Xie Zheng seemingly had no intention of letting Tang Peiyi and the others know that a descendant of the Crown Prince of Chengde still lived.
To prevent any leaks, he temporarily arranged for Yu Qianqian and her son to be hidden in a secluded villa in the suburbs. When Changning heard that Bao’er and his mother were in Jizhou, she insisted on going to see them. Fan Changyu thought it would be good for the children to have a playmate, so after informing Xie Zheng, she took Changning to visit the villa.
The reunion of the two children surprised Fan Changyu. Instead of immediately playing together, they stood with reddened eyes, silent.
Fan Changyu teased Changning, “Didn’t you insist on coming to see Bao’er? Why are you so quiet now that you’ve seen him?”
Changning tugged at a corner of her clothes, biting her lip before looking at Yu Bao’er, who stood beside his mother Yu Qianqian. “I didn’t lie to you. I said my sister and brother-in-law would come to rescue you, didn’t I?”
Fan Changyu and Yu Qianqian smiled, but Yu Bao’er only nodded slightly at Changning. “I know.”
Yu Qianqian said to Fan Changyu, “The children haven’t seen each other for a long time. They seem a bit shy now, but let them play for a while. They’ll be familiar with each other again in no time.”
She invited Fan Changyu inside to sit, leaving Changning and Bao’er to play outside.
The courtyard was spacious, with guards posted outside. There was no need to worry about their safety.
Changning hung her head, scuffing the ground with her shoe, looking unhappy.
It wasn’t for any particular reason, other than the fact that Yu Bao’er, who used to be the same height as her, had grown half a head taller in the six months they hadn’t seen each other.
She shook a handful of small toys and thrust them all at Yu Bao’er, saying, “These are new butterflies and crickets that Uncle Zhao wove for me. They’re all for you.”
Yu Bao’er, unsure what had upset her, asked, “After that man took you away, he didn’t hit you, did he?”
Reminded of when Sui Yuanqing had taken her to the battlefield, Changning perked up. She sat on a stone stool, gesticulating wildly as she described, “He was so fierce! He put me on a horse taller than several of me stacked up, and we galloped through the mountains and wilderness in the pitch-black night. So many people died, and the ghosts on the mountain were wailing in the wind…”
Yu Bao’er’s face darkened. “He took you to the battlefield?”
Changning finally remembered that the place where those people fought was called a battlefield, and nodded quickly. “Luckily, my brother-in-law came to save me. That bad guy couldn’t beat my brother-in-law. He threw me up in the air and tried to stab me with his spear as thick as a bowl, but my brother-in-law beat him back with a weapon thicker than a pillar!”
She spread her arms wide to show how thick it was.
Yu Bao’er tried to imagine Xie Zheng swinging a pillar-like weapon on horseback, furrowed his brow, and said as she wished, “Your brother-in-law is impressive.”
Changning immediately puffed out her little chest proudly. “My sister is the most impressive, and my brother-in-law is second. Don’t be afraid in the future. If bad people come again, I’ll protect you! My sister is a general now, and she commands many people! Uncle Xiaowu, Uncle Xiaoqi, and Uncle Xiaoqin…”
While Fan Changyu was talking with Yu Qianqian inside, she glanced outside and saw the two children sitting on the steps, fiddling with a pile of small toys and whispering to each other.
Yu Qianqian smiled and said, “Bao’er used to be so outgoing. I don’t know what he went through during that time he was confined in the Prince of Changxin’s mansion. When I saw him again, he didn’t like to smile or talk anymore. I heard they even found him a playmate, but he wouldn’t interact. Seeing him play with Ning’er again puts my mind at ease.”
Fan Changyu said, “Perhaps he was frightened.”
Yu Qianqian said, “In this life, I have no other wishes. My only concern is Bao’er.”
Fan Changyu heard the worry in her voice about Yu Bao’er’s future situation and reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. Bao’er is not the remnant of a rebel now. He is the descendant of the Crown Prince of Chengde. No one would dare to harm him.”
Yu Qianqian smiled bitterly, “Would the one in the palace tolerate the descendant of the Crown Prince of Chengde?”
This question stumped Fan Changyu.
The Li family had already allied with Qi Min, intending to force the young Emperor to abdicate. The young Emperor likely saw the descendant of the Crown Prince of Chengde as a thorn in his side.
Fan Changyu was silent for only a moment before saying, “I will do everything in my power to protect you both.”
Fan Changyu did not have a good impression of the Emperor in the palace. Back when the rebellion had not yet been quelled, the Emperor had been willing to condemn a military general like herself to death just to ensure Xie Zheng would marry the Princess without worry.
Loyalty seemed to matter little; anyone who stood in the way was to be eliminated.
As for Qi Min, if he could devise such a cruel plan with the Li family to bring down Wei Yan, treating the lives of countless soldiers as a mere trifle, Fan Changyu didn’t believe he would make a good emperor if he ascended to the throne.
Perhaps because she had spent the first decade and a half of her life as a commoner concerned only with her survival, Fan Changyu respected imperial power but was not blindly loyal to it.
That evening, after returning, she went specifically to find Xie Zheng. He was dealing with a pile of official documents on his desk, so she sat nearby, lost in thought.
Xie Zheng asked her, “Something on your mind?”
Fan Changyu asked, “What if the Emperor wants to kill Bao’er?”
Xie Zheng scoffed, “He can barely protect himself right now.”
He handed Fan Changyu a letter that had arrived from the capital.
These official documents were all written in flowery language, making it difficult for Fan Changyu to read. After struggling to understand the meaning, she exclaimed with wide eyes, “The Li family wants Qi Min to formally appear in court?”
The letter described how officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had observed unusual movements in the Emperor’s star while observing the night sky.
Several elderly ministers in the court claimed to have dreamed of the late Emperor, who wept bitterly, saying he could not bear to see the descendants of the Crown Prince of Chengde wandering among the common people.
Now, rumors were spreading throughout the capital that the Emperor’s eldest grandson was not dead. People were also saying that the floods and droughts of recent years were because the Emperor’s virtue did not match his position.
The common people had long been dissatisfied with Wei Yan’s manipulation of imperial power, and the young Emperor had always been seen as weak and incompetent. Now, they had found an outlet for their frustrations, clamoring for the descendant of the Crown Prince of Chengde to ascend the throne as the rightful heir.
The Emperor had previously relied on the Li family to suppress Wei Yan, but now the Li family had turned against him. He lacked the real power to challenge anyone.
Xie Zheng said with near certainty, “Wei Yan is also setting a trap. When the Li family reveals their true intentions, that will be when Wei Yan springs his net.”
In the capital, inside the Imperial Palace.
At the foot of the dragon throne in the Imperial Study, memorials had been strewn across the floor, and all the cups and utensils that could be smashed had already been broken.
“Traitors! They’ve all turned traitors!”
With nothing left to throw, Emperor Qi Sheng pushed over the dragon throne itself. His voluminous dragon robe trailed on the ground, causing him to accidentally step on it and trip, striking his forehead on the steps and drawing blood.
Today’s fury contrasted sharply with the wild joy he had felt when the Li family’s first memorial denouncing Wei Yan had arrived.
It turned out that the Li family’s move to bring down Wei Yan wasn’t at his behest, but because they had long harbored treasonous intentions!
A terrified eunuch rushed forward to help him up. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you alright?”
Qi Sheng violently pushed away the eunuch trying to assist him, his expression sinister as he pointed at the eunuch. “I know. None of you have ever truly seen me as the real Son of Heaven. I know it all…”
His expression was so fierce it seemed he might devour someone.
The eunuch, ignoring the cuts from the broken porcelain when he fell, hurriedly kowtowed to express his loyalty. “Your Majesty, heaven and earth can attest to this old servant’s devotion to you!”
But Qi Sheng paid no attention, almost talking to himself. “Xie Zheng dares to defy my imperial edict, and now the Li family wants to enthrone another puppet to replace me…”
As he spoke, his face suddenly contorted, and he shouted hysterically, “I am the true Dragon Son of Heaven! No one but me will sit on that dragon throne!”
The eunuch stared in shock at Qi Sheng’s loss of composure, for a moment even wondering if the Emperor had gone mad.
But Qi Sheng, dragging his dragon robe with half its sleeves torn, began pacing back and forth in the Imperial Study. He didn’t even care that the golden crown on his head was askew, muttering to himself, “There’s still a way… there’s still a way…”
The eunuch, terrified by this frenzied behavior and recalling the rumors in the court and among the people, tried to inconspicuously leave the Imperial Study. He had almost reached the door when Qi Sheng, who had been pacing back and forth, suddenly noticed him and tilted his head to look at him. “Where are you going?”
Cold sweat instantly broke out all over the eunuch’s body. Having served in the imperial presence for so many years, he managed not to stammer as he spoke. “Your… Your Majesty seems troubled. This old servant thought to brew some tea for Your Majesty.”
“Is that so?” Qi Sheng seemed unconvinced. He took a dragon-engraved sword from a nearby rack and dragged its tip along the steps as he walked towards the old eunuch.
The old eunuch was terrified out of his wits. His legs were so weak he could barely walk. He collapsed to the ground, begging for mercy. “This old servant truly intended to brew tea for Your Majesty…”
Qi Sheng looked at him and smiled. “If you’re going to brew tea, then go brew tea. Why are you shaking like this?”
The sharp sword tip pierced the eunuch’s leg, causing him to cry out in agony. Qi Sheng felt the malice screaming in his heart find an outlet in that scream of pain, and every pore in his body suddenly felt relieved.
In an excellent mood, he stabbed the old eunuch again, watching as the blood stained his imperial yellow dragon robe red. He laughed with satisfaction. “What a beautiful color. No wonder Xie Zheng’s eight hundred personal guards are called the Blood Robe Cavalry.”
The old eunuch was already convulsing in pain, trying to crawl away on all fours. However, Qi Sheng, as if discovering a new toy, began wielding the dragon sword like a cleaver. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he hacked at the old eunuch as if chopping vegetables, venting all his rage.
The old eunuch’s pleas for mercy soon turned into incoherent screams, and eventually, he could no longer even cry out.
The floor tiles of the great hall were splattered with blood and bits of flesh.
Qi Sheng only stopped when his arms grew too tired to swing the sword. He looked at the corpse he had hacked into a pile of mangled flesh, threw aside the sword, and called for young eunuchs to come in and clean up. Then he returned to his dragon throne to catch his breath.
The young eunuchs who entered the hall turned pale at the sight of the bloody mess in the center of the hall, retching repeatedly.
Qi Sheng, finding their miserable state amusing, finally laughed with satisfaction. “Gao Gong harbored treasonous thoughts against me. He deserved worse than death! This is the fate of anyone else who dares to harbor such thoughts against me!”
The group of young eunuchs, ashen-faced, knelt to pledge their loyalty.
Qi Sheng looked at this scene with great satisfaction, feeling a rush of exhilaration through his body. This was the taste of power he craved!
One day, the Li family and the Xie family would also kneel before him, begging for mercy!
But before that, he would have to continue to endure for a while longer.
Having vented his rage, Qi Sheng calmed down completely. With a gloomy expression, he ordered, “Someone come and help me change my clothes.”
As autumn nights grew colder, the mournful cry of cicadas could be heard.
Since being accused by the Li family of colluding with rebels, Wei Yan had claimed illness and stopped attending court.
Moonlight cast a frost-like whiteness on the stone path in the courtyard as if a light snow had fallen.
A small light shone from the window of the study. An attendant passed through the layers of tiger warriors guarding outside the courtyard and pushed open the door. He addressed the old man sitting on the floor before a low table, playing chess against himself: “Lord Prime Minister, an important guest has arrived.”
Wei Yan, his chess game interrupted, slightly raised his eyelids, which were full of wrinkles. In the light of a candle beside the chessboard, he looked imposing without anger: “Didn’t I say not to receive anyone, no matter who it is?”
The attendant held up an object with both hands for him to see.
It was a jade ring carved with dragon patterns.
This was an item worn by the Emperor.
Wei Yan merely glanced at it before looking away, seemingly unimpressed. By this time, he had already recalled where he wanted to place his next chess piece. His old but strong index and middle fingers pinched a black piece and placed it on the board, instantly reversing the situation in the fierce battle of the chess game.
He said, “After learning from that old Li for so many years, you still can’t keep your composure.”
The attendant dared not comment, waiting for further instructions.
Wei Yan said, “Since he’s here, let him in.”
Soon after, Qi Sheng appeared outside Wei Yan’s study, dressed in ordinary clothes and wearing a large cloak.
As he tried to enter the study, the Tiger Warriors in the courtyard crossed their halberds, signaling he couldn’t proceed further.
Qi Sheng stood still for a moment, his face darkening. Thinking of what the Li family planned to do, he disregarded his dignity. Just as he had done countless times in front of Wei Yan over the past decade or so, he began weeping openly: “Prime Minister, save me! The Li family wants to depose me and install a new ruler!”
No one in the study responded. Through the shadows on the door screen, Qi Sheng could tell Wei Yan was playing chess alone.
Qi Sheng gritted his teeth secretly and continued his tearful plea: “Prime Minister, I will be obedient. All the past incidents were due to the Li family’s deception. I know only you truly have my best interests at heart. The Li family even wants to frame you for colluding with rebels. I will seek justice for you, Prime Minister!”
Qi Sheng had said all the flattering words he could think of, but the figure in the study seemed to ignore him completely.
Only then did Qi Sheng truly feel afraid. Thinking about being forced off the throne and possibly even secretly killed, he no longer cared about flattery and just sobbed uncontrollably.
He didn’t even notice when the study door opened. It wasn’t until Wei Yan’s deep, authoritative voice cut through the cold autumn night that he heard: “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven and should behave as such.”
Qi Sheng quickly looked up to see Wei Yan standing at the study door, wearing only a simple cloth robe. Despite his plain attire, Wei Yan had the bearing of a towering mountain. Qi Sheng immediately begged like a lost dog: “Prime Minister, save me…”
Wei Yan coldly interrupted him: “Have rebel troops reached the city, or has Li Sui staged a coup?”
Li Sui was the given name of the Grand Tutor Li.
Qi Sheng was at a loss for words. After all these years, fear of Wei Yan seemed to have become an instinct ingrained in his bones.
“The imperial city stands, the palace is secure. What does Your Majesty fear?” Wei Yan continued to question. His voice wasn’t loud, but it made Qi Sheng feel suffocated.
However, these words did reassure Qi Sheng somewhat.
He continued to act like a helpless child, looking at Wei Yan in distress: “I… I have acted improperly tonight.”
Wei Yan turned and closed the door: “If that’s the case, Your Majesty should return to the palace.”
Qi Sheng shouted: “Prime Minister!”
An attendant stepped forward, respectfully gesturing Qi Sheng to leave, though his manner was forceful.
Qi Sheng stared at the closed study door and continued: “Seventeen years ago, it was the Prime Minister who put me on the throne. I know only you will always be of one mind with me. In this world, I trust only you, Prime Minister.”
No more sounds came from Qi Sheng outside the courtyard; he seemed to have been led away by the attendants. Wei Yan sat before the chessboard, and for once, his usually inscrutable eyes showed a trace of deep-seated disgust.
It was unclear whether he was disgusted with Qi Sheng or with the fact that his lies sounded so much like someone from the past.
After a long while, he finally spoke: “Since the Li family wants the Emperor’s eldest grandson to appear before the world, select a bait from the dungeons. If he’s truly a descendant of Crown Prince Chengde, he won’t remain unmoved.”
Xie Zheng had been very busy lately, and even Fan Changyu rarely saw him in the military camp.
Occasionally, when she indirectly asked Tang Peiyi about it, he claimed not to know. But the way he looked at her always made Fan Changyu feel uncomfortable, so she didn’t dare ask more.
The meritorious officers were to enter the capital for an investiture, and today the army was preparing for their journey to the capital. With Tang Peiyi and Vice General He busy with these matters, Fan Changyu was happy to have some free time.
That night, as she slept in her room, she sensed someone approaching. She quietly adjusted her breathing, and just as the person was about to touch her bed, she swiftly grabbed their wrist and twisted it back. She was about to pin the intruder down when her knee was hooked, causing her to lose balance and fall.
Xie Zheng held her tightly in his arms and didn’t let go. His voice, tinged with faint exhaustion, praised her: “Your vigilance is commendable.”
Fan Changyu had guessed it was him the moment she was caught. She struggled twice but couldn’t break free, so she elbowed his chest and asked, “Where have you been these past two days?”
Xie Zheng opened his eyes in the darkness upon hearing her question: “Were you looking for me?”
He currently had only two places to stay in Jizhou: the military camp and the city lord’s mansion.
Since they had reconciled, Fan Changyu rarely sought him out except for official business. Now, hearing his question, she felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I hadn’t seen you for several days, so I was just asking.”
Xie Zheng didn’t point out her evasion. He stole two kisses on her face before releasing her and said, “I had some matters to handle, gathering people and making arrangements.”
Fan Changyu asked, “What matters?”
While undoing her clothes, Xie Zheng replied, “News came from the capital that some of your grandfather’s subordinates who were involved in the grain transport didn’t die. They’ve been under Wei Yan’s control all this time.”
Upon hearing it was related to the grain transport from years ago, Fan Changyu’s attention was immediately captured. When she felt a chill on her shoulder, she realized what Xie Zheng was doing and quickly slapped his hand hard, hissing, “What are you doing?!”
Xie Zheng felt somewhat wronged by the slap. He placed a small iron box in Fan Changyu’s hand and said, “I had someone find this scar-removing ointment for you. I came specially to apply it for you.”
Fan Changyu glared at him but still said fiercely, “If you give me the ointment, I can apply it myself. What do you mean by undressing me without a word?”
Xie Zheng had been to the Xie family home in Huizhou these past few days to arrange for his men to return to the capital and investigate. The day and night journey had left him exhausted. He had come to her room in Jizhou just to give her the ointment and sleep beside her to catch up on rest.
In recent days, whenever he felt troubled, he could only find peace by her side.
But seeing her so startled and alert now, like a bristling tiger cub, his eyes suddenly darkened. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her from head to toe before biting her shoulder resentfully: “You’re making me suffer.”
His bite wasn’t gentle, and Fan Changyu grimaced for a while before pulling open his clothes, intending to bite him back.
He seemed to have bathed before coming, as there was no unpleasant smell of sweat on him, only a faint scent of soap. Fan Changyu’s sharp canine teeth closed in, eliciting a muffled groan from him as his entire body tensed like a rock.
“Get off,” Xie Zheng’s voice was already abnormal.
Unfortunately, it was nighttime, and his voice was already low. Fan Changyu didn’t notice the change. She bit his shoulder and ground her teeth, unsatisfied, mumbling, “So you can bite me, but I can’t bite you, your dog…”
In the next moment, Xie Zheng flipped her over, reversing their positions.
Without a word, he just looked at her once before lowering his head to kiss her fiercely and frantically, one hand exploring inside her already loosened clothes.
Fan Changyu usually bound her chest for convenience when in the military camp, but at night when resting, she would untie the bindings.
Xie Zheng didn’t know about her dressing habits and thought she would have another layer of clothing underneath. When his calloused hand unexpectedly touched a soft, smooth warmth, they both froze for a moment.
Fan Changyu reflexively tried to kick him, but Xie Zheng pressed down on her leg.
As he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing heavily, his breath seemed to be on fire.
Fan Changyu was furious with embarrassment and snapped, “Get off me!”
Xie Zheng didn’t speak, but Fan Changyu felt him squeeze once, which made her entire body feel like it was about to burst into flames. She berated him, “You lecher!”
The subsequent commotion was like they were trying to tear the bed apart. Someone’s foot kicked the bed frame, making the entire bed shake precariously.
Madam Zhao, who had gotten up to use the bathroom, heard the noise from Fan Changyu’s room and knocked on the door, asking, “Changyu, what’s that sound in your room?”
Fan Changyu replied resentfully, “A rat got into the room, I’m trying to catch it!”
Madam Zhao asked, puzzled, “Why don’t you light a lamp to catch the rat?”
Fan Changyu could only continue to make up an excuse: “I… I have good eyesight, I don’t need a lamp. I’ve already killed the rat. Auntie Zhao, please go back to sleep.”
After Madam Zhao instructed her to sleep early too, she returned to her room.
Due to their earlier struggle, Fan Changyu was already sweating. Their limbs were entangled, neither having subdued the other. As Fan Changyu breathed, her chest was still heaving violently.
Xie Zheng’s shoulder had been clawed at by her earlier, and his robe was now disheveled. One arm was pinning down one of Fan Changyu’s hands, pressing her into the bedding. The places where their skin touched felt like they were on fire as if the flesh beneath was sizzling.
Fan Changyu’s other hand was against his jaw. It was a situation where both had lost.
Fan Changyu said quietly, “I’ll count to three, and we’ll let go together.”
Xie Zheng replied hoarsely, “Alright.”
Fan Changyu began counting: “One, two… three!”
After the count of three, neither of them let go.
Fan Changyu accused, “Why didn’t you keep your word?”
Xie Zheng only said, “You didn’t let go either.”
They both fell silent.
After a moment, it was Fan Changyu who spoke: “One of us has to compromise. Do you want to stay like this all night?”
“…It wouldn’t be so bad.”
Hearing this, Fan Changyu nearly bristled again and said fiercely, “In your dreams! You’re just taking advantage of me!”
Xie Zheng’s voice was a bit hoarse: “You’ve torn the front of my robe.”
Fan Changyu’s eyes blazed: “That was from fighting, not because I had any designs on you!”
The air was silent for about two breaths, then Xie Zheng suddenly said, as if giving up all pretense, “It’s true that I have designs on you.”
Fan Changyu was stunned, not expecting him to be so forthright at this moment. She stammered, “Well, at least you admit it.”
To her surprise, he asked, “So what should we do about it?”
Fan Changyu glared at him: “Of course, you should let me go immediately and leave my room.”
Unexpectedly, he said, “Keep dreaming.”
Fan Changyu was exasperated.
After all this commotion, Xie Zheng seemed to be tired too. He kissed her shoulder a couple more times before helping her wrap her clothes properly and holding her in his arms. Exhausted, he said, “Don’t move. Let me hold you while I sleep for a while. I’ll leave at dawn and won’t be back for half a month.”
Hearing that he had just returned but would be leaving again for half a month, the anger in Fan Changyu’s heart dissipated. She finally stopped resisting and asked, “Where are you going?”
Xie Zheng lay on his side, his chin resting on her shoulder, inhaling her scent as he mumbled, “I’m going to the capital. Whether the news released is true or false, it’s related to the truth behind Jinzhou. I have to go and investigate the facts.”