How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
Ten kilometres outside the capital city, at the Right Army’s encampment.
The ‘sleeve crossbows’ had been secretly distributed to a thousand elite soldiers, all personally trained by Lin Xuanying and loyal to him. After urgent training, they could handle these weapons with the skill to take on a hundred enemies each. They were well aware of the power of their weapons but still didn’t know who they would be targeting.
Of course, as they assessed the situation along the way, they had a vague idea that these weapons might be used for rebellion. As a result, the overall mood was quite tense.
On this final night, Lin Xuanying gathered them on an open ground and coldly said, “Do not make a sound.”
He then revealed a man and a woman standing behind him.
The elite soldiers stared. Who are they?
Lin Xuanying: “Congratulations to all of you, you are about to perform meritorious deeds for the new emperor.”
A few seconds later, a thousand soldiers knelt in unison, without making a single sound, expressing their excitement only through their facial expressions.
Lin Xuanying felt quite proud and turned to say, “Your Majesty, please give your instructions.”
Xiahou Dan nodded and spoke slowly, “Tomorrow’s objective is to capture Prince Duan alive. Kill the other leaders without mercy. Except for the leaders, do not kill the soldiers of the other two armies who surrender. You all possess powerful weapons, so take control of the situation quickly to minimise casualties. The blood of our soldiers should be shed on the frontier, not here.”
Knowing the limited literacy of the military, he kept his words simple and clear. Yet, his message resonated deeply with everyone. Several young officers who had been hesitant were now moved to tears, feeling they had finally met a wise leader, boosting the morale of the entire troop.
Lin Xuanying was satisfied. After reviewing the plan for the next day, he dismissed everyone back to their camps.
Back in the tent, Yu Wanyin whispered, “Let’s disguise ourselves now, to be prepared.”
Xiahou Dan had no objections and let her do as she wished.
As Yu Wanyin applied a fake beard on him, she smiled and said, “If all goes well, by this time tomorrow, we’ll have a bed to sleep in. Then we can send someone to find Uncle Bei, and with A’Bai here too, our four-person hotpot sessions can resume.”
She made no mention of the possibility that Bei Zhou might be in danger. Xiahou Dan understood her attempt to comfort him with light-hearted words, so he simply responded with a hum.
Yu Wanyin continued, “Xiao Tiancai is still in the palace. Before I left, I suggested an antidote strategy to him, and he said it was feasible. Maybe he’s made some breakthroughs during this time.”
“Hmm.” Xiahou Dan said.
“It’s a pity we can’t kill Prince Duan. If he dies, the world might collapse. But I’ve thought of some creative ways to torture him, would you like to hear?”
Xiahou Dan, sensing something, took her hand and said, “Wanyin.” His grasp was not particularly warm but dry and steady. “Don’t be afraid, it will go smoothly.”
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, and her heart miraculously calmed down. In the darkest and coldest night before dawn, they held each other and slept for a while.
The next morning, the three armies were arrayed neatly outside the capital.
The capital hadn’t faced an impending siege like this for hundreds of years. The Central Army alone had deployed fifty thousand troops, marching from the border. Despite some losses along the way, their combined strength with the Left and Right armies still totalled over eighty thousand.
A massive, silent force stood outside the city walls. From the city gate, it stretched as far as the eye could see, like a black torrent.
After waiting for a while, the city gate opened, and a small group emerged.
Leading the group was not Xiahou Bo, but a middle-aged man on horseback, who dismounted as soon as he exited the gate and cheerfully greeted the three commanders.
The Left and Right Armies were led by deputy generals, while the Central Army was personally led by General Luo, who had the highest respect for Prince Duan. Therefore, General Luo was particularly displeased. “Chancellor Huang, why hasn’t Prince Duan shown up? Where is he now?”
Chancellor Huang, smiling apologetically and said, “His Highness has been waiting for you all in the palace. Please, generals, follow me inside.”
General Luo frowned, picked a small team of guards, and proceeded towards the gate. Lin Xuanying watched coldly and did the same.
However, Chancellor Huang reached out to stop them. “Ah, please, everyone, leave your weapons outside before entering the city.”
The commanders’ faces darkened. General Luo sneered, “I’ve marched thousands of miles to assist, and this is the courtesy of Prince Duan?”
Chancellor Huang, flustered, kept apologising and saying kind words. Seeing that General Luo was not appeased, he looked around nervously and leaned closer to whisper, “The general may not know, but there might be traitors among the troops…” He lowered his voice even more, “It seems to have something to do with His Majesty’s remains.”
He glanced at General Luo as he spoke.
General Luo’s expression changed, seemingly realising something, and looked shocked.
Lin Xuanying controlled his expression to appear confused, though he was quite intrigued.
They had always thought the fake corpse of Xiahou Dan in the palace was arranged by Prince Duan himself. However, it now seemed there was more to it, possibly involving the Central Army.
What was going on?
Lin Xuanying said proudly, “I have nothing to hide.” He then removed his sword and threw it heavily at Chancellor Huang’s feet before walking through the gate. His guards followed closely, also discarding their weapons.
Before moving, General Luo turned and signalled his confidants outside the city to act as circumstances required and be ready for battle.
He couldn’t understand why Prince Duan’s attitude towards him had changed so drastically. He did not doubt Prince Duan, but suspected his subordinates of sowing discord. The gesture meant that his men should be ready to fight if necessary.
Far at the rear of the convoy, Yu Wanyin peeked through a crack in the carriage window, observing the situation at the gate.
She exhaled deeply, then turned to Xiahou Dan. “Wait for A’Bai’s signal.”
The path from the gate to the palace hall was lined with hidden soldiers.
With a general’s keen senses, they quickly noticed this. General Luo’s face darkened further.
Lin Xuanying silently checked the weapon hidden in his sleeve, ready to fire at any moment.
Regardless of the internal situation, Prince Duan’s suspicion meant trouble for them. The difficulty of their task had increased.
Outside the city, a sudden commotion arose within the troops.
Yu Wanyin, sensing it, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. “What’s happening?”
The escorting guard, with keen eyesight, replied, “The Commander of the Imperial Guards is here, ordering a search of the troops and pulling out suspicious individuals. A team is heading our way, probably to search the supply carts.”
Yu Wanyin’s heart sank. Prince Duan was still the same, trusting no one.
The guns had been distributed, leaving only some spare gunpowder hidden under a layer of straw as camouflage. But if someone was determined to search, it would ultimately be found.
Yu Wanyin’s heart raced as she stuck her head out of the window, noticing that the Imperial Guards had gathered the suspicious individuals at the foot of the city wall for collective questioning.
Yu Wanyin said, “They’re definitely looking for us. What criteria would they use to identify us?”
The Shadow Guard squinted his eyes and observed for a while longer. “It seems… most of them are either short or frail.” Those who were thin could be Xiahou Dan, and those who were short could be Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin’s mind raced. The thousand elite soldiers carrying guns, each tall and burly, didn’t fit this description and would not be checked first.
The Shadow Guard suddenly sped up his speech. “Your Highness, they are coming!”
“Forget it, let’s act now,” Xiahou Dan said, raising his gun.
Yu Wanyin retracted her head and took a deep breath. “Wait, I have an idea.”
Xiahou Dan asked, “What?”
Yu Wanyin quickly whispered a few instructions. Xiahou Dan barely had time to shake his head before the approaching soldiers arrived at their vehicle and shouted, “Open it up and have a look.”
The Shadow Guard lifted the curtain of the cart. Yu Wanyin glanced at Xiahou Dan before stepping out first.
The soldiers sized her up and down, and without hesitation said, “Take her away.”
Yu Wanyin lowered her head and was led away.
Xiahou Dan sighed. “…”
The soldiers then fixed their eyes on Xiahou Dan, who had come down after her.
Last night, Yu Wanyin had disguised him as a burly man with a full beard, stuffing pieces of cloth into his clothes to make him appear more muscular.
The soldier scrutinized him for a while, then pointed with his chin at the cart. “What’s inside?”
The soldier didn’t recognize Xiahou Dan, but Xiahou Dan recognized him. He was a minor officer of the Imperial Guard who had defected to the Prince at the foot of Mount Bei. Two fierce-looking henchmen stood beside him.
Xiahou Dan blinked. “Grain,” he said in a thick accent.
The officer was puzzled. “What?”
“Grain.” Xiahou Dan turned and lifted a box from the cart, opening it to show the contents. “Grain.”
“Alright, alright,” the officer said impatiently. “You, unload all the goods and spread them out.”
Xiahou Dan slowly climbed back into the cart to unload the boxes, giving the Shadow Guard a reassuring look.
Yu Wanyin was taken to the base of the city wall. As expected, she saw the mute girl among the “suspicious persons” that had been picked out.
After Xiahou Dan’s appearance a few days ago, Yu Wanyin had not let the mute girl serve her closely to maintain strict confidentiality. The mute girl didn’t want to leave, so she disguised herself in men’s clothes and followed the army, eating whatever she could scrounge. Today, unfortunately, her small stature was noticed and she was inexplicably singled out, now shrinking in the crowd and looking bewildered.
At this point, the whole crowd was in an uproar. The bolder ones began to shout, asking the Imperial Guards why they were being held. These Frontier soldiers had always looked down on the spineless Imperial Guards, and now that they had been treated coldly from the start, their discontent had reached a boiling point.
Commander Wen of the Imperial Guard paced over. “Enough talk, search every one of them!”
Taking advantage of the commotion, Yu Wanyin quietly moved closer to the mute girl and whispered, “It’s me.”
The mute girl turned her head sharply upon recognizing her voice.
“Listen to me,” Yu Wanyin quietly grabbed her hand, slipping something into her palm. “You know how to steal, so you should also know how to do the opposite, right?”
The mute girl was puzzled. “?”
Yu Wanyin glanced at a man standing in front of them. He was wearing the cloth armour of the central army.
Meanwhile, after several trips, Xiahou Dan suddenly went silent inside the cart.
The minor officer grew impatient. “Why aren’t you coming out?”
Xiahou Dan groaned, “It’s too heavy.”
“What?” The minor officer leaned in, seeing Xiahou Dan with his back turned, fumbling with something.
“It’s too heavy, can’t move it,” Xiahou Dan repeated.
“Stop messing around and come out!” The minor officer drew his sword and squeezed into the cart. “I warn you, I have more men outside. “
His voice cut off abruptly.
Xiahou Dan turned around, pointing a gun at him.
The minor officer nearly wet himself. “Your, your, your majesty…”
“Shut up,” Xiahou Dan said, tilting his head. “It seems you recognize what this is. You should also know its power, right?”
The minor officer nodded frantically, his eyes darting towards the cart’s curtain in desperation.
“If you call for help, I’ll personally send you to the afterlife, very ceremoniously,” Xiahou Dan said calmly.
The minor officer immediately shook his head vigorously. “Your majesty, I will do as you say.”
Moments later, the minor officer’s voice came from the cart. “These boxes are indeed too heavy, you two come help!”
The two henchmen outside climbed into the cart as instructed.
After another moment, Xiahou Dan and the Shadow Guard emerged from the cart with three sets of Imperial Guard uniforms, which they handed to three elite soldiers from the right army, giving them detailed instructions.
Simultaneously, a shout came from the base of the city wall. “Found it!”
The Imperial Guards had pinned a central army man to the ground. One of them held up a strange object, identical to the weapon Xiahou Dan had brandished at the foot of Beishan. “We found this on him!”
The guards, recognizing the weapon’s power, stepped back in fear. Commander Wen took the gun, his voice trembling. “Go… go report to the Prince.” He pointed his sword at the man on the ground, cautiously approaching and signalling his men to unmask him.
The central army man protested angrily. “What is this? I have no idea what that is! You’re framing me!”
The guards tore at his face for a while but found nothing unusual. Realising he wasn’t Xiahou Dan, they decided to take him away for questioning.
The central army erupted in outrage. A trusted aide of General Luo stepped forward. “Commander Wen, wait. What is the meaning of this?”
Commander Wen gripped his sword tightly, responding coldly, “We are acting on the Prince’s orders to search for traitors in the army. We hope for your cooperation to prevent any mishaps.”
The aide wasn’t having it and took a threatening step forward. “That man is my cousin. I know him well. Is there some misunderstanding?”
The aide’s high standing caused the central army to move with him, all stepping forward, weapons drawn an inch from their sheaths.
Commander Wen looked up sharply, staring at him with suspicion.
Among the central army, three Imperial Guards conducting searches raised their heads slightly.
One of them stepped behind a soldier being searched, slipping a hand into his sleeve.
Commander Wen, unsure of the central army’s stance, made some hand signals behind his back, reminding his men to be vigilant. He was about to say something to calm the situation when.
A loud bang echoed.
A bloody hole appeared on Commander Wen’s forehead. He wavered for a moment, then fell.
The air stood still for two seconds.
The left and right Imperial Guards went into a panic, scattering in all directions. Someone shouted, “It’s the central army! The central army fired the shot!”
Immediately, countless hidden soldiers appeared on the city walls, bows drawn and aimed at the army below. The central army descended into chaos. The trusted aide retreated into the ranks while the frontier soldiers, not fully understanding what had just happened, instinctively raised their shields and adjusted their formation to a defensive posture. Meanwhile, the rear ranks looked around in confusion, unable to locate the source of the explosive sound – they didn’t even know what had caused it.
“The central army is loyal to the Prince. How dare you frame us!” The trusted aide shouted.
The Imperial Guards were terrified. With Commander Wen dead, the deputy commander, standing on the city wall, trembled.
“Release arrows… release arrows! Quickly, summon the left and right armies to support us!” he commanded.
The central army responded, “Retreat! Retreat! General Luo is still in their hands!”
The left army was puzzled.
The right army leaders, already prepared, immediately led their troops to flank and attack the central army.
Outside the palace gates, Lin Xuanying and his men were once again stopped.
A group of palace eunuchs approached with apologetic smiles. “We ask for the generals’ understanding. Entering the palace now requires a body search.”
Lin Xuanying, knowing what the Prince feared, sneered silently. The other two generals were furious, with General Luo roaring, “Bring the Prince out here to say that to my face!”
The eunuchs’ smiles didn’t waver. “His Highness instructed us to convey that if nothing is found, he will personally apologise to the generals.”
General Luo hesitated between anger and restraint.
Seizing the moment, Lin Xuanying fanned the flames. “Is the Prince not showing himself because you’ve taken control of him?”
The eunuchs, seemingly prepared, squinted. “Generals, please don’t make things difficult for us,” they said, waving their hands. A group of guards emerged from the shadows, surrounding the delegation.
The frontier troops, not ones to be easily intimidated, readied themselves for a brawl, even with their bare hands, as they saw their generals being challenged.
As the standoff ensued, a cry rang out from afar, “Report! The central army has rebelled!”
Since the initial disturbance, the group of ‘suspicious individuals’ at the base of the city wall had scattered, taking advantage of the Imperial Guards’ distraction to flee back to their respective units.
In the chaos, Yu Wanyin tightly held onto the mute girl’s hand, pulling her behind the right army’s shields. The arrows from the Imperial Guards on the city walls were directed at the central army, providing them a moment of respite.
In fact, this was the ultimate goal of her impromptu plan.
Taking advantage of the infighting between the Imperial Guards and the central army, the elite right army soldiers, armed with guns, had quietly approached the city walls. Under the cover of formation adjustments, they aimed their weapons at the guards above, who remained oblivious.
“Lady,” a familiar giant approached, recognizing her by her stature and guiding them to the rear of the formation.
“Where is His Majesty?” Yu Wanyin asked.
“Here,” Xiahou Dan pushed through, his face pale, extending his hand toward her. “Don’t run off again.”
Yu Wanyin smiled and took his hand.
Xiahou Dan pulled her behind him, then nodded at the giant.
The giant raised his gun and shouted, “Attack!”
At the palace gates, General Luo’s men were locked in a fight to the death with the Prince’s guards. Suspecting trouble even before they entered the city, they had hidden weapons on their persons. With their formidable martial skills, they fought the Prince’s men to a standstill and drove out many of the hidden guards from the surrounding areas.
However, outnumbered, General Luo’s men fell one by one until only General Luo himself remained, struggling to hold his ground.
Lin Xuanying, watching coldly from the sidelines, had noted the positions of all the hidden guards and assessed the combat strength of both sides. Finally, he made his move. He shot the leading eunuch and shouted, “Attack!”
For everyone present, this was a day they would never forget. Yet most of them, until their dying breath, couldn’t clearly articulate what had happened. If they had to describe it, the only fitting term would be ‘divine retribution.’
In the previous second, the central army was under a three-sided assault. The Imperial Guards on the walls rained arrows like locusts, the right army joined in the siege enthusiastically, and the left army, upon hearing the shouts from the Imperial Guards, reluctantly followed suit.
The three attacking forces fought independently, not coordinating with one another, each unable to command the other. However, the central army, seasoned in countless battles, quickly regained composure after an initial moment of panic and decisively formed up for defence. Their overwhelming numbers and coordinated flanking cavalry broke through the ranks of the left and right armies, and they even brought up scaling ladders from their supplies to assault the city walls, fully committed to the fight.
The Imperial Guards, terrified by the fierce momentum, launched wave after wave of arrows at the central army, trying to halt their advance.
Then, from within the right army, a voice shouted, “Attack!”
Before the next second could pass, the battlefield was turned upside down.
What was that sound? It wasn’t the age-old war drum echoing over the battlefield but something like countless thunderclaps, filled with wrath from the heavens, crashing down upon the city walls and the central army.
The soldiers outside the city looked up in horror to see a bloody mist rising wherever the thunder passed.
No known weapon could cause such horrifying destruction.
The first row of Imperial Guards, along with their deputy commander, were obliterated within moments.
Several leading deputy generals of the central army, brave throughout their lives, fell from their horses, dead without understanding what hit them.
As the soldiers stood frozen in terror, the divine retribution showed no sign of stopping, thundering down upon them again.
No known defence could withstand it.
Shields and armour, designed to block blades and arrows, suddenly seemed as fragile as tofu. The relentless thunder shattered flesh and blood, crushing their will to fight.
Finally, someone shouted in a trembling voice, “It’s the right army… it’s the right army!”
The ‘suspicious individuals’ they had been so wary of revealed their true nature. not one or two, but an entire army.
The elite central army soldiers brought to the capital by General Luo, seasoned and invincible, now faced utter collapse. The front ranks broke first.
They weren’t facing a battle but a massacre, as if the gates of the underworld had opened and the ten kings of hell themselves had arrived.
Once they started to retreat, it was unstoppable. Their previously intact formation disintegrated into a chaotic mass. Soldiers trampled over each other in a desperate bid to flee, colliding with the rear ranks who were still pushing forward, creating a crushing pile of bodies like an out-of-control ant colony.
If the central army was in such disarray, the Imperial Guards were even worse off.
The attack from the city walls ceased to be effective as the terrified soldiers sought to hide behind the walls and escape.
Some fearless Imperial Guards, using their positional advantage, still tried to shoot arrows downward; and some left army soldiers, finally understanding what was happening, moved forward undeterred, unable to see the right army’s weapons clearly.
But the advancing tide of soldiers quickly scattered like waves against rocks.
The right army, well-prepared and with ample ammunition, seemed unstoppable. The giants left by Lin Xuanying commanded with precision, and from the moment they drew their guns, they hadn’t lost a single man.
The giant seized the opportunity and waved his large hand, commanding, “Set up the scaling ladders!”
Inside the city, Lin Xuanying dispatched three of the Prince’s men, including the eunuch and two generals, with three precise shots. He swiftly moved on to eliminate other key figures from different factions.
The elite team he brought with him were exceptional marksmen, hitting their targets with deadly accuracy. Although more guards continued to pour out of the palace, their morale was evidently low. They lacked the courage to enter the firing range, opting instead to hover at a distance, occasionally sending arrows and projectiles their way.
Lin Xuanying found cover and observed their futile attempts to deplete their ammunition, smirking disdainfully. “Wishful thinking,” he muttered.
Listening to the distant sounds of thunderous explosions at the city gate, he leisurely remarked, “How long do you think before they breach the city?”
On this day, both inside and outside the city, the soldiers experienced the transformative power of advanced weaponry.
After the initial wave of indiscriminate carnage, the right army focused solely on breaching the city walls, ceasing fire on the left and central armies.
However, even after catching their breath, the left and central armies hesitated to advance.
With a resounding crash, the city gates fell.
The right army began to sweep through the city, obliterating the remaining Imperial Guards.
In the central army ranks, some soldiers, ashamed to flee, attempted to raise their spears against the right army. Yet, weighed down by a sense of doom, they found their steps heavy and sluggish.
With a clatter, a spear slipped from a soldier’s grasp. The bewildered soldier muttered, “Is this heaven’s will?”
At that moment, a flag was unfurled from the city gate tower. The flag was dark black, embroidered with golden dragons, with nine silk ribbons fluttering in the cold wind.
This was the imperial standard flag, signifying the presence of the Emperor.
Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin, now without their disguises, ascended the city walls. They stood silently, gazing down at the rebel forces below.
The giant beside them, with a voice like thunder, bellowed, “The Emperor is here! Surrender at once!”
The rebel forces were stunned.
Until today, these soldiers had believed they were merely assisting the Prince in dealing with the remnants of loyalists. No one had informed them they were opposing the Emperor himself.
Opposing the emperor, what kind of crime was that?
A surviving deputy general from the left army, driven to madness by despair, shouted hoarsely, “The Emperor is dead! This must be an imposter from the right army! The right army… the right army are the real rebels!”
The giant glanced at Xiahou Dan, knowing it was time for the Emperor himself to assert his authority.
Xiahou Dan nodded and prepared himself.
Xiahou Dan’s voice rang out, “A mangy cur dares bark in the presence of my army! I’ve never seen such shameless audacity!”
The right army erupted in a thunderous cheer.
Yu Wanyin, “……”
Yu Wanyin, “…………”
Xiahou Dan, sensing her reaction, chuckled softly, “I’ve been holding onto that line for ten years.”
The giant, “？”
Xiahou Dan raised his voice again, “The traitor Xiahou Bo forged imperial decrees, invited foreign troops to the capital, and plotted to kill the Emperor and Empress. His crimes are heinous, and now the truth has come out, and the people are condemning him!
The sheer aura of menace he exuded was something no impostor could emulate.
The deputy commander, fully aware of this, felt his legs go weak and knelt down first, his face ashen, “I… deserve a thousand deaths!”
Xiahou Dan paused for a moment, then continued, “But the Empress has shown mercy, considering you were coerced and unaware of the truth. Those who turn their backs and surrender today will not be killed.”
The rebel army surrendered.
The Right Army, riding a wave of momentum, charged into the city. Collaborating with Lin Xuanying, they quickly subdued the resisting Imperial Guards and then rushed towards the palace.
The city’s inhabitants cowered in their homes, only hearing the army’s thunderous march outside their windows. Trembling, they wondered how many days they would have to hide this time, unaware that the regime had already changed.
Xiahou Dan stayed stationed outside the city. Moments later, Lin Xuanying’s confidant reported, “Prince Duan is hiding in the sleeping quarters, refusing to come out. He has taken the Crown Prince and the entire family of the Yu estate as hostages. General Lin does not dare to force his way in and has sent me to seek Your Majesty’s instruction…” He seemed somewhat puzzled but relayed the message as it was, “To ask Your Majesty if we can take the shortcut.”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Xiahou Dan: “Take it.”
Lin Xuanying, familiar with the terrain, led his men around to the Cold Palace, pried open the locks, lifted a heap of camouflage, and entered the tunnel’s entrance.
When they emerged from the other end of the tunnel, a farce was playing out in the sleeping quarters.
An eunuch, seeing the rapidly deteriorating situation outside, earnestly urged Prince Duan to “preserve the green hills so there will be no fear of running out of firewood”, pretending to push his wheelchair to help him escape. In an instant, however, the eunuch drew a dagger, intending to kill Prince Duan as a sacrifice to save his own life.
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Despite Xiahou Bo’s sorry state, he still had a few loyal bodyguards hiding in the shadows. They sprang out to capture the eunuch, and in a fit of rage, Xiahou Bo snapped the eunuch’s neck with his own hands.
Xiahou Bo was now on the verge of madness. He manoeuvred his wheelchair over to the hostages, pointed to a woman, and ordered his bodyguards, “Kill her, cut off her head, and throw it out for Xiahou Dan to see.”
At this moment, Lin Xuanying and his men sprang out from under the bed, swiftly and accurately killing all the bodyguards.
Xiahou Bo turned his head towards them, seemingly smiled faintly, eyes glinting with cold satisfaction, and raised something in his hand.
It was the same gun that had been falsely attributed to the Central Army by Yu Wanyin, then confiscated by the Imperial Guards and brought in.
Lin Xuanying’s pupils constricted sharply, swiftly dodging aside.
But Xiahou Bo instead turned the barrel towards himself, fumbling to pull the trigger.
Nothing happened.
Yu Wanyin had long since removed the ammunition from this weapon while planning in the supply cart.
Lin Xuanying’s men immediately pounced on Prince Duan, binding his limbs and stuffing cloth into his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue.
Lin Xuanying, his heart still racing, walked back towards Xiahou Dan with a malicious smile, “Your Highness Prince Duan actually seeks death? If His Majesty were to find out, how… heartbroken he would be.”
Meanwhile, Lin Xuanying led his men to hunt down the remaining remnants of Prince Duan’s faction within the city.
Concerned about Prince Duan’s cunning, a few bodyguards were left behind as a precaution. Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin did not enter the city for a time, but remained on the city walls, delivering a stirring speech to the army outside.
After collecting all the weapons from the rebel army, Yu Wanyin directed her men to treat the wounded, while Xiahou Dan temporarily appointed a few enthusiastic defectors as subordinates to help maintain order.
Halfway through cleaning up the aftermath, Lin Xuanying personally came out. His expression was somewhat grim as he gestured for Xiahou Dan to speak privately with him.
“We found the body that Prince Duan used to impersonate you,” Lin Xuanying led Xiahou Dan to a coffin on the inner side of the city wall, signalling for his men to open the lid, revealing the corpse inside.
Xiahou Dan approached, eyes lowered, looking at this pale-faced, eyes wide open, lifelike representation of himself.
It was eerily similar.
So much so that even those who knew him best would find it difficult to discern the truth.
To imitate to such a degree required not only superb skills but also an intimate understanding of him, very, very intimately…
When Yu Wanyin followed, she saw Xiahou Dan standing by the coffin as if frozen in place, unmoving.
Lin Xuanying spoke in a low voice, “I originally intended to carry the body out and publicly expose the disguise to prevent any future rumours of truth and falsehood. But I saw that the face mask had already been removed by someone, so I took a peek…”
He gently lifted a thin veil from the corpse’s face, revealing the peaceful countenance of Bei Zhou.
Yu Wanyin’s legs went weak for a moment, staggering to stand still.
Xiahou Dan, however, still kept his head low, showing no reaction for a long time.
Lin Xuanying recalled the days spent with this senior brother and felt a tightening in his heart upon seeing Bei Zhou in such a state. But having lived by the sword for so many years, he had seen all kinds of gruesome bodies and managed to calm himself after taking a few deep breaths, “I sent someone to investigate and brought back a physician from the Imperial Medical Centre who claims to know something about the situation. Would Your Majesty like to see him?”
Xiao Tiancai was brought over.
He nervously bowed and, upon seeing Yu Wanyin, discreetly nodded to her. Yu Wanyin paused, recalling that he was unaware of Xie Yonger’s death, and felt as if another knife had pierced her heart, struggling to maintain her composure.
Xiao Tiancai: “May it please Your Majesty, this person… Lady Bei… Master Bei?” He stumbled over the address himself, cautiously observing Xiahou Dan’s expression.
“Continue.” Xiahou Dan said.
Xiao Tiancai had to choose a title for him. “Master Bei was sent into the palace by the Central Army to Prince Duan. At that time, he impersonated His Majesty not only in appearance but also in speech and behaviour, perfectly mimicking him. No one in the palace suspected anything, and Prince Duan did not question it.
“After returning to the Imperial Medical Centre, my master deliberated for some time before telling me about the pulse anomaly. I harboured a great grudge against Prince Duan, so I persuaded my master to keep this matter secret, so that Prince Duan would remain unaware.
“Several days later, Master Bei’s condition worsened, and he fell into unconsciousness while coughing up blood. When palace maids wiped away the blood, they inadvertently discovered the disguise on his face. At that moment, I was delivering medicine and happened to see palace attendants rushing off to inform Prince Duan in a panic. Sensing trouble, I drugged the guards at the door, sneaked in, and used acupuncture to stimulate Master Bei’s acupoints, waking him up to warn him that Prince Duan was onto him.
“It was only then that I learned he was actually the person known as Lady Bei by His Majesty’s side.
“He recognized me too, showing no signs of panic on his face, only asking if Prince Duan had caught the real Majesty. I said no. He then urged me to ensure the Emperor’s poison was treated properly. I promised to do my best. He thanked me with a smile and mentioned he had been seeking an opportunity to kill Prince Duan these past few days but was too weak due to his injuries. Now, he saw it as his last chance and asked for my help.”
Xiao Tiancai paused, seeming to recall the scene from that time, his voice choked with emotion.
“I knew he was willing to risk everything. I administered another round of acupuncture, forcing out the last of his internal energy. He told me to stay away and not let anyone discover, then pretended to remain unconscious, waiting for Prince Duan to arrive.
“Later on, I stayed too far away to see clearly. I only saw Prince Duan bring a group of men in. Not long after, one of his men’s bodies was carried out. So, I deduced that Prince Duan was cunning, not daring to approach himself but sending his men to investigate Master Bei’s condition. Master Bei had no choice but to take one of them away as a last resort…”
Xiahou Dan seemed determined to stand like a statue, standing there as if for eternity.
Yu Wanyin waited a moment before softly instructing Lin Xuanying to take Xiao Tiancai away. She herself walked to Xiahou Dan’s side and held his hand. Both were as cold as ice.
“I already told him that I’m not the son of his old friend.” Xiahou Dan said.
“When was this?” She asked.
“Right before our last parting.”
Yu Wanyin sighed deeply in her heart, “Uncle Bei didn’t have much of a support system in his life. Perhaps in his heart, you were already his child. So… he was willing.”
After some time had passed, Lin Xuanying returned. When he saw them still standing by the coffin, he shook his head and moved forward to forcefully close the coffin lid, “Stop looking. According to the calendar, my master should also be leaving seclusion soon. I’ll send him a letter. He and Senior Brother Bei were close friends, so we should get his opinion on where to bury this coffin.
He patted Xiahou Dan on the shoulder, “My master is very capable and has foreseen many things. Perhaps he has a solution to the poison on you. Alright, stop standing here. Shall I find you a place where no one is around, so you can cry freely?”
Xiahou Dan turned around, his eyes dry, “Watch over Xiahou Bo carefully. Don’t let him die. I need to plan how to entertain him.”
Xiahou Bo was confined to the deepest, darkest cell in the dungeon, enjoying the luxurious treatment personally guarded by the royal shadow guards.
These Shadow Guards had followed Xiahou Dan to the very end in the original work, only to be ruthlessly exterminated by Prince Duan. This time, the tide had turned and they managed to survive. However, each of them had been personally trained by Bei Zhou, and the sight of Xiahou Bo filled them with hatred, and they gnashed their teeth in anger, with no intention of letting him off lightly.
The dungeon room had no windows and no light, so pitch black that you couldn’t even see your own hand, making it impossible to judge the passage of time.
The air was filled with a foul stench.
Xiahou Bo’s wheelchair had long been taken away, his hands bound, only able to lie on the damp straw. Perhaps due to the high fever, he had gradually lost feeling in his legs.
Apart from the stench of excrement, he could also smell a persistent rotting odour. The decay of his own body from the inside.
He sweated profusely, gasping for breath, his eyes wide open in the darkness. In his confusion, he had a sense that his life shouldn’t have taken this path, this ending.
At some unknown point, he fell into a hallucinatory dream.
That was a vivid dream. In the dream, he rose to prominence, cunningly eliminating the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. A drought ensued, causing widespread famine and misery among the people; Yan State took advantage and invaded, leaving destruction in its wake. However, he, the regent skilled in both civil and marital affairs, repelled the invaders and, with his immense prestige, led the people of Xia through difficult times. Eventually, he abdicated the throne to the Crown Prince, becoming a revered ruler of his time.
He stood proudly, surveying the world with ambition, with what seemed like a slender figure beside him. He thought it was Yu Wanyin, but when he turned to look, he couldn’t make out her face.
Lost in thought, a basin of ice water suddenly splashed down on him, drenching the floor of his cell.
Squinting, Xiahou Bo turned his head to look.
Yu Wanyin held a candle holder in her hand, silently standing outside the iron bars. The crimson candlelight cast an eerie glow from below onto her beautiful face, giving it an inexplicable hint of gloom.
After a few moments of silence, Xiahou Bo hoarsely said, “I dreamed of the scene you predicted. I stood at the peak of a mountain, receiving homage from all directions.”
Yu Wanyin looked at him almost pityingly.
Xiahou Bo’s heart was immediately stirred by this look, though only half of his face remained intact, showing only sorrow. “Wanyin, it’s come to the end. Tell me the truth: does your ‘Divine Eye’ truly exist, or is it just a facade?”
Yu Wanyin chuckled. “Of course, it’s real. What you just dreamed of was your original destiny, quite magnificent, isn’t it? I could have delayed pouring this basin of water.”
Xiahou Bo: “?”
Yu Wanyin continued, “Interrupting your beautiful dream isn’t very polite. How about I fill in some details for you?”
She described intimately how he had triumphed, how the generals and soldiers under his command had fought alongside him, how monarchs and subjects had harmonised…
Xiahou Bo struggled to keep his composure, but he couldn’t hold back any longer. “No need to continue. Might makes right. I, a mere mortal, have fought against you all, and in the end, defeated, I have nothing more to say. Yet you, with your ‘Divine Eye’, plotted in the shadows to undermine the entire army. This is not the conduct of a gentleman.
Yu Wanyin heard Xiahou Bo’s attempt to define gentlemanly behaviour and almost laughed. “I forgot to tell you, the central army didn’t betray you. When the central army painstakingly captured His Majesty for you, they didn’t even know he was fake.”
She had already reviewed this with Xiahou Dan. After they escaped from Mount Bei, due to severe injuries, Bei Zhou left the team alone and chose the direction to the north. That was the direction the central army came from.
From Bei Zhou’s perspective, it was not difficult to piece it together. Pretending to be Xiahou Dan was to divert attention from him; being deliberately captured and sent to the palace was to assassinate Prince Duan; and choosing the Central Army was to sow discord. He was captured by the Central Army, and even if he failed and was exposed, he could at least plant a seed of suspicion in Prince Duan’s heart.
As expected, this seed took root and sprouted in Prince Duan’s heart, growing vigorously and bearing bitter fruit in the end.
Bei Zhou understood everything.
But when he made this plan, he had just learned Xiahou Dan’s true identity. What he thought at that moment, they would never know.
Just as she would never know what Xie Yong’er was thinking when she got out of the carriage to hold off Mu Yun, whether she knew she was walking towards death or not.
The more Yu Wanyin’s heart ached, the brighter the smile on her face. “You know, General Luo believed until his dying breath that you were being held hostage by the Imperial Army and that he was rescuing you. Hah, if the souls of the Central Army soldiers were alive and knew that you were only acting on a vague suspicion, they might repay kindness with enmity… I wonder what their reaction would be?
“I didn’t. ” Xiahou Bo’s features twisted, “It was you who obstructed us!”
Yu Wanyin turned a deaf ear. “Honestly, by that point, regardless of the central army’s actions, the outcome was already determined. Even if His Majesty and I died together, the right army would still come to give you a grand finale.”
Thinking of the supernatural thing in their hands, Xiahou Bo became more envious, his eyes darkening.
How could the heavens be so biased, letting him struggle like an ant all his life, but granting Xiahou Dan such favour?
Yu Wanyin seemed to see through his thoughts. “Actually, you once had a chance to turn things around. The heavens sent someone for you, someone who could possibly defeat us. She had deep feelings for you, ready to stand with you in the world, in harmony.”
Xiahou Bo’s mind suddenly flashed with the blurry figure from his dream. A lively voice echoed in his ear, saying, “Yong’er will accompany Your Highness to the highest peak…”
“Stop,” he hoarsely interrupted.
He wanted the best, the very best.
So much so that he couldn’t even remember her face anymore.
Yu Wanyin looked at him indifferently. “Long ago, you personally buried your only chance of victory.”
Xiahou Bo suddenly erupted, “Shut up! If it weren’t for you… if it weren’t for you…”
He couldn’t continue, because a mocking smirk appeared on Yu Wanyin’s lips.
Taking a deep breath, Xiahou Bo said, “I am utterly defeated. Please, Your Ladyship, grant me a swift end.”
“A swift end?” Yu Wanyin shook her head. “I’m not here to kill you, I’m here to save you.”
She gestured to the guards to open the cell door and light the lamp.
A group of palace servants and imperial physicians entered the iron-barred cell, grim-faced, pinching their noses as they began washing the floor and disinfecting him.
Yu Wanyin remarked, “These legs of yours are no use anymore. It’s better to amputate them early; it might just save your life.”
Recalling some modern medical knowledge, Yu Wanyin gave instructions to the physicians on disinfection and haemostasis. Then she had the servants stuff a cloth into Xiahou Bo’s mouth. “Your Highness Prince Duan, please don’t die. As long as you live, there is still hope for a turnaround, isn’t there?”
She smiled maliciously and turned away, walking through the long passage of the dungeon. From behind came the muffled screams of Xiahou Bo, gagged with cloth.
When news of the amputation reached the court, Xiahou Dan was in a meeting with Li Yunxi and others.
Naturally, these people were moved to tears with mixed emotions. Xiahou Dan forcibly stopped Li Yunxi’s excessive behaviour, and he was dealing with important matters. The imperial physician came tremblingly and said, “Prince… Xiahou Bo held on, but he still needs to recover from fever and regain consciousness before we can say his life is out of danger.”
Xiahou Dan raised his eyebrows. “He held on? He truly is indomitable.”
This statement sounded as if he was sincerely praising him, even conveying a hint of genuine joy. The old imperial physician was so frightened that he knelt on the ground without daring to lift his head, reflecting on whether it was right or wrong to save Xiahou Bo’s life.
Then Xiahou Dan instructed, “The legs that were cut off, throw them into the pot and stew them until he wakes up. Serve it in front of him. Besides that, don’t give him any food for three days.”
The imperial physician could hardly walk straight when he left.
Li Yunxi’s face turned pale. He hesitated for a moment, apparently considering whether to offer advice on the way of a ruler. However, when he met Xiahou Dan’s eyes, he was seized by an inexplicable fear, and his already opened mouth closed again.
In that instant, he felt that the Emperor in front of him… was truly going mad.
The capital city was in disarray.
Lin Xuanying was still leading people to patrol and eradicate the remnants of the rebel army.
The ultimate victor, Xiahou Dan, seemed not to seek stability in slowness. Just after returning to the Dragon Throne, he eagerly began a thorough settlement.
The Prince Duan faction completely exited the stage of history.
Some senior supporters of the former Empress Dowager faction had entrusted their fortunes to Xiahou Dan when the Empress Dowager fell from power. They had not yet had time to celebrate their correctness in betting on him before facing demotion or exile.
The intricate forces were uprooted, and the veteran ministers who had survived three dynasties were thoroughly purged. Countless manors were seized, and numerous private treasuries were pried open.
Moreover, those civil officials who had opposed Prince Duan earlier, some were imprisoned, some hid in their manors, and some were already on their way back home but were summoned back one by one to be reinstated. In addition, the Emperor promoted a group of officials who had endured hardship in the lower ranks for many years to fill vacancies in the court and the government.
Li Yunxi and others swiftly rocketed into high positions at an incredible speed. The Emperor had just wielded his divine power to eliminate Prince Duan, and those mysterious ‘divine soldiers’ were still patrolling the capital city at this time, their momentum unstoppable, their prestige at its peak. Everyone was dumbfounded, at this moment, not to mention a change of power in the court. Even if Xiahou Dan decided to relocate Bei Mountain to fill the sea, nobody dared to question him.
Of course, this wasn’t his only reason for being in such a hurry.
Such a rough transfer of power indeed seemed overly hasty. And with the way he dealt with Prince Duan’s remnant forces, he was bound to bear the name of a tyrant once again.
But there were some matters he didn’t want to leave to Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin was studying the maps.
They had tried to keep casualties to a minimum, but this rebellion had caused some damage as they fought the provincial garrisons along the way. The damaged cities and roads were waiting to be repaired, and the newly appointed Minister of Works had just submitted his proposals.
Yu Wanyin remembered Xie Yong’er’s plans for express delivery and takeaway food services during her lifetime, so she came to the maps and began marking circles on the main roads. This was also an opportunity to plan transportation and logistics.
She didn’t know with her limited abilities how much she could change this world in her lifetime. But now that the internal and external troubles from the original work had been settled one by one, talented individuals were flocking under her banner. At least in the visible future, everything would develop towards a better direction.
There was some movement around her, and the mute girl brought a teapot to replenish her tea.
People judge others by their clothes. After the thin, ragged thief had tidied up and changed into the dress of a palace maid, she actually showed a bit of the delicate beauty of a young girl. However, her complexion still had a sickly yellow tint, clearly a result of long-term malnutrition.
Yu Wanyin appreciated the effort she had put in along the way and was afraid she would be bullied in the palace, so she kept her by her side. The mute girl was clever by nature and quickly adapted to her new job.
Seeing her staring thoughtfully at the map on the table, Yu Wanyin beckoned, “Come and take a look. Can you find where your hometown is?”
The mute girl looked at it for a while, shook her head, not sure if she meant “can’t find it” or “don’t remember.”
Then she pointed at Yu Wanyin.
“Are you asking me?” Yu Wanyin thought for a moment. Her place of origin wasn’t even in this dimension. She looked for the mansion of Lord Yu Shaoqing on the map, but couldn’t point out where it was. Finally, she said, “I don’t remember either.”
The mute girl tilted her head in confusion.
“But it’s okay. I have a new home now. Eventually, you’ll find yours too.”
Yu Wanyin remembered Xiahou Dan’s words, “You are my home,” and a smile appeared briefly on her face, but it quickly turned melancholy.
Everything was getting better… except for one thing.
After the chaos in the capital subsided, she immediately summoned Xiao Tiancai.
During their absence from the palace, Xiao Tiancai had never given up on the idea of ’fighting poison with poison’ and had spent all day searching through medical books.
Xiao Tiancai said, “I have found the remaining ancient prescriptions for the two strange poisons that His Majesty was exposed to earlier. However, the ancient recipes are incomplete, and some of the names of the herbs are extremely bizarre. If I continue to search, all I can find is the Qiang text, and it is unknown whether the herbs mentioned exist within the borders of Xia”. He handed over the copied prescription. “Can Her Ladyship send someone to Qiang to investigate?”
Qiang was currently being invaded by Tur’s army because it sheltered King Zafervahan, leaving it a scorched earth.
Even if she wrote to Tur now to interrogate the prisoners one by one; even if they were lucky enough to get some information out of the prisoners; even if Tur immediately collected the herbs and sent them back – it would still take at least three months.
But it had been ten days since Xiahou Dan’s last dangerous episode. Yu Wanyin didn’t know when he might relapse, but she probably couldn’t afford to wait three months.
“Can you guess the effects of these several medicinal herbs and find substitutes within Xia?” She asked.
“…Given enough time, perhaps.”
“Given enough time?”
“At least three years.” Xiao Tiancai knelt down to apologise.
What else could Yu Wanyin say? She replied, “Get up, it’s not your fault.”
Now she could only send a letter to Tur and hope for a miracle.
During her long silence, Xiao Tiancai hesitated several times before finally asking, “May I ask, Your Ladyship, did Consort Xie… have a smooth journey?”
Yu Wanyin: “…”
She didn’t dare to look him in the eye. “We lost contact after leaving the palace.”
Xiao Tiancai was taken aback, his face showing concern. “Oh.”
“I will send people to find her,” Yu Wanyin said, squeezing her palms tightly.
Should she tell him? How should she tell him?
Before her death, Xie Yong’er specifically asked them to keep it from Xiao Tiancai, saying, “If he knows I’m dead, he might go on strike.” But perhaps her real intention was simply not to make him sad.
If she only disappeared without a trace, at least there would be some hope left…
Yu Wanyin was still conflicted, but Xiao Tiancai had already thanked her and left.
“Wait.” Yu Wanyin took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to him.
It was a letter entrusted to her by Xie Yong’er on the eve of her departure from the palace. She had kept it close to her throughout their journey of turmoil and finally brought it back intact.
Xiao Tiancai was unwilling to wait a moment longer, even opening and reading the letter in front of her.
Yu Wanyin didn’t know what Xie Yong’er had written, anxiously watching his expression.
As Xiao Tiancai read, his cheeks unexpectedly flushed. He hastily put away the letter, nearly stumbling over his words as he bid farewell, but he couldn’t hide the excitement in his eyes.
Yu Wanyin stood motionless, watching him leave.
Everything was getting better… but in that beautiful future, there was no place for them.
Two days later, Lin Xuanying suddenly reported, “Master has arrived and is waiting outside the palace for summons.”
Xiahou Dan went personally to greet him, and Yu Wanyin’s spirits lifted as she followed.
The unnamed guest looked ethereal.
Clad in simple clothes with hair and beard all white, yet his face showed no signs of age. His fox-like eyes, smiling, scanned each person in turn, as if seeing through them and into nothingness.
In short, he had the face of an NPC guide.
Their eyes met, and Xiahou Dan bowed first, “I have long heard of the Master’s name.”
The guest had previously sent North Boat and Lin Xuanying to them, indeed deserving of such respect.
The unnamed guest, unlike many eccentric masters in legends, gently returned the bow, “Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, you have worked hard.”
Yu Wanyin was momentarily stunned, feeling that his comforting words seemed almost sage-like.
A gust of wind brushed past them, and Lin Xuanying leaped over, rushing towards him, “Master. !”
The unnamed guest raised a single finger, as if erecting an invisible barrier that stopped him mid-air, “A’Bai, after years of apprenticeship, why hasn’t your skill improved?”
Lin Xuanying exclaimed in grievance, “Do you think it’s easy for me? Training soldiers, fighting battles, and searching everywhere for antidotes…”
Upon mentioning the antidote, Yu Wanyin quickly looked towards Wuming Ke. However, he showed no reaction, only smiling and saying, “You’ve done well.”
This immediately inflated Lin Xuanying’s ego, “Indeed.”
Wuming Ke: “?”
A moment later, several people stood before the coffin of Bei Zhou.
Wuming Ke solemnly lit an incense, softly saying, “Several years ago, on a stormy night, I witnessed a transformation of heaven and earth atop a mountain. It exhausted half of my cultivation, forcing me into seclusion for years. People from another world came a long way, unexpectedly bringing a turning point to this world. However, to avoid revealing too much, when Your Majesty first arrived, your destiny was rewritten, and a great calamity was foreseen.”
He sighed lightly, “To cross the great river requires a beneficial path. Bei Zhou accompanying Your Majesty through this calamity is also a form of reciprocity.”
Yu Wanyin, somewhat understanding, couldn’t help but ask, “When Master persuaded Bei Zhou to come to the capital to find Your Majesty, did you already know that Bei Zhou would… sacrifice himself to block the disaster?”
Wuming Ke remained silent, his face showing sorrow.
Yu Wanyin found it hard to accept.
A diviner who could unravel the mysteries of fate couldn’t save lives and even had to push them towards their predetermined end. In that case, what was the point of divination?
Wuming Ke turned to look at Xiahou Dan, “Bei Zhou once told me that after his death, he hoped to be buried by the side of his beloved, to forever accompany her. I hope Your Majesty can fulfil this wish.”
Xiahou Dan nodded in agreement.
Countless questions surged in Yu Wanyin’s mind.
Could Wuming Ke predict everyone’s fate? Did he know Xiahou Dan’s future? How long was this future? Could it be changed?
After Wuming Ke’s divination brought Lin Xuanying here, Lin Xuanying had spent many years seeking a cure, yet still could not help Xiahou Dan with his poison. Did this mean Wuming Ke was also helpless?
Or perhaps Xiahou Dan’s purpose was to bring new life to this world, only to disappear like a shooting star?
However, they were now at a dead end, with only a glimmer of hope before them.
Yu Wanyin was about to ask, but Xiahou Dan pre-empted her, “In your opinion, how should Xiahou Bo be dealt with?”
Wuming Ke replied, “Before the Emperor’s star regains its brilliance, the country’s fate has always hung on the Wumu and Tanlang stars. Now that Tanlang has fallen and Wumu has dimmed, the country’s fate has not fully recovered. If Xiahou Bo were to die prematurely, it might extinguish the Wumu star and endanger the country’s prosperity. I implore Your Majesty to think carefully.”
“So, to keep the world running smoothly, must we keep him alive until he dies naturally?” Xiahou Dan asked.
“Nothing is absolute. Only when the Emperor’s star returns…”
Xiahou Dan raised a hand, “So we just delay his death?”
Wuming Ke: “…”
Wuming Ke: “That’s the idea.”
He narrowed his eyes and stroked his snow-white beard, “Man follows the earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. Between heaven and earth, there is a grand pattern, like a torrential river that cannot be stopped. Going against this flow is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It is futile.”
Yu Wanyin felt that he was hinting at something.
She had kept her questions bottled up all this time, but now she dared not ask. She feared the answer would be ‘to listen and accept.’
At that moment, Wuming Ke spoke, “Following the indications of fate is what is known as ‘hearing the Dao.'”
Yu Wanyin’s heart sank. When he said those words, his eyes were fixed straight on her, seemingly with a mysterious smile.
Wuming Ke softly asked, “Do you remember the letter I sent you back then?”
The throne changes hands, the Emperor’s star shines again. Mars guards the heart, fortune and misfortune hang by a thread. Five stars converge, from adversity to prosperity.
Perhaps due to hearing too much of Wuming Ke’s cryptic teachings, that night, Yu Wanyin had a dream.
She walked through a narrow corridor where every palace attendant she met had an anxious expression, as if a great calamity was imminent. They were so preoccupied that their greetings to her were perfunctory, and no one dared to ask why she had come.
Her hands trembled in her sleeves, the palms sweaty and clammy, clutching tightly at something in her hand.
What was she going to do? She was going to kill someone.
Why did she have to kill them? She couldn’t remember, but she needed to do it, immediately.
“Noble Consort Yu, His Majesty is waiting.” An Xian pushed the door open and bowed to her.
An Xian? Wasn’t An Xian the one whose neck was twisted by Prince Duan? When did she become Imperial Consort Yu again?
Yu Wanyin vaguely realised this was a dream, but her limbs in the dream were out of her control, step by step moving towards that dragon bed.
I can’t go, stop!
She pulled back the bed curtain, trembling, “Your Majesty.”
The figure on the bed moved slightly, a pair of gloomy eyes looking towards her.
Yu Wanyin gasped for breath and sat up abruptly.
“Wanyin?” Xiahou Dan, who was sleeping beside her, woke up groggily.
Yu Wanyin remained stiff, unable to make a sound.
Xiahou Dan propped himself up, asked the night attendant to light the candles, dismissed the people, and turned to her, “Why do you look so terrible? Did you have a nightmare?”
“Do you still remember…” Yu Wanyin found her voice hoarse, “When we first met, I told you, in Devil Consort,’ the tyrant dies at the end of the book from an assassination?”
“Yeah, but you couldn’t remember who the assassin was.”
Yu Wanyin struggled to speak, then closed her mouth again.
She had just remembered who it was.
In the original story, she was deeply in love with Prince Duan, but was always overshadowed by Xie Yong’er, never gaining the affection of her beloved. After numerous attempts, Prince Duan even grew disgusted with her, openly stating he never wanted to see her again.
In despair, she gave Prince Duan a final gift.
She used a poisoned dagger to wound Xiahou Dan, giving Prince Duan a legitimate reason to enter the palace to guard against rebellion.
The tyrant died from his injuries, but the demonic consort did not have a good end either. Prince Duan did not allow a stain of treason to mar his illustrious life and granted her three feet of white silk to hang herself and accompany the tyrant in death.
Yes, it was all the mischief of a venomous woman. The great saviour had no choice but to reluctantly ascend the throne.
Despite knowing this storyline belonged only to the original, Yu Wanyin was still disgusted by the content and timing of this dream.
“What did you dream about? Tell me.” Xiahou Dan said.
“Nothing.” Yu Wanyin couldn’t say it, muttering softly, “It just felt strange, why did I dream of a forgotten plot right after meeting Wuming Ke? Just meeting a charlatan and suddenly dreaming of a long forgotten plot, it’s hard not to see it as some kind of omen”.
She refused to say more, and Xiahou Dan didn’t press further, “It’s nothing. Dreams are just dreams. You’re just not in a good mood lately.”
His assessment was objective, as if her ‘not good mood’ was because dinner didn’t suit her, rather than because she was close to death.
Yu Wanyin sighed, “Go to sleep.”
As he said, of course, this plot could never happen. Xie Yong’er was dead, Xiahou Bo was crippled, and all the natural disasters and human calamities from the original story had been stifled in the cradle. They had already changed their fate, even the so-called ‘convergence of the five stars’ had passed…
Yu Wanyin shuddered all over, sitting up again.
She didn’t wait for Xiahou Dan’s inquiry, but leaped straight out of bed and dashed to the window, pushing open the casement to look outside.
“Why aren’t you even wearing shoes?” Xiahou Dan asked.
With her view restricted by the window, Yu Wanyin looked for a while without success, then rushed out through the back door.
Xiahou Dan ran after her with dishevelled hair and draped his cloak over her shoulders. “Elder, please put on your shoes.”
Yu Wanyin stood on the cold stone bricks in the courtyard, frozen like a statue, gazing up at the sky.
Following her gaze upwards, Xiahou Dan murmured, “…Ah.”
In the night sky, in a familiar position, five main stars twinkled with cold light, aligning perfectly in a straight line.
The last time they confirmed, the tail end of this line was still curved. At that time, she thought the convergence of the five stars meant the calamity had passed. But unexpectedly, it indicated that it was yet to come.
Xiahou Dan squinted, “If I remember correctly, this is a sign of an assassination attempt on the monarch.”
Yu Wanyin shivered, her mind racing to recall everything related to Wuming Ke.
Almost involuntarily, she heard Lin Xuanying’s words to Xiahou Dan echoing in her ears, “My master had one more thing to tell you: perhaps your meeting with her was not a fortunate event.”
Her heart sank straight down, plunging into a bottomless abyss.
Did Wuming Ke mean for them to follow the dictates of fate, and was this ‘fate’ referring to the plot from the original work?
Did that charlatan specifically suggest to her to assassinate Xiahou Dan?
Yu Wanyin was beside herself with anger.
She turned around, considering the feasibility of summoning Wuming Ke in the middle of the night.
Xiahou Dan looked at the sky, then at her. It seemed he had already understood something, and he chuckled.
In the darkness, he looked as pale as a wandering soul, yet his expression remained calm. “With the convergence of the five stars, from the world’s perspective, losing a mad king and gaining an empress might indeed herald better times.”
“Don’t speak nonsense!” Yu Wanyin snapped, “Your survival is what constitutes ‘better times!'”
Xiahou Dan soothed her, “Alright, you’re the boss. Put your shoes on.”
Yu Wanyin: “…”
Since their reunion, Xiahou Dan had always appeared… remarkably calm in her presence.
He acted like a young lad immersed in a passionate love affair, always hanging around her whenever he had the chance, eating and drinking as he pleased, enjoying the peaceful years, seizing the moment.
He seemed determined to turn a blind eye to the imminent death before them. Occasionally, when Yu Wanyin felt low, he would crack jokes to change the subject.
Yu Wanyin finally put on her shoes.
“It’s freezing. Let’s go back,” Xiahou Dan pulled her into the house, tucking her back into bed. “If you can’t sleep, how about we do something to warm up?”
Yu Wanyin: “?”
“Don’t you want to talk about this?” She asked.
“Talk about what? The assassination?” Xiahou Dan comfortably lay back beside her, “I’m thinking if it really comes to that, rather than going insane and lingering for days, it might be better to ask for a swift end. Maybe I’ll even ask you to do it.”
Yu Wanyin felt a stab of pain at his casual tone. “Do you think I would actually lay hands on you?”
Xiahou Dan pondered for a moment, “It really would be hard for you. It’s okay, I’m fine with anything you decide, whatever makes you happy.”
Yu Wanyin’s mental thread snapped.
“Happy,” she repeated softly.
Xiahou Dan paused, trying to amend, “I didn’t mean it like that…”
“Are you asking if I would be happy to kill you myself, or happy to watch you slowly die?”
Xiahou Dan panicked.
He stiffly stared at her for a moment before remembering to search for a handkerchief.
“If you really went along with my wishes, you would have banished me from the palace on the first day, or waited until after you died for me to return! I wasn’t happy to meet you, wasn’t happy to eat hot pot, wasn’t happy to be deceived by you, wasn’t to read your letters…”
Finally finding an embroidered handkerchief, Xiahou Dan awkwardly offered it to her, but Yu Wanyin didn’t take it.
She had held back for too long, and finally burst out, trembling all over. “Why are you so cruel to me?”
Xiahou Dan fell silent for a moment, then pulled her into his embrace, speaking gently. “Fortunately, the Empress has a broad mind and can repay grievances with kindness, following the will of heaven and benefiting the people, for thousands of years to come.”
“I can’t!”
“You already can. A’Bai reported that before I returned, you were capable on your own. It will only get better in the future.” He gently patted her back. “Stop crying. I owe you this, alright? If reincarnation exists, I’ll repay you in the next life.”
“I don’t want another life, I want this life.” Yu Wanyin didn’t know who she was demanding from, and despite sounding unreasonable, she didn’t care. It was like a child asking someone to pick the moon for her.
Xiahou Dan murmured softly, “I want to stay more than anyone.”
Yu Wanyin choked back a sob, vaguely hearing the unusual tone in his voice. She struggled out of his embrace to look at him. Xiahou Dan’s eyes were filled with tears as he gazed at her gently and helplessly.
“But I have no choice.”
Yu Wanyin suddenly realised that she shouldn’t disappoint Xiahou Dan’s earnest intentions.
Xiahou Dan had worked so hard to leave behind a smiling memory for her to cherish. Yet, she had made him cry.
She slowly steadied her breath, took the handkerchief, and wiped her nose. “Forget it, just compensate me properly.”
After the ninth of the harsh winter had passed, the weather gradually began to warm.
The secret letter sent to Tur still received no reply. The situation in the Qiang nation was chaotic, and they couldn’t even confirm whether Tur had received the letter.
As long as the Emperor wasn’t attending court, he seized every opportunity to meet with the Empress. They strolled around the lake to admire the moon, walked in the snow to find plum blossoms, and enjoyed their time together under the warm scent of incense.
Xiahou Dan’s condition was getting worse. He ate and slept less each day, and his eye sockets grew deeper, resembling the mad emperor from their nightmare more and more. Yu Wanyin knew that his headache was approaching a critical point.
But he never showed the slightest hint of pain in front of Yu Wanyin. When it became unbearable, he would disappear for a while. Yu Wanyin pretended not to notice.
She had already cried once, and there would be no second time in this life.
Under the Emperor’s decree, the Bureau of Astronomy calculated an auspicious day for the Empress’s enthronement.
This unprecedented ceremony shocked the court from its preparation stage. The Emperor seemed intent on displaying his authority, celebrating his belated ascension, and proclaiming to the world the Empress’s honour and favour, completely washing away the stigma of the demon consort’s illicit affairs.
This ceremony symbolised the beginning of a new era, so it needed to be grand and innovative. It aimed not for solemn tradition but for graceful extravagance.
The newly restructured Six Ministries took on their first major task without pause, urgently coordinating everything.
Carriages filled with precious ceremonial vessels and embroidered ceremonial items were brought into the palace gates. Rare flowers and plants, rarely seen in winter, were brought from all corners of the Empire to adorn the entire Imperial Palace with their vibrant colours and fragrant scents.
The halls were filled with a moist, fragrant aroma starting three days before the ceremony. The Emperor personally led civil and military officials in fasting and incense offerings, praying to heaven and earth.
On the day of the ceremony, the music was melodious, flowers lined the path, and silk carpets extended from the palace gate to the ceremonial hall. The Empress, dressed in resplendent attire, walked gracefully, with golden light cascading like the Milky Way from her phoenix crown.
Yu Wanyin raised her noble head slightly as she walked through the kneeling crowd. The long hem of her ceremonial robe trailed behind her, as if unfurling like a dreamlike scene.
Lin Xuanying, responsible for security, watched with mixed emotions as she walked proudly towards solitude.
After the elaborate ceremony, the Empress knelt at the incense table, performing the ritual of six bows and three kneels. The Emperor helped her up, standing beside her to receive the court’s homage.
The young Crown Prince, just eight years old, approached with lowered eyes and respectful demeanour, offering his respects.
Since the Empress Dowager’s passing, he seemed to have received wise counsel, becoming suddenly obedient. Not only did he cry and repent in front of Xiahou Dan, but he also arranged a pile of congratulatory gifts to be sent to Yu Wanyin’s chambers, addressing her respectfully as “Imperial Mother.” It seemed he was determined to temporarily evade criticism.
The courtiers followed in chanting “Long live the Empress,” their faces displaying various expressions. some vigilant, others reverent. Young officials who had interacted with the Empress herself looked on with satisfaction and gratitude.
According to tradition, the ceremony concluded perfectly here.
However, Xiahou Dan clearly wasn’t satisfied. He smiled and said, “On such a rare auspicious day, the Empress and I will host a palace banquet. I invite all esteemed ministers to celebrate with us.”
Thus, the palace banquet continued from noon until late into the night, featuring exquisite delicacies, fine wines, and sweet offerings washed in snow water, presented like flowing streams.
This disregard for extravagance and luxury caused Li Yunxi to furrow his brow, openly questioning its propriety.
As night fell and Xiahou Dan, halfway to drunkenness, suddenly grinned, “Empress, watch as I perform a magic trick for you.”
With a grand gesture, thousands of fireworks suddenly erupted around them, blossoming into the sky like bursts of light.
The improvised fireworks display was intricately designed, with cascading layers of brilliant colours that overshadowed the stars and moon.
Courtiers exclaimed in awe. Some laughed heartily in their intoxication, while others spontaneously composed poetry.
Li Yunxi, now in a jovial mood and supported by Yang Duojie, shrugged and joined in the toast, his earlier reservations forgotten.
Well, let them enjoy themselves tonight, they could advise them tomorrow.
Yu Wanyin had also drunk quite a bit, even though it was only fruit wine. After drinking for so long, her vision was already blurred.
In her hazy sight, the fireworks danced across Xiahou Dan’s flushed profile, and the surrounding hustle and bustle faded into silence. High above, the clear moon hung in the tranquil sky, as if pitying this beautiful earthly scene.
“Empress, are you satisfied?” Xiahou Dan asked with a smile, leaning close to her ear.
It was compensation, but also a gift. In the future, even amidst storms, they could find warmth in these embers.
Before Yu Wanyin could answer, Xiahou Dan took her hand. “Let them drink; let’s slip away first.”
Leaving the noise behind, the sudden quiet overwhelmed her ears.
The Emperor and Empress walked slowly through the corridor, with palace attendants trailing behind, enjoying a leisurely stroll to settle their stomachs. The fireworks had dispersed, and the deep blue moonlight now dominated, casting the imperial garden in a serene, glassy world.
Yu Wanyin knew that in this setting, romantic conversations should ensue, swiftly followed by a return to their chambers for a myriad of activities.
But alcohol amplified human desires, making tongues less restrained. She began, “If it weren’t for this book…”
She wasn’t satisfied and wanted more.
Wuming Ke’s prophecy, involuntary nightmares. it all awakened her sense of crisis. If everything was predetermined, were they just playing roles? Did destiny mix into their feelings?
Yu Wanyin had entered this world in survival mode, struggling to survive. Xiahou Dan was her only kindred spirit, a natural comrade. Their coming together seemed perfectly natural.
Now, with leisure to contemplate love, she could agonise over annoying details.
For Xiahou Dan, was their acquaintance and love a matter of destiny or no choice at all?
Thinking about these questions now seemed too late. She didn’t know why she suddenly yearned for an answer or who could provide it.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Xiahou Dan took the lead in the conversation. “If it weren’t for this book, in 2026, after a few years of work, we might have met on the subway.”
Yu Wanyin: “?”
Xiahou Dan leisurely looked at the moonlit courtyard, reminiscing. “The subway would be particularly crowded that day. I would be standing, looking at my phone, when suddenly I would notice a girl sitting in front of me, also reading a novel. She seemed to be reading something funny, couldn’t help laughing, I couldn’t help but take a few more glances, and find her very cute.”
Yu Wanyin smiled and continued, “She probably didn’t like being glanced at and might have glared at you. But then she realised it was a handsome guy and silently forgave him.”
Xiahou Dan: “Then I would have pushed my luck and asked for her WeChat. Would she have given it to me?”
“…Hard to say.”
“Please, I’m not a weirdo.”
Yu Wanyin chuckled, “Alright, go ahead.”
“Great. I would chat with her about novels, invite her to watch movies, and take her to try the top ten hot pots in the city. Every time we met, she would seem a bit more interesting. Every day, we would get along better than the day before. And then, if she didn’t dislike me, I would start sending her flowers, bouquet after bouquet, so many flowers.”
Xiahou Dan stared at her intently, as if painting a sweet illusion with his words. “How long could I endure? Three months, four months, or half a year? On a certain day on the way home, I would tightly grasp the ring box in my pocket and say to her, ‘I can’t imagine my life without you.’ I would secretly observe her reaction. If she didn’t respond…I would endure a little longer.”
Yu Wanyin laughed out loud. “Impossible, are you really that timid?”
“I’m afraid she wouldn’t agree.”
Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, or perhaps because the night was too enchanting, Yu Wanyin’s heart raced again, and the fading blush returned to her cheeks.
She suddenly couldn’t resist the direct gaze beside her, and slightly turned her head. “It’s a pity there’s no subways here, nor any movies.”
“But there are rings.”
Xiahou Dan slowly knelt down on one knee and presented a ring.
Yu Wanyin caught sight of a phoenix on the ring, with its long feathers spread out as if about to take flight. Upon closer inspection, she noticed sparse paulownia leaves nestled among the phoenix feathers.
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 25
Previous: Chapter 23