Qin Chang Ge held her breath and slowly reached behind her to feel around, vaguely sensing it was several lines of text. She didn’t know who had written on this pillar behind the curtain. This person had a vigorous brush style, heavily saturated with ink, so each stroke protruded slightly. Only with Qin Chang Ge’s more sensitive perception than ordinary people could she detect it.

After feeling around everywhere and determining the direction of the first character of the first line, Qin Chang Ge slowly explored bit by bit.

“Pour three thousand cups of golden wine until drunk, all celebrating Old Meng’s birthday feast.”

“Cold jade delicacies fill the belly to bursting, all presenting brocade robes.”

Below was another line of small characters: “Old Meng’s birthday feast, sleeping drunkards indulging in wine, yet soiling the immortal’s white cloud robes. Alas, unworthy of being called a gentleman – how did propriety and righteousness fall to such a state?”

Qin Chang Ge quietly tilted her head to glance at those characters, pondering slightly.

“…That night around the third watch, the prince and others were discussing poetry and literature in the study. One scholar drank too much and probably got too excited from the discussion – he actually vomited all over the study floor. The prince ordered people to go in and clean up, had someone help him out, prepared a small sedan to send him back, then moved to the inner study to continue their discussion… I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but looking back now, the prince was really in too good a mood that day…”

Wei Gong’s words from that day flashed through her mind.

So it wasn’t just vomiting on the floor, but also on Xiao Chen’s clothes?

In other words, Xiao Chen, with his clothes soiled, would certainly need to return to the inner room to change. Those scholars and poets who were in high spirits, drinking and discussing poetry with great enthusiasm, were all at their most excited moment. Who would pay attention to how long Xiao Chen had been gone?

He ordered people to go in and clean up, actually having trusted servants guard the inside and outside of the study to prevent any intoxicated guests from barging into his study’s inner room.

And what role did that drunken, wildly vomiting guest play in this gathering that wasn’t actually a birthday banquet? “Unworthy of being called a gentleman – how did propriety and righteousness fall to such a state?” This question on the wall was actually the biggest clue. Gentlemen are usually proud and value their reputation highly, especially at such an important and prestigious occasion with a prince’s invitation and gathered literati. How could he lose composure to such an extent?

Some previously incomprehensible scattered clues were now strung together by the thread of Prince Zhao’s banquet invitation.

Three years ago, on the day of the incident, Yingdu’s great scholar Meng Yanyuan received royal favor and celebrated that rescheduled “birthday” at Prince Zhao’s mansion.

After the banquet ended but spirits remained high, Prince Zhao invited the literati to continue their poetry and wine discussions in the study.

As a result, a wild scholar lost control from excessive drinking and soiled the prince’s robes. This was precisely at the third watch.

Third watch – the time of the incident. Xiao Chen slipped away, and Prince Zhao’s mansion was very close to the imperial palace.

During his time “changing clothes,” there was a wild scholar who disapproved of that drunken guest and boldly wrote this line on the pillar.

This fellow was probably quite drunk too, actually lifting the curtains to write on the pillar. Once the curtains were lowered, who could see it?

And for three years no one discovered it – either the rough servants who came to change the curtains didn’t understand its significance and saw it as merely the poetry-loving prince’s refined interest, naturally not bothering to mention such a trivial matter to Xiao Chen, or Xiao Chen simply never let anyone enter his study, and these curtains had never been changed.

Heaven’s net is vast and nothing escapes – by chance and coincidence, it was discovered by Qin Chang Ge, who had infiltrated through the secret passage and boldly chosen to hide in the curtains.

A slight cold smile appeared at the corner of Qin Chang Ge’s mouth.

Though tonight was rather unlucky, she had finally gained something.

Hmm… was that “drunken” fellow still alive?

“Had someone help him out, prepared a small sedan to send him back”… Never mind, probably sent him to some mass grave…

From outside, Xiao Chen’s slight coughing could be heard, his breath weak. He leaned against the soft couch in the outer room, flipping through some memorials, looking somewhat unable to support himself.

Xiao Jue stood straight as an arrow, tall and jade-like under the lamplight with vibrant spirit, though his voice carried some solemnity: “The governors of De and Shan provinces both submitted memorials saying that despite this year’s great harvest in southern Longxi, grain prices haven’t fallen. Connected commodities like iron, cotton, leather, and medicinal herbs all show rising trends, while gold exchange rates show slight suppression – Chen, what do you think?”

With a gentle smile, elegant as ink-wash landscape painting, dark lashes framing his pale countenance – plain to the extreme yet adding several points of carefully crafted bright beauty – Xiao Chen’s voice was like a low chant, floating endlessly behind the swaying gauze curtains: “Northern Wei’s wind disaster this year caused quite heavy losses…”

This seemingly unrelated statement made Xiao Jue smile too.

Unlike his younger brother’s elegant purity like sparse willows in gentle movement, his smile was always brilliant and bright, leaping with golden ripples like sunlight, each ripple an intoxicating whirlpool drawing everyone’s involuntary gaze.

His voice rang clear with metallic resonance: “Finally couldn’t hold back anymore? But made me wait quite a while!”

Xiao Chen smiled lazily at him: “Your Majesty seems to have had itchy hands for quite some time.”

“Indeed.” Xiao Jue shook his head: “Speaking of it, being emperor is much harder than fighting wars in the past. Sleep at third watch, rise at fifth watch, endless memorials to review, endless people to see, endless worries, endless troubles. I still miss the days of southern and northern campaigns – gnawing dry rations and drinking cold water, sleeping with horse saddles as pillows at night, listening to the Qiang horns’ long, deep calls in the camp rows, blowing the moonlight cold and fierce too. Listening and listening, I’d fall asleep. Even if something poked underneath, I was too lazy to care. In the morning I’d look and see – hey! A big dead man’s bone under the wild grass! No idea which battle’s unlucky ghost died in the wilderness…”

Somehow, his voice grew lower and lower, as if a flame that had just risen was suddenly suppressed by a stick of cold ash. The initial nostalgia and soaring spirits gradually turned to melancholy and extinction.

The moonlight outside still streamed through halls and rooms, cold and fierce, but it was no longer the battlefield of blood-stained yellow sand, rain forests, and wild grass.

The person who blew the Qiang horn under the moon had long since turned into a “dead man’s bone.”

Xiao Chen said casually: “Northern Wei uses gold to purchase grain and medicines from our several provinces to prepare for war, causing price anomalies. However, judging from the numbers, they’re being quite careful and not conspicuous. For the two provincial governors to discover such subtle changes in scattered clues – they’re truly capable officials.”

With a slight sigh, Xiao Jue’s thoughts were pulled back, the melancholy fading somewhat as he said coldly: “If they want to buy, let them buy. There are three hundred thousand shi of old grain in Changlin granary that got rained on last year and started molding – sell it to them.”

“They’re not fools either.” Xiao Chen smiled. “How would they be willing to spend silver on your moldy grain?”

“All under heaven bustle about for profit, all under heaven rush about for profit.” Xiao Jue’s gaze rolled like dark tides. “Currently managing Northern Wei’s Ministry of Revenue is Prince De Wei Tianzi’s disciple. Wei Tianzi is capable in war and conquest, but… you know.”

“What should be controlled naturally shouldn’t be missed, but I think…” Xiao Chen gently tapped his folding fan in his palm. “Let’s create some trouble for Prince Wei? I hear he still trusts Wei Tianzi quite a bit. These years Wei Tianzi has accumulated considerable power due to his favor. Your Majesty, what do you think…”

He lowered his voice, and Xiao Jue bent slightly forward to listen carefully. The gauze screen reflected the shadows of the two brothers in harmonious, sincere conversation.

After a while, Xiao Chen propped himself up, showing slight fatigue. Just then guards came to report anomalies at Zuixin Pavilion. Xiao Chen listened calmly and said: “Go then.” He turned to enter the inner room, smiling to Xiao Jue who followed: “Your subject brother has always liked using pillows made by Yunhua – mint and chrysanthemum leaves, cool and good for the eyes, and skillfully crafted, hard to find in the world. Unfortunately she’s lazy and only made one. When I occasionally nap in the study, I have to carry it over, and when I return to my sleeping quarters at night, carry it back.”

As he spoke, he bent to take the soft pillow, his sleeve deliberately or unconsciously brushing across the couch before rising and stepping down as if nothing had happened.

“Yunhua?” Xiao Jue only looked at that pillow. “Your attendant concubine with exquisite embroidery skills? She seems quite good to me, and you’ve always indulged her. Why not give her a proper status?”

“Your subject brother doesn’t want to think about such matters now.” Xiao Chen’s tone was gentle but firm, with a hint of keeping people at a thousand li distance. “Though I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s care, I currently have no thoughts of marriage.”

“You…” Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. “Always like this. Fine, I won’t mention it.”

With a smile that only floated superficially on his features like a layer of hazy moonlight illusion, Xiao Chen said: “There are anomalies at Zuixin Pavilion. Your subject brother must go and see. This place should be safe. I’ll transfer guards to stand watch. Please wait here a moment, Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead,” Xiao Jue waved his hand. “I said I wouldn’t return to the palace tonight. I slept for a while this afternoon and have no sleepiness now. I’ll just read some books in your study. I like it here – staying puts my mind at peace. You don’t need to attend to me. If there’s nothing at Zuixin Pavilion, go directly back to your sleeping quarters. I’ll return at the fifth watch. Rest assured, more than half of the palace’s eighteen golden guards came, and Commander Qiu will personally come to escort me later. My safety won’t have any problems. Focus on recovering from your illness.”

Xiao Chen smiled and agreed, then left. Soon after, the sound of mixed footsteps outside the study indicated additional guards had been deployed.

Xiao Jue sat down on the couch and took a book to read, but didn’t actually continue reading. After flipping for a while, he put the book down on the couch and murmured: “This girl, why is she never at Shanglin Nunnery…”

His voice was very low, and Qin Chang Ge behind the curtain didn’t hear clearly. She just watched Xiao Jue through the fine silk threads, thinking about the brothers’ conversation just now, a faint smile emerging.

Xiao Jue, you’ve learned well, haven’t you?

You once were such a passionate youth.

I remember when you were just a staff officer under the governor, you sighed for the suffering and displacement of other nations’ people. Despite the marshal’s obstruction, you took in refugees to shelter in the camp, but spies mixed among them stole intelligence and slipped out at midnight. If Yu Zixi hadn’t silently guarded the necessary exit path and killed that spy without saying a word, you would have been condemned long ago.

Years later, that naive, impulsive youth without schemes had transformed into a cold, sharp emperor. From the palace’s peak, looking down coldly, you’re no longer swayed by such compassionate emotions.

The current you does very well, with interests and grudges so clearly defined. You no longer naively view all people under heaven as one family – you’ve begun thinking of turning their homes into your home.

If, if I had only met you now, would there have been fewer conflicts between us? Would my fate have been different?

…Why is my arm itching?

Qin Chang Ge, immersed in the alternation of reality and memory, suddenly froze.

She lowered her gaze and glanced at her arm.

Her smile suddenly froze on her face.

Where did this rat come from!

Ah!!

Damn rat!

The famous founding empress, the legendary divine disciple spoken of by the world, the supposedly flawless generation of extraordinary women – actually still had shortcomings.

In her entire life, she feared nothing most except rats!

Her eyes widened like huge dragon eyes. Desperately biting her lips to force herself not to reflexively scream, Qin Chang Ge stared at that rat with a pale face and rolling cold sweat. It didn’t look like an ordinary house rat – larger in body, sleek fur, fat as a kitten. It had climbed in from the window, and she was standing behind the curtain by the window. That damned rat actually wasn’t afraid of people and had climbed onto her arm. Its black bean-like eyes blinked, fearlessly staring eye-to-eye with the founding empress who was said to be able to scare people to death with just a look.

Then, under Qin Chang Ge’s horrified gaze, it slowly raised its paw, preparing to scratch down.

Get lost!!!

Silently and immediately flinging her arm, the rat flew out round and rolling. Qin Chang Ge no longer cared if Xiao Jue would discover her and rushed out with a sweep of the curtain – rats were much more terrifying than Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue, hearing the strange sound, turned around abruptly. Before he could react, he felt purple light flooding his face and a black shadow covering him. He was knocked down hard by a monster wrapped in a large mass of purple-gold silk-embroidered floral curtains.

Thud – the sound of his head hitting the wooden floor.

After a long moment.

…

Qin Chang Ge, who had jumped out and accidentally tripped on the curtain, wrapped in heavy silk, finally slowly opened her eyes and decided to face her first ultimate embarrassment in three lifetimes.

Silently chanting in her heart: Last time you pressed me down, this time I press you down – one point back…

Opening her eyes, she gazed into a pool of deep, profound water.

That water was so deep.

So cold.

Like when the sky darkens and snow falls heavy, at the extreme west where sunlight never rises, the darkness and desolation of ice and snow.

The past flew by like wind, shrieking through time, those dreams and doubts settled in memory, those secrets deep in the heart too frightening to touch, gradually worn and dimmed by years of wind and rain. In the sound of broken wild geese, green mountains hide far away, slanting sun gradually sets.

Only cold coolness remains, like this night’s darkness with no glimmer of light.

Suddenly remembering from the Book of Songs’ “Qi Ao”: “His ears adorned with gems like jade, his cap bright as stars” – noble man crowned with pearls and jade, your robes magnificent and bearing brilliant, your noble bearing and flowing glances, but why is there deep sorrow in your eyes?

Why? Why?

Suspected wife-killer, you seem sadder than the victim?

…

Their gazes met for just an instant.

That long-hidden sorrow was immediately covered by anger.

Seeing those dark pupils ignite with blazing fire, shooting over like a swooping hawk, Qin Chang Ge realized she was still lying on top of His Imperial Majesty, studying his eyes. Though she was now male, had bound her chest, and taken voice-changing pills, not needing to worry about being recognized, her current position could be considered “disrespecting the emperor,” couldn’t it?

Preparing to get up with an embarrassed smile, unfortunately His Imperial Majesty frowned and grabbed her slender body with a swift hand, casually and rudely throwing her out.

Rolling to the floor – fortunately thick carpets covered the ground, though Qin Chang Ge still felt something strange beneath her. Hesitating to feel around, she jumped up again.

Without a sound or direction, she pounced toward His Imperial Majesty again, viciously knocking the just-risen Xiao Jue back to his original position once more.

…

Xiao Jue was so angry he nearly spat blood.

Where did this crazy kid come from? Addicted to knocking people down?

Qin Chang Ge was innocently ready to spit blood.

In her three lifetimes, she could handle killing, arson, grave-robbing, and extinction without care. Corpses, ghosts, zombies, and demons were nothing much, but rats were the exception. Rats were her ultimate nightmare source. If made to choose between approaching a rat or poison wine, she would choose poison wine without hesitation.

Everyone has weaknesses, everyone has fears – what could be done about it?

Did she really want to knock down Xiao Jue repeatedly? She’d done it before!

Just now when she felt around – damn it, it was that rat again!

Though dead, it had been knocked unconscious when thrown earlier, then crushed into pulp when she landed like Mount Tai – a bloody, sticky mess that had been under her body!

Qin Chang Ge’s goosebumps exploded all over. She wanted nothing more than to throw off these clothes and dive into water for a thorough cleaning. Having her most feared thing pressed under her body was more terrifying than killing ten thousand people, ah ah ah…

But Xiao Jue wouldn’t give her a chance for a good bath now.

Guard footsteps were already sounding outside, and he grabbed this thin youth in extreme fury, opening his mouth to call out.

Qin Chang Ge covered his mouth with her hand.

Xiao Jue glared angrily – you have rat hair on your hand! I’m going to kill you!

Qin Chang Ge pretended not to see Xiao Jue’s murderous gaze and whispered low in his ear: “Would Your Majesty kill a gentleman over an unintentional mistake?”

“Gentleman?” Xiao Jue’s eyes clearly wrote mockery, his dark pupils flowing with bright light, every inch reflecting disdain.

Qin Chang Ge smiled and continued clearly and quickly: “In today’s world of six nations, power is actually divided three ways. Li nation is isolated by sea with frequent internal strife, unable to participate in land political patterns – can be excluded. Zhongchuan is weak, dependent on our Xiliang. We need only crush any other nation and Zhongchuan will surrender without a fight – can be excluded. Nanmin has mixed peoples, each with separate territories like scattered sand – can be excluded. Only Northern Wei’s new ruler is strong and capable, recruiting talented people worldwide, while Eastern Yan’s national teacher is brilliant, governing and administrating perfectly. Both are formidable enemies.”

Finishing, she released her hand and incidentally wiped the rat-hair-stained hand on Xiao Jue’s brocade robe, smiling with leisure.

Xiao Jue indeed didn’t call out again, nor minded her extremely disrespectful action. After pondering slightly, he sneered: “You call this being a gentleman? Anyone with slight understanding of the six nations’ situation could say this!”

Though he said this, he still pondered Qin Chang Ge’s words. Six nations but only three powers – this was a pattern only extremely clear-sighted people could see. This wild scholar, though somewhat theoretical, did have some insight in his chest.

Hearing this, Qin Chang Ge wasn’t angry either. She smiled lazily and leaned against the couch: “Really? Doesn’t count? Then Your Majesty should call for people. If my meager knowledge doesn’t catch Your Majesty’s eye, there’s no need to say more.”

Xiao Jue raised his long eyebrows. Rarely, he didn’t get angry, having quickly calmed his fury: “Provocation doesn’t work on me – I’m not an ignorant fool. You’re just trying to protect yourself. I promise not to call guards to arrest you first, but if you can’t present political discourse that satisfies me, killing you would be quite easy.”

Saying this, he loudly commanded the guards already bowing outside the door to withdraw.

Qin Chang Ge smiled, though somewhat surprised inside. Xiao Jue truly was no longer the impulsive, rash youth of the past. His composure carried only imperial dignity. Remembering the court and palace talk of his recent tyranny, she was slightly puzzled – he clearly seemed like a capable ruler with the world in mind now. Where was this tyranny?

Calmly on the surface, she said: “Your Majesty, this commoner has no courage to deceive the emperor. Since I claim to be a gentleman, I naturally have strategies. Actually, more than this? I consider myself capable of both elegant discourse and battlefield action. Moreover, I understand worldly affairs, observe political situations, know human harmony, comprehend poetry and books, master mystical arts, and excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Though Your Majesty has gathered brilliant talents and assembled heroes, among the court ministers, they might manage parallel prose and rhyming couplets, but when it comes to commanding the realm and supporting the world, they may not match me.”

Laughing in anger, Xiao Jue said: “Such big words! All the civil and military officials are worthless in your eyes? Let me test you – a few days ago, Editor Mei Ying from Jiying Hall was commanded to compose a couplet for the newly completed flying bridge. This Editor Mei has always been one for elaborate displays. He wrote a long couplet with great flourish – the first line came out, but he couldn’t match the second line well. Since you claim to understand poetry and books, couplet composition should be child’s play for you. Try matching it.”

“I’d like to hear the details.” Qin Chang Ge smiled carelessly.

“Listen carefully.” Xiao Jue’s eyes were darker than his dark, long eyebrows, deep as midnight.

“Behold you descending from blue heaven, carrying mist and clouds’ breath, hanging like a long celestial ribbon, like vajra whip, purple light halberd, divine official’s tablet, Chang’e’s silk, resembling guardian’s pipa, growth spiritual sword, wide-eyed red rope, much-heard treasure banner, above connecting nine heavens’ clouds, below reaching purple forbidden peak, accompanying three springs’ dancing willows, not refusing four seasons’ singing orioles, spanning rainbow pillowing water, lying asleep immortals, horizontally opening misty qi, distant dividing seven stars, south viewing dragon gate, north connecting immortal temple, long bridge flying across, magnificent pavilion facing void, jade wheel golden hook, just rolling imperial heart’s favor, black robes blue lamps, properly tying sovereign virtue’s purity, doubly connecting star river, through cloud and dust, ten thousand people dancing and bowing, praying for dual sages’ health, blessing our yellow earth’s eternal stability.”

Smiling lightly, Qin Chang Ge said: “Really long.”

“The first line describes the flying bridge,” Xiao Jue’s gaze blazed. “The second line wouldn’t be interesting if it also described bridges. Since you have insights about the six nations’ three-way division, express them through couplet form.”

He walked to the Boshan incense burner, took a handful of benzoin, compared them, chose the shortest stick, lit it, then moved the incense burner to the window, opening it. Evening wind threaded through, and that flickering dark red burned rapidly.

Turning back and standing with hands behind his back, Xiao Jue looked somewhat provocatively at Qin Chang Ge. One incense stick to match a long couplet on a specific topic – this was nearly impossible. He never expected this kid to succeed. Posing this question was just to deflate his arrogance. He was already considering what punishment to give when this wild scholar couldn’t match it and knelt begging for mercy. Given his slight talent, send him to the six ministries as an unpaid clerk?

Harsh provocation, serious provocation.

Qin Chang Ge silently complained, thought briefly, slowly paced a few steps, and smiled: “Once there was seven-step poetry, now there’s ten-step couplets? Haha.”

Lowering her head, she blew out that incense stick.

Xiao Jue was stunned, about to scold this person’s rudeness, when he heard Qin Chang Ge’s flowing voice:

“Watch me stir up the red dust, overturning wind and rain’s ups and downs, covering vast seas’ hidden wolves, testing Northern Wei’s books, Eastern Yan’s bows, Nanmin’s domains, Zhongchuan’s vessels, abandoning heaven’s prayer scrolls, grasping mountain mist volumes, yin-yang dark altars, northern hall jade balance, left connecting three nations’ territories, right facing blue sea’s shores, secretly winning five lakes’ heroes, not refusing eight wilds’ capable men, attacking far and near, startling the female ruler, freely suppressing secluded peace, far pointing to unified Yu, culturally fighting Yan women, militarily suppressing Min witches, golden palace creating rifts, jade all covered in dust, calculating like profligate ways, to disorder the nation’s foundation, strong ministers weak rulers, can split supporting righteousness, alone operating sage heart, military peaks pointing, heaven and earth shaking, holding up tablets in suburban welcome, exhausting one lifetime’s magnificence, building this imperial enterprise for ten thousand years!”

!!!