The night fell heavily, with dark clouds obscuring the moon, casting a thick shadow over the Imperial Palace of the Cloud Emperor. Zhao Yan, then still the crown prince, hurried into the inner chamber, immediately wrinkling his brow at the pervasive scent of medicine that filled the room. Thick brocade curtains shrouded the glow of the palace lamps, rendering the atmosphere dull and dim. The figure on the dragon couch continued to cough intermittently. The palace seemed as aged and lifeless as the person lying on the couch, unable to muster even a hint of vitality before entering old age.
Zhao Yan sighed silently, masking the sense of desolation rising in his heart. He approached the sickbed with bowed head and softly called out, “Father.”
The figure on the dragon couch slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes, once disdainful towards all living beings, briefly flashed with light before dimming once more. Cloud Emperor Zhao Yue, barely thirty-five years old, should have been in the prime of his life. However, since ascending the throne, he had been embroiled in constant struggles with the Xia clan, coupled with nightly sessions of reviewing memorials, which ultimately exhausted him to the point of illness. Even the most skilled physicians could not pull this emperor from the shadow of death.
Zhao Yan felt a pang in his heart as he watched, hastily grasping Zhao Yue’s hand and saying, “Father, you summoned me for a reason. What is it that you wish to discuss?”
Zhao Yue let out a heavy sigh, his gaze affectionate as it fell upon Zhao Yan. “Yan’er, you must have realized by now that my time is running short.”
Zhao Yan’s vision blurred momentarily, and he hurriedly replied, “Father, please do not speak like this. The physicians have assured us that with proper care, your illness can be cured soon.”
Zhao Yue smiled bitterly and shook his head. “I know the state of my own body all too well. Enough of these idle words. Yan’er, I have sent your mother away today and called you here alone. Do you know why?”
Zhao Yan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling an inexplicable urge to flee. At that moment, Zhao Yue tightened his grip on his hand, causing it to ache slightly, and his cloudy eyes flashed with sharpness. “After my passing, this realm will inevitably be yours. However, you are still young, and the Xia clan lurks within the court, waiting to seize power while you are still inexperienced. You must not let them succeed! Can you continue what I started, Yan’er?”
Zhao Yan widened his eyes, his mind buzzing with confusion as he stuttered, “But Mother…”
Zhao Yue’s expression turned resentful. “Indeed, your mother will undoubtedly watch over you. It would be best for her if you became a puppet of the Xia clan, obedient to their every command. Isn’t that what she has desired for years? If they truly succeed, the stability of the realm will be at risk.” His voice filled with frustration, he couldn’t help but cough again, his chest rising and falling beneath the embroidered quilt, emitting a sound akin to an old bellows. Zhao Yan quickly comforted him, his voice trembling, “Father, please don’t be angry. I will do as you say, but what should I do?”
Zhao Yue looked at his son, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and gasped, “While you are still young and inexperienced, you must not confront them directly. There is another person you must rely on. Only when you and your brothers unite can you defeat the Xia clan.”
Zhao Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing, “Father means Chong Jiang, doesn’t he? He is still at the camp in the northwest.”
Zhao Yue, slightly distracted by his earlier slip of the tongue, paused before continuing, “Yes, Chong Jiang commands over a hundred thousand soldiers of the Xiao family army, enough to rival the Xia clan. I arranged for Chong Jiang to accompany you since childhood, hoping that you would become close like brothers. Seeing that you two indeed support each other, I am deeply gratified. Remember, you must treat him as your brother, and only with what he possesses can you truly defeat the Xia clan.”
His gaze carried both intimidation and coldness, making Zhao Yan suddenly snap out of his reverie. Cold wind seeped in through the slightly ajar palace doors as his gaze fell upon the memorials on the desk. Rubbing his brow, he slowly stood up and walked out onto the corridor outside the palace. If he hadn’t suddenly remembered his conversation with his father, he wouldn’t have even thought that the bow might be problematic. Now, gazing up at the night-shrouded glazed tiles and the beast-ridge eaves, he muttered to himself, “Chong Jiang, my good brother, you must not disappoint me.”
At that moment, Yuan Xi noticed his unusual expression and gently held his hand. “Are you thinking about it?”
As he faced the silver bow before him, Xiaodu felt his hand holding the bow tremble slightly. It was a fine recurve bow, light and agile, with gleaming bowstrings. He remembered the day when he was awarded a title in the court, and the Cloud Emperor himself solemnly handed him this bow, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation as he spoke, “A great general deserves a great bow. One day, when you wield this bow and arrow, you will be able to eliminate traitors and achieve great deeds.”
Recalling that moment, Xiaodu’s hand holding the bow trembled slightly. Looking back now, that was perhaps the closest he had ever been to his biological father. When the Cloud Emperor passed away, he was far away in the northwest military camp, even missing the chance to see him one last time.
Yuan Xi noticed his unusual expression and gently held his hand, asking, “Have you figured it out?”
Xiao Du shook his head and replied, “Are you sure he meant this bow? I’ve often stared at it and never noticed anything peculiar inside.”
Yuan Xi, however, insisted, “Since he put so much effort into it and deliberately tempted me to steal this bow, it means this item must be very important to him. We need to find out what it is before he takes further action.”
Xiao Du rubbed the bow repeatedly in his hand, unable to discern any clues. Suddenly, a phrase from the late emperor flashed through his mind: “One day, when you wield this bow and arrow, you will be able to eliminate traitors and achieve great deeds.” He murmured to himself, “I’ve never truly used this bow.”
Yuan Xi and Xiao Du exchanged a glance, both suddenly realizing something. Xiao Du then stood with the bow, exerting all his strength to draw the bowstring taut. Suddenly, there was a click, and the previously seamless bow frame loosened. Xiao Du quickly turned the mechanism, discovering a hidden compartment inside.
As they were about to uncover the secret of the silver bow, both Xiao Du and Yuan Xi became excited. They reached into the compartment and found a yellowed piece of paper, upon which was written a handwritten message from the late emperor: “Lingchan Temple, Master Hongyu.”
As the evening drums sounded, countless birds startled from the forest. The incense at Lingchan Temple was not particularly strong, and although the abbot, Master Hongyu, had gained fame in a Buddhist debate over a decade ago, he had since secluded himself in meditation and rarely met with visitors. Over the years, fewer and fewer pilgrims came, and the temple grew increasingly desolate.
Now, the stone steps outside Lingchan Temple were covered with moss and fallen leaves. Xiao Du climbed the steps, feeling apprehensive. It had been eight years since the late emperor left him this message, and he wondered what Master Hongyu wanted to tell him. With various doubts swirling in his mind, he knocked on the temple door. A young novice opened the door, recognizing from Xiao Du’s demeanor that he was no ordinary visitor. He greeted Xiao Du respectfully, “Esteemed guest, what brings you here?”
Xiao Du hesitated for a moment before speaking, “I’m looking for Master Hongyu.”
The novice looked at him strangely and quickly replied, “The abbot never sees outsiders. Please leave, sir.”
As the novice attempted to close the door, Xiao Du immediately reached out and grabbed the door, his tone firm, “I must see Master Hongyu. Go and inform him that Xiao Du, Marquis Xuan Yuan, requests an audience. He will see me.”
Startled by Xiao Du’s momentum, the novice reluctantly went to relay the message. After a while, he respectfully ran out again and said, “The abbot has agreed. Please come in, sir.”
In the simple meditation room, lightly scented with sandalwood, Master Hongyu was meditating on a cushion. Upon hearing Xiao Du’s footsteps, he opened his eyes. His once serene eyes showed a hint of ripples when they met Xiao Du’s face, but it quickly disappeared into the depths of his gaze.
Xiao Du quickly bowed respectfully to the master, who sighed deeply and said, “I’ve been waiting for you for eight years. You’ve finally come.”
Xiao Du’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a surge of excitement and difficulty restraining it. He quickly asked, “May I ask, Master, what did the late emperor want me to discuss with you?”
Master Hongyu’s gaze turned deep, seemingly lost in distant memories. He slowly said, “Eight years ago, your father did leave a message with me. He told me that if you were to come to find me, I should immediately inform him to meet you.”
Upon hearing the term “your father,” Xiao Du felt like he had been struck. He blurted out, “You… you know everything!”
Master Hongyu glanced up at him and sighed, “Indeed, you already know everything. Your father has passed away, and his original intention hidden within the bow is no longer relevant.”
Xiao Du stood rooted to the spot, clenching his fists in regret. He realized that when the late emperor presented him with the silver bow, he had hoped that Xiao Du would discover the hidden compartment within the bow and then be led to meet Master Hongyu. Little did he know that when Xiao Du discovered the secret, the late emperor had already passed away, destined to be separated from him forever.
Seeing Xiao Du’s expression, Master Hongyu shook his head and said, “Over the years, your father often came to the temple to listen to my teachings. I knew he had many worries, and the greatest of all was his inability to acknowledge you. Yet, he feared that you might not want to recognize him as your father, unable to accept his identity. So he could only hide this secret in the silver bow, hoping that if fate allowed, you would come here to meet him. Unfortunately, he waited for a long time, but you never came. Everything has its karma. Since it was not destined, Marquis, there’s no need to force it.”
Xiao Du couldn’t help but bitterly smile. Perhaps it was predetermined that he and the late emperor would never have a father-son relationship. No amount of regret would change that. He suppressed his sadness and bowed respectfully, saying, “Thank you, Master, for informing me. Since this matter is settled, I won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Wait,” Master Hongyu suddenly raised his voice, his gaze piercing. “Although Marquis has come late, it is not in vain. Five years ago, the late emperor entrusted me with something and instructed me to personally deliver it into your hands.”
Xiao Du’s steps abruptly halted. Five years ago was the year of the late emperor’s passing!