“…”
Seeing Xiao Jue’s confused expression, Qin Chang Ge said apologetically: “Sorry, I wandered off to other territories and picked up some local dialect. You probably can’t understand it, and I forgot your acceptance level isn’t as good as Rong’er’s. Well, I won’t say it next time.”
Xiao Jue fell silent, suddenly feeling a lonely sense of being excluded. Though the early spring breeze was clearly gentle and warm, at this moment it felt slightly cold against his skin.
Why did everyone else seem to understand what they were saying, while only he didn’t? That was clearly his wife’s soul, his son!
After experiencing life and death, reborn anew, his wife no longer belonged to him. Fine, he accepted it—who told him he was in the wrong? He knew better than anyone that with Chang Ge’s personality, force wouldn’t work. He had always firmly believed that no matter who was around Chang Ge in this life, no matter what resistance and shadows she harbored from their past experiences, with their emotional foundation from their previous life, with Chang Ge’s unforgettable memories of their hardships working hand in hand through life and death struggles, with the most solid proof of their love—Rong’er—he should have the best chance of clearing the shadows, parting the heavy clouds, and winning her heart again.
Yet now, clearly at her side, he seemed separated by mist or curtains, unable to see the full picture. He tried reaching out to grasp her, but couldn’t touch her heart. She was close at hand, yet far as the horizon.
Xiao Jue’s eyelashes drooped slightly, his face showing some frustrated dejection, but he immediately rallied his spirits, smiling: “No matter. In time, I’ll naturally understand. You needn’t worry about my feelings… By the way, what’s a civil servant?”
Smiling and glancing at Chu Feihuan, who was staring thoughtfully at Xiao Jue in silence, Qin Chang Ge said gently: “Speaking of this, it relates to my next plan. Let me first share the intelligence I’ve gathered recently. A’Jue, you’ve been having them investigate Prince Zhao’s forces, haven’t you? Hmm… what have you discovered?”
“The Western Liang Shadow Guards were ultimately established by your hand, but unfortunately, that incident happened before long,” Xiao Jue said solemnly. “You know their capabilities well—according to the chief’s report, Prince Zhao’s mansion had already dismissed all retainers on the day you petitioned the throne. Prince Zhao’s retainers numbered supposedly three thousand. With so many people leaving the mansion in one day, you can imagine that chaotic scene—some cursing heaven and earth, some composing poetry, some weeping and lamenting that their virtuous prince was slandered, plus curious onlookers—it was complete chaos. No matter how powerful the Shadow Guards are, they ultimately cannot operate in daylight. With such a swarm emerging in broad daylight, they had no way to track and investigate. Besides, what could they investigate? Thousands of people—how do you know who’s problematic?”
He sighed heavily: “No one came out through secret passages—everyone left through the main gate. A’Chen is formidable!”
“This makes it nearly impossible to identify who exactly comprised Prince Zhao’s private forces.” Chu Feihuan continued, staring thoughtfully toward the Anping Palace in the city’s northwest. “But Your Majesty, surely you had some private control over Prince Zhao’s mansion normally?”
Xiao Jue looked up, gazing at his “romantic rival” before him, taking a deep breath: “No. I admit that balancing court politics and controlling ministers is an unspoken but universally practiced way of ruling that all monarchs employ. I have such methods too, but not for A’Chen. Chang Ge knows this—originally there were court spies in Prince Zhao’s mansion, but I later withdrew them. I always believed A’Chen’s heart toward me was sincere enough to illuminate sun and moon. For me to suspect and guard against him would make me a beast… Even now, I still think A’Chen made mistakes—he shouldn’t have mobilized the Imperial Guards, shouldn’t have set traps and killed innocents indiscriminately, and seems to have fanned the flames in the Changle Palace fire incident—but I don’t believe he personally killed Chang Ge.”
He turned to Qin Chang Ge, saying hoarsely: “Chang Ge, I know you’ll be angry, but I truly don’t believe A’Chen would harm me like this… All these years in court, besides trusting you, the only other person I trusted was him… He’s my brother. He’s intelligent, has deep schemes, and his methods aren’t necessarily completely righteous, but…”
“Enough,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Why should I be angry? Why must I believe your brother killed your wife? Is that supposed to be pleasant? I’m happy that you can maintain affection and strong trust for family, not abandoning them based on others’ words, not becoming a suspicious emperor who makes everyone live in fear. At least in the future, Rong’er won’t have to worry about any nine-dragons-competing-for-succession incidents. Rong’er, come—to reward your father’s firm defense, to celebrate your unshakeable crown prince position, to celebrate that being crown prince means 380 dishes daily… give your father emperor a reward!”
“Okay!”
Following orders instantly, Baozi immediately scattered paper strips as he obediently pounced over, hugging his father’s neck and pressing his little mouth—pursed like a morning glory and still sticky with candy—forward for a fierce kiss on his father’s cheek!
Such a loud smack…
Xiao Jue froze again.
The soft, small body, smooth skin, honey-sweet breath carrying a child’s milky fragrance, heart-touching sweetness… the floral pollen fragrance in spring wind… like silk brushing his heart… like clear springs flowing through his entire body… Xiao Jue reached out, embracing his son regardless of everything else… Fate’s cruel manipulation had made him three full years late for this moment of real happiness. Now, how could he bear to let go?
This is my child—mine and yours, our blood connection. The satisfaction of holding him in this moment surpasses possessing kingdoms.
Chu Feihuan slowly turned his gaze, looking with complex emotions at Xiao Jue, who was stunned silly by his son’s casual kiss, then at the lip print on his face stained red with transparent candy juice from the child’s candied hawthorn, then at his expression that truly damaged his wise and mighty image—foolishly happy. He decided to look away—better let him immerse himself undisturbed in family joy first…
“Prince Zhao’s private forces have scattered, and the Shadow Guards can’t investigate due to their status constraints. But what about the Colorful Gu Sect? How did the Colorful Gu contact Prince Zhao? Where are they now? Moreover, Chang Ge, I think the gray-clothed people who pursued me that night also seemed to belong to this sect.”
“Really?” After hearing Chu Feihuan’s detailed description of the gray-clothed people’s characteristics, Qin Chang Ge nodded. “It does seem similar… If that’s the case, has the Colorful Gu Sect already deeply infiltrated Western Liang’s entire bureaucratic class, with agents planted in all influential official households?”
Xiao Jue, who was happily holding his son, vaguely heard this and immediately placed his son on his knee, turning to ask: “How could it be so serious? Do you mean A’Chen invited wolves into the house?”
“That’s exactly what you said—how could it be so serious?” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Xiao Chen isn’t a pig. No matter how dissatisfied he is with me, it’s only directed at me. Why would he joke around with Western Liang’s kingdom? Hmm… with his abilities, even if he used the Colorful Gu, he would certainly have precautions… A’Jue, if your strong trust in him is genuine, if he truly never intended to harm you, then I think he’ll warn you sooner or later.”
“Why do you pay such attention to the Colorful Gu Sect?” Chu Feihuan gazed quietly at Qin Chang Ge. “You seem very disgusted. Is it because you think they’re also suspects?”
“Not necessarily…” Qin Chang Ge smiled bitterly. How could she explain her disgust? In fact, she’d begun loathing them from the moment she unmasked Yunhua at Prince Zhao’s mansion. Thinking of the legendary Zhongchuan ruler Bei Tang Jing being bewitched by Colorful Gu beauties, seeing Yunhua’s seductive gait and that face identical to her own, thinking that Yunhua was very likely that nation-destroying temptress—wearing her face to smile charmingly, to indulge daily in debauchery, to use various strange tricks and positions with that bastard Bei Tang Jing—Qin Chang Ge was truly so disgusted she wanted to vomit for three days. Colorful Gu demons, don’t you know this lady has a spiritual cleanliness obsession?
This was serious insult—unbearable! Qin Chang Ge decided that regardless of whether the Colorful Gu Sect was her enemy or what games they were playing, if she didn’t destroy their hearts, break their skin, and extract their tendons until their organs burned and smoke came from their seven orifices, she’d be unworthy of Ruiyi!
“In any case… the Colorful Gu must be dealt with, and Southern Min must be guarded against.” After destroying that sect ten thousand times in her mind, Qin Chang Ge said very gently: “Just not urgently. Sediment lurks, but will eventually surface. We’ll prepare our nets and wait to catch them… Now let me explain why I want to become a civil servant—oh no, why I want to become an official. After petitioning the throne recently, shocking the world, Ming Shuang became famous overnight as a prominent figure across the entire continent. This is certainly not good, so my next plan must be implemented immediately—student Ming Shuang must die suddenly.”
Startled, Xiao Jue said: “Your plan?”
With a sly smile, Qin Chang Ge said: “The Phoenix Alliance has already begun spreading news. I believe we’ll see results soon. This is the revenge legend story people love most—a little palace maid enters the palace young, rootless and bullied, fortunately encounters the Empress who generously extends aid, thus receiving deep gratitude and keeping it in her heart. During the Changle incident, the little maid desperately escapes, not knowing the Empress was rescued. The little maid tosses and turns day and night planning to clear the Empress’s name and seek revenge, thus being pursued. Fortunately saved by chivalrous martial artists, her tearful account moves the righteous warriors who already loved and revered the Empress to draw swords in assistance. Finally, after countless hardships gathering evidence of the villain’s crimes, enduring humiliation and proceeding step by step, she risks death to petition and see the Emperor, fearlessly pointing out the powerful Prince before the golden hall, with outstanding character and disregard for death, her loyal heart piercing the nine heavens. Finally, in white robes, she brings down the deeply hidden Prince—our lord is wise! Long live Western Liang!”
“Long live!” Baozi, who had been listening carefully, immediately applauded cooperatively, then shook his head with infinite emotion: “My mother composed the song last night. Let me sing it for you—” He jumped down from his emperor father’s knee, walked a few cat-steps gracefully on the ground, raised his orchid fingers, and sang:
“Oh my—la di ge lang di ge lang!!!”
“She sadly passes the flower wall;”
“Past the flower wall, moon grows dim,”
“Moon grows dim, enters the court;”
“Enters the court, denounces the Prince.”
“Denounces the Prince, evil heart,”
“Evil heart, gets its due!”
After finishing, he reined in, concluded, and recited:
“What a super inspirational drama of love, hate, revenge, loyalty and virtue comparable to ‘War and Beauty’—soul-stirring!”
His child’s voice was shrill, his posture affected. He was weak when he should be strong, strong when he should be weak. His high notes shakily soared up, then trembled down. Occasionally breaking voice could be heard, combined with the “leading lady’s” face covered chaotically with candy juice and paper strips, the infinitely “charming” tragic lyrics, and his self-considered seductive winking… truly horrifying.
“Pfft!” Chu Feihuan couldn’t help laughing, turning away with an irrepressible smile to look at the sky. Xiao Jue helplessly grabbed his son’s cheeks, whispering: “Stop singing, stop singing. When you sing, the lingering sound circles for three days—your father can’t bear it.”
His eyes sparkling as he turned around, Xiao Baozi asked excitedly: “Lingering sound for three days seems like something my mother taught me—does that mean I sing well? I didn’t know besides composing couplets, I also have talent for opera?”
Staring at Baozi, Xiao Jue once again wondered who this child’s shamelessness resembled. He suspiciously glanced at Chang Ge… could she have many vile traits that remained deeply hidden, now exposed through their uninhibited son?
“What your father meant by ‘three days continuous’ is ‘three days unconscious’… Hearing you sing makes souls fly and spirits scatter, demons dance wildly, stars spin and organs burn, the whole person becomes stiff and numb, wanting to bash their head against the ground to death, losing all sensation—that’s why it’s called ‘three days unconscious.'” Qin Chang Ge glanced at Xiao Jue, reading his subtext. Inwardly cursing Baozi for not living up to expectations—why couldn’t he be heroic and mighty to show your father that your mother produced a naturally dragon-like, phoenix-like child to earn me some face?
Sighing helplessly, Qin Chang Ge said: “Alright, back to business. Continuing to act under Ming Shuang’s identity, I probably couldn’t live three months, or at least would never have peace. So she must die—she was supposed to die anyway, just delayed by half a year.”
“Method of death?” Chu Feihuan was always concise.
“Blame Xiao Chen.” Qin Chang Ge said lightly: “A centipede still moves after death. Having been a prince for many years, even under house arrest, his remaining forces shouldn’t find it difficult to kill a small palace maid, right? This is a reason everyone can accept and other ulterior forces would find reasonable.”
“For revenge and investigation, the best method is when enemies are open while I remain hidden. If enemies hide, I must be even more hidden,” Qin Chang Ge said. “I let Ming Shuang’s identity actively show herself, denounce Prince Zhao, petition the court causing such an uproar that all knew about it—the purpose was to paralyze those who truly killed me, making them think the murderer was caught and they could sleep easy. Then, with Ming Shuang’s death, cut off clues, remove their attention and tracking focused on Ming Shuang, while simultaneously releasing news that ‘the Empress didn’t die’ to test all forces that lose composure and show abnormal movements. Now, Ming Shuang’s historical mission is complete, along with this coffin shop, which will soon disappear. Before they realize it, I want to change identity and perspective to start anew.”
“Great hiding is in the court,” Qin Chang Ge’s smile held deep meaning. “Moreover, that future court will certainly have many unexpected gains. Respected Your Majesty—” She smiled, leaning close to Xiao Jue. “I’m honored to soon work with you in court.”
“This is what you meant by ‘staying within my sight in another reasonable and public way’?” Xiao Jue said in amazement. “Becoming an official? How will you do it? Should I directly appoint you as a female official?”
“Female official?” Qin Chang Ge raised her eyebrows, looking at Xiao Jue with an ambiguous smile. “A’Jue, what are you thinking?”
Xiao Jue immediately blushed slightly, covering with a light cough, saying awkwardly: “Thinking… what I should be thinking…”
Looking at Xiao Jue with mixed exasperation and amusement, Qin Chang Ge thought this person was still as honest as before. Probably because she’d returned and their son was safe, plus his recent visits to the coffin shop, the gloomy, violent shadows from the Changle incident were gradually dissipating. The shadow of that bright youth from years past had returned, at least in her presence.
With some sentiment, some melancholy, some indescribable depression, Qin Chang Ge stood with hands behind her back, watching clouds gather and disperse on the horizon, her gaze changing with deep meaning.
After a long while: “Storm clouds gather… The people who intercepted Rong Xiaotian that day, allowing Yunhua to escape and attend court—we investigated them. Turns out they weren’t just Colorful Gu members, but another force was involved. The opponents used diversionary tactics and false arrays—truly masters… Ah… why do I feel these days will become increasingly thrilling?”
Fourth year of Qian Yuan, sixth day of second month—time for spring examinations.
Ten years of cold study for vermillion gates, bearing book bags to the capital.
The city filled with scholars, occupying all large and small inns throughout the capital, daily monopolizing wine houses and tea shops, clustering together in groups, eloquently discussing examiners, debating eight-legged essays, analyzing compositions horizontally and vertically. The silver they spent was less than time occupied, the saliva they splattered more than tea they drank.
The Confucian Temple was even more crowded with scholar-students burning incense and praying to gods for carp-leaping-dragon-gate success and golden list inscription, kowtowing countless times with resounding thuds.
A few days before spring examinations, on the second day of second month—Dragon Raises Head day.
On Tianqu Avenue, the capital’s busiest street, an unfortunate incident occurred.
Prince Jing’an Yu Zixi and examination candidate from Dezhou, Zhao Moyan, had a fight in the busy street.
Main characters: Prince Jing’an, Zhao Moyan. Supporting character: Xiao Rong. Extras: Qi Heng.
Xiao Baozi had left the palace to relax. He had deep grievances with his tutor, having engaged in visual combat ten thousand times in the Eastern Palace that day. Unable to bear that stubborn old man’s constant “zhi hu zhe ye,” Xiao Baozi simply slapped his bottom and left.
Speaking of their grievances—truly horrifying.
Crown Prince Xiao ascended Guanhua Palace on New Year’s Day, worshipping heaven and earth, reporting to the ancestral temple, honoring earth and grain at the Agricultural Altar, paying respects to the Emperor in the Great Ceremonial Hall, then receiving the Crown Prince’s册, crown, and golden seal in Guanhua Palace’s main hall. After this entire process, Baozi’s already minimal patience was completely worn away. If not for his mother’s threat to cut off snacks for a year if he didn’t persevere properly, he would have erupted long ago. Even so, at the final moment of receiving the golden seal, extremely dissatisfied with the presiding ceremony elder’s long-winded, head-shaking, three-beat reading of the imperial edict before the seal presentation, Baozi finally erupted.
Mother’s teachings: Character is what I desire; satisfaction is also what I desire. When both cannot be achieved, abandon character and take satisfaction.
Also: When one can endure no more, there’s no need to endure further.
Also: Bad people can be tolerated, but good people cannot.
Remembering these constant warnings, Baozi directly got up from the ground and shouted: “Bowing to heaven, earth, ancestors, and father—kneeling is fine! But why must I kneel to you, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince? Get lost! If I’d known being Crown Prince was such trouble, I’d rather own a pastry shop!”
Kicking over the small table before him, he rushed forward, grabbed the golden seal and left, stuffing it in his pocket while walking away without looking back: “I’m giving you a holiday! No more reading! I took the seal—dare stop me and I’ll pull your beard!”
He’d barely stepped out the hall door when a crash came from behind. The poor newly appointed Crown Prince Grand Tutor Jia Rui, carefully selected from over a thousand scholarly officials—white-haired, virtuous, learned, and upright old Academician Jia—had fainted.
News traveled lightning-fast in the capital’s official circles. Within a day, all citizens knew about the Crown Prince’s bold seal-snatching scene at Guanhua Palace. Everyone’s eyes lit up as they enthusiastically discussed this extraordinary news, highly praising the newly emerged Crown Prince’s domineering arrogance. They unanimously agreed that Crown Prince Xiao Rong was truly worthy of being Western Liang’s future ruler—his brilliance exceeded ordinary people. Our Western Liang’s unification of the world was promising!
Fortunately, there were no paparazzi or cameras in that era. The people didn’t know their much-praised brilliant Crown Prince was currently fighting on Tianqu Avenue.
Even with cameras, it wouldn’t matter—Crown Prince Xiao now went out directly using masks his mother arranged, seven in total worn in rotation, playing face-changing games with great enthusiasm.
The incident began when Prince Jing’an’s dog Prime Minister took a fancy to Crown Prince Xiao’s bottom.
Prime Minister was Prince Jing’an’s most beloved pack leader, whose magnificence and beauty absolutely lived up to such a prestigious title. Prime Minister had noble bloodline and extraordinary temperament, never deigning to associate with common dogs. His daily food cost five taels of silver, equivalent to three months’ living expenses for ordinary families. Normally, he couldn’t possibly develop appetite for non-cooked food, even if it was the tender, precious posterior of Western Liang Empire’s Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, Xiao Baozi made a serious mistake. Afraid his newly bought crystal ham from Ruifang Studio would stain his clothes, he creatively asked for paper string to tie the ham package to his bottom.
After tying it, he patted satisfactorily, confirming it wouldn’t fall, and was about to find his mother when he heard voices surging. A crowd suddenly rushed forward like tide, then scattered with a whoosh, immediately separating Baozi from his plainclothes guards.
Baozi didn’t notice, just curiously stopped to look. Seeing everyone’s faces showed alarm as they kept turning their heads, he followed their gazes and saw an official with disheveled court robes, extremely embarrassed, clutching his torn clothes and rushing into a nearby shop like his eyebrows were on fire.
Then he saw fire shadows leaping and endless laughter. The bright sunshine on the long street suddenly blazed as if a beautiful demonic fire had ignited. Where thousands of gazes focused, a seductive, swaying prince sat high on horseback, his gold-silk long whip gracefully drawing an extremely beautiful arc in mid-air, magnificent, then striking!
Like black clouds rolling across the earth, instantly several sleek dogs half as tall as men roared forward like whirlwinds. The crowd immediately parted, leaving only one lonely Xiao Baozi standing in the cleared space.
Before he could react to what was happening, Prime Minister had already leaped with a howl, pouncing toward Crown Prince Xiao’s bottom—the ham behind it.
A scream pierced the sky!
At that moment, Qin Chang Ge—examination candidate Zhao Moyan—was in the wine house across the street listening to candidates discuss possible exam topics. Baozi had been within her sight, but in just the time it took to lower her head and pour wine, Baozi was tackled.
Throwing down her wine cup, Qin Chang Ge immediately rushed downstairs!