In Shuo Jing City, this New Year brought double happiness to the Xiao family, while for certain other families, it only added frost to the snow.

In the Crown Prince’s residence, Guang Yan sat in his study, his face filled with anxiety. After Xu Jing Fu’s downfall, although some of Xu’s faction had joined Chu Zhao, Emperor Wen Xuan’s sweeping purge came with fierce intensity, causing him to lose considerable support. For many years, lacking real ability himself, he had relied on Empress Zhang’s family connections and Minister Xu’s network to barely maintain his position as Crown Prince. Though choosing to sacrifice his pawns to protect himself was his own decision, Guang Yan now felt regret.

These days, Guang Shuo had been appearing frequently before Emperor Wen Xuan, beginning to involve himself in both major and minor court affairs. Empress Zhang had cautioned him that this was precisely the time to avoid rash actions. His past close association with Xu Jing Fu had likely already drawn the Emperor’s displeasure, and it would be best to remain quietly at home until the storm passed.

Though Guang Yan agreed verbally, his heart grew more anxious. If Fourth Brother took advantage of his absence to sweet-talk the Emperor… who knew what might happen? Now that Xiao Huai Jin’s influence was growing stronger, how could he afford to fall behind?

As he pondered this, a servant came to report: “Your Highness, someone seeks an audience.”

Guang Yan said, “Let them in.”

The visitor wore servant’s clothing and appeared unremarkable, but when he raised his head, his features showed slight differences from the Wei people.

He was a Wutuo person.

“Your Highness, this servant comes bearing a message from Lord Ma Ning Bu.”

“Ma Ning Bu?” Guang Yan narrowed his eyes, dismissed the other attendants, and then looked at the man. “Your ambassador is still alive?”

After the Tian Xing Tower incident, Emperor Wen Xuan ordered all Wutuo envoys to be placed under house arrest, with no word on their fate. Guang Yan had attempted to send messages to Ma Ning Bu, but the security was too tight for any opportunity. He hadn’t expected Ma Ning Bu’s people to come to him directly.

As if fearing Guang Yan wouldn’t believe him, the servant stepped forward and showed him a seal hidden in his sleeve.

“If you’re here to ask me to save your master, you can leave,” Guang Yan said impatiently. “Father Emperor is still angry, and I don’t wish to add fuel to the fire.”

“Your Highness hasn’t attended court recently, so you may not know that the Fourth Prince has been winning much of His Majesty’s favor, and many court officials have begun showing their support,” the servant said quietly.

The mention of this only darkened Guang Yan’s expression. He laughed coldly, “Do you think I don’t know that?”

“Noble Consort Lan attends to His Majesty’s illness daily,” the servant said in a low voice. “Lord Ma Ning Bu wishes to ask Your Highness if you plan to simply wait for your doom?”

“Bang!” Guang Yan violently smashed his teacup against the wall. “Silence!”

His heart burned with rage. Emperor Wen Xuan’s favoritism toward Noble Consort Lan was nothing new. Guang Yan knew clearly that if he weren’t the eldest legitimate son if Emperor Wen Xuan didn’t have to consider public opinion, Guang Shuo would have been named Crown Prince long ago – all because he was Noble Consort Lan’s son. That witch!

“Hesitation leads to disaster, Your Highness.”

Guang Yan looked at the messenger. “What do you mean by that?”

The servant bowed his head humbly. “Lord Ma Ning Bu asked me to tell Your Highness that His Majesty is advancing in years, and now the Fourth Prince shows ambition. Before this incident, the throne of Great Wei would surely have been yours. But now Minister Xu has fallen, and Xiao Huai Jin’s power grows. If Xiao Huai Jin were to support the Fourth Prince…”

Guang Yan’s heart skipped a beat – this was exactly what he feared most.

In the past, Xiao Zhong Wu had always looked upon him with disdain and frequently caused him trouble. Just when Xiao Zhong Wu had died, his son appeared! But now, Xiao Huai Jin was even more formidable than Xiao Zhong Wu had been. Xu Jing Fu’s failure to eliminate Xiao Huai Jin had now bred such a threat!

“Why doesn’t Your Highness… make a clean cut of it all?”

“How dare you!” Guang Yan burst out, both shocked and angry. “You dare speak such treasonous words before me!”

“Spare me, Your Highness,” the servant prostrated himself. “Great achievements require overlooking minor details. Being merciful to others is being cruel to oneself. Otherwise, with Your Highness’s benevolence, the Fourth Prince might find an opening. But now,” the servant’s voice carried a bewitching quality, “if His Majesty’s dragon carriage were to ascend to heaven, you would be the legitimate Emperor!”

The legitimate Emperor!

Guang Yan: “Silence!”

Like opening Pandora’s box of demonic temptation, thoughts that had never occurred to him before now rose uncontrollably in his mind, gently stirred by these words.

He understood Ma Ning Bu’s meaning, but although he had fought secretly with Guang Shuo before, he had never contemplated patricide. Though Emperor Wen Xuan favored Guang Shuo, his treatment of Guang Yan had been fair enough. While throughout history, the imperial palace had seen countless instances of fathers sons, and brothers turning against each other, Guang Yan believed he need not go to such extremes.

Emperor Wen Xuan had few children, and Great Wei valued tradition above all. When the time came, Emperor Wen Xuan would naturally pass the throne to him. Both Empress Zhang and Guang Yan thought this way, but as years passed, one day after another, this wait seemed endless. Emperor Wen Xuan appeared to be deliberately avoiding something. They waited and waited, not only receiving no imperial edict but watching Guang Shuo’s gradual rise to power.

In recent years, his secret communications with the Wutuo people were precisely because he grew increasingly uncertain. If Emperor Wen Xuan had simply followed proper procedure, why would he resort to this? Now he found himself restricted on multiple fronts, unwittingly falling from a position of advantage to disadvantage in this war for the throne.

If this continued with Guang Shuo…

His heart was violently stirred by evil thoughts – perhaps he should finish this once and for all…

The kneeling servant observed every change in the Crown Prince’s expression and kindly advised: “Your Highness, I have delivered all of Lord Ma Ning Bu’s words. Please consider them carefully. Once you sit in that position, everything done now will have been worth it. Throughout history, which great achiever’s path hasn’t been stained with blood?”

“Your Highness, please think it through!”

Guang Yan, agitated by these few provocative words, barked: “Enough, I understand! Get out!”

The servant retreated as silently as he had come. Guang Yan stared at the scattered teacup fragments on the floor, a shadow gradually creeping into his eyes.

After a moment, as if startled awake, he hurriedly left the hall.

After Guang Yan’s departure, palace maids entered to clean up the mess. From behind the hall emerged a beautiful maid who said softly with a smile: “Let me handle this.”

“Miss Ying Xiang.” The maids didn’t dare compete with her – everyone knew she was currently the most favored in the Crown Prince’s residence. The Crown Prince had even quarreled with the Crown Princess over her, though Ying Xiang was gentle-natured and never showed attitude to the servants, getting along well with other maids.

Ying Xiang knelt down and gently picked up the fragments. Her expression remained as gentle as ever, but her long lashes concealed unusual emotions in her eyes.

Ma Ning Bu’s people were inciting the Crown Prince to commit patricide.

At this crucial moment… it wasn’t a good time.

…

The Chu household was unusually quiet at night.

Since Minister Xu’s downfall, the three legitimate sons of the Chu family who had previously feared Chu Zhao began to grow arrogant again. Though Chu Zhao still held his court position, who knew how long it would last? One never knew when Emperor Wen Xuan might direct his resentment toward Xu Jing Fu onto Chu Zhao.

Lady Chu would occasionally mock Chu Zhao when she saw him. As for Chu Lin Feng, he hardly saw Chu Zhao anymore, his attitude completely different from the warm concern he had shown before the incident.

Chu Zhao himself remained unaffected by these circumstances, continuing his daily routines as usual. His chest wound hadn’t fully healed, so he was recuperating at home, rarely meeting colleagues – quite skillfully avoiding this storm’s peak.

A trusted aide entered and pulled out a letter from his robes, “Fourth Young Master, Miss Ying Xiang has sent news again.”

Chu Zhao took the letter and read it. While initially composed, his expression changed slightly at the end.

Moments later, he tossed the letter into the burning brazier, pressing his fingers lightly against his temple as if suffering from a severe headache.

“Fourth Young Master?” the aide asked cautiously.

Chu Zhao waved his hand dismissively, remaining silent.

He truly hadn’t expected Guang Yan to become so desperate, nor had he anticipated that Ma Ning Bu would still be stirring trouble at this crucial moment. If Guang Yan had any sense, he wouldn’t be led by the nose by the Wutuo people. Unfortunately, just as Emperor Wen Xuan had relied on Xu Jing Fu, Guang Yan had grown accustomed to letting Xu Jing Fu handle everything. With Xu Jing Fu’s fall, he had lost direction.

“Fourth Young Master,” the aide observed his expression and, after long consideration, finally spoke up: “Given your great talents, and now that Minister Xu is gone, with the Crown Prince being rash and impulsive while the Fourth Prince knows how to bide his time, the court situation has changed. As a wise bird chooses its tree, since the Crown Prince is incompetent, why not follow the Fourth Prince…”

Though these words were treasonous, Chu Zhao had always treated his servants well, making his subordinates bolder than most confidants.

Hearing this, Chu Zhao released his hand and looked at the oil lamp on the table.

The flame flickered in the cold draft from the window. He said, “Without Xiao Huai Jin, it might be possible, but now, even if just for Xiao Huai Jin’s sake, the Fourth Prince wouldn’t accept me.”

As one of Xu Jing Fu’s remaining faction members, even if he defected, he couldn’t compare to Xiao Jue’s importance. At this juncture, Guang Shuo desperately needed Xiao Huai Jin’s support, and given the deadly feud between Xiao Zhong Wu and Xu Jing Fu, Guang Shuo would never abandon Xiao Huai Jin for him.

“But to continue down this path…”

“It’s not that I choose to persist on this path,” Chu Zhao interrupted, “It’s that I never had another path to choose.”

Perhaps this was determined years ago when he first met Xu Jing Fu and became his disciple.

“Then Fourth Young Master, what should we do now?”

“I need to visit the Crown Prince’s residence,” his brow clouded with worry.

Although it seemed Ma Ning Bu’s words might have already planted different thoughts in the Crown Prince’s mind, and his own words might prove useless, they were in the same boat – if something happened to the Crown Prince, he couldn’t remain safe either.

He could only do his best.

In the Palace of Eternal Peace, Empress Zhang sat quietly on her cushioned couch, eyes closed, listening to the qin player.

The clear, peaceful notes could soothe one’s anxiety. Since Xu Jing Fu’s downfall, she often suffered from insomnia, barely getting any sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, her eyelids would twitch severely, as if presaging some event.

Emperor Wen Xuan’s health was deteriorating. He frequently missed court sessions. Lin Qing Tan had examined him several times, only suggesting rest and recuperation, but Empress Zhang felt there was more to it. She grew increasingly anxious.

Minister Xu’s fall was unexpected by all. Though everyone knew there would be a battle between Xu Jing Fu and Xiao Jue, no one anticipated Xiao Jue’s military prowess on the frontier and political maneuvering in court would produce evidence after evidence, nailing his opponent to the prisoner’s bench.

Empress Zhang wasn’t sure whether Xu Jing Fu’s matter would implicate Guang Yan.

Regarding Emperor Wen Xuan as her husband, sometimes Empress Zhang felt she could see through him completely, while at other times, she felt she had never truly known him.

When Emperor Wen Xuan was still Crown Prince, he relied solely on being the legitimate son of the previous Empress to secure his position. As the Chancellor’s daughter, before marriage, Empress Zhang had many fantasies about her future husband.

But only after becoming Crown Princess did she discover her husband was merely an ordinary man immersed in poetry and pleasure. He lacked ambition, political talent, and the natural imperial aura of the royal family. Stripping away his status, and he was no different from common men on the street.

Empress Zhang was an ambitious woman, but her ambitions had always been too easily satisfied. Her husband’s mediocrity as the Son of Heaven eventually left her without even an interest in palace jealousies.

Like Emperor Wen Xuan’s peaceful life, she thought that once her son Guang Yan ascended the throne, she would become Empress Dowager – simply moving from one supreme position to another.

Empress Zhang had always thought this way until Noble Consort Lan’s appearance.

Emperor Wen Xuan deeply favored Noble Consort Lan. Initially, Empress Zhang didn’t care about imperial favor – countless beauties entered the palace each year, and she couldn’t be bothered with each one. But Emperor Wen Xuan’s favor toward Noble Consort Lan carried genuine affection.

This became troublesome, especially after Noble Consort Lan bore a son.

Over the years, Empress Zhang had attempted to eliminate Noble Consort Lan and her son, but this seemingly docile woman proved particularly cunning, escaping each time. Guang Shuo had safely reached adulthood, and if he hadn’t been sensible enough to avoid confrontation with the Crown Prince, Empress Zhang wouldn’t have let matters rest.

As long as it didn’t threaten Guang Yan’s position, letting the mother and son live longer wouldn’t matter. That was her thinking, but this delicate balance shattered instantly after Xu Jing Fu’s death.

Empress Zhang sensed danger.

The qin music suddenly struck a jarring note as a palace maid announced: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Empress Zhang opened her eyes as Guang Yan entered.

“Everyone leaves,” she waved, dismissing the qin player and palace maids. Looking at the approaching Guang Yan, she couldn’t help but scold: “Didn’t I tell you to avoid the palace during this time to prevent trouble? Yet here you are as if things aren’t chaotic enough. What are you doing here?”

“Mother,” Guang Yan looked at her anxiously, “How can I know what’s happening when you won’t let me enter the palace? Guang Shuo has practically taken over!”

“What nonsense are you speaking? Who told you this?” Empress Zhang sat up straighter, the tension in her expression.

“Never mind who told me,” Guang Shuo asked, “Is Father’s health failing? Mother, hasn’t Father given you any hint about the succession? I hear Guang Shuo visits Father’s bedside daily, who knows what sweet words he’s using!” He said hatefully, “If he confuses Father’s mind, won’t all my efforts be wasted!”

“Silence!” Empress Zhang commanded sharply, glancing around. Seeing no servants nearby, she relaxed slightly but angrily continued, “Your loose tongue is bad enough, don’t you know how many eyes are watching in the palace?”

“Mother,” Guang Yan said disappointedly, “I see that witch Noble Consort Lan can’t wait to make her move. Why should we still care about such things!”

At the mention of Noble Consort Lan, Empress Zhang’s expression darkened. She had always been proud, considering herself unmatched in the palace. Even with Emperor Wen Xuan’s favor, Noble Consort Lan had to be submissive before her all these years. But recent events had shattered her previous assumptions. That woman… that woman wasn’t avoiding conflict, but harboring greater ambitions! Her cautious behavior all these years was just an act, revealing her true nature when the time came. The joke was that she had been fooled!

Seeing Empress Zhang’s changed expression, Guang Shuo anxiously licked his lips and suddenly moved closer: “Mother, I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Empress Zhang snapped back to attention and looked at him: “What do you plan to do?”

“Now that Xu Jing Fu is dead, Father must despise me, and with that witch Noble Consort Lan saying who knows what to Father… If this continues, Father will surely make Guang Shuo Crown Prince… I can’t let this happen!”

“You mean to…”

“If Father were gone now,” Guang Yan’s eyes flashed with madness, “The throne should rightfully be mine!”

Empress Zhang instinctively covered his mouth, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Of course I know!” Guang Yan whispered, “Mother, think about it. If Guang Shuo becomes Emperor, what will happen to me? What will happen to you? If Father truly cared for me, he would have passed the throne to me already. Since he shows me no affection, he can’t blame me for showing no loyalty! At worst, when I become Emperor, I’ll burn a few more incense sticks for him each year!”

Empress Zhang was both shocked and angry, but before she could speak, Guang Yan fell to his knees before her, pleading: “Mother, please save your son, help me achieve this great endeavor!”

Her expression wavered, and she remained silent for a long while before finally sighing, “Let me think about it.”

But her gaze clearly showed she had already yielded.