Once the twelfth lunar month arrived it meant the new year was near, but this year’s twelfth month in the capital held not a trace of festive atmosphere—it passed in a state of anxiety and fear.

Northern Qi, Yuliu, and Emperor Pingle—any disturbance from just one of these three parties would prevent people from relaxing, let alone an attack from all three sides. The court had deployed most of its military forces northward, and for the moment had reached a stalemate. Yuliu in the east and Emperor Pingle in the south sent bad news one after another, with urgent reports flying like snowflakes onto Emperor Tai’an’s desk.

The lamps in the Hall of Mental Cultivation remained lit deep into the night. Meetings large and small were held one after another. At present, what Emperor Tai’an most hoped to receive were tidings from the envoy sent south to negotiate.

The former Crown Prince Qi Ming was in their hands—a bargaining chip of considerable weight.

Shouldering this重任 was a Bureau Director surnamed Yang from the Ministry of Rites.

The further south they traveled, the warmer the weather became. Yet when Bureau Director Yang was brought before Emperor Pingle’s commander, his heart trembled violently.

Of their entire delegation of envoys, only he and one subordinate were permitted to enter. Meeting the enemy commander rather than the former emperor suggested the negotiations would likely not go well.

“Greetings, General Wang.” Bureau Director Yang bowed with neither servility nor arrogance.

Grand General Wang Minghai—the greatest hero who had protected Emperor Pingle during that chaotic escape, and also a renowned military commander. Now this famous general was nearly fifty years old. Years of lying low and enduring had made him look older than his actual age, though his gaze remained sharp.

Bureau Director Yang straightened his spine, doing his utmost to withstand the invisible immense pressure.

Wang Minghai assessed Bureau Director Yang, his tone somewhat wistful. “Having been away from the capital for over a decade, all the faces are unfamiliar now.”

“At that time, Yang was just entering officialdom—an obscure nobody.”

Wang Minghai’s expression darkened, his gaze shooting toward Bureau Director Yang like a blade. “So you were also one of my lord’s imperial students then. Since you received our lord’s grace, why do you now serve that rebellious traitor who usurped the throne?”

Emperor Tai’an’s claim to the throne was indeed somewhat inglorious—a difficult problem that would give those compiling the national history headaches trying to whitewash. Bureau Director Yang naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to argue at such an occasion and straightforwardly stated his purpose. “Yang has come on imperial orders to discuss the matter of a ceasefire—”

“A ceasefire?” Wang Minghai didn’t give Bureau Director Yang a chance to finish before bursting into loud laughter. “What an enormous joke! That usurper has occupied the magpie’s nest for over a decade. We’ve endured hardship and tasted gall, finally waiting for this day with such difficulty—on what grounds should we cease fire?”

“We have already determined that Yang Zhe, the top scholar of the eighth year of Tai’an, is the former Crown Prince Qi Ming.” Bureau Director Yang spoke word by word, his eyes fixed intently on Wang Minghai.

This was the greatest bargaining chip of this negotiating mission, and the other party’s reaction after hearing it would be extremely important.

Wang Minghai put away his smile, his expression turning ice-cold. “What have you done to the Crown Prince?”

Bureau Director Yang smiled. “Rest assured, General. The former Crown Prince is His Majesty’s own nephew and is naturally being treated well.”

“Director Yang has traveled far and must be weary. Once you’ve rested and recovered your energy, we’ll talk again.”

Bureau Director Yang understood this meant seeking instructions from above and agreed with a nod.

A secret letter was delivered at the fastest speed to Emperor Pingle’s hiding place.

Emperor Pingle read the letter again and again. The paper was crumpled into countless creases before he finally wrote down a secret order and handed it to the messenger to take back.

Wang Minghai immediately opened the secret order upon receiving it. After reading it, he remained silent for a long while before meeting with the envoys from Emperor Tai’an’s side.

Standing before Wang Minghai were still Bureau Director Yang and one of his subordinates.

Seeing Wang Minghai’s gloomy expression, Bureau Director Yang inwardly thought things looked bad, but steadied his mind with effort and asked, “What has your side decided?”

“How dare you! Our Crown Prince is clearly at our lord’s side, yet for the sake of a ceasefire you’ve fabricated this lie that the new top scholar is our Crown Prince!”

Bureau Director Yang’s expression changed dramatically. “You refuse to acknowledge—”

Not giving him a chance to finish, Wang Minghai swung his blade and severed Bureau Director Yang’s head.

The wide-eyed head flew high into the air and fell, landing near the subordinate who had accompanied Bureau Director Yang.

That man was surnamed Zhao and held the rank of Deputy Envoy.

Deputy Envoy Zhao screamed and instinctively turned to run outside, but his legs went weak and he fell to the ground. Watching the god of death approach step by step, his face turned ashen. “You… how can you kill an envoy…”

He stammered out his question, using all his courage to keep from crying out for mercy.

Wang Minghai stopped before Deputy Envoy Zhao with his dripping blade and sneered coldly. “Aren’t you still alive? What, do you want to die too?”

“I—” Deputy Envoy Zhao wanted to say he didn’t fear death, but Bureau Director Yang’s head lay right before his eyes, that face frozen in shock and fury, without even time to show pain.

And for that very reason, it terrified him all the more.

A living person—dead just like that, as easy as chopping vegetables.

Wang Minghai pointed at the head on the ground with his blade tip. “Take it back. This is our answer to your wild fabrications about our Crown Prince!”

Deputy Envoy Zhao picked up Bureau Director Yang’s head with trembling hands and stumbled outside with unsteady steps, Wang Minghai’s booming laughter ringing in his ears.

What he didn’t know was that once certain he had fled, Wang Minghai stopped laughing and looked at the headless corpse left on the ground with a complex expression.

That was Crown Prince Ming—their extraordinarily intelligent Crown Prince.

Your Majesty… have you completely abandoned the Crown Prince?

Thinking of the several young princes fawning at Emperor Pingle’s knee, Wang Minghai suddenly felt a stone weighing on his heart, so heavy he could barely breathe.

Deputy Envoy Zhao’s delegation returned to the capital even faster than they had come, carrying Bureau Director Yang’s head.

Before this delegation returned, Emperor Tai’an had already learned the results of this southern mission from urgent reports. His first impulse was to go see Qi Ming, but in the end he restrained himself.

He would wait until the envoy returning from the south arrived.

“Your Majesty, Director Yang died so miserably—” Deputy Envoy Zhao knelt in the hall, holding a square box and weeping bitterly.

Emperor Tai’an’s gaze fell on the box Deputy Envoy Zhao held, his expression colder than the snow outside. “This box contains Minister Yang’s head?”

Deputy Envoy Zhao prostrated himself on the ground. “Yes—”

“Open it and let me see.”

The other officials in the hall changed color dramatically. “Your Majesty, you must not—”

Emperor Tai’an laughed coldly. “Minister Yang died for his country—what have I to fear? Open it!”

Deputy Envoy Zhao slowly opened the box.

Emperor Tai’an glanced once then turned his face away, cursing angrily. Soon the hall filled with officials’ denunciations of Emperor Pingle’s side.

Afterward, Qi Ming was brought to the palace for another meeting between uncle and nephew.

This period of imprisoned life had not diminished the young man’s elegance in the slightest. He seemed especially favored by the creator, not just in appearance but more in that indescribable, intangible bearing.

The bearing that belonged to the former Crown Prince Qi Ming.

Looking at this face completely different from the boy in his memory, Emperor Tai’an couldn’t help but imagine what that child should have looked like grown up.

He should have been outstandingly handsome as well, like his romantic and weak elder brother.

“Not long ago, your father’s forces rose up.” Emperor Tai’an spoke first.

Qi Ming half-lowered his eyes, appearing not the least bit surprised. “That being so, the north has descended into chaos as well, hasn’t it?”

“Correct.”

“What about Yuliu?”

“War has broken out there too.”

Qi Ming smiled slightly and said no more.

Emperor Tai’an sighed inwardly.

From just one sentence, Qi Ming, who had been imprisoned with no information, had deduced the current situation. And then there was Qi Shuo, who had volunteered to accompany his father on campaign…

Why were other people’s sons all superior to his own living son!