Only Chu Feihuan seemed to hear nothing at all, not even glancing at Shui Linghuai once.
Once Shui Linghuai’s words left his mouth, he already knew he had gone too far. Though pampered and willful, he was still a child raised in a great household with proper upbringing, and he knew these words were extremely rude and hurtful. It was just his habitually quick tongue and momentary thoughtlessness. As soon as the words were out, he regretted them and was already planning to apologize. But when he glanced over and saw Su Xuan’s face black as a pot bottom, his grievance and anger surged up together. His stubborn temper flared, and he simply decided to go all the way, snorting angrily and turning his head away.
Suddenly he felt someone tugging at his clothes. Looking down, he saw the little child he hadn’t had time to notice earlier. Upon closer inspection, it was truly a beautiful child—bright black eyes with long thick lashes, black hair adorned with a small jade crown, and skin even more lustrous than white jade, so pink and tender that one couldn’t help wanting to pinch it immediately to see if water would come out.
He thought this and immediately did it, grinning as he pinched Xiao Baozi’s tender cheeks with both hands. “Wow, whose little baby is this? So fun, so fun!”
Su Xuan suddenly turned around, facing the flower garden and laughing silently. “Fun? Fun? Good, good, you’re going to be finished…”
Little Xiao Baozi, whose face was being pinched, looked utterly well-behaved, showing no objection to having his cheeks pinched. Like any good-tempered child, he grinned at Shui Linghuai. “Uncle, you’re so pretty! Uncle’s clothes are so beautiful!”
“Really?” Shui Linghuai became even happier, glancing toward Su Xuan with his eyes, but saw him with his back turned, staring at something in the flower garden, his whole body trembling slightly. Feeling displeased, he couldn’t help pouting. Turning back to see the little child still smiling at him, his mood improved again. He touched the child’s face, and Xiao Baozi had already said, “Yes, this green outfit is so pretty, the same color as my Little Green!”
“What’s Little Green?” Shui Linghuai became interested. “A bird you keep? Can you bring it for me to see?”
“Little Green…” Xiao Baozi blinked. “Very cute and very pretty…” He tightly grasped the hem of Shui Linghuai’s robe, his small hand gently swaying the fabric. “Very pretty…”
Seeing that the child wouldn’t say what Little Green was but just kept repeating how pretty it was, Shui Linghuai lost some interest, thinking perhaps this child was just an embroidered pillow—a beautiful exterior hiding a head full of straw.
Suddenly he felt something strange on his ankles, legs, and arms—something fuzzy, prickly and itchy, wriggling and crawling… what was it!
He looked down in confusion, while Xiao Baozi had already let go and skipped behind Chu Feihuan’s wheelchair with a giggle.
Shui Linghuai first shook his sleeves.
Ahhhhh!!!
His scream pierced the sky.
When he shook his sleeves, several plump caterpillars covered in bristly hairs, green with yellow spots, fell out—as disgusting as could be.
Shui Linghuai’s expression could be described as wishing he were dead, ready to cry without tears.
Bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs bugs…
Terrifying and disgusting bugs!
Then what was in his boots, on his legs… Ah! Dear heavens!
Eyes wide with terror, Shui Linghuai felt in absolute horror that the wriggling things on his legs were slowly crawling upward, some even seeming to burrow into his skin…
Goosebumps erupted all over his body. Shui Linghuai screamed desperately, kicked off his boots, and hopped around on the ground, trying to shake the bugs out of his trouser legs. For some reason, he refused to take off his pants, just kept hopping wildly. His hair became disheveled, his face covered in sweat, his expression terrified and his complexion pale. Even Su Xuan, who had recently been pestered by him to the point of wanting to kill him, finally felt some pity and kindly advised, “Just take off your pants and shake them out—there are only men here, what does it matter…”
Before he could finish speaking, Shui Linghuai glared at him viciously. Unfortunately, those large eyes were full of tears that sparkled in the sunlight, wavering as if about to fall at any moment. No matter how he glared, it lacked intimidating power. Su Xuan touched his nose and stopped talking, only muttering, “Good intentions bitten by a dog…”
He added, “Eh, don’t you usually quite enjoy tinkering with these strange disgusting things? How can a few bugs on your body scare you like this?”
Shui Linghuai had no more strength to scream or hop, but those bugs had been placed there by Xiao Baozi from the start. He had gripped Shui Linghuai’s robe and trouser cuffs tightly, preventing him from feeling anything being stuffed into his clothes. The moment the bugs were put in, he had also been talking while maliciously swaying Shui Linghuai’s robe—partly to make the bugs fall down faster, partly to distract Shui Linghuai’s attention. Poor Shui Linghuai had been deceived by his age and beauty, letting his guard down, leading to his current misery.
Seeing that he could no longer shake the bugs out, Shui Linghuai suddenly went wild, his eyes turning fierce. He bit his lip and swiftly drew a dagger.
At this moment, Rong Xiaotian had heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing this scene, he roared, “Don’t hurt Rong Rong!”
But Su Xuan had already turned around sharply, and Chu Feihuan suddenly raised his head. Both shouted together, “No!”
The dagger fell with a whistling sound, its blade gleaming, coming with fierce momentum.
Rong Xiaotian flew forward and snatched away Xiao Rong.
But Su Xuan suddenly flicked his fingers rapidly, and a withered chrysanthemum appeared ghost-like from his fingertips, instantly blooming. Its slender leaves spread out in thousands of strands, then suddenly became hard and straight. Each petal transformed into a tiny dagger, and dozens of these “daggers” shot out, all striking Shui Linghuai’s dagger with ringing sounds, actually knocking her dagger away.
At this time, Shui Linghuai’s dagger had already torn a gash in his own pants.
His dagger thrust down with fierce wind and tiger-like force, as if he intended to carve out his leg meat along with the bugs!
Even Su Xuan couldn’t help but be moved by such ruthlessness. With a slight sigh, he flicked his finger, and without any visible effort, a long grass appeared in his hand, moving like a soft whip and a swimming dragon. With whistling sounds, it picked out all the bugs from Shui Linghuai’s pants one by one.
Though his pants were somewhat torn, they remained neat without holes, and when covered by his long robe, it wasn’t unseemly.
The bugs fell to the ground and scattered in all directions. Shui Linghuai’s frantic state finally eased, but thinking of those disgusting things crawling and wriggling on his body, and that the yellow and green hairs of those bugs might still remain on his skin, he immediately felt unbearably itchy, wishing he could immediately jump into the pond and wash for three days and nights.
But he really couldn’t do that.
The early winter wind already carried a chill, seeping through those tears and feeling cold as if he wore nothing. The two large teardrops that had been gathering in Shui Linghuai’s eyes finally came pattering down. At this moment, he couldn’t bother to settle accounts with that little devil, just stood there clutching his robe, not daring to move a step, pitifully saying, “…lend me clothes…”
Su Xuan and Chu Feihuan had originally thought this child was pampered, willful, and recklessly bold, not expecting him to be scared like this by a few bugs. Both had been intentionally or unintentionally protecting him, afraid he might get angry and harm Xiao Rong. Now hearing him say this, they looked at each other. Chu Feihuan saw Shui Linghuai’s gaze had already fallen on him—he was the thinnest here, his clothes closest in size to the petite Shui Linghuai—and immediately without a word, hurriedly drove his wheelchair away in flight. Rong Xiaotian hadn’t even managed to get close before turning around directly. Xiao Baozi jumped onto his back, grabbing his shoulder clothing, and the big one and small one fled for their lives, leaving only Su Xuan. He wanted to leave but was grabbed by his robe corner.
“Robe…”
Su Xuan really wanted to howl at the sky. What was all this!
Fortunately, Qin Chang Ge came to the rescue. Seeing Xiao Baozi sneaking back with a guilty expression and hearing Shui Linghuai’s screams, she naturally knew what had happened. She came out leisurely with a bundle of clothes, smiling, “Young Master Shui, I don’t have clothes suitable for you here, but this set isn’t bad. Please make do.” She gestured to a subordinate, “Take the young master to the back courtyard to change clothes.”
As soon as Shui Linghuai took the clothes bundle, he knew what it was. His face immediately flushed red. He secretly glanced at Su Xuan once, then again. Su Xuan hadn’t been paying attention at first, but being stared at made him uncomfortable. His gaze also fell on the clothes bundle. Through the fabric wrapping, he vaguely saw a woman’s long dress. He was stunned, looked at Shui Linghuai, his eyes scanning his face several times, then looked at Qin Chang Ge, who was smiling encouragingly. After a moment of bewilderment, he first showed a look of realization, pointing at Shui Linghuai and saying, “So you’re a wo—”
Before he could finish, he stopped, as if thinking of something. His expression changed, then took on a somewhat disappointed air, though he immediately concealed that momentary expression and suddenly smiled, stepping back.
Shui Linghuai’s face reddened again. She glanced at him with watery eyes, stamped her foot, pouted, and left.
Qin Chang Ge pretended not to see Su Xuan’s expression. After Shui Linghuai left, she said, “The An Feiqing family was completely massacred. The gang leader must have heard.”
“Yes,” Su Xuan gave a slight smile. “Miss, your information is quite well-informed. I came to find you precisely for this matter. I’ve already sent the local branch leader to investigate immediately, but according to reports, the An family was mysteriously massacred, the entire grand estate burned to the ground, leaving almost no clues.”
“His clues aren’t in Longdong, but in Yingdu.” Qin Chang Ge’s gaze fell vaguely on the western sky, where the evening glow burned brilliantly, blazing like peach blossoms, clouds edged with gorgeous gold borders, soft and charming as they drifted across the azure sky.
Su Xuan was also looking at the sky, his expression seemingly thoughtful. After a long while, he said, “I’m still here to bid farewell today. I have some minor affairs and need to leave for a while.”
Turning back, Qin Chang Ge looked at Su Xuan with calm, waveless eyes, saying gently, “Is that so? In that case, please take care.”
With a slight smile, Su Xuan suddenly winked, “Just that one sentence? Don’t plan to see me off?”
He looked half-jokingly, half-seriously into Qin Chang Ge’s eyes, his pupils dark as deep water, flashing with strange ripples. “You’ve wounded my heart.”
Qin Chang Ge smiled charmingly, “Then, may I ask when the great gang leader will depart? Please allow me to prepare thin wine to send you off.”
Laughing heartily, though for some reason the laughter carried a tinge of melancholy, faint as smoke and clouds, Su Xuan said, “I’m only leaving for a short while. Five days from now, on the third day of the winter month, I’ll set out. If you have time, I’ll wait for you at Wanyang Pavilion in the outskirts.”
The first day of the winter month was Empress Dowager Jiang’s fiftieth birthday.
For the Xiliang imperial dynasty that claimed to practice “governing the country with righteousness, using troops with strategy, and ruling the world through non-action,” “loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety” were the crown of all virtues. Therefore, regardless of what Xiao Jue thought, the Empress Dowager’s birthday had to be grandly celebrated to demonstrate the imperial family’s harmony and kindness.
Three days before the great birthday, rewards were bestowed upon officials and elderly citizens over sixty in the capital, as well as eunuchs serving in the palace. From Longevity Gate to Imperial Extreme Gate, the Empress Dowager’s ceremonial procession was set up with ten li of colorful pavilions. Princes and noble ladies wore colorful garments and knelt in welcome. On the proper day at the Chen hour, princes, dukes, and officials of second rank and above gathered outside Longevity Gate, while third rank and below assembled outside Meridian Gate to kneel and wait. The Emperor went to Longevity Palace to pay respects and offer birthday congratulations, then personally escorted the Empress Dowager onto the jade peacock treasure palanquin decorated with kingfisher feathers to the “Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities” where toasts were offered and celebrations held. She ascended the throne, the Ministry of Rites officials led the Emperor through the central gate to present memorial documents, a supervising attendant knelt to receive the documents and placed them on the yellow table east of the treasure throne. Princes and great ministers entered through side gates, and the Emperor led princes, great ministers, and others in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony. Civil and military officials, retired and demoted officials, as well as advanced scholars, provincial graduates, tribute students, and others performed the ceremony outside Meridian Gate, while students and elderly performed it outside Zheng’an Gate. After the ceremony, they returned to the palace. Then the inner palace—Empress, consorts, princesses, and various wives of princes—paid their respects.
On this day, decorations were everywhere. From Longevity Palace to outside Xihua Gate for over twenty li, not only were houses, halls, towers, and terraces painted and decorated anew, but along the route were various colorful pavilions, memorial arches, opera stages, music halls, covered walkways, flowers, and trees. Among the decorations were themed displays with auspicious sayings like “Immortal Mountains in Blessed Seas,” “Auspicious Rain and Harmonious Wind,” “Gates of Fortune and Much Joy,” “Queen Mother’s Birthday Celebration,” “Longevity Equal to Heaven,” and so on. Gongs and drums thundered, colored smoke rose, competing in extravagance and splendor—a grand spectacle never before seen.
After several years of rest and recuperation, Xiliang’s national strength was incomparable to the early days of the nation’s founding. The prosperous scene was taking shape, and all expenses were handled by the national treasury. Royal princes, various government offices in the capital, and civil and military officials from provinces and military commanders all wanted to curry favor with the imperial family and offered to contribute, but were rejected by Xiao Jue’s edict: “Are there still starving people under your governance? Are there still homeless people? Are there still evil beggars? Are there still refugees? The people’s hardships are the foundation of all matters. If the provincial treasuries are so abundant, why not use them for people’s livelihood? Why use the Empress Dowager’s birthday as an excuse to plunder resources meant for people’s welfare? I cannot bear it, and the Empress Dowager would not be pleased either.”
Regional governors and high officials were thoroughly rebuffed.
As for the private speculation and discussion this imperial action triggered, including theories about discord between the Empress Dowager and Emperor, the old matter of the deposed empress, and the mysterious case of Empress Ruiyi, these were not worth sharing with outsiders.
On this day, Qin Chang Ge held an exquisitely carved jade box containing the birthday gift she had prepared for Princess Wen Chang, sitting in a palace carriage with maids, and for the first time traveled across the Flying Bridge.
The bridge was pure white, several zhang high, like a rainbow or crescent moon, connecting the Upper Forest and the imperial palace. As the carriages and horses passed over it with jingling sounds, Qin Chang Ge couldn’t help but think of the verse exchange about the Flying Bridge she’d had with Xiao Jue days earlier.
That day she had slipped away halfway through—how furious would Xiao Jue have been afterward? But two days later she received news: the talented scholar Wen Zhengting from Longdong was traveling in Yingdu and somehow became known to the Emperor, who specially summoned him for an audience. During the meeting, Wen Zhengting displayed extraordinary talent, excelling in classics and history, skilled in poetry and prose, proficient in music, and knowledgeable about government affairs. He also presented a ten-thousand-word memorial that deeply pleased the Emperor’s heart. He was immediately promoted extraordinarily from commoner status to Left Remonstrance Grand Master, a fourth-rank position.
The newly appointed Remonstrance Grand Master hadn’t even warmed the bench at his office when he received another imperial decree specially appointing Left Remonstrance Grand Master Wen Zhengting as Inspector of Customs for Longdong, with orders to depart immediately for Longdong, Huainan, and Chihe circuits to inspect local administration and people’s welfare.
For a time, scholars greatly envied Wen Zhengting—buried in the wilderness for so many years, but upon entering the capital, he immediately rose like a soaring cloud. Now honored as an imperial envoy representing the Son of Heaven in inspecting the realm, truly impressive! Therefore, in recent days, even more literati and talented scholars rushed to Yingdu, all harboring hopes of advancement, selling their poetry and prose throughout Yingdu’s prosperous areas, debating government affairs, all hoping their brilliant compositions would reach the Emperor’s ears.
Only Qin Chang Ge knew what had really happened.
She had run away midway, so Xiao Jue would certainly have gone back to Prince Zhao’s mansion looking for “Wen Zhengting,” only to find this Wen Zhengting was not that Wen Zhengting. Xiao Jue naturally knew he’d been deceived and, given his temperament, would likely be furious. However, that scholarly man did have some real talent, and his responses showed exceptional qualities, so he was noticed and, through this fortuitous mistake, gained an opportunity to enter court.
Smiling, Qin Chang Ge had foreseen this result and considered it her reward to Old Brother Wen for keeping her secret.
Her fingers gently caressed the box lid. Inside was a purple jade Guanyin—extremely rare grape purple that Qi Fan had spent great effort to find. As for the treasure inside the purple jade Guanyin—more precious than the purple jade itself.
With an ambiguous smile, Qin Chang Ge fastened the box lid with a click.
The Flying Bridge was a straight line, requiring no detours. Before long, they reached the palace gates. Entering through Longevity Gate, they stopped before the flower-bedecked Longevity Palace. The palace ladies and noble wives waiting for the Empress Dowager’s return from Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities to receive congratulations all turned their heads in unison upon seeing Princess Wen Chang’s nine-phoenix jade palace carriage. The managing eunuch of Longevity Palace, Tong Shun, approached with solemn dignity.
These were all people of noble bearing and honor who had learned to be deeply composed and unshaken by wind or thunder. Even so, seeing the usually arrogant head eunuch Tong Shun, who enjoyed the Empress Dowager’s trust, personally welcoming this princess who wasn’t favored by the Empress Dowager, their eyes showed slight surprise.
Wen Chang alighted from the carriage, helping the bowing Tong Shun with an empty gesture, smiling, “No need for that, Manager Tong. Have you been well lately?”
“Thanks to the Princess’s blessing,” Tong Shun answered with a face full of gratitude when facing Wen Chang alone, unafraid of others seeing his expression.
Some days ago, his adopted son had somehow fallen gravely ill, and all physicians were helpless. It looked like he wouldn’t survive, and apparently only the rare medicine “Blood Clear Sand Ginseng” from Zhongchuan could save him. This was a precious grade item that Zhongchuan didn’t tribute every year, and the palace only had a few stalks, treasured for saving imperial family lives. It was absolutely unavailable outside the palace. His old mother frantically sought people to get word to him in the palace. When the news reached Tong Shun’s ears, it was like a bolt from the blue. He naturally knew the medicine’s preciousness—even ordinary royalty couldn’t easily obtain it. No matter how favored he was, he was just a humble servant, and a humble eunuch’s son’s illness absolutely wasn’t significant enough to request the sand ginseng. Before he could figure out how to obtain the medicine, his son was already failing. In desperation, Tong Shun’s old mother ran to Protector Temple to pray to Buddha for protection and “accidentally” met Princess Wen Chang, who had come to discuss Buddhist scriptures with the temple abbot. The princess, being benevolent, immediately offered aid, bestowing her treasured sand ginseng and saving the Tong family son’s life. When this news reached Longevity Palace, Tong Shun, who had been frantically pacing and struggling over how to approach the Empress Dowager, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was a lonely man with no other attachments in this life—this adopted son was the apple of his eye and the flesh of his heart. The princess’s such generosity was equivalent to saving his life. How could he not be grateful?
Of course, if he knew that the so-called son’s grave illness and the princess’s rescue were all secretly orchestrated by Qin Chang Ge, he probably wouldn’t be smiling so movingly.
“I dare not. The Empress Dowager’s sacred birthday brings blessings throughout the realm. You serve beside the Empress Dowager, so naturally you benefit from her great fortune,” Wen Chang smiled sincerely. “Manager, please don’t diminish me with such courtesy.”
These words hinted that Tong Shun shouldn’t appear too intimate, lest it arouse suspicion and make future interactions inconvenient. Tong Shun, being such a person, naturally understood and said no more, only bowing slightly before departing.
Before long, the Empress Dowager returned, with Xiao Jue accompanying her to the palace gate. Ordinarily by protocol, after leading officials in paying respects at Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities, he needn’t participate in the inner palace birthday celebration. For some reason, as he helped the Empress Dowager from the palanquin, his gaze swept across the crowd kneeling on the ground and suddenly paused, then he remained.
At Longevity Palace, jade steps and red balustrades, red carpets layered leading into the depths of the magnificent hall. Xiao Jue stood with hands behind his back before Longevity Palace, his expression calm as he watched the crowd paying respects. He wore a golden-faced black fox golden dragon robe with dancing dragons, sun and moon moving dragons on both shoulders, embroidered with pheasant patterns and twelve-chapter designs. The robe hem featured exquisite embroidery of river water and sea waves in five colors, with jade pearls forming twelve tassels on his crown, hanging gold-inlaid jade pendant ribbons, jade ornaments maintaining the crown, green silk filling the ears, white jade pendant sash, yellow cord and dark tassels. He was already noble and handsome with extraordinary bearing, and now in this extremely formal crown and ceremonial attire, his tall figure and black sable golden dragon cloak flying in the wind made him even more dazzling and sharp as a deity.
The palace consorts and noble ladies in this atmosphere of imperial wealth and elegance secretly glanced at the breathtakingly handsome young Emperor through the corners of their eyes, their gazes involuntarily taking on traces of enchantment.
In Longevity Palace, the Empress Dowager ascended her throne, the phoenix seat glittering with pearls and jade, red balustrades bright with lamplight. Sixty-four thick red candles shaped like dragons blazed, and the serene and harmonious Zhonghe Shao music began. The consorts, princesses, and noble ladies bowed like inserted candles, a sea of swaying pearls and dancing ornaments.
After the ceremony, birthday gifts were presented. The previously solemn atmosphere relaxed slightly. They sat in their prepared seats in groups, then saw Consort Shu Zhang Biwu, leading maids carrying treasure boxes, approach with powdered beauty and fragrant splendor, gracefully swaying.
She wore a sapphire blue cloud brocade dress embroidered with pearls and double phoenixes, with jade-colored twisted silk gauze generously inlaid with tiny blue precious stones that flashed dazzlingly as she moved. Her jade phoenix hairpin, carved golden combs, coral step-shakers—she was truly a person adorned with gold and jade, gorgeous and brilliant yet not exceeding proper bounds.
Since Xiao Jue’s harem had no empress, Zhang Consort Shu held the highest rank. Her father was also an important court minister, the Supreme Commander of military officials. The Zhang family were established nobles of Xiliang Huainan, a wealthy clan, which enabled her to become the most honored consort in Xiao Jue’s harem.
She naturally took the lead in presenting gifts without hesitation.
With the reserved and noble smile of a great family’s daughter, Consort Shu gestured gracefully, and palace maids opened the box lid. Treasure light immediately rose, five-colored mists reflecting Consort Shu’s peach blossom face even more lustrous and radiant, drawing gasps of admiration from all present.