1. The Eternal Joy Alliance and Tianxuan Pavilion
The formation of the “Eternal Joy Alliance” between Qi and Yueluo is one of the four great mysteries in Qi’s history.
Three years after Qi’s Founding Emperor Pei Xun ascended the throne, and a Jiang clan orphan raised an army in Cangping Prefecture, attempting to overthrow the government. The Emperor ordered Marquis Ning Siming of the North to quell the rebellion.
At that time, Emperor Yuan of the Huan Empire deposed Emperor Shun, triggering the “Nanzi Rebellion.” The Moon Rong also rebelled, plunging the Huan Empire into internal strife.
Seeing that both Hua and Huan were busy suppressing internal rebellions, the Yueluo vassal king Mu Feng declared independence from Qi and established the Yueluo Kingdom.
Qi’s internal rebellion was quickly suppressed. Emperor Pei Xun issued three edicts commanding Mu Feng to return to Qi’s rule. Mu Feng’s only reply was a single word: “War.”
Enraged, the Emperor personally led an army of 120,000 to conquer Yueluo. Upon reaching Changle City, Emperor Pei Xun unexpectedly did not launch an attack. The army camped outside Changle for half a month before withdrawing to Hexi.
The reason for this remains unclear officially. However, according to a guard who closely attended the Emperor: On the night of their arrival in Changle, a mysterious man surnamed Cui sought an audience with the Emperor, presenting a bamboo flute as a token. This guard later recognized the man as Cui Yi, the master of “Tianxuan Pavilion” who would later compile the “Hua History.”
After a long discussion with Cui Yi, the Emperor left the city late at night. He stayed at a certain manor outside the city for most of the night, returning near dawn.
Upon returning to Changle, the Emperor immediately ordered the army to withdraw. Back in the capital, he issued an edict: Qi recognized Yueluo’s independence and formed a “brotherly alliance” with Yueluo, pledging eternal friendship.
Soon after, King Mu Feng of Yueluo sent a letter to Qi’s Emperor, requesting the return of the relics of Yueluo’s Holy Sect Master Xiao Wuxia and asking for his heroic deeds in resisting the previous dynasty’s tyranny to be proclaimed throughout the land.
Emperor Pei Xun ordered all of Wei Zhao’s relics to be returned to Yueluo. Mu Feng presided over a holy ceremony where tens of thousands of Yueluo people paid tribute to the hero’s spirit at Star Moon Peak. They erected the “Phoenix Monument” for eternal worship.
After Emperor Yuan of Huan quelled the internal rebellions, he was encouraged by the five noble tribes to launch another southern expedition. Upon hearing of the “brotherly alliance” between Qi and Yueluo, he lamented in his palace, “Mu Feng has deceived me!” He then abandoned the idea of a southern campaign. From then on, Qi, Huan, and Yueluo formed a tripod of power, bringing several decades of brief stability to the world.
As Cui Yi, the master of “Tianxuan Pavilion,” was the compiler of “Qi History,” he remained vague about the facts of this historical event.
However, there were many folk rumors: On that night in the mysterious manor, Emperor Pei Xun first met a man in white robes. According to the attending guard’s recognition, this man was peerlessly handsome, reminiscent of the once-renowned “Frost Moon General” Xiao Yao.
According to rumors from Yueluo: That night, King Mu Feng of Yueluo also secretly left the country with some troops, destination unknown, only returning at dawn.
The truth of what happened remains a mystery. However, after that night, the “Tianxuan Pavilion,” which had been hidden for over a hundred years, re-emerged in the world under Cui Yi’s leadership. The Emperor invited Cui Yi to be the “National Master,” treating him with great honor.
Some suspected that Cui Yi was a relative of Empress Cui and that the Emperor’s generous treatment was out of consideration for the Empress. However, the court never acknowledged this, and Cui Yi never took an official position. Thus, this theory remained mere speculation among the common people.
2. Princess Huizhen
Emperor Pei Yan, the founding emperor of the Sacred Guangxiao, had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Pei Xun, who later became Qi’s Founding Emperor, was born to Empress Dowager Dong.
The second son, Pei Luo, and the only daughter, Pei Nianci, were both born to the consort, Lady Shu Yun.
According to historical records: Pei Nianci was intelligent and mischievous as a child, and deeply loved by Pei Yan. In his youth, Pei Yan had been free-spirited, but after starting a family, he gradually became more stern. He strictly disciplined his two sons but thoroughly spoiled his daughter. Whenever his sons violated family rules and faced severe punishment, Pei Nianci’s pleas would always make Pei Yan relent and show mercy.
Pei Xun and Pei Luo benefited greatly from their young sister’s intercessions. Thus, when Pei Xun ascended the throne, he immediately bestowed upon Pei Nianci the title of Princess Huizhen, allowing her carriage to enter the palace without dismounting and to appear before the emperor without formal court attire.
When Pei Nianci was fourteen, Pei Yan considered betrothing her to his adopted son, the “Frost Moon General” Xiao Yao. Xiao Yao declined, citing “Sister Nianci’s young age” as the reason.
When news of Xiao Yao’s seclusion with a beauty in Cheng County reached the capital, Pei Nianci was playing chess with Emperor An’s sister. Upon hearing the news, she smiled faintly, made a move, and said, “If he has no heart for me, I shall desist. If the son doesn’t think of me, surely there are others!”
When her father and brothers returned victorious to the capital, Pei Nianci proposed a martial arts competition for her hand in marriage. Surprisingly, Pei Yan agreed to his daughter’s shocking request.
Unfortunately, at that time, young heroes in the martial world were scarce. After three days on the challenge platform, not a single person could defeat Pei Nianci. She broke her long sword and sighed, “If I were born a man, I would surely lead the martial world and look down upon all heroes under heaven!”
When this statement reached the royal mansion, Pei Yan laughed heartily.
However, Pei Xun couldn’t forget these words. After he ascended the throne, he not only titled his young sister Princess Huizhen but also named her the leader of the martial world, truly allowing her to “lead the martial world and look down upon all heroes under heaven,” becoming a famous anecdote of the time.
But what was even more astonishing was that Pei Nianci eventually fell for a scholar named Kong who couldn’t even tie a chicken. As Kong disliked martial arts, Pei Nianci hung up her sword, personally cooked meals, and served her in-laws in plain clothes.
There’s a folk tale: On their wedding night, Scholar Kong forced Pei Nianci to swear that she wouldn’t use her family’s influence to help him pass the imperial examinations before he entered the bridal chamber.
Later, Scholar Kong indeed achieved the rank of Tanhua in the imperial examinations. Whether his two brothers-in-law had a hand in this remains unknown.
However, after Pei Xun ascended the throne, Tanhua Kong adamantly refused to take an official position. He ended up compiling history at the Hanlin Academy for the rest of his life.