How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
Noble Consort Yu ordered someone to poison Consort Shu, but astonishingly, the plot was exposed in the act. a rare spectacle indeed.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the harem, turbulent currents were already swirling. Behind the trees near Noble Consort Yu’s palace, eunuchs and palace maids lurked, all sent by various factions to gather information.
The onlookers eagerly watched as the Emperor entered Noble Consort Yu’s palace and closed the doors, engaging in a conversation for a while. Then, under the scorching sun, they stood guard for a long time, yet heard no commotion.
Growing restless, suddenly they heard faint sounds of porcelain shattering.
Here it comes!
The onlookers strained to hear. Inside Noble Consort Yu’s palace, harsh noises continued unabated, as if every object and utensil had been violently destroyed.
A door was kicked open.
A dishevelled figure strode out briskly, shouting hoarsely, “Come men!”
The eavesdroppers quickly withdrew their heads, sweating profusely.
Drenched in tears, Consort Yu was dragged out by the guards, her shoes fallen off, tear streaks marring her once pristine makeup.
Xiahou Dan smirked, “Challenging me? Is that what you’re doing?”
Consort Yu showed no retreat. She abandoned her usual innocent demeanour, her phoenix eyes wide and intimidating, “Your Majesty, you will regret this.”
The onlookers were trembling with fear. Hadn’t she gone too far this time?
But this time, she could no longer win back the Emperor’s favour.
Xiahou Dan staggered over and kicked down a guard, “Who’s the master here?”
“Your Majesty is the master,” the guard knelt and replied.
“If I say drag her to the Cold Palace, can’t you hear?!”
Xiahou Dan oversaw as Noble Consort Yu being thrown into the Cold Palace, then ordered, “Nail shut all doors and windows, leave a guard team. No food unless I say so.”
Days passed without anyone delivering food.
Noble Consort Yu’s fall from favour had become an inevitable fact. The eunuchs and palace maids who had come to watch gradually dwindled. Only two or three persistent ones remained, hoping for another spectacle.
The Cold Palace, long neglected, had a draughty hole in its door, guarded by a sentry outside.
One day, a figure emerged from that hole.
Once known for her beautiful features, now Consort Yu looked like a dried-up corpse, her face drained of life. She mechanically dragged her body to the hole, kneeling and bowing, pleading, “Sirs, please, give me something to eat.”
The guard turned a deaf ear.
She continued, “Please, deliver a message for me. Tell them I was wrong, Wanyin truly was wrong…”
Still being ignored, Consort Yu seemed too weak to rise again and collapsed behind the door.
After a long while, An Xian, the eunuch by the Emperor’s side, arrived and handed a broken bowl to the guarding soldier.
The guard passed the bowl through the hole and said, “Here, eat.”
The almost lifeless figure on the ground stirred, struggling to lift the bowl and drink the sticky, cold gruel. Tears streamed down as she murmured thanks, clutching the bowl and shuffling back.
Consort Yu carried the broken bowl into the room, disdainfully tossing it aside, wiping her face with disgust.
A maid had already brought hot water, awaiting her, “Madam, please wash your face.”
Consort Yu washed off the corpse-like makeup, revealing a rosy complexion underneath, and listlessly asked, “Ah, what shall we do today?”
The maid smiled, “Old Nanny Bei sent some fruits and snacks, along with a few books. Old Nanny Bei asks Madam to be patient. It will take three to five days to dig the tunnel, and His Majesty will come to see Madam then. Until that time, only Old Nanny Bei can sneak in and out without being noticed.”
The maid added, “Oh, someone slipped this in from the back yard earlier, probably bribing the guard at the back door. He said if Madam has any messages to send out, she can write them on a note and hand it to him.”
She revealed a small package.
Yu Wanyin opened it and saw some dry rations, along with a carved jade turtle.
Prince Duan had finally made his move.
Xiahou Bo sent Yu Wanyin to investigate the martial arts expert, and shortly after, he heard that Xiao Mei, who he’d left behind as an informant, had died.
There are no such coincidences in the world; it must have been Yu Wanyin’s doing.
His expectations of her had plummeted to an all-time low.
Later, he heard that Noble Consort Yu had been demoted to Concubine Yu due to a harem dispute and had been confined. All that sounded more and more like an act every moment. Xiahou Bo knew Yu Wanyin’s extraordinary abilities, as did Xiahou Dan. Since he was the same as her, the emperor, despite his incompetence, wouldn’t abandon a seer for a love affair.
But he still wanted to see how she would play it out.
After being sent to the Cold Palace, Yu Wanyin received first hand gossip from her palace informants: On the day of the argument between the Emperor and Consort Yu, she had advised him to get rid of Consort Shu, but he refused. Consort Yu claimed to have dreamt that Consort Shu had killed her entire family. The Emperor angrily accused her of lying for personal gain. Finally, Consort Yu said something like, “You would be nothing without my abilities” (the informant didn’t understand). This enraged the Emperor, leading to his decision to depose her.
This took Xiahou Bo somewhat by surprise.
Because he knew that Consort Shu’s family had a longstanding friendship with the Yu family, but now that Yu Shaoqing had fallen from grace, Consort Shu’s family was also in decline, leading to friction between them. Recently, their descendants were vying for an official position, and the conflict had escalated.
Xiahou Bo had it investigated. Indeed, Consort Shu’s family had been plotting against the Yu family.
But one thing: these plots were so covert that even he had to exert great effort to uncover them. The Yu family was completely unaware, and Yu Wanyin in the depths of the palace was even less likely to hear about it.
So, did she truly see it all through divine insight?
After waiting a few days, Xiahou Bo sent someone to deliver food and received a secret letter from her.
He only read a few sentences and burst out laughing, “She really dares to say it.”
Yu Wanyin openly admitted, “Yes, I sent Xiao Mei to poison her because I knew she was your informant. If she had been successful with the poisoning, it would have been fine, but she was accidentally discovered by Consort Shu and died miserably. It’s all her karma for colluding with you behind my back.
Xiahou Bo recalled her furious outcry at the lake and chuckled, “This girl is no ordinary pond fish. Interesting, very interesting.”
The strategists of Prince Duan dared not speak.
Usually, when a man says a woman is “interesting,” there are usually ulterior motives.
But when Duan Wang said “interesting,” the meaning was complex. The whole sentence could mean “interesting, I must get her,” or “interesting, she must be eliminated.”
He seemed devoid of tender feelings and even hatred. To him, worldly affairs were just one game after another: Advance first, deceive my rival, and decide the winner from afar. He was the ideal puppet master: calm, ruthless, and unshakable.
Sometimes, this made them feel secure, but at other times, it instilled fear in them.
Xiahou Bo continued reading the letter.
Yu Wanyin indicated that Xiahou Dan no longer valued her, but feared others benefiting from her assistance, hence her imprisonment until death.
She asked Xiahou Bo: Are you not different from him? How will you prove it? If my predictions occasionally fail, will you execute me out of suspicion?
Of course, Xiahou Bo would.
But he replied with a sincere and heartfelt letter, promising enough to make HR departments of major companies blush, and sent even more food in.
He didn’t rush to ask about the martial arts master beside the Emperor. He was waiting for her to make a move.
Yu Wanyin delayed for another two days, performing the act of kneeling for cold gruel. Finally, she sent another secret letter, “I have dreamt of that tall man, alone, walking towards the gallery, heading to that place of moon and wind. There is a tall platform in front (she even included a kindergarten-level illustration), seemingly listening to a play.”
Xiahou Bo wasn’t entirely convinced.
But taking a gamble meant no loss to him. At least, the place she mentioned wasn’t in the palace but in the brothel. Removing one person from there wouldn’t be difficult.
So Xiahou Bo dispatched some scouts to watch several streets and alleys in the city.
The tunnel was finally dug through.
Xiahou Dan crawled out of the tunnel covered in dust and dirt, first going to see Yu Wanyin. “You’ve lost weight.”
Yu Wanyin coughed. “No, it’s just that I haven’t removed my makeup properly.” In reality, she had been stuck inside with nowhere to move, lying around everyday snacking on melon seeds and eating fruit, she had actually gained a few pounds.
Xiahou Dan dusted himself off and looked around. “How about hotpot tonight?”
“Hotpot in this scorching weather?”
“With chilled mung bean soup.”
“Not a bad idea,” Yu Wanyin smiled. After laughing, she felt that their conversation sounded like that of an old married couple who had lived together for many years, and she felt a bit embarrassed.
It is said that true feelings are revealed in times of adversity. Now she understood. After going through so much together, when she saw this person’s figure, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, there was a sudden loud noise from underground, and another dusty head popped up. “Ahem… Carrying this pot through the tunnel is really exhausting!”
“You’ve worked hard. Put the pot down, you can leave now.” Xiahou Dan said.
A’Bai looked puzzled.
Not only did he not leave, but he also brought Bei Zhou along. The two-person hotpot turned into a four-person hotpot.
“Lady Yu, have some.” A’Bai graciously cooked lamb and put it into Yu Wanyin’s bowl.
Yu Wanyin tried to refuse but was too slow. Another pair of chopsticks reached over and placed a tripe over the lamb.
Xiahou Dan stared at her.
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Her impression of Xiahou Dan continued to improve. But she didn’t know how Xiahou Dan felt about her.
She speculated there might be some fondness, but he always maintained a gentlemanly demeanour, seemingly embracing a pure platonic alliance as comrades-in-arms.
Until A’Bai, who feared nothing, started causing trouble, he seemed somewhat irritated.
Yu Wanyin swallowed the tripe and slowly picked up A’Bai’s lamb.
Xiahou Dan continued to stare at her.
A’Bai’s eyes also turned to her.
After a pause, Yu Wanyin slowly put A’Bai’s lamb into Xiahou Dan’s bowl.
Xiahou Dan, “?”
A’Bai, “?”
Yu Wanyin, “By the way, Uncle Bei, A’Bai, have you heard the plan?”
Bei Zhou, who was focused on eating, raised his head. “Don’t worry, I’ve been training this kid intensively these days.”
A’Bai took out a human skin mask from his pocket, put it on, and tied a black cloth around his face, smiling. “How’s this?”
After dinner, Bei Zhou took A’Bai to a corner, murmuring and discussing for a while, then set up his first position and started practising.
Bei Zhou said, “You missed it just now. You can’t block in those places. Practise more until it becomes second nature.”
“Instinct, instinct,” A’Bai boasted shamelessly. “Dealing with strong opponents is really troublesome. It’s lonely at the top.”
Bei Zhou, “?”
Bei Zhou raised his palm. “Want another round?”
A’Bai quickly changed the subject, “Speaking of which, when are we going to catch Scarface?”
Xiahou Dan sat on the side, enjoying their martial arts like a wuxia film. “No rush, wait until he leaves the palace on his own.”
Bei Zhou eased up. “Dan’er, are you full? Let me cut some melon for you guys.”
“I’ll go.” Yu Wanyin turned to the simple kitchen behind the Cold Palace and picked up a watermelon soaking in ice water.
On this summer night, with the heat not yet dissipating, cicadas chirped intermittently in the courtyard filled with lush vegetation, occasionally punctuated by fireflies. As Yu Wanyin cut the watermelon into pieces and plated it, A’Bai slipped in, “Lady.”
“I’m not a lady anymore.”
A’Bai’s eyes lit up. “Wanyin?”
“…”
Yu Wanyin knew that people in the martial world were unrestrained, so she didn’t take his slightly frivolous and playful flirting too seriously, casually handing him a plate of watermelon. “Thanks for your help.”
A’Bai, “…”
Yu Wanyin started slicing another plate. “Did your training go smoothly?”
“It should be perfected in three days.” A’Bai held the plate and looked at her. “Wanyin, after this matter is settled, I’ll leave.”
Yu Wanyin paused. “So soon? Weren’t you sent by your master to protect His Majesty?”
“Prince Duan is watching. I can’t stay by your side anymore.”
Upon careful consideration, Yu Wanyin realised it was true.
So this guy was here to say goodbye. Yu Wanyin stopped moving and adjusted her attitude. “Well, have you decided where you want to go?”
“The Emperor has another task for me.”
“Another task?”
A’Bai winked. “Can’t say now. You’ll know when the time comes.”
So it’s a secret mission.
They hadn’t been together long, yet Xiahou Dan trusted this person so much? Yu Wanyin found it somewhat unbelievable.
Thinking of asking Xiahou Dan about it later, she suddenly heard A’Bai ask, “Or maybe… Do you want to come with me?”
“…..what?”
“I’m asking you to come with me.” A’Bai gathered his nervous energy and spoke word by word with unparalleled seriousness.
When I first saw you, I knew that you were a lark in the sky and should not be trapped within these four palace walls,” his eyes shone like stars in the dimly lit, ugly room. What kind of temperament is a person who is free and uninhibited to come up with one plan after another? All such a person has to do is leave this place, and where would he not be able to fly high into the far reaches of the martial world?”
Yu Wanyin jerked her head to look at the door and lowered her voice, “Do you know where you are? You’re in the palace, and you want to pull the emperor’s woman to run away?”
“There is no need to run. As long as you nod your head, His Majesty’s side will be persuaded.”
Yu Wanyin was just dumbfounded, “You still want to convince him?”
“I have reasons that he must accept.”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Is this guy insane?
Despite feeling incredulous, she was somewhat moved. “Anyway, thank you for saying these things.”
A’Bai sensed her rejection and instantly looked disheartened. “Don’t rush to answer, I beg you.”
Yu Wanyin sighed in amusement. “A’Bai, as a heroic young swordsman like you, you will surely find a companion.”
A’Bai drooped his head despondently. “Am I not good enough?”
“It’s not-“
“If not with me, would you consider venturing out on your own?”
Yu Wanyin was at a loss for words.
She recalled the dream she had when she first arrived, of escaping from all this.
A’Bai placed a hand on her shoulder. “Wanyin, on my way to the capital, I saw sunsets over a thousand mountains, and flowers in full bloom. Take a moment to consider for yourself what you want in this world.”
He squeezed her shoulder briefly and picked up two plates of watermelon, then walked away.
Yu Wanyin stood still for a while, feeling dazed.
The vast desert smoke, the camel bells in the desert, the autumn osmanthus, the lotus flowers for miles. what she missed in the previous life, trapped in a cubicle, she would never get to see in this life either.
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, washed her hands, thinking she should hurry back, but as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw two figures standing side by side.
A’Bai stood in the centre of the courtyard with Xiahou Dan, pointing upwards. “See that?”
Xiahou Dan also looked up. “To the left of the moon?”
A’Bai, “It’s almost forming a straight line.”
Yu Wanyin instinctively looked up, but all she saw were scattered stars, disorderly and without any discernible line.
A’Bai said, “Think carefully about my master’s letter. He also left a message: your meeting might not be a blessing.”
Xiahou Dan chuckled. “You’re making this up.”
A’Bai angrily retorted, “I wouldn’t joke about my master.”
Xiahou Dan said, “If you covet Wanyin, just say it.”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
She wondered if she should retreat back to the kitchen.
As a martial artist, A’Bai had excellent hearing and heard the faint breath behind him, but pretended not to notice. “Even if not for yourself, can’t you think about her?”
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
A’Bai began to illustrate, “Even if you’re the Emperor, can you protect her from being bullied?”
Xiahou Dan replied, “That I can.”
A’Bai, “?”
A’Bai rallied, “Can you fetch a single dip from the Three Thousand Weak Waters for her?”
Xiahou Dan replied calmly, “That’s easy.”
A’Bai, “?”
Behind them, Yu Wanyin held her breath, not daring to move. Her heartbeat was too loud; she even suspected it might drown out the cicadas’ chirping.
A’Bai had intended to show Yu Wanyin the ugly side of men, but he never expected Xiahou Dan to respond like this. Frustrated, he said, “Even if all that is true, she’s still a bird in a cage, forever unable to freely enjoy life!”
“A’Bai, life isn’t just for pleasure. She has her aspirations.”
A’Bai paused.
Xiahou Dan continued to gaze at the night sky with hands clasped behind his back. “You may see her as a little sparrow needing to fly free, but you fail to see her upright nobility, as radiant and clear as the moonlight that can illuminate the distant azure sky for miles.”
A’Bai, “…”
A’Bai weakly tugged at him. “Let’s go back inside.”
“But you’re right; it’s indeed difficult for her to find happiness here.” Xiahou Dan said, “If one day she achieves her aspirations and wants to leave, if I’m not here anymore, then you can take her away.”
A’Bai was on the verge of tears. “Please, stop saying that.”
Yu Wanyin stood in the courtyard the whole time, waiting until the night breeze cooled her cheeks before casually returning to her room.
A’Bai was fiercely sparring with Bei Zhou.
Xiahou Dan glanced at Yu Wanyin. “Why did you take so long?”
“Yu Wanyin dared not meet his gaze. “Ah, nature calls.”
Prince Duan dispatched spies throughout the capital’s streets and alleys. After several days of surveillance, they finally obtained intelligence one evening: the tall masked expert beside the Emperor had appeared at the Yi Hong Courtyard. Instead of seeking a girl, he was listening to the opera beneath the Penglai Platform.
This intelligence coincided with Yu Wanyin’s confidential letter.
So the assassins under the Crown Prince quickly gathered and infiltrated amid the fragrance and shadows.
The so-called Penglai Platform was just a stage, set within the Chu Mansion, unlike ordinary brothels, it was adorned with pink curtains and fragrant smoke, where unconventional performances were staged.
A group of lecherous spectators cheered for the seductive female lead swaying like a water snake. An old madam with a mole on her face manoeuvred through the crowd, smiling and collecting silver tips.
The assassins surveyed their surroundings and quickly located their towering target.
The leader made a silent gesture, and the group dispersed, disappearing into the shadows.
This shadowy path led to the stage, separated by a golden embroidered screen. The assassins hid here and proceeded according to plan, swiftly changing into opera costumes.
The leader of the assassins quietly approached the old madam from behind, pretended to cosy up to her, and suddenly revealed a short dagger hidden in his sleeve, silently pressing it against her neck.
The old madam’s face turned pale, and she trembled, “Sir, please, let’s talk things through.”
The leader of the assassins said coldly, “Let’s step aside to talk.”
He led the old madam to a corner where no one was around, put away the dagger after intimidating and enticing her, and handed her a pouch of money. “For the next act, let our people go up to perform. Don’t alarm the audience below.”
The old madam weighed the money pouch and exaggeratedly patted her chest, startled and flustered, “Oh my, you scared me to death. If you just said so, why use a knife to frighten me…”
“Enough talk, get it done.” The assassin leader impatiently said.
But the old madam continued babbling, “Even in our Yi Hong Courtyard, we have rules. You can’t just…”
The leader of the assassins was accustomed to bloody work and had no patience for this old madam. Thinking he hadn’t intimidated her enough, he raised his fist to strike her abdomen.
But halfway through the punch, his fist suddenly couldn’t advance an inch!
The old madam grabbed his wrist with one hand, as if holding a delicate embroidery needle. She even lifted her index finger coquettishly. “My, such a fierce gentleman.”
The assassin leader, “!!!”
After a few moves, the leader of the assassins was flipped over with his hands pinned on the ground, unable to move.
The old madam with the mole casually unhooked his jaw, slipped a pill into his mouth, and reset his dislocated jaw, whispering in his ear, “This is poison. I have the antidote. You will follow my instructions, and you can come for it afterward.”
“Who are you?” The assassin leader asked.
The old madam smiled, “Less talk, get it done.”
Behind the embroidered golden screen, the other assassins had already changed into opera attire and were inspecting their short daggers when the assassin leader returned with a dark expression.
He handed out a handful of short daggers to everyone. “Equip these.”
“Why?” One of the assassins asked in confusion.
The assassin leader replied coldly, “Orders from above. Don’t ask questions. Change and get on stage.”
They noticed that the tips of these short daggers shimmered with a green glow, possibly containing a potent toxin. Without time to think, they obeyed out of habit.
As the embroidered golden screen opened, a new play began: ‘The Fish Basket Chronicles.’
A’Bai sat in the audience, cheering along with the crowd, leisurely waving a folding fan with the air of a grand patron surrounded by beauty. His face was masked, concealing his true identity.
In such a lively and flirtatious setting, even the opera had a playful tone. The carp spirit, disguised as a beautiful woman, with her willow eyebrows and almond eyes, sang melodiously like a warbler, swaying gracefully from side to side as if evading the celestial soldiers pursuing her.
With urgent music, the celestial soldiers took the stage. The carp spirit swayed to the edge of the stage and suddenly leaped off, landing steadily below the Penglai Platform.
The audience erupted in excitement.
The carp spirit, running gracefully among the crowd, was pursued by the celestial soldiers, drawing closer to A’Bai.
A’Bai, seemingly oblivious, still continued to cheer joyfully.
In a split second, the carp spirit flipped her delicate hand, producing a short dagger from nowhere, and suddenly lunged at A’Bai!
A’Bai instinctively opened his folding fan to block. The dagger pierced through the fan with a ripping sound, startling the nearby spectators.
In a swift motion, A’Bai closed the fan, the fan bones catching the dagger with a metallic clang.
With one hand holding the fan, he extended two fingers of the other hand, striking at the carp spirit’s vital points like lightning. The carp spirit, determined, braced herself to take the hit without retreating. Meanwhile, the pursuing soldiers arrived, and the assassins rushed towards A’Bai from all directions, their daggers gleaming ominously.
A’Bai shouted, sending the carp spirit flying with a palm strike, but he couldn’t break free from the encirclement!
Blood stained the fan, splattering like a crimson tapestry.
An hour later, a spy, trembling, reported to Prince Duan, “All the assassins we sent were annihilated!”
Xiahou Bo’s hand paused slightly as he lifted his teacup, but he still elegantly sipped, “Tell me more.”
“When the fight broke out, everyone fled in all directions. I hid behind a nearby pillar and saw the masked man besieged by the assassins, blood splattering three feet!”
The spy became more animated. “The daggers went in white and came out red, each strike sinking into flesh. He took countless blows but didn’t fall! It was as if he alone could hold the pass against ten thousand foes. Even on his knees, he didn’t collapse. He killed the last assassin before finally laughing loudly and falling still.”
“I asked for a report, not a story.” Xiahou Bo said.
The spy kowtowed. “What I said is the absolute truth!”
Xiahou Bo gently put down his teacup and frowned. “Where’s the body?” He asked.
“After he died, the brothel attendants came and dragged away all the bodies, cleaning up the bloodstains. Knowing such places usually have a back alley for disposing of corpses, I went there and paid some money to hide the body in a secret spot. Would Your Highness like to see?”
The masked expert’s body was mutilated beyond recognition, with vital points stabbed into pulp.
Xiahou Bo inspected it without changing his expression and lifted the mask, frowning at the face underneath.
This man had a scar at the corner of his mouth, a remnant of an old sore, and seemed somewhat familiar.
Xiahou Bo turned to the spy, “Is this the person you saw at the Yi Hong Courtyard?”
The spy nodded repeatedly, “I’m good at recognizing faces. Although he was masked, his eyes were exposed, and it was definitely him.”
Xiahou Dan ordered his men. “Find out this man’s identity.”
As he was about to leave, he paused again. “Also, thoroughly examine the assassins’ bodies and belongings, leaving no stone unturned.”
The examination of the bodies and belongings revealed nothing unusual.
However, the expert’s identity was quickly uncovered. He was the most skilled and ruthless elite guard by the Empress Dowager’s side, specialising in killing difficult targets. He was already on the Crown Prince’s blacklist.
This scar-faced man had indeed enjoyed opera. On the day in question, he had left the palace on one of the Empress Dowager’s errands and had detoured to the Yihong Courtyard on his way back where he had ultimately met his end beneath the stage.
Xiahou Bo listened to the report, a hint of interest playing on his lips. “The Empress Dowager’s trusted guard, protecting the Emperor?”
“Is the Empress Dowager showing goodwill to the Emperor?” the advisor asked.
“Perhaps it’s goodwill, perhaps it’s surveillance. In any case, she has some schemes I haven’t uncovered yet.”
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was furiously smashing a bowl. “For no reason, Prince Duan actually killed my personal guard?! He must be tired of living!”
“Should we punish him?” Her advisor asked.
The Empress Dowager smashed another bowl. “Useless! If we could have punished him earlier, would he have been so arrogant now?!”
The conflict between Prince Duan and the Empress Dowager was heating up.
Compared to the original, the plot direction hadn’t changed much. Although the Empress Dowager was aggressive, her strategies were inferior to Prince Duan’s, and she was already showing signs of defeat.
In other words, the struggle between the snipe and the clam was nearing its end*, and Xiahou Dan didn’t have much time left to bide his time.
*鹬蚌相争鱼人得利: When a snipe and clam quarrel, the fisherman benefits. Refers to a story where a snipe (a kind of crane) tries to eat a clam, but the clam clamped onto the snipe’s beak. Both of them refuse to release the other and while they were at a standoff a fisherman came by and caught them both.
When Yu Wanyin returned to her room, she found something extra on her pillow. She picked it up to examine it closely; it was a rough wooden carving of a lark with spread wings, singing. She guessed that A’Bai had carved it.
Yu Wanyin gently stroked the wood grain with her fingertips, turning to look at the narrow window of the Cold Palace.
Xiahou Dan followed her in. “What’s that?”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Yu Wanyin quickly put down the lark. “I can explain.”
Xiahou Dan glanced at it. “A’Bai left it for you? It’s rare for him to be so thoughtful. Keep it.”
Yu Wanyin, “?”
Yu Wanyin was not satisfied. “Just like that?”
“…What do you mean, just like that?”
Feigning magnanimity, aren’t you the jealous type? Yu Wanyin stared curiously at Xiahou Dan.
Having overheard his thoughts, it was now exceedingly difficult to pretend she didn’t know.
That night in the courtyard, she had lingered on purpose, wanting to hear something from him.
She hoped he felt at least a bit of the same nervous excitement and affection as she did. Why not? They had fought side by side for so long, and with her current appearance, she must have some charm…
She didn’t expect Xiahou Dan to say those things.
Those… almost unbelievable words.
Though it was only a few words, it felt like she had glimpsed an endless deep sea. She was confused, flattered, and even a little scared.
But she couldn’t help feeling happy.
So, you think of me this way.
I want to hear you say it to me directly.
Xiahou Dan, puzzled by her gaze, changed the subject. “Today, the Empress Dowager found another excuse to attack Prince Duan. It seems our plan was quite successful, thanks to your brilliant strategy.”
Meanwhile, beneath the city gate, a man and woman stood in line to leave the city, undergoing inspection by the guards.
The man was tall but hunched, with a dark, weathered face, exuding an air of hardship. The woman beside him was elderly, similarly weathered, carrying several cloth-wrapped bundles.
The guards at the city gate asked, “What’s your business?”
The man, with a rustic accent, replied honestly, “I brought my mother to visit relatives in the city, and now we’re heading home.”
Once outside the city gates, the two remained silent, blending into the crowd and following the main road. After several miles, with no one else around, the man straightened up and stretched, “Mother, you can leave me here.”
The woman laughed, “Son, take care of yourself and wear more layers.”
Despite the earnest tone, her voice was a deep male one, full of humour. The two were naturally Bei Zhou and A’Bai.
A’Bai took the luggage from Bei Zhou and slung it over his shoulder with ease, his demeanour regal even with the face of a peasant, “Thank you for your help.”
“How’s your injury?” Bei Zhou expressed concern.
“It’s nothing serious. Just some minor wounds, I was wearing armour.”
That day’s operation was essentially a bloody magic trick. Their first act was to assassinate the Empress Dowager’s scar-faced guard. Known for his cunning and suspicion, they shadowed him for days until they caught him alone, out on a mission for the Empress Dowager. Bei Zhou ambushed and killed him in an alley.
Bei Zhou then swiftly donned the madam’s disguise and slipped into Yihong Court through a side door. He had previously posed as a madam there and fit in seamlessly, with the cooperation of the familiar staff.
Meanwhile, A’Bai wore a mask resembling the scar-faced guard’s face, then covered it with a black cloth, boldly entering through the main gate of Yihong Court, baiting Prince Duan’s assassins.
In the shadows, Bei Zhou captured the lead assassin, forcing him to swap their weapons with specially prepared daggers.
These daggers, as it turned out, were decoys.
Yu Wanyin had given Bei Zhou an idea based on a magic trick she had seen. Bei Zhou then created the props: daggers with retractable blades and blood bags hidden in the hilt. When struck, the blades would retract, and the blood bags would release fake blood.
During the ensuing chaos, the assassins, even if they noticed something was off, had no time to react. A’Bai had been undergoing special training and deliberately left a few openings to make the fight look real, ensuring that even close observers would believe he was gravely wounded, ultimately perishing with the assassins.
After faking his death, the brothel’s staff removed the bodies and swapped A’Bai out for the real scar-faced guard, taking the fake daggers with them. By the time the Prince Duan’s spies retrieved the body, it was the actual scar-faced guard, with wounds inflicted by Bei Zhou to match the assassins’ methods, fooling even the coroners.
This way, the Prince lost a group of skilled assassins and had to face the Empress Dowager’s wrath and retaliation.
“But you’re the impressive one.” Yu Wanyin said. “I only thought of having A’Bai and Uncle Bei perform a magic trick together, but you turned it into a strategy to eliminate Scarface and redirect the blame… How did you know the Empress Dowager had someone like Scarface, whose build matched A’Bai’s? I don’t even remember this character from the original story.”
Having been around long enough, one inevitably learns some secrets.
“My spies need to earn their keep, too. They keep an eye on the Empress Dowager.” Xiahou Dan calmly replied.
“When did you send them?”
“I might have forgotten to tell you.”
“Hmm. ?” Yu Wanyin suddenly moved closer, squinting at him, “President Dan, there are quite a few things you haven’t told me.”
Xiahou Zhan, taller by a head, had to lower his gaze to meet hers. He sensed her teasing tone and acted puzzled, just to play along.
Her warm breath brushed against Xiahou Dan’s neck.
Xiahou Dan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but deepen her smile, about to tease further, but he lowered his head slightly, looking calm. “What do you mean by that?”
Yu Wanyin, slightly disappointed, stepped back. “For instance, what mission has A’Bai been sent on?”
Xiahou Dan, “…”
Xiahou Dan’s expression grew colder, “Did you want him to stay?”
The roadside scenery was bleak, with only wild grass swaying in the wind.
“With no horse or carriage, where are you headed?” Bei Zhou asked.
The magic trick was over, but Prince Duan was meticulous and might still harbour doubts. For A’Bai to convincingly fake his death, he had to leave the capital. Otherwise, his tall and noticeable figure would attract attention and render their efforts useless.
The commander of the imperial guards had defected to the Prince’s side, and the city gate guards might have orders to look for A’Bai. Leaving alone would be too conspicuous, so Bei Zhou came along as cover.
A’Bai laughed. “I’ll find a farmer to stay with for a few days, then meet up with my comrades and continue on.”
“…Comrades? I didn’t know you had any comrades.”
A’Bai only smiled.
Bei Zhou gave him a light pat, “You rascal, in just a few days, you’ve already caught the Emperor’s favour. What secret mission are you on that even I can’t know about?”
“Ask the Emperor,” A’Bai deflected to Xiahou Dan.
“Forget it, I probably can’t help anyway.” Bei Zhou turned serious, “The Emperor is in a dangerous position now. You’re new to this, so be cautious, plan well before acting, and don’t betray his trust. Take care of yourself, and don’t make your master worry.”
A’Bai was momentarily stunned, feeling touched. “Senior Brother.”
Although he had completed his training five years ago and had known Xiahou Dan for the same amount of time. Since then, he had been carrying out a long-term mission, carefully planning every step, and had only recently made some progress. His visit to the capital was to finalise the next steps with Xiahou Dan. However, he couldn’t tell anyone about this, not even his convenient senior brother.
Bei Zhou laughed, “Hey, call me that again.”
A’Bai refused, “Why do I feel so awkward… Let’s wait until you change back into men’s clothing.”
Bei Zhou raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong with my disguise as a woman?”
“Huh?” A’Bai’s expression was indescribable, “Well, you originally looked quite dashing, but with all this makeup… cough.”
Bei Zhou inwardly spat out a litre of old blood, but on the surface, he waved nonchalantly. “Get lost.”
“I just asked him to find some medicine for my headaches.” Xiahou Dan said calmly.
“To look for medicine?” Yu Wanyin asked curiously.
Was it really just about finding medicine, given all the secrecy?
“With his skills, isn’t it a bit of a waste just to send him to find medicine?”
Xiahou Dan’s expression remained unchanged, “He’s a man of the martial world; perhaps he knows some folk remedies.”
His gaze briefly shifted to the side, and Yu Wanyin knew without turning that he was looking at the lark on the bedside table. “Don’t be too sad, you’ll have a chance to see him again.”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
There it was, that familiar sour feeling.
A little jealousy was endearing, and she liked it.
Before she could come up with a response, Xiahou Dan suddenly changed the subject, “I just received a secret message from Wang Zhao. They expect to cross the border in a month and then travel through Qiang country to reach the Yan Kingdom.”
Yu Wanyin, “?”
Don’t change the subject!
“Qiang country is small, and they’ll cross it in about a month. If all goes well, we should receive news from the Yan Kingdom by autumn. Hopefully, there won’t be a drought this year. Otherwise, it will be too late to plant Yan millet.” Xiahou Dan frowned, looking concerned.
If she kept pressing about A’Bai’s whereabouts, it would be easy to slip up. He needed to change the subject, he told himself.
After a few seconds of silence, Yu Wanyin replied, “Cen Jintian said that given this year’s rainfall, a drought is unlikely.”
“That’s good.” Xiahou Dan didn’t give her a chance to press further and started walking toward the hidden passage entrance. “Speaking of Cen Jintian, I called for a team meeting, which should start soon. Do you want to join?”
Yu Wanyin looked at his back, puzzled.
He didn’t seem this unromantic before.
“Wait a moment.” Bei Zhou called out to A’Bai, “What do you think of Wanyin?”
A’Bai looked embarrassed, “Do we have to talk about this?”
Bei Zhou said, “That day, when you were talking to the Emperor in the Cold Palace courtyard, I couldn’t help but overhear a few words. You urged Wanyin to leave with you, not just out of affection, right?”
A’Bai sighed, “Do you remember my master’s letter?”
Bei Zhou’s expression changed slightly, murmuring, “The omen of Mars and the gathering of the five stars… Is that what it means?”
A’Bai looked at him seriously.
Bei Zhou felt a chill down his spine and instinctively glanced at the sky, “The letter also mentioned ‘from extreme adversity comes good fortune.’ What does that mean?”
“It’s not very clear, which is why the outcome is uncertain,” A’Bai said solemnly.
“Is there something your master didn’t understand?”
“My master cast a life and death divination for the Emperor, but he didn’t tell me the result. He only said that their lives are intertwined with countless karmic ties, like flowers seen through mist, impossible to unravel. But I guess that divination was extremely dangerous. Since then, he has often been filled with worry, eventually instructing me to complete my training and leave the mountain.”
Unspoken was A’Bai’s half-swallowed sentence, “Entwined karma ties, their past no longer belongs to this world.”
Those two originally did not belong to this world, so naturally, their fate couldn’t be calculated.
In A’Bai’s mind, the scene from five years ago when he first met Xiahou Dan emerged.
At that time, he was young and arrogant, viewing himself highly. Although he was sent by his master to assist the Emperor, he didn’t hold the imperial position in high regard. When he snuck into the palace and saw the Emperor in person, he felt even more indifferent. He was just a youth similar in age to himself, lying on the couch with eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. Beautiful he might be, but he resembled a soulless pale doll, exuding an aura of being at the mercy of others.
Seeing him sleeping so defencelessly, A’Bai couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “My master spoke highly of you as if you were some lost soul or wandering ghost.”
The youth with closed eyes curled his lips slightly, “You better not move.”
In an instant, A’Bai felt a chill down his neck. Because he heard the sound of a bowstring tightening from somewhere behind him.
The youth spoke calmly, “You move, and the mechanism moves. I’ll have to spend over a month remaking it.”
A’Bai dared not even breathe loudly. The youth finally opened his eyes and looked at him. With that gaze, the puppet-like doll shattered into pieces, and a cold, venomous serpent revealed its fangs.
His eyes were so dark they barely reflected light, embedded in that pale yet beautiful face, like two gates to purgatory opened amidst peach blossom spring scenery, “My master was right about you.”
Later, he gradually understood Xiahou Dan and learned more of his stories. The initial fear at their first meeting had gradually faded. He admired Xiahou Dan’s resilience, appreciated his hardships, and willingly travelled with him.
But now, thinking back, he vaguely recalled the uncomfortable feeling at the time. It was the instinctive reaction to encountering an anomaly.
Strangely, Yu Wanyin didn’t evoke a similar feeling in him at all. Although she also came from another world, she was warm and harmless, as if she had never built up any defences in her life.
He could understand why Xiahou Dan looked at her with different eyes.
But it was also because of that lingering shadow in his heart that he was even more reluctant to leave Yu Wanyin in the palace.
A’Bai couldn’t bring himself to tell Bei Zhou about these calculations in his heart.
Thinking of Bei Zhou’s protective love for Xiahou Dan, A’Bai suddenly felt a bit bitter, “My master mentioned some things about you. What do you think of the Emperor?”
“He’s Nan’er’s child, naturally he’s good.” He said.
But… he’s not the son of your old friend, just a lost soul from another world. Would you be saddened when you learn the truth?
A’Bai ultimately had to consider Xiahou Dan’s feelings and couldn’t arouse Bei Zhou’s suspicions. He casually steered the conversation away, exchanged a few parting words, and went their separate ways.
Yu Wanyin felt like a corporate slave on a long vacation in the Cold Palace. No more early morning greetings to the Empress Dowager, no more endless palace intrigues or the elusive Prince Duan to deal with. She lived comfortably for a while.
But corporate slaves never truly had a vacation, she still had to attend the group meeting.
Yu Wanyin didn’t want to be absent, but she couldn’t have court officials coming into the Cold Palace for a meeting, so she had to crawl through the underground passage to join them.
The passage had just been dug through, and the guards were still working hard to make it presentable. Right now, it could only accommodate people crawling on their knees. Every time she crawled through this section, she ended up covered in dirt.
The exit of the passage was underneath Xiahou Dan’s bed in his sleeping chamber.
Li Yunxi had been greatly shocked when he suddenly heard that Imperial Consort Yu had been sent to the Cold Palace and subjected to torture.
He remembered Yu Wanyin’s lifesaving grace, and on the way to the palace, he furrowed his brows deeply. He considered advising the Emperor, but as a courtier, he felt it wasn’t appropriate to discuss the harem.
Balancing between righteousness and rules, as soon as he entered the sleeping chamber, he was astounded to see the woman rumoured to be imprisoned to death sitting right beside Xiahou Dan.
Yu Wanyin wore a plain Cold Palace dress and a coarse skirt, devoid of makeup and smeared with dirt, looking forlorn enough to bring tears. Yet her face remained calm as she dusted herself off and said, “Don’t mind me, carry on with your discussion.”
Li Yunxi, “?”
Li Yunxi glanced at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan nudged the fruit plate towards her and then ignored her completely, calmly saying, “Go ahead and continue.”
Li Yunxi, “?”
Li Yunxi looked at his colleagues beside him.
Cen Jintian and Er Lan smiled at each other, neither questioning why she was there nor commenting on her appearance, as if this scene were perfectly normal.
Cen Jintian had already started reporting, “After returning last time, based on the crop varieties from various regions, I’ve compiled the expected yields during the drought season. Your Majesty can review the granary stocks across various provinces to estimate how to adjust relief efforts when the drought strikes…”
Yu Wanyin stuffed a piece of peach into her mouth, adeptly took notes for the meeting, and said, “Minister Cen has worked hard.”
Cen Jintian bowed, “It’s all part of my duty.”
Li Yunxi, “…”
Maybe he should pretend that nothing was wrong.
As for the Yan Kingdom matter, Xiahou Dan didn’t intend to pin all hopes on diplomacy.
The people of Yan, situated in a wild and desolate land, had always coveted the grandeur of Great Xia. Naturally arrogant, they had barely maintained peace with Great Xia through marriage alliances during its peak. When internal strife plagued Great Xia, they immediately launched their offensive.
According to the original work, after Xiahou Dan’s death, the King of Yan took advantage of the drought and invaded the Central Plains, engaging in a major battle with Prince Duan.
If diplomacy failed, this battle was inevitable, and they needed to prepare early: resettling immigrants, cultivating new lands, stocking food supplies, fortifying borders, and bolstering military strength to avoid being defenceless when the time came.
Cen Jintian spoke warmly, “Since Your Majesty decreed the reduction of taxes and rents alongside the cultivation of new lands, the people’s livelihoods have greatly improved. As General You mentioned earlier, many fields along the border have already been cultivated with Yan millet. With a few more seasons, even without purchasing seeds from Yan, we might be able to cope with the drought.”
Mentioning General You, Li Yunxi couldn’t help but snort, “Out of sight, out of mind, you can’t trust that guy’s words.”
General You commanded the Right Army and guarded the southern border, he was theoretically on par with General Luo of the Central Army. However, unlike the grim reaper-like General Luo, this man’s position was not earned on the battlefield but through family connections.
Having enjoyed peace in the south for so long, he had become complacent. Recently, upon returning to the court to report, he had been mocked by Xiahou Dan.
At that time, during a frenzy in the court, Xiahou Dan sneered, “Looking at your Excellency’s face, it seems the Right Army isn’t lacking in military funds.”
The civil officials of the Empress Dowager’s faction burst into laughter.
General You lacked the imposing aura of General Luo. He appeared embarrassed, unable to anger, just nodding and agreeing with meaningless statements like “diligently train the troops and serve the court.”
During his time in the capital, he had interacted frequently with Prince Duan. Prince Duan, the king of adaptability, was generous with gifts, treating all three armies equally. General You received gifts covertly and managed things discreetly, avoiding offending anyone.
Li Yunxi couldn’t help but advise, “Your Majesty, General You doesn’t seem like someone who can achieve great things. Allowing him to guard the southern border might lead to trouble.”
Actually, Yu Wanyin didn’t need to be told; she knew how this person met his end in the original work.
When the Yan Kingdom invaded, General You was ordered to coordinate with the Central Army. After a few rounds, he fell, surrendering to the Yan Army and even surrendering all weapons and supplies.
Xiahou Dan lazily said, “We’re not expecting him to achieve much. Just having him occupy that position means neither I nor Prince Duan can move him, which isn’t a bad situation.”
“But the southern border…” Li Yunxi protested.
Xiahou Dan interrupted him, “Minister Li, don’t worry about others. Let’s talk about the recent situation in the Ministry of Revenue.”
Li Yunxi hesitated, feeling somewhat listless.
As a thorn in the flesh in the Ministry of Revenue, it was obvious he was marginalised. Now he was doing the laborious work of auditing census records.
Auditing census records involved compiling changes in population and land, compiling them into books for submission to the court.
After taking charge of this task, Li Yunxi opened the storage room of the Ministry of Revenue for the first time and saw piles of messy reports from various regions, covered in thick layers of dust.
Even his colleagues warned him, “Better leave, the stench is strong.”
Unable to contain his anger, Li Yunxi worked alone, organising and verifying each book meticulously, and unsurprisingly discovered significant discrepancies.
In some counties, the reports submitted over the years were almost identical. with no change in population or land at all.
Coming from a remote village himself, Li Yunxi immediately understood what was going on.
In many places, although it seemed each household owned one field, the farmland had actually been seized and consolidated by local wealthy landlords.
Although Xiahou Dan had previously ordered rent reductions, these landlords had re-rented the seized lands back to the peasants at rents several times higher than those set by the court.
After taking office, Li Yunxi had declared his ambition to undertake the dirtiest and most exhausting tasks, to repay his elders and fellow villagers.
To clarify land ownership, he worked tirelessly to verify across multiple sources, working days and nights. Eventually, after labouring for several days, he finally organised the new register for the first province.
Submitting the register, it was returned the next day, asking him to redo it.
Li Yunxi rechecked and proofread it again, supplemented by a lengthy report, only to have it returned once more.
Now working on his third revision, his immediate superior, with a wry smile, came over to find him, acknowledging his hard work and suggesting he might be transferred elsewhere.
Li Yunxi stayed up all night, finally hiding his work results and tried submitting a document nearly identical to last year’s records.
This time, his superior was satisfied, patting him on the shoulder, “The boy can be taught.”
Thus, Li Yunxi understood why his colleagues had been unresponsive all these years; no one dared to take on this task.
In every province and county, there wasn’t a single registry without numerous errors. Behind the local tyrants and gentry were layers of officials, and behind those officials were relatives of the imperial family.
If thoroughly investigated, there were hardly any clean individuals within the Ministry of Revenue. If one were to go further up, it would reach the Empress Dowager. Who could investigate? Who would dare to investigate?
Li Yunxi couldn’t continue speaking at this point, feeling a stifling sensation in his chest as if he were holding back old blood.
At this moment, Er Lan spoke gently, “Li-xiong, sometimes you have to be flexible in your approach.”
Er Lan had recently risen rapidly since earning the favour of the Minister of Revenue. She had actively supervised many tasks in the implementation of the new land cultivation policy.
Li Yunxi, immersed in his indignation at the state’s neglect, heard this like a spark, coldly addressing her, “Er-xiong, do you have any brilliant ideas? Why not demonstrate a bit, enlighten me?”
Yu Wanyin, who was taking notes, stifled a laugh.
Er Lan continued, “For example, first have the farmers whose lands were encroached upon present a petition, then have a palace attendant whisper to the Empress Dowager…”
She cleared her throat and actually demonstrated, “Your Excellency, I heard that after inspecting the national treasury last time, the Empress Dowager has been closely watching the Ministry of Revenue. In my humble opinion, Her Ladyship Wishes all officials to disclose their private funds, and this reform is bound to happen sooner or later! Just thinking about how someone will inevitably suffer at that time, I can’t sleep well at night.”
Li Yunxi, “…”
Er Lan continued. “‘Rather than wait passively, why not take the initiative to investigate? We can still maintain a certain degree of dignity for everyone. Can you trust me with this matter?’. That’s the gist. Li-xiong, your eloquence is surely better than mine.”
Yu Wanyin burst into laughter.
She was growing more and more fond of Er Lan.
Li Yunxi, however, didn’t find it amusing, “If we continue to proceed in a roundabout way, covering up each misdeed, when will the world ever see clear and upright governance? With corrupt women in power and no enlightened rulers, all our efforts will be in vain!”
The edge of his words pointed directly at Xiahou Dan, still dissatisfied with his weakness, unable to suppress his resentment without a few more words.
Xiahou Dan looked at him coldly, showing no reaction.
Yu Wanyin suddenly sneezed.
When she was passing through the tunnel earlier, she had inhaled some dust and had been feeling itchy ever since. Now, it finally came out.
“Sorry,” she rubbed her nose.
Xiahou Dan glanced at her and reached out, gently brushing off a speck of dust from her hair.
Li Yunxi, “…”
What had this woman experienced just now?
This sneeze blew away the tense atmosphere in the room. Li Yunxi suddenly came to his senses, feeling somewhat puzzled. Almost forgetting that this woman’s public image seemed to be that of a seductive beauty.
And Xiahou Dan? The rumoured tyrant who executed people with a word, having heard so much direct advice from himself, not to mention getting angry, hadn’t even furrowed his brows.
Er Lan was already accustomed to Li Yunxi’s temperament and ignored him, starting to report on her own.
She worried that after layers of reporting, the folder submitted to the Emperor would be altered beyond recognition, so she detailed the progress of the land opening policy meticulously.
Li Yunxi held his breath, listening to her talk about how merchants were rushing to transport grain in exchange for salt, and interjected, “Your Majesty, the profits from salt trade are immense. It’s only natural that merchants flock to it.”
“Exactly, and in the future, to seize monopoly rights, officials and merchants will collude, breeding corruption,” Er Lan nodded.
Li Yunxi paused.
He hadn’t expected Er Lan to continue on this topic.
Xiahou Dan curiously asked, “Wasn’t it Minister Li who proposed the land opening policy?”
Er Lan replied, “The policies of past dynasties have long been flawed. There are no perfect decrees in the world. Today, the land opening policy benefits the people’s livelihood, but when its flaws are revealed, it will be time for a new policy to replace it.”
“By then, Er-xiong must have risen to a high position, right?” Li Yunxi said.
Er Lan smiled, “No, by then, I should no longer be in court.”
Li Yunxi was stunned.
A faint trace of melancholy flickered in Er Lan’s eyes, “By then, those in high positions should be people like Li-xiong. And at that time, the court should also allow people like Li-xiong to accomplish something.”
Li Yunxi didn’t understand why she suddenly said this.
Instead, Yu Wanyin understood. Er Lan’s identity as a maiden could not be hidden forever, and one day she would be framed by political enemies.
Er Lan didn’t know that Xiahou Dan, the emperor, had long been aware of this. Her entry into officialdom was probably just an attempt to do more before being exposed.
Yu Wanyin looked at Cen Jintian, who looked sickly, and thought of Wang Zhao, who travelled alone to the Yan Kingdom, and Du Shan, who was assassinated in the lake. Feeling a bit emotional she said, “To have met all of you in this life is truly a blessing.”
Cen Jintian, “Lady Yu?”
Yu Wanyin sighed, “The world is like a long night. Who can just raise their arms and change the sun and moon? But with you all persevering in this bleak environment, even if we stumble halfway, my path is not lonely.”
Though originally intended for the courtiers to hear, as her words fell, Xiahou Dan looked deeply at her.
Before Li Yunxi took his leave, Xiahou Dan called him back, “Continue organising the records. Don’t tell anyone, just hand them directly to me.”
Li Yunxi was shocked, “Your Majesty?”
Xiahou Dan nodded slightly, calmly saying, “There will be a time when it will be useful.”
Tears welled up in Li Yunxi’s eyes.
Yu Wanyin watched them leave and muttered in frustration, “Ah, it’s because of these people that one feels it would be disgraceful to just leave.”
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
With this statement, it implied how much she had been swayed by A’Bai. But after weighing it over, she remained tethered by her responsibilities.
After a brief pause, Xiahou Dan smiled and said, “It seems I owe these courtiers my thanks.”
“Why?” Yu Wanyin asked.
“For not letting my path be lonely.”
His words held deeper meaning hidden within, but Yu Wanyin took it as discussing work and lazily stretched, “Alright, I should go back now…”
Xiahou Dan stopped her, “Have dinner before you leave?”
Just then, An Xian bowed and entered, “Your Majesty. ,” he saw Yu Wanyin and hesitated, meeting Xiahou Dan’s gaze before hastily lowering his head, “Consort Xie seeks an audience outside.”
Recently, Xiahou Dan had overtly neglected Yu Wanyin, intending to act in a staged romance with Consort Xie Yong’er, so he couldn’t afford to refuse.
So Yu Wanyin returned to the tunnel.
She sneaked into the Cold Palace, feeling oddly like she was having an affair and being caught by the legal wife, so she had to flee.
This thought immediately disgusted her.
How was Xiahou Dan dealing with Xie Yong’er? Was it similar to how he dealt with Prince Duan?
Yu Wanyin also thought about their recent moves and worried if the palace intrigue expert Xie Yong’er had noticed anything, whether she would report to Prince Duan.
The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became, until finally, she stopped in her tracks in the tunnel and awkwardly turned back.
The exit under the dragon bed was concealed by tiles, which needed to be rotated to be revealed.
Yu Wanyin quietly moved one tile at the bottom of the hole and listened carefully to the sounds outside.
Xie Yong’er was chatting leisurely.
It might have been her imagination, but her voice today seemed sweeter and more mellow than usual, as if she was speaking softly, “Your Majesty, taste the dishes I made…”
Yu Wanyin heard the clinking of dishes and chopsticks, paused, and realised it was already dinner time.
Sometimes Xie Yong’er would lay out the food and sometimes she would persuade him to drink. The aroma of the food and wine seeped through the cracks, and Yu Wanyin’s stomach growled.
Lying here was so boring.
The maids in the Cold Palace might have already prepared dinner…
She thought so, but her body remained uncontrollable, still crouching in place.
For some reason, Xie Yong’er kept urging him to drink warmly. Not only did she pour for Xiahou Dan, but she also drank heavily herself.
After a few drinks, her face became as tender as peach blossoms, her eyes sparkling. She added a hand as gentle as boneless, softly touching Xiahou Dan’s wrist.
Xiahou Dan quietly withdrew his hand without a word, “It’s late. Consort, you’ve had enough to drink today. Rest early.”
Xie Yong’er giggled, leaning on his shoulder again, “Your Majesty, not seeing each other for a day feels like three autumns. Consort misses Your Majesty very much, so let Consort look a little more.”
Xiahou Dan’s voice sounded insincere, “So, perhaps I haven’t seen Consort for a long time.”
Xie Yong’er giggled softly, her voice gradually lowering, occasionally uttering a few explicit words.
Xiahou Dan’s tone turned cold, “Consort, as I’ve said before, I would rather have your heart than your body.”
Suddenly, Xie Yong’er started sobbing softly.
“Your Majesty is truly wonderful, always indulging this Consort’s little temper. this Consort… this Consort really doesn’t know how to express love to you…”
The bed creaked.
Yu Wanyin held her breath. Over her head, Xie Yong’er wrapped Xiahou Dan like a snake from behind, her hand wrapped around his waist, reaching towards a forbidden place.
That hand was caught.
Xie Yong’er, half-drunk, thought it was teasing and laughed as she tried to break free. But the more she struggled, the tighter the cold fingers gripped her wrist.
“Your Majesty, you’re hurting Consort… Ah!” Xie Yong’er cried out in pain.
She gasped and froze, feeling her wrist almost crushed.
The intoxication suddenly dissipated, and she was puzzled, “Your Majesty?”
Xiahou Dan turned to look at her.
When Xie Yong’er saw his expression, a chill suddenly ran through her heart.
She had always known Xiahou Dan’s persona as a tyrant, but whenever this man faced her, he always seemed disoriented by desire, even a bit submissive. Whenever she refused his advances, he truly didn’t touch her.
So much so that she had gradually forgotten his infamous reputation.
At this moment, it all came rushing back to her.
Along with it came the palace rumours, true or false: that the Emperor had been so ruthless to his consorts over the years because of some unspeakable issues in their intimate life.
Xiahou Dan’s tone was calm and flat, but she inexplicably sensed a chilling intent in his words, “Beloved Consort, it’s time for you to go back.”
However, Xie Yong’er had her reasons for needing to stay.
She bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears, “Your Majesty, are you starting to despise me?”
Xiahou Dan replied plainly, “Yes.”
Xie Yong’er fell silent.
Her sobbing faded into the distance.
Yu Wanyin in the dark tunnel fell into deep thought.
In her impression, according to the original text, Xie Yong’er had remained devoted to Prince Duan until the end.
Has something happened recently between Xiahou Dan and Xie Yong’er?
Why had she suddenly changed her mind?
But from her tone, there was also an element of acting… Was Prince Duan sending her to act?
Yu Wanyin was lost in speculation when she heard a slight movement above her head.
She suddenly snapped back to reality and turned around to retreat.
But before she could take a few steps, she heard the mechanism clicking, and candlelight flickered behind her.
Xiahou Dan stared at her butt for a few seconds, “What are you doing here?”
Yu Wanyin remained silent.
At that moment, she felt like she had lost face for a lifetime. Like she had been caught red-handed. She backed away a few steps into the darkness like a thief caught stealing a bell.
Yu Wanyin weakly said, “Postprandial exercise.”
Xiahou Dan was silent for a moment and asked, “Crawling through tunnels as exercise?”
Yu Wanyin had given up on herself, “Yes, it helps burn calories all over.”
There was a faint, low laugh from behind her. It was very light, laughing twice and then stopping, but the echo continued endlessly in the dark corridor. Yu Wanyin somehow heard an implied meaning in it: your eavesdropping scheme has been exposed.
Embarrassed, a surge of evil fire rose in her heart.
She felt like a true cannon fodder now. like those jealous and irrational characters in palace dramas with poor judgement.
Xiahou Dan cleared his throat and said seriously, “The person has left. Come out.”
But Yu Wanyin still felt there was laughter in his voice.
“Forget it,” she replied stiffly, “It’s crowded and someone might see me. I’d better go.”
“I won’t let anyone in.”
“It’s still not safe. An Xian saw me, didn’t he? You should go back quickly. What if he discovers the tunnel?”
Yu Wanyin continued crawling forward.
The candlelight behind her flickered weakly, dragging her shadow through the darkness. Xiahou Dan didn’t follow and didn’t speak again. She turned a corner, and the light disappeared.
Yu Wanyin didn’t fully realise her situation until she returned to the Cold Palace and had eaten half of her dinner.
Xiahou Dan had just sent away Xie Yong’er and then went underground. -originally intending to come find her.
She paused with her chopsticks in hand, shame dissipating as some tenderness crept in.
But now, it would be too strange to crawl back with such a fuss at this moment. After all, inconsistency was the most prominent sign of a brain in love.
She had indeed been drifting lately. With her limited capacity, if she continued to occupy the CPU randomly, she would be exhausted in less than three days.
Yu Wanyin spent the night in deep introspection.
The next day, Xiahou Dan did not appear.
However, the Shadow Guards emerged several times, dumping soil into her yard. one cart after another. They diligently expanded the tunnel, and now half of it was tall enough for someone to walk upright.
Yu Wanyin watched the construction site for a while and sent a few slices of melon to the Shadow Guards.
“Thank you, Lady Yu,” one of them said.
Yu Wanyin casually asked, “Is His Majesty busy today?”
“It seems chaotic at the morning court today, maybe there’s something urgent waiting for His Majesty to handle.”
Yu Wanyin was startled, “Why was it chaotic?”
“I don’t know.”
Counting the days, could it be news from the Kingdom of Yan?
Yu Wanyin felt uneasy, and as the sun set, Xiahou Dan was still nowhere to be seen.
Had he been detained? They wouldn’t be having a dispute, would they? Yu Wanyin replayed last night’s conversation again, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Seeing that dinner time had passed, she finally couldn’t sit still, crawled out of the tunnel, and took a look.
The Shadow Guards had already left. The construction noise at night was too loud and would be discovered.
The empty corridor was silent. Yu Wanyin walked halfway with a lamp held high, her waist bent lower and lower until she could only crawl.
She hesitated.
She didn’t know if something unexpected awaited her on the other end. If her appearance exposed the existence of this tunnel, all her previous efforts would be in vain.
In the midst of hesitation, a sound came from the darkness ahead, and a small light flickered to life.
Yu Wanyin extinguished the palace lamp in her hand and held her breath, motionless.
However, the person opposite had an extraordinary vision, “Wanyin? Come quickly, Dan’er is ill.”
Xiahou Dan slept restlessly, his breathing rapid, brows furrowed tightly. His complexion, already pale, now devoid of any colour, accentuated the deep shadows under his eyes.
Yu Wanyin recalled that both times he fell ill were after she had been obstinate. She suspected a connection between these headaches and his emotions, but she also felt that last night’s incident shouldn’t have been enough.
Bei Zhou worriedly remarked, “He collapsed as soon as he came back, without even eating.”
Yu Wanyin whispered, “I heard there was an uproar during the morning court?”
Bei Zhou replied, “The Kingdom of Yan sent a document, stating that His Majesty’s Thousand Autumn Festival is approaching, and King Zafervahan of Yan wishes to send an envoy to congratulate His Majesty.”
Yu Wanyin’s heart raced suddenly.
It sounded like Wang Zhao had succeeded.
Not only had he convinced King Zafervahan to negotiate, but Wang Zhao had also managed to persuade Yan to propose this on their own initiative, keeping himself completely hidden in the shadows. Once this news reached Great Xia, no one would know Xiahou Dan had a hand in it.
“Who was arguing with whom then?”
Bei Zhou frowned irritably, obviously uninterested in the factional strife, “Dan’er mentioned a few words. It seems Prince Duan supports the negotiations because with both countries not at war, his forces won’t be tied down in the northwest, giving him more leverage against the Empress Dowager. Naturally, she opposes it. Today, the threshold of the study has been nearly trampled.”
“Are the Empress Dowager’s people trying to persuade His Majesty?”
“Prince Duan’s people are too. They all want to treat him like a fool. He has to pretend to be one and deal with them one by one…”
Yu Wanyin sighed.
She had overestimated herself, Xiahou Dan was clearly overwhelmed by work.
Bei Zhou brought a bowl of porridge over, fretting over Xiahou Dan’s unresponsive state. Yu Wanyin took the bowl from him, “Uncle Bei, go rest. I’ll take care of this.”
Bei Zhou patted her shoulder and left.
Yu Wanyin sat on the edge of the bed for a while, realising she had hardly ever seen him asleep. Every time she drifted off, Xiahou Dan was still awake; when she woke up, he had already gone to the morning court.
Has his sleep always been this… troubled?
Yu Wanyin lightly patted him, “President Dan, have some food before sleeping.”
No response from Xiahou Dan.
“President Dan? Your Majesty?” Yu Wanyin leaned closer and did something she hadn’t anticipated herself doing.
Her palm touched Xiahou Dan’s face.
In the next moment, his tightly shut eyes flew open.
Yu Wanyin involuntarily shrank back, retracting her hand as if a herbivore sensed danger by instinct.
A cold hand grasped her wrist.
His pupils swirled with darkness, chaotic and devoid of any emotion except a hint of madness.
His pitch-black eyes turned towards Yu Wanyin, full of killing intent.
Yu Wanyin dared not breathe.
As if a long time had passed, yet also just a moment, his eyes refocused, blinking in confusion, and clarity returned.
Xiahou Dan relaxed his grip slightly, his hand still loosely holding her wrist, his voice hoarse, “How long have I been asleep?”
“…Not long. Would you like to eat something?”
Xiahou Dan weakly moved. Yu Wanyin hesitated for a moment, then leaned over to support him.
Suddenly, Xiahou Dan faintly smiled, “Have you eaten?”
Yu Wanyin’s heart hadn’t yet returned to normal. She bowed her head and scooped a spoonful of porridge, offering it to Xiahou Dan who looked at her, opening his mouth to accept it.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll eat later. What about you…”
“Hmm?”
Yu Wanyin wanted to ask: Don’t you mind me touching you?
When he was lucid, he seems to enjoy being close to her, occupying her pillow, letting her massage his temples.
However, that reflexive reaction just now made her suddenly remember what he had said to Xie Yong’er last night.
Was he not just rejecting Xie Yong’er? For someone with an acting background, why would he be averse to physical contact?
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 11
Previous: Chapter 9