Xiao Qiao tilted her face up slightly, gazing at the bird on the branch for a moment.

Behind her on the bed, Wei Shao reached out drowsily, feeling the space beside him.

It was empty.

His eyelids twitched slightly, and then suddenly he opened his eyes wide and sat up abruptly.

The blanket that Xiao Qiao had pulled up to his shoulder slid down his chest, bunching at his abdomen.

He threw off the covers, about to jump out of bed when he caught sight of Xiao Qiao’s silhouette by the small window.

He paused.

Xiao Qiao turned her head.

Their eyes met.

“Come here,” Wei Shao said, looking at her. His voice was slightly hoarse.

Xiao Qiao closed the window and returned to his side.

He grasped her hand and pulled gently.

Xiao Qiao fell sitting on the bed. He embraced her in his arms.

“I was very happy last night. You were happy too, weren’t you?” Wei Shao asked, looking down at her.

Xiao Qiao leaned against his shoulder, gazing up at his eyes, which still had faint traces of bloodshot and seemed to be examining her.

As she hesitated, her lips just parting, Wei Shao suddenly seemed not to want to hear her answer anymore.

He lowered his head and silenced her with a kiss.

…

It was mid-morning when the door finally opened.

The clothes Wei Shao had taken off last night had already been dried by fire and ironed flat by Chun Niang, who brought them in.

The couple got up, had a simple meal, and then left the post house to return to Xindu.

Wei Shao told Xiao Qiao to wait for him a few more days. After he met with the envoy from Marquis Guo Quan of Jibei, he would return to Yu Yang with her.

…

As the Prime Minister, Xing Xun was also honored as the Father of the Minister by the young Emperor Liu Tong, holding an exalted position. Not only was the imperial palace like his own residence but his comings and goings were like those of the emperor’s carriage. He summoned the Three Excellencies and Ministers as if they were his household servants. Now, out of laziness to go to the imperial palace, he even ordered court officials to come directly to him to discuss state affairs.

People in the streets said that Luoyang now had two courts: one was the Thousand Autumns and Ten Thousand Years Hall in the imperial palace, and the other was the Father of the Minister’s Lotus Tower.

The name “Lotus Tower” came from Xing Xun’s magnificent villa built in the eastern suburbs of Luoyang. With its grand halls and jade-inlaid railings, in the center of the garden’s lake stood a tall building shaped like a lotus flower. It had jade stone steps inlaid with gold thread. Inside, it not only stored gold and jewels, amassing the wealth of the world, but also housed beauties, like Xing Xun’s own harem.

Su E Huang’s fame has spread far and wide since she married Luoyang more than a decade ago.

Even when Xing Xun was still a prefect outside Luoyang, he had heard of the name of the Jade Tower Lady of Luoyang.

Besides her beauty, he had also heard of her destiny.

Later, when Xing Xun entered Luoyang with his troops, eliminated his opponents, and stabilized the situation, the first thing he did was to see Su E Huang at a palace banquet.

At that time, she was still the wife of the Duke of Zuo Feng Yi.

Xing Xun desired her and secretly sought various opportunities.

How could Su E Huang not see through Xing Xun’s intentions towards her?

She was a clever woman, especially well-versed in the baser nature of men.

In her life, she could be said to be undefeated when it came to men.

The only one she had ever fallen for was Wei Shao. But that’s a story for later.

She knew of Xing Xun’s pursuit of her beauty.

Xing Xun held immense power over the court. For such a figure to be infatuated with her naturally made her feel somewhat proud.

But she didn’t want to let him have his way.

If a man easily conquers a woman, he will never take her seriously.

Although Xing Xun held great power, he had just entered Luoyang at that time.

Su E Huang was a member of the imperial clan.

Even though the Han dynasty was in decline, if she didn’t submit willingly, Xing Xun couldn’t just barge into the Duke of Zuo Feng Yi’s mansion and take her away.

This dance of advances and retreats went on for half a year until Liu Li died. Su E Huang became a new widow.

Three days later, Xing Xun secretly sent people to bring her to Lotus Tower.

Even then, she still looked down on Xing Xun.

The man she had in mind was far away in Youzhou.

To obtain that man again, she had been plotting for a long time. How could she submit herself to Lotus Tower like this?

Taking advantage of Xing Xun’s battle at Si Shui, she returned to the state of Zhongshan under the pretext of observing mourning.

After being away for two years, now that she had returned, even though Luoyang was full of noble ladies, the Jade Tower Lady’s prominence remained unmatched.

…

After a sumptuous feast at Lotus Tower, Xing Xun favored Su E Huang in the inner chamber.

Afterward, Xing Xun lay on the couch, snoring like thunder.

The room was lavishly decorated, with the beauty’s black hair like clouds.

Su E Huang’s eyes revealed a look of disgust as she pushed away Xing Xun’s corpulent body. She got off the bed and sat in front of the mirror, gazing intently at her reflection.

A half-golden mask, commissioned by a skilled craftsman at a high price, covered the area around her nose. It was secured with soft straps behind her head, both delicate and secure.

Unless she untied it herself, it would never fall off, even in her sleep.

She looked at herself for a moment, then her gaze fell on Xing Xun’s reflection in the mirror. After a moment lost in thought, she returned to the bed, let out a cry, and pushed Xing Xun forcefully.

Xing Xun was startled awake from his deep sleep, feeling displeased. With bleary eyes, he asked, “Why is the lady making such a fuss?”

Su E Huang said anxiously, “Just now in my dream, I vaguely saw a golden light suddenly fall from the beam, coming straight towards the Prime Minister. I thought it might harm you, so I cried out. Unexpectedly, that golden light circled above your head several times, then transformed into a dragon, swung its tail over the beam, and fell into the eastern suburbs! I was startled awake, and that’s why I disturbed you. Please forgive me, Prime Minister!”

Xing Xun, who was initially displeased, listened and became wide awake. He opened his eyes and asked, “Really?”

Su E Huang said, “How dare I speak nonsense in front of the Prime Minister?”

Xing Xun was lost in thought.

Su E Huang knelt and said, “That dream just now was so clear, as if I had seen it with my own eyes! I’m very anxious. Why don’t you send someone to the eastern suburbs to investigate?”

Xing Xun agreed. He immediately sent people out. After daybreak, someone came to report that they had dug up a thousand-year-old tortoiseshell in the wild of the eastern suburbs, with nine large characters inscribed on it: “Sun in the mountain, walking in fortune, king of the world.” They had brought the tortoiseshell in a precious box for the Prime Minister to inspect.

Xing Xun immediately summoned his trusted subordinates to gather at Lotus Tower. Everyone gathered around to observe, all exclaiming in wonder. Among them, Chief Clerk Feng Yi said, “Sun in the mountain, walking in fortune, that’s ‘Xun’, matching the Prime Minister’s name. This is a heavenly omen, saying that the Prime Minister has the destiny to sit on the throne!”

Director Zang Chang also said, “The Han dynasty’s fortunes are exhausted, the people are suffering, and there are complaints everywhere. If it weren’t for the Prime Minister’s sole effort to support it, it would have fallen apart long ago. The Prime Minister has the merit of supporting the state, and last year he defeated Yuan Zhe. Now the hearts of the people across the land are united. You should comply with heaven’s will and take the throne!”

The rest of the crowd echoed these sentiments.

Although Xing Xun was now supremely honored, with even the young Emperor Liu Tong respecting him as the Father of the Minister – whenever he went to the imperial palace, if there were no court officials around, Xing Xun would sit while the young emperor stood nervously to the side – it still wasn’t as satisfying as declaring himself emperor. He had long harbored the intention to usurp the throne but had many concerns before. Now that he had received this heavenly omen, and with his subordinates unanimously supporting his ascension, he was moved. He kept Feng Yi, Zang Chang, and other trusted officials behind for a private discussion about choosing an auspicious day for him to ascend the throne and create a grand spectacle. They dispersed late in the evening.

Xing Xun then went to Su E Huang, intending to remove the butterfly mask on her face with his hand. She stopped him, smiling and saying, “Has the Prime Minister forgotten? I once told you that last year I met a Taoist priest who read my fortune again. He said I originally had an extremely noble destiny, but unfortunately, the Lan Tai on my left and right blocked my fortune, which is why I lost my husband and became a widow. I needed to use the metal of the Five Elements to break this fate, hence the butterfly mask on my face. If the Prime Minister removes my golden butterfly, wouldn’t that break my fortune?”

Su E Huang’s concealment was thorough. Although Xing Xun had some suspicions, he half-believed her excuse. The story of Su E Huang being born with an unusual omen was deeply rooted, and with her dream last night aiding his current situation, Xing Xun wouldn’t forcibly remove her butterfly mask. On the contrary, he felt that this half-concealed, half-revealed state had a mysterious charm. He laughed heartily and said, “The lady is truly a wonderful person. Only after getting you did I realize that all the women I’ve been with before aren’t worth mentioning! When I become emperor one day, I must welcome you into the imperial harem. Only then will I not fail your destiny of being born with an unusual omen!”

Su E Huang said, “Thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister. However, I’m worried that although you’ve received this heavenly omen now, the various lords might not submit. Especially Wei Shao in the north – how could he bow his head and declare allegiance?”

When Xing Xun heard Wei Shao’s name, he flew into a rage: “That little Wei Shao! On New Year’s Day last year, all the lords came to pay respects, but he alone didn’t come! This year he even drove Feng Zhao to occupy Liangzhou. His arrogance has reached such heights! Does he think I can’t do anything to him? After I’ve accomplished my great endeavor, I will personally lead an army to attack Youzhou!”

Su E Huang said, “The Prime Minister truly has the spirit of a man! E Huang admires you and will wait for you to unify the realm and extend your might in all directions! Wei Shao is ambitious. He married the Qiao girl from Yanzhou to borrow Yanzhou’s strength, making it convenient for him to move south with ulterior motives in the future. If the Prime Minister attacks Wei Shao, you should also attack Yanzhou. This way, you can kill two birds with one stone and cut off his retreat!”

Xing Xun looked at her and said, “I’ve heard that you and Wei Shao seemed to have some old acquaintance in your early years. Why do you now hate him so bitterly?”

Su E Huang said, “We just knew each other as children and met a few times, how could that be called an old acquaintance? He is your enemy, so he is also my enemy.”

Xing Xun said, “Good! When I ascend the throne, I will certainly promote you!”

Su E Huang smiled, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

Xing Xun laughed heartily, then suddenly remembered something and said, “Yuan Zhe’s adopted son Ding Qu, who defected to my camp last year, once told me that Wei Shao’s wife has a rare and extraordinary beauty. All men who see her lose their souls. I heard that Chen Xiang’s loss of Binzhou was also because his son took Wei Shao’s wife, causing Wei Shao to attack Shiyi and take back the Qiao girl. Little Wei Shao seems to have quite a good fortune with women. Since you know him, have you seen the Qiao girl? How does she compare to you in beauty?”

Su E Huang smiled coyly and said, “How could I compare my beauty with Wei Shao’s wife? As for how beautiful the Qiao girl is, it would be better for the Prime Minister to see for himself. That would be worth more than thousands of words of description.”

Xing Xun was lost in thought, his heart growing increasingly restless. He couldn’t help but want to immediately snatch that Qiao girl and hide her in Lotus Tower.

Not only would it vent his hatred and make Wei Shao taste the humiliation of having his wife taken, but he also wanted to see for himself just how beautiful this Qiao girl was, to have made Chen Xiang lose Shiyi, which he had held for decades, leading to his complete defeat and handing over his great foundation.

…

Wei Shao brought Xiao Qiao back to Xindu by evening.

Gong Sun Yang was waiting for him at Xin Palace.

Although there wasn’t much unusual on his face, it was clear that something must have happened.

Wei Shao sent Xiao Qiao back to She Yang’s Residence first. Then he went to the study and asked, “What’s the matter, Sir?”

Waiting for him was news he had never expected before.

Gong Sun Yang said, “A fast messenger arrived during the day reporting that King Liu Yan of Langya has allied with the state of Donghai and sent troops to Xuzhou. To protect his territory, Xue An hastily withdrew his troops…”

Wei Shao’s thoughts hadn’t fully returned at first.

King Liu Yan of Langya?

He finally came to his senses and suddenly looked at Gong Sun Yang.

Gong Sun Yang’s tone became increasingly cautious: “According to our spies, Liu Yan subsequently went to Lingbi in person. It’s suspected that he intends to win over Bi Zhi.”