How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
The Empress Dowager had just listened to the entire conversation between Xiahou Dan and Tur in the Grand Hall. It suddenly dawned on her that from the very beginning, this peace negotiation had been secretly orchestrated by Xiahou Dan.
The Emperor had dispatched envoys to Yan Kingdom right under her nose, and she didn’t even know who this Wang Zhao was that they mentioned. She even doubted if even Prince Duan knew.
Despite his severe injuries, he remained calm and composed, managing to turn the enemy’s strategy with just his words. He intended to send Tur back to confront the King of Yan, intending to incite internal strife within Yan Kingdom, indirectly averting the war with Xia!
How long has this guy been pretending to be weak while actually strong?
Over these years, how many arrangements had he quietly made?
At this moment, Xiahou Dan had surpassed Prince Duan in the Empress Dowager’s mind, becoming the most dangerous person. If not for today’s unexpected turn of events, he would have turned the tables soon, right?
Although he was already poisoned, who could guarantee that he wouldn’t find an antidote after leaving the mountain? If he didn’t die, she would!
However, Xiahou Dan seemed to have suddenly lost his mind. He actually forgot to kill her and even saved her.
The Empress Dowager trembled silently in the darkness, not out of fear, but out of tension.
This was heaven’s last chance for her. to kill Xiahou Dan, frame Tur, and take advantage of the opportunity to send away Prince Duan during the chaos of war!
She had been playing dead and lying low until now. Finally, she waited for Bei Zhou to call out to the outside world, distracting their attention, and immediately crawled towards Xiahou Dan.
But she didn’t expect the grace of heaven to be so cheap. Just as she crawled out, Bei Zhou stepped on her.
Outside, chaos ensued. The leader seemed to be directing his men to find tools everywhere.
“How dare you! Where are you from, servant?” Empress Dowager screamed.
Bei Zhou firmly stepped on her back and asked for the second time today, “Dan’er, should I kill her?”
His tone was casual. Whether it was the prince of an enemy country or the current Empress Dowager, as long as Xiahou Dan said a word, he could crush her like an ant.
Xiahou Dan fell silent for a moment.
Yu Wanyin didn’t know what he was thinking in this silence. When he spoke again, he said, “Today’s matter is caused by a troublemaker.”
Everyone, “?”
Xiahou Dan said meaningfully in a low voice, “Fortunately, your guards protected me with all your might. As for the envoy group, they have been in the capital city the whole time, preparing for the peace talks.”
With the first hammer falling outside, he began to arrange step by step, “Tur, smear some mud and water on your face, and remember to keep your head down later. Guards, take off your outer garments to cover Wanyin. Wanyin, tie up your hair and smear some on your face.”
Everyone tacitly understood and acted in the dark.
Xiahou Dan’s voice grew weaker, “Tur, do you still have any poison with you? Do you have any kind that won’t kill you for three to five days?”
Tur didn’t understand why he was asking this and hesitated, “It’s hard to say. The poison wasn’t made by me. I only tried it on chickens.” He reached into his clothes and took out a pill to sniff, “This one shouldn’t be fatal, but the chicken that ate it was paralyzed on the spot.”
“Uncle Bei, feed it to the Empress Dowager.” Xiahou Dan said.
Empress Dowager, “!!!”
The sound of hammers and stones continued, accompanied by faint cracking sounds.
The Empress Dowager spoke urgently, “Emperor, Dan’er, what you did today- your wisdom and courage turned hostility into jade silk. This Imperial Mother deeply appreciates it… This Imperial Mother’s actions over the years were all because she was afraid of you bearing too much burden and wanted to share your worries- Wait!” She suddenly turned her head and avoided the pill Bei Zhou was stuffing into her mouth, “Don’t forget you’ve been poisoned! If we both die, won’t Xiahou Bo laugh last? Don’t you hate him?”
Xiahou Dan said kindly, “No need for Imperial Mother to worry. Your child won’t die.”
Bei Zhou pried open her mouth with his bare hands, stuffing the pill in amid her chicken-like screams.
Xiahou Dan said, “Imperial Mother may have forgotten that thanks to you and Prince Duan, I’ve been poisoned many times over these years and taken many antidotes. Ordinary poisons aren’t so effective on me anymore.”
Bei Zhou held her neck, shaking her whole body.
With the pill in her stomach, Xiahou Dan said, “Imperial Mother, rest assured, your child will live to see the successful peace talks, the defeat of Prince Duan, and the peace in the world. By then, as you hold your grandson in the flames of hell, don’t forget to rejoice for your child.”
The Empress Dowager’s groans and pleas gradually weakened until only gasping sounds remained.
In the silence, Xiahou Dan suddenly laughed.
He laughed breathlessly, “Do you all remember where we are?”
No one dared to answer, so he asked and answered himself. “We are in the grave I dug for her.”
With a loud noise, the stone door finally had a hole knocked out.
After a few more hits, it shattered into pieces, splashing mud all over the floor.
The vice commander of the Imperial Army knelt down and said, “This servant has arrived late to rescue Your Majesty. Please forgive me!”
He bowed his head and heard the Emperor’s panicked voice, “Don’t worry about me, save the Empress Dowager first.”
The vice commander was stunned and raised the lamp high to look into the tomb. He saw the Empress Dowager lying on the ground twitching continuously, her mouth and eyes twisted, showing signs of a stroke.
Immediately, the Imperial Army carried all the injured people out of the room and escorted the sacred carriage back to the city.
On the way back to the palace, the rain gradually stopped, and after the clouds dispersed, everyone was surprised to find that it was already dusk. The evening light in the sky was like a raging fire on the verge of burning the rest of the clouds to ashes.
The carriage entered the palace, and the Empress Dowager was carried in first.
The vice commander was about to help Xiahou Dan out of the carriage, but the Emperor ignored him and walked down with Bei Zhou, who had turned back into a nanny.
He quietly transferred most of his weight to Bei Zhou to support him, calmly asking, “Where is Commander Zhao?”
The vice commander stuttered and dared not answer. Xiahou Dan impatiently said, “Tell the truth.”
“Commander Zhao… has disappeared.” The Vice Commander said.
Earlier, Yang Duojie had instigated the Vice-Commander to sideline Commander Zhao, steal the military talisman, and falsely pass on military orders to save His Majesty, taking with him all those who were willing to obey him.
Before returning, he was also worried that Commander Zhao would block the road with the remaining troops. Without doing either, he carried out the assassination of the emperor. He deliberately sent someone to investigate beforehand, only to find that Commander Zhao had disappeared as soon as he realised things were going wrong. Commander Zhao was as cowardly as a mouse and probably fled when he realised things were going wrong.
Xiahou Dan sneered, “From now on, you are the commander of the Imperial Army.”
The vice commander was ecstatic.
Xiahou Dan said, “Spread the news that the troublemakers are rioting, and the whole city is on alert. The Imperial Army has failed to protect the carriage, and Commander Zhao has neglected it and escaped. Capture him and behead him.”
The vice commander responded enthusiastically, “This one obeys!”
He left, rejoicing that he had backed the right horse at the last moment, failing to notice that Xiahou Dan’s steps back into the palace were slightly slower.
Xiahou Dan barely managed to walk into his bedchamber. As soon as the doors closed behind him, he collapsed to the ground.
“Dan’er!” Bei Zhou exclaimed in alarm.
Yu Wanyin, who had been following as a bodyguard, rushed over to help him, her hands covered in blood.
Tur, also following behind, shouted, “Quick, call the imperial physician!”
Xiahou Dan rolled his eyes at him and then looked at Yu Wanyin.
There were so many things he wanted to tell her.
For example, he wasn’t as confident as he claimed about surviving this ordeal. The reason he incapacitated the Empress Dowager was because if he died, the final victor would undoubtedly be between the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan. Among them, the Empress Dowager was a war hawk, while Prince Duan was a peace advocate.
He didn’t want to hand victory to Prince Duan, but by removing the Empress Dowager, at least the peace talks’ results could be preserved.
For example, he didn’t kill the Empress Dowager on the spot to mislead Prince Duan and make him hesitate to rebel in an uncertain situation. If Xiahou Dan didn’t die, it would buy precious recovery time.
For example, the sudden turn of events meant that Prince Duan would undoubtedly keep a close watch on the palace. But she didn’t need to be afraid; she couldn’t afford to be afraid. If he fell, she would be the only stabilising force left.
So many things to say.
But he had no strength left.
He could only manage to say, “Don’t be afraid…”
Yu Wanyin nodded, “You don’t need to be afraid either, I can handle it.”
Xiahou Dan fainted with relief.
Bei Zhou carried Xiahou Dan to the bed. Yu Wanyin turned to face the palace servants who had gathered around.
The elite guards meticulously trained by Xiahou Dan were now mostly gone, having perished on Mount Bei. The remaining ones were still under Bei Zhou’s training, and now suddenly thrust into the frontline, they looked more nervous than she did.
Yes, Yu Wanyin thought, without realising it, she was no longer terrified.
If she were to return to her original world now, she might even be promoted to CEO.
She spoke in a deep voice, “In the name of His Majesty, issue a decree that the Empress Dowager is ill, and there will be a curfew in the palace tonight. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Summon the imperial physician… send several physicians to the Empress Dowager, and only one here.” They had to guard against Prince Duan’s spies.
The servants took their orders and left.
Yu Wanyin looked at Xiahou Dan lying on the bed. His face was devoid of any colour, looking ashen like a dead person. According to the usual plots in such stories, the imperial physicians would be of no help.
She paced back and forth twice, “Uncle Bei, where is A’Bai? Where exactly is A’Bai? Wasn’t he out there looking for medicine for His Majesty?”
Bei Zhou shook his head helplessly. A’Bai had not revealed anything to him, and Xiahou Dan hadn’t mentioned it either.
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, “I just remembered someone… oh no, I forgot about her.”
She summoned a guard, “Quickly, go get Consort Xie. If there’s any danger, save her. If not, ask her if she knows a genius apprentice in the Imperial Medical Centre, and bring them along.”
Xie Yong’er arrived quickly.
Xie Yong’er had hidden in her own palace, pretending to be sick and not daring to see anyone after giving Yu Wanyin the news in the morning. She feared Yu Wanyin might not understand her hint or that her reaction might be too obvious, alerting Prince Duan. Although Prince Duan’s attention was likely focused on the mountain today, who could guarantee he hadn’t left someone behind to deal with her?
At nightfall, Xie Yong’er finally saw the guard coming to escort her to see the Emperor.
Entering the bedchamber, she breathed a sigh of relief, “You finally thought of me! I didn’t dare touch the food and water the servants brought all day, afraid that Xiahou Bo would kill me…”
Yu Wanyin handed her a cup of tea, “Thank you for your hard work. You’ll stay here for a while, don’t go out again.”
Xie Yong’er, parched, lifted the cup to drink but then hesitated, suspiciously asking, “Why do you look like that? Is the Emperor still alive? Or did you fail, and you’re planning to take me down with you?”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
She took Xie Yong’er into the inner chamber.
The servants had already removed Xiahou Dan’s blood-stained dragon robe and roughly cleaned his wounds. When Xie Yong’er saw the still-bleeding cut on his chest, she was so frightened she stopped breathing, “What happened?”
Yu Wanyin sat wearily on the edge of the bed and summarised the events of the day in half a minute.
Xie Yong’er stood frozen on the spot.
After a while, her thoughts slowly began to flow again, “…A gun.”
Yu Wanyin nodded.
“Impressive.”
“Thank you.” Yu Wanyin said.
Xie Yong’er was stunned. She thought that at this point, no matter what, she had to cling tightly to these two cunning individuals and absolutely couldn’t stand against them.
Just three days ago, she couldn’t have imagined herself racking her brains to come up with ideas for them. “Disinfect the wound. “
“Already done with alcohol.”
“Can we do a blood transfusion?”
“We don’t know the blood type.”
“I’m type O, a universal donor!” Xie Yong’er gasped.
“You mean you were type O before you came here, right?” Yu Wanyin countered.
Xie Yong’er fell silent.
Yu Wanyin continued, “We can only use ancient methods. The most urgent thing now is to detoxify the wound. The genius apprentice you mentioned. “
“His name is Xiao Tiancai. When the guard found me earlier, I already sent a message to him to follow the imperial physicians here and assist to avoid drawing attention.” Xie Yong’er frowned. “But how did you know I knew him?”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
That was written in the original text of course.
However, before Yu Wanyin could come up with an explanation, Xie Yong’er figured it out herself. “You’re quite impressive, having spies in the Imperial Medical Centre too? Were you aware the whole time when I went to get abortion medicine? It’s a good thing I didn’t continue fighting with you.”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
“Thank you.” Yu Wanyin nodded.
The truth was something she could never reveal to Xie Yong’er. She initially persuaded Xie Yong’er by leveraging their shared identity as transmigrators. If Xie Yong’er found out she were merely characters in a story, the massive shock might lead to unpredictable changes in her mindset.
Moreover, putting herself in Xie Yong’er’s shoes, Yu Wanyin felt that if she were a fictional character, she wouldn’t want to know either. If free will was denied, what could one rely on?
The imperial physician arrived with Xiao Tiancai.
Xiao Tiancai, an elegant young man of eighteen, had a calm demeanour. After kneeling to pay his respects, his eyes kept darting toward Xie Yong’er, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
As the imperial physician, sweating profusely, checked the Emperor’s pulse, Xie Yong’er whispered a new precaution to Yu Wanyin. “Is Tur locked up? He can’t be allowed to move freely until the peace agreement is signed. With his linear thinking, if Xiahou Bo’s people contact him and promise to kill both the Emperor and the Yan King…”
“Don’t worry, he’s already been locked up.”
Xiao Tiancai glanced over Xiahou Dan’s body from head to toe. Seeing him unconscious and seemingly no one in charge, he cautiously moved to Xie Yong’er’s side. “Consort Xie, may I have a word?”
The two walked a distance away, finding a secluded spot. Xiao Tiancai lowered his voice to a whisper, with a hint of expectation. “Do you want him to live or die?”
Above him, on a beam, an elite guard’s dagger was already drawn.
Xie Yong’er was puzzled, “?”
“I want him to live, to live.” Xie Yong’er hurriedly said.
Since her arrival, she had never prayed so fervently for Xiahou Dan’s survival, her sincerity rivalling that of Tur and the new commander of the Imperial Guards.
Xiahou Dan himself probably didn’t know that this day would see the most people ever praying for his well-being.
Xiao Tiancai looked sceptical, as if trying to figure out whether she was being coerced. “Didn’t you say living in this palace was like being a trapped beast, only hoping for Prince Duan. “
Xie Yong’er quickly covered his mouth. “That was then, this is now. Prince Duan is dead to me!” She couldn’t reveal more to him and couldn’t think of a convincing lie in a short time. Steeling her heart, she said, “Actually… His Majesty has always treated me well. I was just blind to it and failed to see my true feelings.”
Xiao Tiancai, “…”
He stared at her for a moment, then turned away, saying, “I understand.”
His back seemed a bit dejected.
Yu Wanyin, having read the original text, knew that he was one of the male supporting characters drawn to Xie Yong’er. She could guess most of their whispered conversation. Seeing Xiao Tiancai return with a downcast look, she quickly showed a kind smile. “Xiao-xiansheng, we all depend on you now.”
The elderly imperial physician, who was preparing to make an excuse, was puzzled, “?”
Xiao Tiancai said in a low voice, “Forgive my rudeness.” He bypassed the imperial physician to carefully examine Xiahou Dan’s wound.
Xiao Tiancai said, “His Majesty seems to have been poisoned with a toxin that prevents blood from clotting, it’s very potent…”
Yu Wanyin held her breath, awaiting his verdict.
Xiao Tiancai continued, “…But it appears the dosage was low, or that His Majesty’s body is exceptionally strong, as the wound shows signs of healing.”
Yu Wanyin was stunned, quickly moving closer.
She had been too afraid to look directly at the horrifying wound earlier. Now, as he said, she noticed the bleeding had indeed slowed significantly.
She felt a surge of relief, almost like coming back to life, and asked in disbelief, “Really? It’s not just that his blood is running out?”
Xiao Tiancai’s mouth twitched. “His Majesty is blessed by heaven and will be fine. I will go prepare a prescription to stop the bleeding.”
At this moment, in the city that should have been under curfew, countless messages were being chaotically exchanged in the dark.
The Empress Dowager’s faction was urgently asking what had happened today, where the envoy had gone, and what was wrong with the Empress Dowager.
Prince Duan’s faction was secretly discussing why the mission failed, how the Emperor escaped, and how to adjust their plans in the current situation.
Yang Duojie was writing a secret letter to Li Yunxi, praising Xiahou Dan.
Under the solitary moon, a figure fled in panic, knocking on the familiar doors of Prince Duan’s supporters’ residences but unable to find shelter. Finally, he was shot dead in the street by a barrage of arrows.
The new commander of the Imperial Guards beheaded him without hesitation and joyfully said, “Report to the palace: the criminal Commander Zhao has been executed!”
According to the initial arrangement, the day after tomorrow was the auspicious date set by the Imperial Astronomer for the peace talks. If Xiahou Dan couldn’t attend as an observer, it would clearly signal to Prince Duan: My defences are down, you can make your move.
Every cell in Yu Wanyin’s body screamed with exhaustion, yet she dared not relax. Taking advantage of the palace servants brewing medicine, she pulled Xie Yong’er to review the palace’s security arrangements again, reinforcing any areas where Prince Duan might exploit.
Yu Wanyin did not tell Xie Yong’er the location where Tur was being held.
Bei Zhou was guarding Tur in the tunnel beneath them. The other end of the tunnel had been sealed. Even if Prince Duan had eyes and ears everywhere, he wouldn’t be able to find anyone.
If Prince Duan reached the point of direct assassination, the tunnel would be their last retreat.
Xiahou Dan lay pale as paper in bed, unconscious, the medicine dripping from the spoon from his lips down onto the pillow.
Seeing his tightly closed lips, Yu Wanyin, who had read thousands of web novels, understood something and turned to look at Xie Yong’er.
Xie Yong’er also understood and pulled Xiao Tiancai away. “Let’s give them some privacy.”
She settled Xiao Tiancai in the side hall, thinking that Yu Wanyin was also at her limit and might need someone to take over during the night, so she went back.
Just in time to see Yu Wanyin with flushed lips, setting down an empty medicine bowl, and eagerly picking up a bowl of porridge. She turned her head when she heard footsteps.
Xie Yong’er stepped back. “Sorry to interrupt. Continue.”
Xiahou Dan woke up the next afternoon.
Having slept too deeply for too long, he momentarily forgot the current day, thinking he hadn’t gone to Mount Bei yet. He instinctively tried to sit up, only to fall back onto the pillow with a gasp of pain.
His chest wound still hurt but didn’t seem to be bleeding anymore. He tried to move his arms and legs slightly. Aside from some weakness, there were no other issues.
It seemed he wouldn’t die this time either. Realising this, his first reaction was oddly one of fatigue.
Out of the corner of his eye, Xiahou Dan slowly turned his head.
Yu Wanyin was lying on the edge of the bed, eyes closed, her head resting on her arm. She had changed clothes and had seemingly taken a quick bath, her hair still wet. Xiahou Dan reached over and gently touched her head, feeling the dampness on his fingertips. She had fallen asleep without even drying her hair.
Xiahou Dan rang a bell to summon a palace servant, intending to have her moved to the bed, but Yu Wanyin woke up, groggily asking, “How are you?”
Perhaps due to his weakness or their recent mutual understanding, Xiahou Dan looked peaceful as if he had never killed anyone. His gaze was so gentle it almost made her forget the madman on the mountain. “Better than I expected. How is the palace?”
“No court session today. Officially, you’re attending to the Empress Dowager’s illness. The palace gates remain closed. But to intimidate Prince Duan, I’ve had the peace talk seating arranged as usual for tomorrow. There’s no movement from his side yet.”
“And the Empress Dowager?”
Yu Wanyin climbed into bed, shaking her head with a tsk. “Reportedly making a fuss, but she can barely speak. Her party’s officials came one by one like the gourd babies saving their grandpa, but I sent them all away.”
Xiahou Dan laughed. “Yu-jie, you’re so formidable.”
Yu Wanyin plopped down beside him, feeling nothing but tiredness. “Remember to eat something before you sleep again. I can’t hold on anymore. I’ll nap a bit. Call me if there’s anything…”
“Mm.” Xiahou Dan held her hand, “Leave it to me.”
The medicinal scent from Xiahou Dan enveloped her, and her taut nerves finally relaxed. For the first time in days, she fell into a sweet sleep.
But when she woke up again, the bed was empty.
She heard faint conversation. “…each guards their own territory without intrusion. Also, mutual trade, starting with silk and porcelain in exchange for your fox furs and spices… Here’s the detailed list. Take it back and review it. If there’s no issue, we can finalise it in tomorrow’s ceremony.”
It was already night, the candlelight casting shadows on the bed curtains. Yu Wanyin quietly got up and peeked outside, seeing Xiahou Dan sitting opposite Tur, with Bei Zhou standing nearby.
Tur was holding the treaty, reading it for a while before setting it down. “I have a question. What status will I use to ally with Xia Kingdom? As the new Yan King? Then I’ll bring Xia’s troops back to Yan to take Zafervahan’s head? How is this not seen as betrayal of the people?”
Xiahou Dan, unhurried, replied, “Of course not. Aren’t you Zafervahan’s envoy?”
Tur, “?”
Xiahou Dan said, “Once the treaty is signed tomorrow, we’ll spread the news far and wide, even to Yan. It will be said that Zafervahan showed great sincerity by sending you, Prince Tur, for peace talks. Xia, moved by his sincerity, treated you as an honoured guest. With the war finally over, the war-torn people of Yan will rejoice. Then…”
“Then, if Zafervahan reneges on the treaty for war, he will be seen as untrustworthy and unkind?”
Xiahou Dan smiled. “You catch on quick.”
Tur, “?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Tur said. “From what I know of Yan, if it reaches that point, my supporters will clash with Zafervahan before I even return. I don’t want to see my homeland in chaos. If I’m to kill Zafervahan, it must be swift. How many men can you lend me?”
Xiahou Dan seemed to make a gesture, which Yu Wanyin couldn’t see from her angle.
“The prerequisite is that you fulfil the contract as soon as you return, bringing the goods to the border for exchange.” Xiahou Dan said.
Tur pondered for a while, then nodded solemnly. “Agreed.”
He stood up. “Can I sleep above ground tonight?”
“No.” Xiahou Dan answered without hesitation, “There are beds in the tunnel, Bei Zhou will accompany you. Go.”
Yu Wanyin thought she heard Tur’s teeth grinding. “A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!”
“So that you can try to kill me again?” Xiahou Dan said.
Tur took a deep breath, got down on the ground, and crawled into the entrance beneath the dragon bed.
Yu Wanyin hurriedly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
After Tur and Bei Zhou had gone down, Xiahou Dan lay back beside her, clutching his wound, and let out a short breath.
Yu Wanyin leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “The people you’re lending him, is it A’Bai?”
Her warm breath brushed against his ear and neck. Xiahou Dan turned his head to look at her, inexplicably recalling the texture of her lips. They were soft, yet resilient, like strawberry gummies from distant memories.
He suddenly kissed her on the lips. “That’s right, ten points for you.”
Yu Wanyin’s face heated up, but she pretended to be indifferent. “Can A’Bai handle it alone?”
Xiahou Dan kissed her again. “Minus ten points. How many times are you going to mention A’Bai in front of me?”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Stop teasing, or your wound might reopen.
Yu Wanyin turned over and faced away from him. “Sleep now. Try to get as much rest as possible before morning; it’s good for your wound.”
But Xiahou Dan wouldn’t keep quiet. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“I… lack of sleep kills my appetite. I had them simmer porridge over a low flame. I’ll eat when I wake up at night.”
“Mm.”
Yu Wanyin opened her eyes in the dim light, looking at the bed canopy. “By the way, I have something to ask you.”
In a place she couldn’t see, Xiahou Dan’s body stiffened.
He hadn’t forgotten that he said he would confess something to her.
At the time, he thought it would be his last words.
“How did you know what Shani’s dagger looked like?” She asked.
Xiahou Dan, “…”
He heard his own voice, reflexively and automatically, coming out of his throat. “I investigated. The palace servants who handled her body back then told me.”
“Then…”
Xiahou Dan’s fingernails dug into his palm.
“Then when you recognized Tur in the Hall of Glory, shouldn’t you have confronted him immediately? Maybe it could have avoided that brutal battle on the mountain.”
After a seemingly long few seconds, Xiahou Dan responded. “At that time, he was in a killing frenzy, determined to take my life. He wouldn’t have listened to such an unsubstantiated claim.”
“But later. “
“Later, he was frustrated by his failure and unwilling to accept defeat. I gave him a new target for revenge and a new goal in life, so he was naturally willing to believe it.”
In the quiet night, Xiahou Dan’s cool voice carried a hint of mockery. “You can’t wake someone pretending to sleep, but you can wake them up with hunger.”
Yu Wanyin sighed. “He killed Wang Zhao. I don’t want to sympathise with him. But his story with Shani is quite sad. In this world, surviving is already a stroke of luck, and being able to stay together is an even greater luxury.”
“That won’t happen to us.”
Yu Wanyin smiled and turned back, hooking her arm around his. intending to give him a bear hug but being mindful of his inexplicable fear of touch, she decided to take it step by step.
This time, Xiahou Dan didn’t have an adverse reaction. Perhaps he was too weak to resist. But Yu Wanyin felt like she was getting special treatment, satisfied she said, “In a way, we have to thank this incident. Otherwise, if we kept going in circles, one of us might die someday without having properly fallen in love.”
“Love…” Xiahou Dan unconsciously repeated.
She felt a bit embarrassed. “It’s a bit foolish, but after witnessing the unpredictability of life and death, I suddenly have an urge to seize the moment.”
Xiahou Dan didn’t respond.
Feeling awkward without a response, Yu Wanyin nudged him. “Don’t you feel the same? Oh right, before you went up the mountain, you mentioned wanting to tell me something?”
“…Aren’t you still tired? Get some sleep, we’ll talk another day.”
At dawn, with the first light of morning, the officials of Xia were already standing outside the main hall, braving the autumn chill, waiting for the morning court. They seemed to have arrived earlier than usual, yet no one spoke to each other.
In the silence, a cold wind blew through.
The crowd was vaguely divided into two factions, both sides sneaking glances at each other.
Judging by their expressions, the Empress Dowager’s faction looked scared, everyone with their heads down, while Prince Duan’s faction appeared vigilant, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Of course, there were a few exceptions.
For example, Mu Yun.
Mu Yun, while keeping his head down, also appeared vigilant.
He was an undercover agent planted by Prince Duan in the Empress Dowager’s faction, now bearing double the anxiety.
From two days ago until yesterday, the entire city was under lockdown, and the palace was sealed tight, with no one allowed in or out. After a new commander temporarily took over the imperial guards, they patrolled the capital city five times yesterday, scaring merchants into closing early and making the citizens afraid to step outside.
Even a pig could sense that change was coming.
Mu Yun knew things had gone wrong. He had sent Tur to the mountain, but Tur failed to decisively eliminate Xiahou Dan and the Empress Dowager.
From the scouts, he heard that the corpses transported down from Mount Bei had piled up into a small hill and were hastily buried overnight. Guards, people from the Yan Kingdom, and reinforcements sent by Prince Duan. Almost none survived.
What exactly happened during that ominous rainstorm?
Did the emperor and the empress dowager survive? How did they manage it?
Mu Yun had tried to make amends. All day yesterday, he pretended to be concerned for the empress dowager, repeatedly asking people to let him in, seeking an audience, but he was always turned away. The palace announced that the empress dowager had suddenly fallen ill and needed to rest.
Moreover, the emperor himself did not show up all day.
Mu Yun racked his brain in front of Prince Duan. “Most likely, both of them are severely injured and on the brink of death. Your Highness should seize this opportunity to strike hard, not giving them any chance to recover.”
Before he could finish speaking, a scout brought new information. “The palace has set up seats in the main hall as usual, saying that His Majesty has decreed to sign a peace treaty with the Yan Kingdom’s envoy during tomorrow’s morning court.”
Mu Yun, “…”
His mind went blank.
By releasing this news, Xiahou Dan seemed to be declaring to the world, “I am the victor.”
If the emperor was unharmed, why hadn’t he appeared?
And where did this Yan Kingdom envoy come from? Weren’t the Yan people here to assassinate him? Hadn’t they all been killed? Where was Xiahou Dan planning to produce an envoy from? Even if he found someone to impersonate one, the Yan Kingdom wouldn’t acknowledge them, so what would be the point of the treaty?
Unlike Xu Yao, who harboured deep hatred, Mu Yun was a born strategist. He enjoyed the process of weaving webs from the shadows and relished the look of shock and despair on his prey’s face when they fell into his trap.
For the first time in his life, he felt like the prey.
Prince Duan smiled and asked, as if consulting him. “Tomorrow’s morning court, should I attend?”
Mu Yun felt a chill on his scalp. “The emperor might just be creating an illusion of normalcy, trying to stall for time.”
Prince Duan looked at him. “What if he really is fine?”
Mu Yun, “…”
To escape from Mount Bei unscathed, what unfathomable ace did this mad emperor hold?
No one could be certain of his condition. If he were gravely injured, Prince Duan could slowly tighten the net and send him to the grave. Conversely, if he were really fine, after dealing with the empress dowager, he would turn against Prince Duan next.
Sweat beaded on Mu Yun’s forehead. “Your Highness need not worry too much. The emperor has pretended to be mad and foolish for years, losing popular support. Even if he secretly cultivated some power, his foundation in the court is still weak. Though he nominally controls the imperial guards now, within the guards, there are factions. If it came to a real fight…his chances aren’t great.”
Prince Duan had many elite private soldiers under his command and was on good terms with the military officers. Even without actual military power, a single call to arms would rally many. In terms of combat strength, the emperor indeed could not compare.
Prince Duan nodded. “So if Xiahou Dan has any sense, he would strike swiftly to catch me off guard. and the best opportunity might be during tomorrow’s morning court. Don’t you think so?”
Those calm eyes glanced at him, seemingly seeking his opinion.
I’m done for, Mu Yun thought.
Given Prince Duan’s meticulousness and suspicion, failing the mission on Mount Bei likely marked him as a traitor. And the fate of a traitor, he had already witnessed with Xu Yao.
At this point, what could he do to save his life?
Mu Yun, who had pretended to stutter in front of the Empress Dowager’s faction for many years, genuinely stammered for the first time. “Th-the court m-might be a trap…or m-might not.”
He blushed, almost kneeling on the spot to beg for mercy.
Prince Duan didn’t lash out, nor did he further trouble him. He even offered a comforting word. “Don’t blame yourself too much, you’ve tried your best.” Then he made his decision, “Given the unclear situation, I’ll feign illness and not attend for now.”
Outside the hall, the ministers quickly noticed Prince Duan’s absence.
Prince Duan’s faction didn’t look happy. Without the prince himself present, they had already lost some momentum.
They had thought that bringing down the empress dowager would be a great success, but unexpectedly, the emperor had silently built his strength under their noses all these years.
Prince Duan’s faction was seething, silently determined to scrutinise every move the emperor made in court. Like wolves eyeing an ageing leader, they were ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness and tear him apart.
From afar, three clear beats of the ceremonial whip sounded.
The hall doors opened.
Xiahou Dan strolled in leisurely, taking his seat on the dragon throne, his expression no different from usual, which was bored.
As he glanced down at the bowing ministers, he suddenly revealed a mocking smile, as if entertained by their expressions, silently taunting them.
Ministers, “…”
The smile vanished as quickly as it appeared. He then spoke with worry. “The empress dowager has suddenly fallen ill, leaving me deeply distressed. Only by swiftly establishing a peace treaty and ending the war can I bring her this good news and put her mind at ease.”
Ministers, “…”
You just want her to die faster.
Xiahou Dan raised a finger, and An Xian announced, “Summon the Yan Kingdom envoy!”
The Yan Kingdom envoy entered the hall slowly.
Mu Yun turned to look, and he was stunned.
Tur had shaved off his beard, donned the luxurious fur coat symbolising his status as a prince, and walked in with an imposing presence. Behind him, a token entourage followed. Hastily assembled by Xiahou Dan, as the real entourage had perished.
Aside from a few who were in the know, the ministers’ pupils widened at the sight of his attire, whispers filling the air, “Could it be…”
Tur passed through the crowd, bowing to Xiahou Dan, “Tur, Prince Duan, greets the Emperor of Great Xia!”
The ministers went wild.
Under dozens of astonished gazes, Tur sat boldly at the negotiation table.
The Minister of Rites, responsible for the treaty, stepped forward, stiff as a board, finally stammering, “We did not expect Prince Tur to come incognito and grace us with his presence.”
Tur turned his head and met Xiahou Dan’s gaze through the layers of jade steps.
At this moment, he was truly alone, surrounded by enemies in a foreign land. Fortunately, as an old war dog, he sat there with the same steadiness as a mountain, holding the scene, “To be honest, I came by the Yan King’s order but chose to hide my identity on my own accord. I’ve fought many battles with Xia, but never truly set foot in its land to observe its customs and people.”
Xiahou Dan, with a gentle smile, asked, “Oh? And what have you concluded from your observations?”
“Your Majesty’s fairness at the Qianqiu Banquet has cleared our names. With such a righteous leader, the alliance between our two nations will surely endure.” Tur said.
His blatant lies left the ministers speechless.
Partly because the matter was settled and speaking up would be futile. Partly because, at this moment, everyone was like clay idols crossing the river, barely able to protect themselves, let alone care about the Yan Kingdom’s fate.
From Xiahou Dan and Tur’s back-and-forth, the ministers gleaned one message: I am the victor.
The Minister of Rites numbly stated, “The Yan King and Prince Tur’s sincerity is indeed admirable.”
Xiahou Dan announced, “Let’s begin.”
An Xian then lifted the peace treaty and began reading aloud, “Heaven values life, halting conflict after one battle…”
Xiahou Dan sat very straight.
He had to sit like this. His chest was still wrapped in thick bandages, tightly wound to prevent his wounds from reopening, restricting his upper body’s movement.
Before leaving in the morning, Yu Wanyin had applied light makeup to cover his pale complexion.
She then rushed off to check the palace’s defences, the empress dowager’s condition, and Prince Duan’s movements.
After she left, Xiahou Dan stood up and tried to walk a few steps, asking, “Is it obvious?”
Bei Zhou nodded, “Very obvious. You can’t even walk steadily now, and if you speak, even a fool would hear your weakness. Listen to your uncle and rest for a few more days…”
“Can’t wait any longer, the longer the night, the more dreams it holds.”
To buy him a day of recovery time, Yu Wanyin almost took charge overnight. She was as brave and decisive as he had expected. Yet, he hadn’t forgotten that she had also just been injured, killed people, and witnessed scenes that could be described as hell on earth. If they were in modern times, what she would need is a shock blanket and a psychologist.
But he couldn’t provide that.
All he could do was not let her efforts go to waste.
Xiahou Dan summoned Xiao Tiancai. “Is there any strong medicine that can invigorate me quickly?”
Bei Zhou shouted angrily, “No way! Do you know how much blood you’ve lost? Not resting is already bad enough, but if you use such drastic measures, do you still want to live?”
Xiahou Dan only looked at Xiao Tiancai. “Is there or is there not?”
Xiao Tiancai hesitated. “There is, but as Nanny Bei Zhou said…”
“Bring it here.” He said.
Bei Zhou didn’t speak to him until he left.
An Xian continued, “…each guarding their own territories, without encroachment, abiding by the treaty, blessing the people.”
In the deathly silent hall, both sides followed the procedure and affixed their official seals.
The treaty was concluded. Tur raised his head and said word by word, “May there be no more destruction of lives and broken homes between our two nations.”
At this moment, the news of the successful negotiation flew out of the palace, spreading quickly through official documents, secret messages, and folk songs, reaching every corner of the capital and beyond, eventually reaching the ears of the Yan people.
A month later, Yan King Zafervahan would be furious and denounce Tur as a traitor. As for the treaty, it was signed privately by the traitor Tur posing as an envoy, disregarding the honour of his ancestors. He would vehemently refuse to recognize it and vow to cut off Tur’s head to appease the ancestors’ wrath.
Before Tur could return, he would first attack a group of Tur’s loyalists.
The remaining Tur supporters would erupt in outrage, accusing Zafervahan of betrayal and cruelty, plunging the people into war. They would quickly gather forces, intending to install Tur as the new Yan King.
Two months later, Tur would return to Yan with men borrowed from Xiahou Dan, coordinating with his supporters. The civil war would last for several months, ultimately ending with Zafervahan’s death.
Meanwhile, Tur would honour the agreement and open trade with Xia. The border regions would become bustling with merchants, gradually achieving prosperity and peace.
Along with the mass importation of fox fur and spices into Xia, there would also be cartloads of Yan millet.
At this moment in the court, Xiahou Dan looked down, through Tur, seeing the vengeful Shani and the exiled Wang Zhao.
In his sight, the dead and the living, every one of them looked up at him. They were waiting for him to speak.
He spoke. “When I was young, before I understood how the world worked, I had dreams of saving the world. I thought I could make the country prosperous and every family thriving just by handling memorials and making decisions.”
He smiled at the ministers. “Later, you all saw what happened over the years.”
The ministers had never heard him speak so calmly.
They read between the lines: No more pretences, the cards are all on the table.
This preamble hinted at a reckoning. The pro-Empress Dowager ministers, especially those who had deceived the Emperor, felt their legs go weak, glancing towards the doors and windows, estimating their chances of escape.
Xiahou Dan could feel the effects of the medicine fading, the warmth in his chest gradually disappearing, and his limbs becoming cold and weak again. The familiar pain in his head returned, dragging his consciousness into a deep abyss.
He took a breath. “Some say that killing can bring peace, and war can end war. But sitting on this throne, every sinner is my subject. Across the eight wildernesses, within the four seas, all suffering is my responsibility. How many more corpses are needed to secure the nation, how much bloodshed to prosper it, I do not know, but I must. This throne to me is made of thorns.”
Everyone was stunned.
“I shouldn’t be here. But since I am, it must be fate. The grand vows of my youth, I have not forgotten.” Xiahou Dan continued.
His gaze swept over the faces of the pro-Empress Dowager ministers and then calmly towards the pro-Prince party. For a moment, Mu Yun’s eyes met his, feeling as if they were being scorched by fire, and he quickly looked away.
The Emperor’s eyes were as fierce as ever, but there was something different. As he spoke, his gaze had a solitary intensity, almost like the wrath of a Buddha, with an aura of divine mandate that made people tremble in awe.
In that mystical moment, some sensitive ministers had a sudden realisation, perhaps there truly was a son of heaven*.
*Emperors are called the Sons of Heaven as their authority has been given by divine right.
Xiahou Dan withdrew his gaze and smiled for the last time: “Fortunately, I have you, my loyal ministers. I am not alone.”
The crowd bowed and hailed long, live the Emperor.
The Emperor’s speech contained a veiled message: The past will be forgiven, but from now on, those who follow me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish.
Later that day, Mu Yun, mingling among his colleagues, finally saw the Empress Dowager.
They could hardly recognize each other.
A few days ago, she was still in her prime, dignified and elegant. Now she lay slumped on the bed, her face twisted, shouting indistinctly when she saw Mu Yun, seemingly uttering the word die.’
Mu Yun knelt down in tears, slapping his own face. “I deserve, deserve to die! I didn’t, didn’t expect Tur to be so, so cunning, colluding with the Prince to escape, escape capture…”
The Empress Dowager wouldn’t let him off with a few self-inflicted slaps. Her eyes bulged with rage, still shouting ‘die.’
The kneeling ministers all pretended not to understand, murmuring about her health and urging her to stay calm.
Even the chief palace maid, who was usually her most trusted confidante, stood expressionless on the side.
The palace maid saw the Empress Dowager drooling uncontrollably and knew the tide had turned.
It was coincidental. Years ago, the stern Grand Empress Dowager had also died shortly after a stroke. Before that, Xiahou Dan’s mother, Empress Cizhen, had died the same way.
Whether the cause of this stroke was the same as those before, the palace maid dared not think too deeply, nor did she have the heart to guess.
All she thought about now was how to save her own life now that the Empress Dowager had fallen.
The Empress Dowager yelled for a long time, eventually breaking into sobs, crying out for help. A foul smell filled the air as she lost control of her bowels.
Several ministers muttered a few consoling words, urging her to take care of her health, and then fled in panic.
Outside the palace gates, they looked at each other, their expressions bitter.
One of them, lowering his voice and full of hope, said, “From what the Emperor said during the morning court, it seems he has no intention of settling old scores. He still has the Prince as a strong rival. To gain a foothold in the court, he needs to build his own power…”
“You mean he might try to win us over?”
Mu Yun, his face still swollen, sneered inwardly but wore an exaggeratedly fearful expression. “Hurry, hurry and resign. The Emperor is not afraid, afraid of patricide!”
Another minister paused. “You’re right, he is far from a benevolent ruler. Now he spares us because we’re useful, but what happens after he defeats the Prince? Rather than wait to be cast aside, it’s better to resign early and truly save our lives.”
Thus, each with their own thoughts, they parted ways. How many of them would flee and how many would seek Xiahou Dan’s favour, only heaven knew.
Mu Yun didn’t know if his recent actions had been discovered by Prince Duan’s spies. He hoped the spies would report truthfully to Prince Duan to clear him of any suspicion of treason.
Things seemed to unfold as he wished. Prince Duan summoned him again and disclosed new intelligence. “I sent people to Mount Bei to investigate. There are several bowl-sized craters left in the Grand Hall, but we don’t know what weapon caused them. The Emperor’s escape must have been due to him holding back a trick.”
Mu Yun quickly offered a suggestion, “Since that’s the case, we shouldn’t engage in direct combat. We can only strike where he’s unprepared, preventing him from counterattacking. Your Highness, do you remember the plan we discussed earlier?”
Xiahou Bo fell silent.
His silence indicated he remembered but was still hesitant.
Mu Yun pressed on, “Your Highness, this matter shouldn’t be delayed. We absolutely cannot allow him to grow stronger.”
Prince Duan, after so many years of planning for legitimacy, attempted to use the Tur as a blade to kill but failed. Now he was forced to take matters into his own hands. Even if he succeeded in seizing power, he would bear the eternal stigma of regicide.
Mu Yun understood his concerns, “Of course, we must act with a good reputation. Recently, I’ve been spreading rumours among the common people that the thunderstorm was a warning from Heaven due to the Emperor’s matricide. If we act according to our plan after some time, it will resonate well. The people will only think the tyrant’s death was justified.”
After a long while, Xiahou Bo nodded slightly.
While the entire court was restless and uneasy, Xiahou Dan, seen as a demon reborn, lay lifeless in bed.
Xiao Tiancai’s strong medicine only kept him going until the next morning. Once its effects wore off, he reverted to his state before being revived.
The day turned unusually cold. After several days of autumn rain, a cold wind from the north brought the first signs of winter. Bei Zhou was busy commanding palace servants to light the floor heaters and change the bed covers, completely ignoring Xiahou Dan himself.
After the others withdrew, he busied himself with organising the Shadow Guards.
Xiahou Dan, half-dead in his bed, murmured, “Uncle Bei.”
‘…’
“Uncle Bei, water.”
With a snap, Bei Zhou placed a cup of hot water on the bedside, splashing a few drops due to his forceful movement.
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Yu Wanyin had to maintain a facade of ignorance in public.
After leaving, she was pulled together with other frightened concubines and whispered gossip. Following them to the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters for an unsuccessful visit and then to the Emperor’s quarters to peek inside, she was persuaded by the guards to leave.
After completing the entire routine, she was so cold that she couldn’t feel her own toes, rubbing her hands and reciting her final lines, “It seems we can’t gather any useful information now. Let’s disperse.”
She was then grabbed by a low ranked Lady of Beauty.
The Beauty smiled cunningly, “Lady Yu don’t worry. At most, you should hear something by tonight.”
“Ah?”
The group of people smiled knowingly. Another person held her other arm and whispered, “Sister, with the Empress Dowager falling ill, there’s no one left to send her the contraceptive tea. It’s a good opportunity to make an effort and obtain a dragon seed.”
“Yes, yes, I learned a trendy peony makeup the other day. I can apply it for you, sister.”
“What are you saying? Sister Yu’s beauty is exceptional. Applying heavy makeup would only diminish her beauty! At the last Flower Banquet, Consort Xie deliberately applied makeup in front of her, which was like a joke? But my rose dew perfume isn’t bad, sister, have a smell…”
Yu Wanyin: “…”
She remembered. This was just before the Mount Bei Incident, when the palace intrigue here seemed to have just reached her reinstatement.
The Empress Dowager, who summoned the wind and rain, not only shook the former dynasty in the earthquake but also shook the harem. Therefore, Yu Wanyin transformed herself into a key figure to curry favour with.
Holding onto her arm, the little Beauties were related to the Empress Dowager’s party, and she had previously relied on the favour of the Consort Shu, and had stepped on Yu Wanyin.
However, there were stubborn ones who thought Yu Wanyin had become arrogant. In a strange tone, one advised, “The Emperor’s heart has always been fickle. In my opinion, sister, it’s better to be cautious.”
Yu Wanyin remembered again; this was supposed to be a palace intrigue story. But even now, she couldn’t remember all their names.
Facing the various expressions of the crowd, Yu Wanyin pondered for a long time before uttering, “I think, in this palace, comparisons of appearance and family background have always created an unfriendly atmosphere.”
Concubines: “?”
Yu Wanyin continued, “Moreover, historically, the average lifespan in the harem has been too short. This situation is detrimental to everyone. I have a proposal. We could introduce something like ping pong in the future, emphasising the spirit of competition in meaningful ways: friendship first, competition second, to improve physical fitness and care for mental health.”
Dead silence.
After a while, the small Beauty, who was holding her arm, asked softly, “What is ping pong?”
As the others dispersed, Yu Wanyin returned through the underground passage to Xiahou Dan’s bed.
Just as she peeked out, she was hit with a sudden warmth.
With the floor heaters burning, the inner room was warm like spring. From above, Xiahou Dan’s voice came softly, “… If the imperial physician is incapable, you should take charge. It’s best to keep the Empress Dowager going for a full month.'”
“I will do my best.” Xiao Tiancai said.
Xie Yong’er’s voice rang out, “May I ask why?” Her tone carried resentment, still remembering the grudge of the Empress Dowager’s abortion.
“You may not.” Xiahou Dan said.
Yu Wanyin laid on the bed, lost in thought.
The reports handed in by the Empress Dowager’s faction these past few days could flood the imperial study: those pleading for mercy, those resigning, those taking advantage to eliminate dissenters. It was truly a chaotic scene. Xiahou Dan carefully read through all of them and scheduled meetings with them in batches.
Looking back now, she understood why Xiahou Dan hadn’t killed the Empress Dowager at the time. There was another layer of purpose, to create a buffer period, smoothly taking over the Empress Dowager’s influence.
With Prince Duan currently a formidable enemy, their side was weak. The urgent task was to quickly strengthen their ranks. And the easiest allies to win at this moment were the interests that were about to lose their benefits – the defeated faction of the Empress Dowager.
To move against them now would be to harm oneself as well, giving Prince Duan an advantage for no reason. The ideal scenario of cleansing the court and the public could only be considered slowly in the future.
Although Yu Wanyin had not personally dealt with these ministers, she had read the descriptions. They had deceived and manipulated Xiahou Dan, feigning loyalty while using the Emperor’s name to enrich themselves, their covert schemes never ending. Even as a bystander, she wished she could fast-forward to the autumn to settle the score.
But Xiahou Dan had held back.
Whether at the brink of death on Mount Bei or now in a position of great influence, all his choices, upon careful consideration, turned out to be optimal solutions.
In terms of temperament and vision, he could be considered an outstanding emperor.
. Perhaps a bit too outstanding.
Who would believe he was just an actor who had arrived a year ago?
Xie Yong’er fell silent for a while, belatedly grasping the underlying meaning, murmuring, “A ruthless man.”
“Among the Empress Dowager’s faction, which ones are spies for Prince Duan?” Xiahou Dan asked.
“….” Xie Yong’er hesitated.
“Don’t hesitate. Make a list later and hand it over honestly. You’re already on our side; if Prince Duan doesn’t die this time, it’ll be you. Volunteer any intelligence you have,” Xiahou Dan said coldly.
Xie Yong’er swallowed her pride, “Understood.”
Following behind Xie Yong’er, Xiao Tiancai bid farewell. They walked to a secluded place, his footsteps gradually slowing as he stared at Xie Yong’er’s figure.
“My Lady,” Xiao Tiancai began.
Xie Yong’er turned around.
The young man hesitated for a long time before speaking, “Didn’t you say you were moved by His Majesty’s true feelings?”
Xiahou Dan’s recent performance almost branded her with the label of ‘tool’.
Xie Yong’er looked at Xiao Tiancai’s naive expression and smiled bitterly, “There’s not that much true emotion in the world. I just switched sides at the last moment to survive, to live until they decide the outcome.”
Having said this, even she found her words dismal and embarrassing. Xiao Tiancai stood still, obviously unsure how to respond.
Xie Yong’er picked up the pieces of her shattered dignity, took a deep breath, “I’m leaving.”
As she walked away, a voice followed her, “And after they decide the outcome… then what?”
Xie Yong’er detected a hidden expectation in his voice.
However, at this moment, she was no longer in the mood, nor did she have the energy to deal with any man. She shrugged, “Probably find a way to escape.”
Xiao Tiancai fell silent.
Lost in thought, Xie Yong’er raised her head and looked at the sky, shaped by the eaves of the palace. “Isn’t it ironic? I once yearned to rule this world, yet I don’t even know what this world really looks like.”
In the inner chamber,
Yu Wanyin crawled out from under the bed, “Is the meeting over?”
“It’s over,” Xiahou Dan leaned back on the bed.
Yu Wanyin’s limbs warmed up, and she came alive. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she frowned at Xiahou Dan, “Is it just my imagination, or does your complexion look worse than this morning?”
Before Xiahou Dan could reply, Bei Zhou, standing against the wall, suddenly snorted coldly.
Xiahou Dan glanced at Bei Zhou quickly. The meaning of this glance was: Don’t tell her about my medication.
Bei Zhou snorted even more heavily and left.
Yu Wanyin: “?”
“It’s nothing,” Xiahou Dan said, “just that the wound is healing slower. The poison from Qiang is too strong; it’s a miracle I’m alive.”
Yu Wanyin squinted at him, drawing out her words, “President Dan, why do you always keep things from me?”
Whether this statement held a double entendre, only Yu Wanyin knew.
Xiahou Dan forced a stiff smile, “What are you talking about?”
Unconsciously, Yu Wanyin found herself able to discern many things from his expressions and even his gaze.
Yesterday, he had just returned from the brink of death, yet his spirits were surprisingly calm. But now, those dark eyes, which seemed painted with thick ink, dimmed again, as if silently enduring something.
Yu Wanyin: “Is your headache back?”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
“How did you know?” Xiahou Dan asked.
“I know more than you imagine.”
Yu Wanyin didn’t get the expected response. Xiahou Dan didn’t take the bait at all. Instead, he pretended ignorance with a smile, “You never cease to amaze me.”
Failing to fish for a response, Yu Wanyin had to give up on that topic, “Lie down, let me massage you.”
Actually, massaging couldn’t alleviate his headache. But he liked the suggestion and gladly moved his head closer. Yu Wanyin warmed her palms and skilfully massaged his temples, “Close your eyes.”
Following her words, Xiahou Dan closed his eyes as if dozing off.
The wind outside howled, making the room even quieter.
After a while, Xiahou Dan spoke softly, “Are you okay?”
“Me?”
“The people who died on the mountain. ” he closed his eyes, seemingly choosing his words carefully, “they were destined to die no matter what. Even if they completed their mission, Prince Duan would silence them. So, their deaths are not your fault.”
Yu Wanyin’s movements slowed down.
She found it somewhat ironic, “Are you giving me psychological counselling?”
Xiahou Dan opened his eyes and looked at her, his gaze inexplicable.
“We’ve clearly experienced the same things, if there’s counselling to be done, shouldn’t it go both ways?” She lightly patted his forehead, “It’s not your fault either.”
Xiahou Dan continued to stare at her without blinking, to the point that Yu Wanyin began to feel uneasy.
She touched her own face, “Is there something on it?”
“No.” Xiahou Dan finally looked away, “You smell nice.”
“Nice?” Yu Wanyin lowered her head and sniffed, then chuckled, “It’s the rose perfume your good consorts sprayed on me.”
“Why did they spray it on you?”
Yu Wanyin recalled the words ‘to obtain a dragon seed’ and her face flushed, “No reason.”
“Tell me.”
“Is your headache gone? Then I’ll go first.”
Xiahou Dan hastily grabbed the hem of her skirt, “Wait, don’t leave…”
When a Shadow Guard rushed to the door with a confidential letter, this was the scene he saw: the Emperor, severely injured in bed, playing some teasing game with the enchanting consort with his life on the line.
The guard hesitated, about to retreat, but Xiahou Dan caught sight of him, “What is it?”
Yu Wanyin quickly straightened up.
“Bai-xiansheng has sent a letter.” the Guard reported.
“A’Bai?”
The guard handed over the letter, casting a surprised glance at Yu Wanyin, who showed no intention of avoiding it. Seeing Xiahou Dan didn’t rush her either, the guard couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. He was specifically responsible for delivering messages to Xiahou Dan and each time he returned to the palace after months, he noticed significant improvements in this consort’s status.
What extraordinary qualities did she have to win the heart of the emperor, who had abstained from women for so many years?
Xiahou Dan had already opened the envelope and glanced at the letter inside.
The guard heard him explaining to Yu Wanyin, “I asked A’Bai to send someone to help Tur. He replied, confirming he’d handle it.”
“Send someone?”
“…his martial brothers.”
Yu Wanyin suddenly realised, “Is this the task you gave A’Bai? You promised troops to Tur, and it turned out to be a group of martial artists? Wait, didn’t A’Bai just debut this year? How did he gather so many people?”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Xiahou Dan vaguely replied, “He has his ways.”
“A’Bai is quite impressive.”
Xiahou Dan pursed his lips, not responding, and turned the envelope upside down. First, as usual, several pills fell out, followed unexpectedly by something else.
A silver hairpin, carved in the shape of a bird spreading its wings, with not tassels hanging from it, but two long feathers.
This clearly wasn’t meant for the Emperor.
Xiahou Dan’s mouth twitched slightly, “A lark.”
He handed the hairpin to Yu Wanyin, “It’s for you. He said your birthday is coming up, and this is his gift.”
The guard’s eyes widened. Could he really witness such a stimulating scene? Giving a gift to his woman in front of the Emperor?
The guard stole a glance at Yu Wanyin, feeling terrified.
Yu Wanyin chuckled wryly, “He’s really not afraid of death.”
Wait a minute, isn’t this consort, how come she’s still so relaxed about whether people are afraid of death, aren’t you afraid of death yourself?
Yu Wanyin held the hairpin in her hand, weighing it, and seeing Xiahou Dan’s expression that seemed to say “if you dare to wear it, I’ll kill A’Bai,” she quickly set it aside, “Don’t be angry. He doesn’t mean anything by it. People from the martial world don’t follow rules; he considers me a friend…”
Xiahou Dan said darkly, “We’ve only spent a few days together, and you’re already friends?”
Yu Wanyin surprisingly enjoyed the jealousy in the air, thinking to herself that he used to pretend to be so composed, but now he couldn’t keep it up.
The shadow guard saw the smile on her lips and felt his heart tighten.
Yu Wanyin leaned closer to Xiahou Dan’s ear, “Your Majesty.”
Xiahou Dan was tickled by her breath in his ear, tilting his head away. Yu Wanyin, like an ancient fox spirit, persistently pursued him, whispering, “Your Majesty… he’s just my little sister.”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Shadow Guard: “?”
What did you just say?
Yu Wanyin’s voice was bewitching, “He said purple is very charming.”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Xiahou Dan chuckled.
The shadow guard numbly thought: Perhaps this is what it means to be enchanted.
Xiahou Dan remained like a corpse for a day, literally squeezing out a bit of blood, and finally managed to get out of bed the next day, immediately going out in a dignified manner to confront the Empress Dowager’s faction.
Yu Wanyin enjoyed a long-awaited lazy sleep, and when she got up, she skilfully changed into men’s clothing. With the Shadow Guard discreetly accompanying her, they left the palace quietly, making sure no one was following them, and slipped silently out of the city gate.
On the outskirts of the capital, a new gravestone had been added in the cemetery.
The pit in front of the gravestone had not yet been filled, with an empty coffin beside it.
When Yu Wanyin got out of the carriage, several people were already waiting. Li Yunxi, Yang Duojie, Er Lan, and an elderly couple she had never met before.
The cold wind was even colder than yesterday, causing their robes to flutter. The elderly couple were hunched over, supporting each other. Their swollen and lifeless eyes seemed to be open but not noticing where they were. It wasn’t until Yu Wanyin approached that the old woman slightly raised her head and stammered, “Are you… all colleagues of my son?”
To avoid the attention of Prince Duan, everyone had disguised themselves before leaving the city and couldn’t use their real names. Even the name engraved on this gravestone was just a pseudonym used by Wang Zhao when he entered the court.
Yang Duojie stepped forward, “Uncle, Auntie, we are all close friends of Wang Zhao-xiong, here to see him off.”
Actually, to call them friends was a stretch.
Wang Zhao was like an old man, usually speaking carefully to the point of being dull, and Yu Wanyin had never seen him connect deeply with anyone. Moreover, shortly after he entered the court, he went alone to Yan State.
The elderly couple were nevertheless comforted, “Good, good, at least he had so many friends to see him off.”
Trembling, the elderly couple opened their bundle and placed a stack of clothes into the coffin, arranging them into a human form.
As the guards began to fill the grave with earth, Yu Wanyin felt a chill on her nose and looked up. The first snow of the year was falling from the sky.
Li Yunxi had bought a good wine early in the morning and now poured a cup, singing, “Clear river waters, above them maples grow; eyes look a thousand miles, wounded spring heart. Soul returns, soul returns! Mourning Jiangnan…”
The elderly couple began to wail mournfully at his hoarse and mournful singing.
Yu Wanyin stood silently by, suddenly remembering a long time ago, when she hummed a tune with a big white throat, and Wang Zhao overheard. Wang Zhao hesitated for half a day before commenting, “Lady, your singing reflects the hardships of the people.”
That was their only connection.
She had no idea what kind of person Wang Zhao was, what his life ambitions were, whether he had ever loved someone, or what he thought about before facing the direction of Xia in his final moments.
Only knowing the road to the ends of the earth, with an unmarked grave.
After Li Yunxi finished singing, he poured the wine from his cup onto the mound and said, “Wang-xiong, the heavens are your tent, the mountains and rivers your hall, the sun and moon your torches, the grass and trees your beams; you have returned home.”
The others also took turns with the wine jug.
Li Yunxi poured another cup at the end, saying, “This is from Cen-xiong, to toast you.”
Yu Wanyin left the space for the elderly couple to mourn and gestured for a few courtiers to step aside.
She asked quietly, “What happened to Cen Jintian?”
“Not doing too well.” Li Yunxi replied.
He sighed, “Yesterday when he heard the Yan matter had been settled, he was quite happy, planning to come today to see off Wang-xiong. But today, he couldn’t get out of bed.”
When Yu Wanyin returned to the palace, Xiahou Dan had already met with two groups of people and brought back some news. “Minister Yu has been trying various ways to pass a message to you.”
Yu Wanyin’s thoughts were elsewhere. “Who is Minister Yu?”
“… Your father.”
“Oh. Almost forgot.”
“He’s probably not doing well under Prince Duan’s control, thinking there might be an opportunity with me to seek a new way out. This person was just a nobody in the original work, right? Otherwise, give him…”
Xiahou Dan paused mid-sentence.
Yu Wanyin looked at him.
Xiahou Dan continued, “Have you cried?”
“No.” Yu Wanyin’s eyes were indeed dry. She had forgotten how long it had been since she last cried.
She mentioned Cen Jintian’s situation.
Xiahou Dan reminded her, “He was originally destined to die of illness.”
“But in the original work, he at least lived until summer, dying only when the drought came.”
“That’s because he thought he would see a good harvest and held on. Now that he knows about the drought and knows the people can survive it, he no longer has concerns.” Xiahou Dan’s voice was calm. “For him, it’s a happy ending.”
Yu Wanyin felt somewhat depressed.
She wanted to say, how could this be considered a happy ending? They had promised originally to let Cen Jintian live to see peace and prosperity. But when they used those words to gain his loyalty, they knew deep down that time was probably running out. That vision was destined to remain just a vision.
But before she could say anything, Xiahou Dan seemed to anticipate her line and spoke in a tone of teaching a child, “Wanyin, never forget they are paper people. Forgetting this will crush you.”
When the desolate song and mournful cries still echoed in her ears, the term “paper people” sounded particularly harsh.
Yu Wanyin blurted out, “When you heard about Wang Zhao’s death on Mount Bai, you didn’t react like this.”
There was a moment of silence in Xiahou Dan’s eyes. “That’s why I need to remind myself too.”
Yu Wanyin was speechless.
Suddenly, Xiahou Dan remembered that he had promised her once that she would never need to change.
He had broken that promise.
He didn’t want to see her in pain, so he tried to deprive her of the right to feel pain.
After several seconds, Xiahou Dan softly asked, “Want to have hot pot tonight?”
“… Huh?”
Xiahou Dan smiled, “Haven’t you always wanted to get three people together, have hot pot, and play cards? Now that Xie Yong’er is here, I’ll bring Uncle Bei along, and we can teach him to play cards.”
Yu Wanyin forced herself to pull out of her emotions. “Your wound isn’t healed yet. You can’t eat spicy food, right?”
“We can make a half-and-half pot*.” Xiahou Dan had an inexplicable obsession with hot pot.
*Looks about as it says on the tin. It’s a hotpot split down the middle, usually with a slight wave to the divider. It’s for having hotpot with two different kinds of soups.
The sky darkened quickly, and the dim warm light from the palace lanterns illuminated the falling snowflakes.
Yu Wanyin went to the side hall to find Xie Yong’er. To avoid Prince Duan’s suspicion, Xie Yong’er currently claimed illness and didn’t go out. In reality, she had been hiding alone in Xiahou Dan’s side hall, without anyone to talk to all day.
Xiahou Dan followed her to the courtyard, dismissed the umbrella-holding palace attendants, and turned to look at the door where Bei Zhou’s room was located, but hesitated to move.
After some time passed, he brushed off the snow on his shoulders and stepped forward to knock on the door. “Uncle, want to have hot pot?”
The door opened, and Bei Zhou looked at him expressionlessly.
The current tyrant bowed his head submissively, “Don’t be angry. At that time, there was no other way but to take the medicine.”
Bei Zhou sighed silently.
Xiahou Dan continued, “Uncle…”
With a heavy tone, Bei Zhou pressed down on his head, “I said, you’re Nan’er’s child, my child. Uncle has no kin in this world, so I’ve spared no effort to protect you. It’s not for the sake of any family or country. If you shave another year of your life for this futile throne, Uncle will tie you up and take you away to the ends of the earth to spend the rest of your days. Do you understand? Let’s go.”
Without waiting for his response, Bei Zhou walked away on his own.
Xiahou Dan stood by the door with his head lowered.
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 17
Previous: Chapter 15