When Qin Chang Ge first saw Ming Shuang’s father Ming Zonghua, she was startled.
This man’s face – why did it look vaguely familiar? Yet she couldn’t remember where she’d seen him before.
She stood outside the hall, looking through the window at the old man pulling along another man, humbly saying to Wen Chang: “Princess, I heard that palace maids can be released for marriage after serving five years. Shuang’er has been in the palace for five years now. Could the Princess please intervene and have Shuang’er released?” He pointed to a sturdy young man beside him, stammering: “He’s waited five years too…”
Wen Chang looked up at the young man who was bowing to her, showing pity in her eyes. She turned her gaze away and pondered silently. The nanny beside her, being in the know, smiled: “Master Ming, we’ve heard that you went to great trouble to send your daughter into the palace. Why are you now eager for her to leave?”
“Sigh…” Ming Zonghua sighed, every wrinkle on his old face filled with regret. “I was possessed by foolish ambition, wanting to climb social ranks. Now it seems hopeless – I can’t delay the child’s whole life.”
He smiled bitterly: “Years ago when Shuang’er was born, during her first birthday ceremony, a wandering Taoist came begging. My wife was soft-hearted and gave him food and silver. After eating, that Taoist pointed into our house and said, ‘Your newly born daughter – this body is invaluably precious, originally a lotus gathering from the nine heavens, a heavenly maiden’s flower in palm, descending to this mortal world only to serve her master with her body.’ He said many other strange things I didn’t understand, but ‘this body is invaluably precious’ was quite clear. From then on I harbored wild ambitions, not knowing the Taoist spoke nonsense…”
He sighed and said no more. Outside, Xiao Jue and Qin Chang Ge exchanged glances. Xiao Jue suddenly pulled Qin Chang Ge aside, dragging her behind the building and whispering urgently: “Change back, change back.”
Qin Chang Ge frowned at him: “Why?”
“Looking like this,” Xiao Jue pointed at today’s undisguised Qin Chang Ge, worriedly saying: “If you go acknowledge him, Ming Shuang’s father will definitely want you to go back with him for the wedding. What would I do?”
“What would you do? Deal with it!” Qin Chang Ge said irritably. “You’re the one who couldn’t bear it, saying we should meet her father with your true appearance. Now you’re having second thoughts. There’s no emperor as shameless as you in this world!”
“Any man would be shameless about this matter,” Xiao Jue argued righteously. “I didn’t expect him to bring that fiancé too. Now the man’s right here – what if they want you to have the wedding ceremony tonight?”
Qin Chang Ge couldn’t help smiling, yet also frowned. This was indeed a difficult situation. In soul, Ming Shuang was dead, but her body still existed – how to explain this?
Remembering Ming Zonghua’s words about “this body is invaluably precious,” she knew he must have misunderstood, interpreting “this body” as “this life.” Poor Taoist – he’d actually calculated extremely accurately. Ming Shuang’s body was indeed invaluably precious now.
According to those words, poor Ming Shuang was born just to lend someone her physical shell.
“How about this,” Xiao Jue’s eyes suddenly brightened after much pondering. “He hopes his daughter will climb social ranks, right? I’ll let him climb! I’ll tell him I’m taking Ming Shuang as a consort – won’t that make everyone happy?”
Qin Chang Ge frowned, carefully examining Ming Zonghua’s complexion. Suddenly sighing, she said: “Fine… I suppose the days of being someone else’s daughter won’t last long anyway. It’s just a pity for that fiancé who waited five years.”
Xiao Jue immediately beamed: “Become my consort?”
Qin Chang Ge rolled her eyes at him: “Fake! Master Ming’s complexion is poor – he seems to have serious illness. I think his days are numbered. Having used his daughter’s body, I can’t bear to crush him with bad news in his final days, so I’ll compromise… Hey, I’m telling you about compromising – what are your hands doing?”
Swatting away someone’s wandering paws from her waist, Qin Chang Ge flicked her fingers, five gleaming needles appearing between them. She smiled gently: “Five needles, five sensations – itching, numbness, soreness, pain, and cold. Want to try them all together, or one by one?”
“If I dared want you, I wouldn’t fear your methods,” Xiao Jue said carelessly. “As long as you’re willing, go ahead.”
Qin Chang Ge was stunned. After a moment: “That rascal Rong’er must have taught you this.”
Xiao Jue laughed heartily, triumphantly embracing her waist as he strode forward, declaring loudly: “How can my woman marry another man?”
Everyone in the hall turned at the sound, seeing in the sunlight a handsome man in black robes embracing a beautiful woman, both bathed in golden light as if stepping from a painting – truly a perfect couple.
Those who recognized Xiao Jue immediately prostrated themselves shouting “Long live!” Ming Zonghua and the fiancé stood dazed until the nanny secretly tugged them, hissing: “His Majesty has arrived – why aren’t you kneeling in welcome!”
The two men startled and knelt foolishly. Ming Zonghua, a minor court official who’d never had the qualifications to see the Emperor’s face, was already terrified. When he glimpsed his own daughter in Xiao Jue’s embrace, great shock became great joy. His vision darkened and he nearly fainted. He quickly pinched his fingers, thinking: I must be mad with happiness… Shuang’er, Shuang’er she…
But the young man’s face was deathly pale. Kneeling on the ground, he stared fixedly at Xiao Jue’s hand around Qin Chang Ge’s waist.
Xiao Jue stopped before Ming Zonghua, looking down at him: “You are Ming Shuang’s father?”
Ming Zonghua kowtowed deeply: “Dismissed criminal minister Ming Zonghua pays respects to my sovereign. Long live my sovereign.”
He prostrated himself deeply, not daring to breathe freely, not daring to look up at his daughter even though she was right there.
Qin Chang Ge wondered whether to bow to Ming Zonghua. Xiao Jue wouldn’t let her bow to others, especially since he had no good impression of this Ming Zonghua. This man was so ambitious, going to great lengths to send his teenage daughter into the palace just to curry favor with the royal family, causing his daughter’s death. If not for Chang Ge’s momentary soft-heartedness seeing he didn’t have long to live, it would be better to just tell him his daughter was dead.
Xiao Jue firmly held Qin Chang Ge’s hand, preventing her from bowing. Qin Chang Ge could only help Ming Zonghua up. Before she could speak, Xiao Jue had already pulled her around. Having this rare opportunity to hold Qin Chang Ge in his arms, he was determined to embrace her thoroughly.
His fingers slowly rubbed her palm, slowly rubbed her waist. Xiao Jue smiled pleasantly while absentmindedly questioning the overwhelmed Ming Zonghua, not even remembering what nonsense he was spouting. He only felt Chang Ge’s hands were so smooth, Chang Ge’s waist so slender, Chang Ge’s body… mm, remembering that dot of crimson… plum blossoms in snow…
Qin Chang Ge maintained a stiff smile, sitting gracefully beside the sovereign, her fingers reaching behind to viciously pinch Xiao Jue’s back – pinch to death, you bastard who seizes every chance to take advantage!
While the two maintained dignified appearances, their hands and fingers battled behind their backs. Wen Chang could see clearly from her angle and merely smiled with pursed lips.
After asking a few questions, Xiao Jue finally smiled: “Rise. I am about to take Ming Shuang as consort. From now on we’re family – no need for formality.”
Ming Zonghua was wild with ecstatic joy, suddenly raising his head.
Face to face, Qin Chang Ge saw the black mole under his chin.
Her gaze flashed as she suddenly remembered when she’d seen him before.
Years ago, during the Yunzhou campaign, when she hadn’t yet openly appeared at Xiao Jue’s side, but Huang Meng was already established. At that time Xiao Jue repeatedly achieved military merit and was much envied by colleagues. Some conspired to harm him secretly, but this intelligence was intercepted by Huang Meng subordinates. She had ridden through the night to report, but her horse wasn’t a fine steed and collapsed from exhaustion at Yunzhou’s Qingfeng Town. Unable to buy horses late at night, she went to a wealthy household to steal one. But when stealing the horse, she was seen by a little girl who didn’t cry out. Seeing her dusty and exhausted appearance, the child even brought pastries from the kitchen. She had casually taken a string of Jiu Linglong from her robes and gave it to her.
That night she burst through the gates on horseback while the household was alarmed, lighting torches to chase the horse thief. In the firelight she cracked her whip repeatedly, scattering the servants. Laughing as she looked back, she saw the middle-aged master who’d come out with a vivid large black mole under his chin, saw the little girl clutching that Jiu Linglong, staring at her in the firelight, her features beautiful.
So that was Ming Shuang.
So worldly affairs came full circle, flowing in loops. Every karmic knot tied was meant to be untied years later.
She had once wondered how Ming Shuang, a mere palace maid, could give Jiu Linglong to help Jin Yun escape disaster. It turned out that Jiu Linglong was originally her own gift.
Qin Chang Ge stared at Ming Zonghua blankly, suddenly feeling heaven’s will was coldly cruel, making her shiver.
But Ming Zonghua was now mad with joy. Years of beautiful dreams had finally come true – his investment of everything to send his daughter to the palace wasn’t in vain. Poor him, borrowing money to rush to the capital, with little travel funds remaining. Only his outer robe looked decent while his undergarments were patched and mended with no money to replace them. Sigh, son-in-law Liu Liang’s family was also a dismissed minor official household, otherwise… oh wait, Liang’er now didn’t count as a son-in-law anymore.
He glanced secretly at Xiao Jue with radiant face – that was his real son-in-law! The Emperor! The Great Emperor of Xiliang! Ming Shuang was so accomplished… he should send Liang’er away shortly!
Qin Chang Ge watched his expression, her gaze flashing with disgust. But Xiao Jue was only immersed in the infinite pleasure of “taking such good advantage today,” contentedly withdrawing his hands under Qin Chang Ge’s fierce pinching, offering Ming Zonghua a few perfunctory words of concern before dragging Qin Chang Ge away.
Ming Zonghua respectfully stepped aside, not daring to detain them. But as Qin Chang Ge passed him, she suddenly asked: “Father, is Yunzhou still the same as before?”
“Replying to Your Majesty,” Ming Zonghua quickly adapted to his role, bowing as he addressed her: “Yunzhou has become increasingly prosperous these years. This is all due to His Majesty’s wise governance and love for the people. Yunzhou’s citizens are fortunate to bathe in his virtuous radiance.”
“Oh,” Qin Chang Ge said casually: “Haven’t been back in many years. Now I only remember Changding Pass. I recall those city walls were supervised by Empress Ruiyi after the Yunzhou campaign – glutinous rice syrup mixed with clay and lime, rammed and built. The main gate’s arrow towers and gate towers were all magnificent. Just the crenellations numbered nearly five thousand – one of the most solid walls along the border.”
“…Yes, yes,” Ming Zonghua agreed repeatedly, but somehow his expression seemed abnormal.
Qin Chang Ge looked at Ming Zonghua with slight surprise: “Father, what’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?” She was worried – she’d suddenly remembered that Yunzhou, as a border city at the tail end of the original Wei-Liang border’s Queshang Mountain range, held an extremely strategic military position. If the Wei-Yan allied forces didn’t go through Ducheng, if there were small paths through Queshang Mountains that Xiliang didn’t know about, then the first to face the allied forces might well be Yunzhou. Hence her question.
Perhaps Ming Shuang, as a sheltered young lady, had never even been to Changding Pass? That would expose her deception.
But Ming Zonghua only wiped his sweat, repeatedly saying: “No, nothing. Changding Pass is magnificent… that magnificent…”
“What magnificent! They’ve all been taken to build houses for the Prefect!”
The young man’s words were earth-shattering.
Xiao Jue spun around abruptly: “What did you say?”
The young man raised his head, kneeling on the ground with some resentment and some vindictive satisfaction as he looked at Xiao Jue, declaring loudly: “Your Majesty probably doesn’t know! Yunzhou’s Prefect Master Ma is someone most obsessed with geomancy, feng shui, astrology, and numerology. Three years ago he had a dream…”
“Liang’er!”
Qin Chang Ge’s gaze turned cold as she glanced at Ming Zonghua, who was desperately trying to stop Liu Liang. Ming Zonghua immediately shut his mouth, stunned for a moment, quietly wiping cold sweat.
…That look… was this really his daughter? Could it be that becoming an imperial consort brought such natural dignity and nobility?
“Continue,” but Xiao Jue had calmed down, returning to sit in a chair. “Whatever you say, I pardon you from guilt. Whoever stops you bears the guilt!”
Ming Zonghua’s legs gave out as he knelt again. Liu Liang sneered and continued: “Three years ago, Master Ma had a dream where a divine being gave him nine-dragon python robes. After waking, he consulted fortune tellers who said he had imperial destiny but lacked one portion of fortune. He needed to build residences with imperial bricks to ensure eternal prosperity. We had no imperial bricks in Yunzhou, and Master Ma dared not go to the capital to buy golden bricks. Someone suggested that Yunzhou’s Changding Pass walls were personally supervised by Empress Ruiyi – they also counted as imperial bricks. Why not take a section of wall to build homes for guaranteed good fortune?”
“Mm,” Xiao Jue’s eyes roiled with dark clouds, but his expression remained calm as he indicated continuation.
“Master Ma didn’t dare openly demolish walls. Empress Ruiyi had once ordered after the walls’ completion that Yunzhou’s walls must be reinforced annually and repaired constantly, creating weatherproof rampart walls to protect Yunzhou’s military and civilians for ten thousand generations. Master Ma secretly sent people to demolish walls at night. To avoid discovery, he specifically chose an inconspicuous corner on the west side – demolish a section, then repair a section. Master Ma did order careful wall repairs, but orders from above are one thing while execution below is another. Those officials took the repair funds to visit pleasure quarters, using rotten bricks and broken tiles to replace the wall materials, coating them with lime mortar. They looked fine but would collapse with a push…”
Qin Chang Ge listened quietly, feeling Xiao Jue’s fingers trembling slightly in her palm. Knowing his anger had reached explosive levels, she gently squeezed his hand. Xiao Jue stiffened, took a deep breath, and said coldly: “Absurd! Ma Sirui is a first-rank court official, annually rated as excellent by the Personnel Ministry’s Merit Assessment Department. How dare he commit such treasonous, unconscionable acts? Besides, how would you, a young commoner barely twenty, know such secret matters so clearly?”
He flicked his sleeve, saying grimly: “Slandering court officials is a capital offense!”
“How would this commoner dare fabricate stories before Your Majesty or slander court officials!” Liu Liang fearlessly raised his head, first glancing at Qin Chang Ge, then gritting his teeth: “Yunzhou people all know this matter. There’s still a folk song – this commoner will recite it for Your Majesty: ‘Changding Pass, ten-thousand-li wall, torn down for Ma family house foundation. Dragons and tigers sleep three nights – next year I’ll be Emperor!’ As for why this commoner knows even the dream so clearly, it’s because my father was a Changding Pass garrison officer who was framed and dismissed for refusing to collude with colleagues. My father knows all the dirty details!”
“Liu Liang! Mind your attitude – this is the imperial presence!” Ming Zonghua shouted angrily at this stubborn former son-in-law.
Liu Liang glanced at him contemptuously, ignoring him, only kowtowing heavily and declaring loudly: “Your Majesty, this commoner speaks no falsehoods. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe, send people secretly to investigate Yunzhou. If this commoner has any fabrications, I’ll accept death!”
Xiao Jue stared at him. Liu Liang met his gaze fearlessly, eyes burning bright. After a long moment, Xiao Jue slowly said: “Why do you care so particularly about these walls?”
“Your Majesty, this commoner has studied military texts for several years and knows the importance of city walls for defense. With this breach in Yunzhou’s walls, the entire city is exposed to enemies. If enemies attack, the city could fall within moments. This commoner breaks into cold sweats and tosses sleeplessly whenever thinking of these consequences.”
Xiao Jue looked at him appreciatively, nodding: “Though you’re a scholar, you understand military strategy and have considerable backbone. Good. With such character, where couldn’t you make your way in the world?”
He turned, his gaze meeting Qin Chang Ge’s. In an instant they reached agreement. Xiao Jue said: “Ming Zonghua, Liu Liang – remain temporarily in the capital. You may not leave. I will arrange for your care.”
Both kowtowed in gratitude. Liu Liang’s kowtow was particularly heavy. Rising, he glanced again at Qin Chang Ge, who acted as if she hadn’t noticed.
“What you’ve heard and said today must be immediately forgotten. Otherwise,” Xiao Jue said grimly: “I don’t like killing, but I won’t hesitate to stop rumors with blood!”
“We wouldn’t dare!”
Xiao Jue stood, nodding slightly to the worried-looking Wen Chang, then swept away with Qin Chang Ge.
They returned directly to the Grand Tutor’s mansion. Xiao Jue remained silent the entire way, his face iron-blue, barely controlling himself. Once the study door opened, he rushed in. His tightly clenched palm opened with a bang – long-accumulated inner force burst uncontrolled, smashing several hard bluestone floor tiles to powder.
Qin Chang Ge said nothing, turning to clap her hands. Huang Meng subordinates appeared instantly. After she whispered instructions, they departed with orders.
Turning back, she saw Xiao Jue standing before the huge map, his arm tracing an arc across it. Qin Chang Ge’s gaze narrowed as she said coldly: “If we’re both right, the so-called Wei-Yan allied forces pressing toward Ducheng’s Baizhang Mountain is false. Their real target is Yunzhou!”
“Correct,” Xiao Jue nodded. “Yunzhou is the closest border city to the interior. Once past Yunzhou, Xiliang’s heartland is completely exposed to enemies – this Ma Sirui, I’ll have him slowly tortured to death!”
“What divine being granting python robes? This was probably all a setup,” Qin Chang Ge’s gaze was cold. “Conspirators planned this years ago.”
“Ducheng’s commander Zhou Zhihao is a steady, reliable general who has certainly concentrated all forces around Baizhang Mountain. Shan Shao’s army is still en route, scheduled to reach Ducheng in about three days. Now it seems they’ll all miss their target. While the Wei-Yan allied forces take the Queshang Mountain route – though the roads are difficult and the distance long – by the time Shan Shao and Zhou Zhihao receive word and turn back to pursue, they definitely won’t catch up.”
“Now only one option remains.”
They looked at each other and said in unison: “Use the two hundred thousand border troops currently training in the capital suburbs – head directly to Yunzhou!”
“Chang Ge, I must leave,” Xiao Jue turned to go. “I must immediately order the Cabinet to issue military commands. I’ll personally lead the army to eliminate those bastards undermining our foundations.”
“I’m going with you,” Qin Chang Ge grabbed him. Before Xiao Jue could object, she sneered: “The Northern Wei and Eastern Yan allied forces have committed everything – there must be old friends among them, like Bai Yuan.”
“Probably many familiar faces we’ve forced to flee are there too,” Qin Chang Ge smiled casually. “This is the final battle determining the world’s ownership – how could they bear not to come?”
“Then let’s go together,” Xiao Jue smiled proudly. “When sea winds rise and heroes gather, competing for supremacy in the field – let’s see who becomes king!”
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On the fifteenth day of the first month of Qian Yuan’s sixth year, during the Shangyuan Festival, when a hundred thousand fireworks bloomed and flower markets shone like daylight, amid the chaotic prosperity of human and floral shadows flowing like tides, a great army silently broke camp outside the capital. Under personal command of Xiliang’s highest leaders, they set out under stars and moon.
Toward Yunzhou.
In the bitter winter wind, several of Xiliang’s most outstanding figures at the pinnacle of imperial power quietly spurred their horses in darkness, looking deeply toward the direction of the Grand Tutor’s mansion in Yingdu.
Stars flickered on the horizon. In the faint starlight, the man’s gaze was profound while the woman seemed somewhat melancholy.
This journey was to face enemies – galloping across cliffs, drawing bows to shoot at barbarian moons, using human heads as wine cups to drain the blood of vengeance.
Empty moon wheel, fierce winds tight – heroes’ temples dyed with cold light, speaking no farewells.
In the Grand Tutor’s mansion, in that exquisite small building, a certain Crown Prince left behind once again slept soundly. His small cheeks were rosy and tender. Suddenly he murmured and turned over: “Mother…”
After a moment he mumbled: “…Mm… stinky father… your beard scratches me…”
After another moment he hugged his quilt: “Godfather… Master is so mean.”
He murmured sweetly, turned over, and fell deeply asleep again with his famous drool.
He didn’t know that those he called heartless were now reluctantly gazing in his direction. At the moment he fell back asleep, they sighed, turned away, spurred their horses and raised their whips, step by step riding away from him.
Stars and moon silent, their pale light shining through the small window onto Crown Prince Xiao curled in his bedding, showing a brilliant smile as if the world held no more worries and life could be no more perfect.