenly thrown in, he was also startled: “How are you still here?”
Qiu Xinran sighed inwardly again, thinking: I’m not surprised you’d be here.
The Feathered Forest Guard who had pushed her in whispered a few words in Wei Yi’s ear, then withdrew from the hall. Li Hanyi finally understood: “Those three ceremonial cannon sounds outside—were you the one who set them off?” His eyes brightened and he suddenly laughed, “You certainly have guts!”
Facing such praise, Qiu Xinran didn’t know how to respond for a moment and could only say politely, “Not as much as the Second Prince who dared single-handedly storm the enemy camp.”
Li Hanyi’s face showed faint pride. He snorted lightly and was about to say something when Wei Yi had finished hearing his subordinate’s report. Knowing the commotion on the mountain must have already alarmed those below, he darkened his face and pressed the blade tip closer to his throat, saying to the man lying on the floor, “I originally intended to spare your life. Now this is the Second Prince forcing my hand.”
Li Hanyi’s eyes narrowed. He spat, then suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside. In a flash, someone else burst into the hall, asking in a deep voice, “What exactly is going on?”
Qiu Xinran turned her head to discover Li Hantai in purple court robes pushing through the door, his complexion truly no better than Wei Yi’s. Her heart sank. Li Hanyi at her side, seeing him, suddenly brightened: “Elder Brother, you’re alright?”