How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
The Minister of Revenue took over the mess thrown at him by the Empress Dowager, so stressed that he developed mouth ulcers overnight.
He had to supply provisions to the three armies, build a tomb for the Empress Dowager, and somehow conjure up money from the treasury to appease the mad emperor. all without increasing taxes. The Minister of Revenue felt his good days were coming to an end.
Inside his mansion, he vented his frustration on his subordinates. Unbeknownst to him, at a street corner outside the back gate of his residence, two newly appointed junior officials were quietly arguing.
“Since it was my idea, naturally, I should be the one to propose it.” Li Yunxi angrily said.
Er Lan, still dressed as a man, remained calm. “Li-xiong, how do you plan to propose it? Show off your literary talent and scold him until he’s embarrassed?”
Li Yunxi sneered and glanced at the delicate gift box in her hands. “And how does Er-xiong plan to persuade the Minister of Revenue? Using flattery under the guise of advice?”
He couldn’t stand Er Lan. This scholar was handsome and refined, with features like a beautiful woman. His speech was measured and gentle, which charmed everyone.
Li Yunxi, being straightforward, found it contemptible that someone like Er Lan could adapt so well to the officialdom right after entering it, as if he were born to it.
Er Lan calmly replied, “When it comes to matters entrusted by His Majesty, the means are not important as long as the task is accomplished. Li-xiong, have you forgotten how we obtained our official positions? If this gift box is presented, will His Majesty object?”
Threaten me with the Emperor? Li Yunxi didn’t buy into this at all. “If he doesn’t object, it’s a fault on his part as the ruler!”
Er Lan smiled faintly at him. “True.”
Before Li Yunxi could respond, Er Lan suddenly turned and dashed towards the back gate of the mansion.
Li Yunxi, who had spent his life in verbal battles, had never encountered such a shameless act of ‘run if you can’t argue’. He stood frozen in place, watching as she handed over the gift box and a letter.
Moments later, a servant came out to greet her.
As Er Lan stepped into the gate, she turned to look at Li Yunxi, who was fuming with rage, and made a gesture with her mouth, “Wait for my news.”
The Minister of Revenue was sitting in the hall reading her letter, while the gift box was nowhere to be seen.
“A brilliant plan, truly brilliant.” The Minister of Revenue praised incessantly.
The letter described Li Yunxi’s plan for the Open Market Law: the court would recruit merchants to supply military provisions in exchange for salt vouchers. Instead of paying merchants in money, the court would provide them with salt vouchers. With these vouchers, merchants could later distribute official salt in the market and profit from commercial trading.
In this way, the court could support the army without depleting the treasury, leveraging merchants to bear the costs.
Er Lan smiled and said, “To relieve the Minister of Revenue’s worries is my honour.”
The Minister of Revenue studied the details for a while and hesitated, “But the reform of the salt policy is of great importance. Regarding the Empress Dowager…”
“Sir, judging by His Majesty’s intentions, reform is inevitable. Even if we don’t propose it ourselves, someone else will. As for who gets the salt vouchers in the future, that will require further consideration.”
The Minister of Revenue understood her implication: there was considerable profit in this. With the salt vouchers in hand, merchants would scramble for them, turning it into another lucrative business opportunity. It all depended on how it was managed.
Er Lan blinked, “With the Empress Dowager’s discerning eye, she will surely recognize the Minister’s brilliance.”
The Minister of Revenue laughed heartily and patted her shoulder. “The younger generation is formidable.”
Several days later, the Ministry of Revenue submitted a thick stack of memorials requesting the implementation of the Open Market Law. Xiahou Dan skipped over the flattery and explanations, flipping directly to the last page.
At Er Lan’s suggestion, the Minister of Revenue listed the proposed food items for transport. Among several staple crops, he quietly slipped in millet. reasoning that it doesn’t spoil easily, is easy to store, and suitable for feeding horses.
Since the reform was proposed by the Empress Dowager’s faction and was beneficial to the soldiers, even Prince Duan would not oppose it too much.
Because of this, after countless revisions, the unremarkable word “millet” miraculously remained intact on the final document, which was delivered unchanged to Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan stamped it with a resounding “approved.”
Thus, the Open Market Law was officially implemented.
Storehouses across the country began collecting grain according to the list, to be transported by merchants who had caught wind of the opportunity on the borders.
In the arid regions, when the people heard that the dry and barren millet could also serve as a tax donation, they laughed and said, “Officials are not fools after all,” and went to the wild fields to search for it. Those with initiative had even begun planting and farming it.
Not only that, but in order to save on transportation costs, merchants quickly began hiring people to cultivate new lands directly at the borders, specialising in growing the crops listed. In the harsh environment near the northwest of Yan Kingdom, only millet could survive, eventually developing into the first millet fields.
Everyone was satisfied: the army received provisions, and the Empress Dowager got her mausoleum.
At this moment, only a few people in the world were moved to tears by the joke-like millet field.
Although the seeds they found were far from enough, at least the initial hope had been planted in the land of Great Xia.
The next day, several officials gathered discreetly at a secluded private residence, unable to celebrate openly, only able to raise their cups in toast.
The private residence was used by Cen Jintian, where a small experimental field had been opened in the backyard, growing several drought-resistant crops that were currently thriving.
Yu Wanyin felt a huge weight lifted from her heart and accidentally drank a little too much. Standing by the field, she hummed a tune, “Hey. happy gongs and drums, beating out yearly celebrations*. “
*She’s singing 好日子. You can listen to it here. It’s basically a New Year song.
Standing nearby, Wang Zhao said, “…”
Wang Zhao was the most steady among the officials, with a full beard, resembling a little old man. He stroked his beard for a while, then struggled to say, “Madame sings of the hardships of the people.”
On the other side of the field, Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie, these two troublemakers, leaned in close to talk quietly.
Li Yunxi’s face was ashen.
Because the Minister of Revenue, who had achieved great success and was feeling pleased with himself, casually promoted Er Lan.
At that moment, Er Lan’s expression flickered as she glanced at Li Yunxi, but in the end, she didn’t say anything. She explained to him afterwards: she had intended to speak well of him, but in front of the Empress Dowager’s faction, she couldn’t show too much favouritism for fear of arousing suspicion.
“You talk as if I care.” Li Yunxi said.
Yang Duojie was dissatisfied, “He snatched your credit…”
“Li-xiong.”
Er Lan walked calmly towards them, “Could we have a word?”
“No need.” Li Yunxi had long seen through this person’s ambitious schemes and scorned, “Er-xiong doesn’t need to waste your words. We each have our own ambitions; gaining rank and wealth is like fleeting clouds to Li Yunxi.”
Er Lan smiled, “Regardless of our positions under the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, it’s all like clouds to us. This country ultimately belongs to His Majesty. When His Majesty rewards achievements in the future, he will naturally remember Li-xiong’s contributions.”
Li Yunxi was so angry he could hardly breathe. “Whether in front of the Empress Dowager or His Majesty, my ambitions lie elsewhere!”
This loud statement attracted the attention of Xiahou Dan across from them.
Er Lan was also impatient, “Yes, yes, Li-xiong has lofty aspirations, wishing to enter the court today and die tomorrow. As for me, I’m still hoping Li-xiong can live a few more days and write a few more strategies to help me ascend.”
Li Yunxi said, “…”
Li Yunxi said, “Do you really think that?”
Er Lan rolled her eyes and walked away.
Li Yunxi turned to Yang Duojie, “He- he- he- What kind of attitude is that!”
“Your Majesty, Lady Yu.”
With a gentle breeze, Cen Jintian approached with a handful of crops, opening his hand to show them, “From the current perspective, millet does indeed withstand drought the best and is growing the strongest. However, we’ll have to wait until the autumn harvest to see the results.”
He thought for a moment, “I will do my best, but managing both power and calculation may take two or three years.”
When it came to time, everyone fell silent.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t predict when the drought would come, while Cen Jintian didn’t know if he would live to see that day.
Yu Wanyin looked at his young and haggard face, suddenly feeling guilty, “Master Cen, please take care of yourself.”
Cen Jintian smiled, “I will try to live a little longer.”
“No, really, take care of yourself. In order to improve the harvest, Master Cen has already hidden his identity, left his hometown, and your parents and family…”
Xiahou Dan interjected, “Is it worth it to live the rest of your life like this?”
Yu Wanyin nudged him with her elbow. Too straightforward.
But Cen Jintian waved his hand with a smile, “I consider knowing the time of my death a blessing. In my youth, I repeatedly pondered what I should do in this life to make it meaningful. My parents have my siblings to care for them, and my homeland will be honoured after my death. When the time comes for me to leave, I only hope that the place where my bones are buried will see abundant harvests.”
In the carriage back to the palace, Yu Wanyin’s mood visibly declined. Since arriving here, she felt she had been rapidly maturing, no longer the clueless novice she once was.
But the presence of certain people always reminded her: you’re still far from their level.
“Thinking about Cen Jintian?” Xiahou Dan asked.
“Yeah,” Yu Wanyin sighed.
In the past, when she read novels, she always enjoyed the thrilling big scenes, the struggle among heroes, the clashing of armies… She had skipped over the scenes of Cen Jintian farming.
“Only after coming to this world did I realise that he is truly the one saving the people from disaster. With such a life, it’s truly not in vain, right?”
The carriage swayed, and Xiahou Dan half-jokingly said, “No need to belittle yourself. You’re also saving the people from disaster.”
“Me?”
“Objectively speaking, if you can help Great Xia survive this drought, you will surely be remembered in history.”
Yu Wanyin smiled wryly and lowered her head.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and suddenly looked up, “Alright, I don’t want to waste my life anymore.”
Xiahou Dan was taken aback, “What?”
“According to the original work, Prince Yuan ascended to the throne at the highest cost, so I want to thwart him at the smallest cost possible. Preventing the drought is just the first step. He still had to fight a life-and-death battle with Yan Kingdom. Once he succeeds, thousands will suffer. Let’s make sure he doesn’t succeed.”
She stared at Xiahou Dan with determination in her eyes, her chest swelling with newfound determination, “I seem to remember some details about Yan Kingdom. This battle doesn’t have to be fought. Let’s handle it diplomatically.”
“Alright.”
“Also, when he’s busy with his campaign, he’ll also have to contend with the Empress Dowager. But if we grow strong enough to deter them before that, we can avoid war and bend their forces.”
“Alright.”
“Also-” Yu Wanyin cut herself off, “Are you laughing?”
Xiahou Dan shook his head, “I’m just thinking about everything we’re doing happening in a book. It all feels a bit absurd.”
Yu Wanyin had considered this issue before, “But like Zhuangzi’s dream of the butterfly*, how do you know the ‘real world’ outside isn’t another book?”
*This is the story about a man who dreamed he was a butterfly. He went about his day as a normal butterfly would and fell asleep as a butterfly. Then he woke up as a man again. He then wrote “Am I a man dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man?”
“Well, indeed, we don’t know.”
“Right, who can guarantee their own existence is real? I’m too lazy to dwell on that.” Yu Wanyin waved her hand as if dispersing the question like smoke. “Even if the ending is death, I want to do more before I die.”
“Alright,” Xiahou Dan replied.
“Why do you keep saying ‘alright’?”
“Alright, then I’ll risk my life to accompany a gentleman,” he chuckled.
Zhang San grew older year by year.
While the irises bloomed regularly year after year, he had long stopped thinking about that cluster of flowers.
Because as the emperor gradually aged and he himself grew older, he realised a new possibility: the “devil favoured consort” who was supposed to be the female lead might not be his father’s consort, but his.
She would only appear when he ascended to the throne.
This discovery didn’t bring much comfort. Although he only glanced at the synopsis before coming here, he remembered clearly that the female lead was a consort, not the emperor.
Therefore, following the usual plot of novels, he as the emperor should be the villain, destined for a tragic death.
Moreover, he began to suspect that the male lead in this text was his elder imperial brother.
Xiahou Bo survived until he left the palace to build his own mansion and was conferred the title of Prince Yuan.
This young prince had no support in court, so he often volunteered to lead troops to the borders. He spent several years on the frontier, transforming from a bullied pretty boy into a strategist admired by military men. When he returned, he always brought back various military achievements, and even received the emperor’s commendations.
Xiahou Bo followed the path of the male lead perfectly.
Meanwhile, Zhang San was being pushed toward the path of the antagonist by malice from the entire world.
Logically, Prince Duan was obviously more suitable to be the crown prince than Zhang San. But naturally, the Empress would not allow such a thing to happen; she needed a puppet she could easily control.
Under the struggle between these two forces, Zhang San survived four assassination attempts within a year. He was attacked in his sleep, vomited blood after meals, constantly injured, and repeatedly rescued. Prince Duan wanted him dead, while the Empress Dowager wanted him alive.
He started to suffer from insomnia, with worsening headaches. Sometimes he heard hallucinations, sometimes he thought they were hallucinations, only to find they were real assassins.
When the old emperor passed away and Zhang San ascended to the throne, he looked down from the dragon throne and saw not only the Empress Dowager’s faction, now called the Empress Dowager’s party, but also a group of Prince Duan’s supporters who refused to bow down in court.
There were hardly any loyalists among those who supported the emperor, not even his imperial tutors, who were all arranged by the Empress Dowager.
In this world, his modern background was not an advantage but a disadvantage. In terms of cunning and political manoeuvring, his nine years of compulsory education were of no use at all.
In the entire court, he couldn’t find a single person he could trust.
The grand edifice was about to collapse, and the lone pillar was struggling to hold it up.
But Zhang San didn’t believe in fate.
Even if he died, he wanted to struggle before dying again.
On instinct, he found Grand Minister Xu. Because this old minister didn’t flatter him like other courtiers, but often wore a serious expression and lectured him with profound principles.
At the same time, Grand Minister Xu was not doing well in court and was constantly marginalised by others.
Zhang San was convinced that this man was truly on his side, so he respectfully sought his advice on many issues. Grand Minister Xu’s suggestions always encountered heavy resistance, which reassured Zhang San. Because if those suggestions were wrong, the Empress Dowager and Prince Yuan wouldn’t bother to oppose them.
Until one day, Grand Minister Xu advised him to remove a certain high-ranking official.
Grand Minister Xu earnestly explained: This person has been deceiving and embezzling, colluding with Prince Duan, and his influence has grown complicated and intertwined. He must be removed as soon as possible.
“He believed it, spending a lot of effort to gather evidence of the official’s crimes. During the morning court session, he suddenly made a move and had the corrupt official arrested and sent to the Dali Temple, where he was swiftly executed. That was the eighth person he had killed.
This operation unexpectedly went smoothly. It even went a bit too smoothly. He encountered no resistance.
After the morning court session, a junior official with a goatee approached him, tearfully claiming he had been deceived.
This goatee had always been a supporter of the Empress Dowager’s faction, but now he professed loyalty and claimed he had long been unable to endure the Empress Dowager’s insults, wanting to pledge allegiance to the emperor instead. He asserted that Grand Minister Xu was actually the Empress Dowager’s confidant, inherently treacherous, and had always manipulated the emperor.
“He used Your Majesty’s hand to eliminate that corrupt official, actually clipping the wings of Prince Duan, and removing a threat for the Empress Dowager!”
The goatee presented numerous pieces of evidence: the Empress Dowager’s handwriting and Grand Minister Xu’s handwriting.
Zhang San couldn’t believe it. He secretly investigated the Empress Dowager’s residence and happened to see Grand Minister Xu walking happily with the Empress Dowager.
Two months later, the goatee publicly accused Grand Minister Xu.
Zhang San didn’t kill Grand Minister Xu. He ordered his assets confiscated and had him exiled.
Grand Minister Xu remained silent, kowtowing heavily to him before being dragged away.
This operation also unexpectedly went smoothly.
Zhang San faintly felt that something was wrong, but couldn’t figure out where he had gone wrong.
After enduring silently for several years, he slowly pieced together the truth of that year.
The goatee was in fact the Empress Dowager’s man. His accusation of Grand Minister Xu was a conspiracy with Prince Duan.
With this achievement, the goatee firmly established himself in the Empress Dowager’s faction, gradually climbed to the centre of power, and was later appointed Grand Tutor. His surname was Wei.
By that time, Zhang San couldn’t move him an inch.
Whether Zhang San believed in fate or not was actually irrelevant.
The world needed an antagonist, the Empress Dowager needed a puppet, and Prince Duan needed the people to remember a criminal responsible for natural disasters, human calamities, and years of poor harvests.
He arrived, and he became that person.
The carriage suddenly stopped, then abruptly sped up again, waking Xiahou Dan from a light sleep.
Yu Wanyin was startled too, lifting the curtain to ask, “What’s happening?”
The driver-guard replied, “The Shadow Guards found someone tracking us. There’s only one person, but he’s highly skilled in martial arts. General Bei is going to deal with him… I’ll escort Your Majesty and Lady Yu back to the palace first.”
“Hold on,” Xiahou Dan frowned, “Only one assassin sent? That doesn’t seem like Prince Duan’s style. Have General Bei Zhou capture him alive for questioning.”
The guard turned back, squinting, “General Bei Zhou hasn’t defeated him yet.”
Yu Wanyin was shocked, “How is that possible?”
Bei Zhou had the highest martial prowess character in the entire book, undefeated in single combat.
“It seems they’ve exchanged more than thirty moves,” the guard reported live, “Strangely, neither has made a killing move.”
Unable to restrain herself, Yu Wanyin leaned out of the window to look back, her hair instantly tousled by a gust of wind.
To maintain secrecy, they had been taking detours, currently passing through a narrow alley just wide enough for a single carriage.
At the end of the alley, sand and stones flew, sword winds raged wildly, and two graceful silhouettes battled amidst the dimming sky.
Yu Wanyin peeked out from behind Xiahou Dan’s shoulder. Xiahou Dan asked, “Was there such a person in the original text?”
“I don’t remember…”
“Ha!” A clear shout rang out, followed by the swishing sound of something cutting through the air.
A live broadcast guard exclaimed, “Damn it, the assassin threw a hidden weapon!”
The alley was narrow with no escape. Suddenly, Bei Zhou kicked off the wall like a giant roc spreading its wings, soaring into the air and flipping mid-air like a somersault. The assassin’s hidden weapons fell to the ground one after another.
Just as Bei Zhou completed a somersault, before he even landed, he flicked his sleeve towards the assassin, and the sound of something cutting through the air resumed.
Clearly, his hidden weapons were dense. The relentless “swoosh” filled the ears, sounding as if he had turned the person into a sieve.
Xiahou Dan said, “Capture him. “
The assassin shouted at the same time, “Alright! I’m not an assassin, can’t you see that! Spare me!”
Judging by the voice, he was a young man.
Bei Zhou said calmly, “If you were an assassin, you wouldn’t have a life left.”
The guards halted the carriage, protecting Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin as they cautiously approached, eyeing the newcomer warily.
Bei Zhou’s hidden weapons didn’t hit him; instead, they formed an outline around his head and limbs, pinning him to the wall.
He froze in place, unable to move, and could only say resignedly, “I surrender, I surrender.”
“Who are you?” Bei Zhou asked.
The young man seemed to glance at Xiahou Dan, then smiled and said, “My surname is Bai. You can call me A’Bai.”
Coming closer, Yu Wanyin looked against the light and clearly saw the person’s appearance. Tall with a black scarf covering his face, only his eyes were visible. Those eyes were surprisingly bright and clear, like polished glass even in the dim alley. She remembered this seemed to indicate profound internal strength.
“Don’t move. Where did you learn this martial arts?” Bei Zhou remained alert, lifting an arm towards him with fingers half-curled, resembling a claw, an unfamiliar starting posture. The hidden weapons used earlier had been deeply embedded into the wall, and bits of brick dust fluttered down.
A’Bai stood stiffly and suddenly asked, “Are you Bei Zhou?”
Bei Zhou was taken aback.
A’Bai continued, “We haven’t met, but you should remember Wuming Ke*, right? He’s my master.”
*It means, Nameless Guest and is a title.
Wuming Ke had no name, but his fame shook the martial world. He was an extraordinary master. Bei Zhou had encountered him during his travels years ago and received his guidance, forming a deep bond despite their age difference.
Once, during a drinking session, Wuming Ke asked why Bei Zhou wandered aimlessly. Bei Zhou, feeling melancholic, spoke of the late Empress Cizhen in the palace. “My old friend has passed away, and I don’t know where to go.”
Wuming Ke dipped his hand in wine and cast a divination on the ground, finally advising him, “Return to the capital and take a look. Perhaps you’ll meet the son of your old friend.”
A’Bai said, “My master recently observed the night sky and for some reason insisted that I immediately leave to follow you to the capital.”
He pulled out a crumpled, dirty letter from his bosom and handed it to Bei Zhou.
Bei Zhou read it once, looking puzzled. “It really is his handwriting. But I can’t understand what he’s writing.”
A’Bai replied, “Oh, he said this letter isn’t for you; it’s for the Emperor.”
Yu Wanyin, who had been silently standing aside, spoke up, “Let me see.”
A’Bai abruptly turned his head and exaggeratedly exclaimed, “The Emperor? The living Emperor himself!”
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
He shot him a warning look.
However, A’Bai persisted, “Quite magnificent.”
Xiahou Dan was puzzled.
Xiahou Dan read the letter once, his expression solemn, and then handed it to Yu Wanyin.
On the paper were two lines written in an intricate script, “Imperial decree for succession, the Emperor’s star rekindles. Mars guards the heart, fortune and misfortune hang by a thread. Five stars converge, from adversity to prosperity.”
Yu Wanyin was shocked just by seeing the first four characters.
Imperial decree for succession? This was definitely not a common phrase used in divination or fortune-telling. Only someone who had crossed over could understand this clearly stated message: I know you’ve changed your core.
The whole paragraph translated would mean: I know you’ve changed your core, and the person who has taken over as Emperor can change the fate of the country. But your fate is perilous, with only a slim chance of survival. You must face death before you can survive and turn danger into safety.
Yu Wanyin and Xiahou Dan exchanged a glance, thinking: This must be what it means to truly have opened the divine eye.
A’Bai said, “My master said you’re a rare talent, almost like a senior disciple, and asked me to learn more from you. I thought to myself, how talented can this person be, how about my talent…”
Bei Zhou interrupted, “So you decided to start with a fight against me?”
A’Bai snorted.
Bei Zhou looked at this cheap junior brother, feeling a bit sorry for his talent but jokingly asked, “Are you convinced?”
A’Bai looked around and said, “So, you’re here in the capital to serve as a guard for the Emperor? Can you take me with you?”
Bei Zhou glanced at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan said, “I already have Uncle Bei.”
“Oh, come on, my master was so kind to send me here to serve you.” A’Bai showed no fear in front of the Emperor, he was even a bit cheeky, “Taking in one more person won’t hurt, right? I’m skilled too, I can protect this… wow, beautiful lady!”
He looked at Yu Wanyin.
“Thank you…” Yu Wanyin said hesitantly.
Xiahou Dan glared at him again.
Yu Wanyin was also weighing her options. There was no character like A’Bai in the original text, but now with two transmigrators, they had caught the attention of the martial arts experts in this world, which made sense.
At that moment, Xiahou Dan asked quietly, “Uncle Bei, about that Wuming Ke…”
Bei Zhou assured him, “Wuming Ke has been retired for a long time and ignores worldly affairs. He sent this letter, probably because he calculated that you, Dan’er, can ensure the stability of the country. This kid is indeed using the skills he taught, so he should be trustworthy.”
Xiahou Dan nodded and said to A’Bai, “Come with us.”
The group returned to the palace in the evening glow.
Xiahou Dan said he would arrange a position for A’Bai and took him away.
Bei Zhou used his shrinking technique to change back into the appearance of an old maid and accompanied Yu Wanyin back to the Imperial Consort’s Palace, saying, “I’ll go back to my room first.”
“Uncle Bei.” However, Yu Wanyin followed him into the room, “I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
Yu Wanyin smiled and said, “Today, when you used hidden weapons to pierce through the walls, it wasn’t entirely due to your own skill, right? Don’t look at me like that, I’m just guessing.”
Bei Zhou still looked puzzled, “How did you…”
“The first time we met, your dagger pierced through a wooden door and continued with undiminished force, instantly killing the assassin. Later, on the boat, the hidden weapons you released from your sleeves not only flew straight to shore but also shot continuously, without pause.”
Yu Wanyin inspected his sleeve curiously and praised, “Uncle Bei, you are truly ingenious. I have some interest in mechanical arts, but I couldn’t possibly fathom the intricate mechanisms required to achieve such effects.”
Her analysis was entirely fabricated.
She knew Bei Zhou was a genius in mechanical arts because that’s how it was written in the original text.
When she first brought Xiahou Dan to find him, she had an idea in mind. But Bei Zhou regarded his mechanical inventions as top secret and required some time together to build trust before she could bring it up.
Sure enough, after a moment of surprise, Bei Zhou burst out laughing, “Wanyin is indeed so clever. But it’s no wonder you couldn’t figure it out; only I can operate these mechanisms.”
He raised his arm, flexing and relaxing his fingers. With a click from his sleeve, he continued, “The components of the mechanism fit around my body and require strong internal energy to operate. With a turn of true qi, I can continuously release hidden weapons, with an extremely long range and unstoppable force.”
Yu Wanyin continued to marvel in agreement, then showed a troubled expression.
Bei Zhou thought she would want to investigate further but was about to politely refuse when she said, “Uncle Bei, have you ever considered creating even more powerful mechanisms? For example, using gunpowder instead of internal energy?”
“Gunpowder?” Bei Zhou became interested.
“Yeah, I think considering His Majesty’s current situation, there needs to be some defensive equipment.”
Meanwhile, A’Bai handed a handful of pills to Xiahou Dan, saying, “Try these out. I collected them from all over the place during my travels, they’re all sorts of folk remedies and secret medicines.”
Xiahou Dan sighed helplessly, “It’s probably time to give up.”
“No, this was one of the tasks my master gave me. He calculated that I could help you, so I definitely can.”
“Alright.”
A’Bai sat across from him and skilfully poured himself a cup of tea, asking, “How’s the court?”
“There have been some changes, it’s a long story. Why don’t you tell me how things are on your end?”
“Well, that’s also a long story… I recently took down two key figures, but it took quite an effort to keep a low profile…”
Xiahou Dan fiddled with the crumpled and dirty letter.
Wuming Ke calculated that Xiahou Dan had changed his core, wrote a letter to him, and sent his disciple to him. All of this was true.
However, this letter was written five years ago, and their first meeting also happened five years ago.
After reporting for a moment, A’Bai noticed his movements and chuckled, “Putting so much effort into acting with me, was it to deceive my senior brother?”
“Bei Zhou is easy to deceive. It wasn’t for him.”
A’Bai suddenly realised, “It was to deceive that beautiful lady.”
“Show some respect, she’s an Imperial Consort. When you’re in front of her, act like you just met me, don’t reveal yourself.”
A’Bai’s thoughts turned, excitedly saying, “She’s the one you’ve been waiting for, right?”
“No, it’s someone else.”
“Oh?”
Xiahou Dan said expressionlessly, “I waited for the wrong person, but she came. If she hadn’t come, I would have been dead long ago.”
A’Bai frowned, “Am I too stupid, or did you not explain clearly?”
“You’re too stupid.”
A’Bai, “…”
He suddenly showed a malicious smile, “You like her, don’t you?”
Xiahou Dan, “?”
“To say ‘like’ would be too narrow.”
“So, you don’t like her then?”
“…”
Surprisingly, A’Bai didn’t hear a rebuttal and looked at him curiously, “You really don’t like her?”
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
Like, admire, adore. He felt that what surged in his chest couldn’t be matched by these flowery names. It was a deep, bottomless sea of venom, where only black seaweed grew.
A’Bai jumped up and headed for the door, “Then I won’t be polite.”
Xiahou Dan: ?
A’Bai adjusted his black scarf again and made his way to the Noble Consort’s Palace. He intended to slip in directly but ended up alerting the guards, who summoned Yu Wanyin.
He boldly declared, “Noble Consort, I’m here to spar with Senior Brother.”
“Hush. ” Yu Wanyin pulled him inside and whispered, “Uncle Bei is here as Nanny Bei, trying to keep a low profile. I can take you to meet him, find another place for your duel.”
“…Nanny what?”
Yu Wanyin led him to a side courtyard and knocked on Bei Zhou’s door, “Nanny Bei.”
Bei Zhou looked at A’Bai with confusion.
A’Bai trembled all over, unable to hold it in any longer, “Hahaha, what’s going on here?”
Nanny Bei clicked his tongue, shook his head, “Not had enough of a beating yet? Come, let Nanny pamper you.”
The door closed, and from inside came the sounds of something being tossed around. A’Bai emerged looking dishevelled.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but chuckle, “What were you thinking?”
A’Bai scratched his head. Even though his face was covered, it was clear he was grinning foolishly at her.
Having spent so long in the palace, encountering these unconventional martial artists naturally amused her. Yu Wanyin turned and said, “Let’s have a cup of tea to relax.”
A’Bai watched her slender figure as she walked away, “Lady Yu.”
“Hmm?”
A’Bai glanced around and spotted a flower garden, vibrant with various colours.
He set himself in position, his movements flowing like clouds, palms stirring up a gentle breeze.
Yu Wanyin had barely taken a few steps when countless petals drifted from behind, swirling before her in the golden-red glow of dusk.
She found herself enveloped in a mist of fragrance, surprised as she turned around.
Xiahou Dan stood right behind her.
The two of them stared at each other in this surreal setting.
Yu Wanyin suddenly felt a bit flushed, “Why did you come here?”
Xiahou Dan smiled, “To have dinner with you.”
Not far away, unexpectedly transformed into a human wind machine, A’Bai sighed.
Xiahou Dan pulled Yu Wanyin back to their quarters for dinner. Meanwhile, A’Bai displayed his relentless spirit and followed persistently, “Add one more set of utensils?”
Yu Wanyin was taken aback. Were all martial artists this audacious?
Xiahou Dan glanced at him expressionlessly, “Go and clean up those flower petals.”
A’Bai looked back, “There are palace servants sweeping them.”
“Then go and replant the garden.”
“Don’t be stingy, just let me join you for a meal…”
Xiahou Dan cleared his throat and warned him with his eyes: Don’t overstep your bounds; we agreed to act unfamiliar.
A’Bai paused, adjusted his tone, “I’m not here to freeload. I heard His Majesty is interested in news from the Yan Kingdom?”
Yu Wanyin was puzzled, “You know about the Yan Kingdom?”
In her mind, Yan Kingdom was a vague mosaic, with only a faint memory of internal turmoil, and she hadn’t paid much attention to the details. Now, she wanted to introduce Yan millet, quell the war, and wondered how to send a delegation to divide them internally, then help each other
“I know, I know a lot of things. I even killed…”
Xiahou Dan slapped A’Bai heavily on the shoulder, cutting him off, and said in a low voice, “Sit down.”
Xiahou Dan dismissed the palace servants who were serving dishes, leaving only the three of them sitting around the table. A’Bai happily sat next to Yu Wanyin as he wished.
Looking left and right, he lifted his hand to remove his mask and started eating.
Yu Wanyin curiously looked at his face. He was quite handsome, a complete contrast to Xiahou Dan. His skin was slightly darker, suggesting he spent a lot of time outdoors. With his white teeth, he picked out pieces of meat, cheeks bulging as he chewed.
A’Bai took a sip of wine, then suddenly turned to Yu Wanyin with a smirk, as if saying, “How do I look? Handsome, right?”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Were all martial artists this fearless?
She couldn’t help but glance at Xiahou Dan. Xiahou Dan, seemingly unaware of the playfulness here, calmly said, “Let’s get to the point.”
“Oh right, Yan Kingdom. The Yan Kingdom is just a backward little country, poor in both food and cloth, so they always want to plunder from us,” A’Bai scoffed, “They’re all uncivilised barbarians, but surprisingly tough and fast. Every time they raid us, they burn, kill, and loot everything before leaving.”
“Sounds like bandits,” Yu Wanyin remarked.
“If you call them bandits, they hate us even more, hoping all Xia people would die so they could take over our land.”
“How’s the royal family of Yan Kingdom?” Xiahou Dan asked.
“The uncle and nephew are fighting for power. The current King of Yan is called Zafervahan1, and his nephew is Tur2, the top martial artist in Yan. The uncle and nephew can’t agree on anything except their hatred for Great Xia. There’s a rumour that they’re competing to send assassins to Great Xia, not for any strategic reason, just out of hatred.”
1.His name is 扎椤瓦罕 Zha Luo Wa Han. I have no idea how to translate it, but I assume it’s a vaguely Mongolian name?
2. 图尔: Tu Er.
Yu Wanyin rubbed her forehead, “Where does such a deep-seated enmity come from? So, between these two, who’s more likely to be persuaded?”
“A bit unlikely for both. The Yan King lost an eye to Xia people in battle, and Tur, well, he has some grievances with our Emperor.”
“Grievances?”
Xiahou Dan kicked A’Bai under the table.
A’Bai suddenly accelerated his speech, “Lady Yu, haven’t you heard of the Beauty Shani*? Shani was Tur’s childhood sweetheart. She was sent to the Great Xia Palace to dance and gained quite a reputation. However, His Majesty was ruthless and only granted her the title of beauty. Not long after, she attempted to assassinate His Majesty and was executed. That’s why the Yan Kingdom declared war.”
*珊依: Sha yi
Xiahou Dan, “…”
“Oh, I forgot.” Yu Wanyin said.
Even as the original owner of the palace, she might not have been able to get this kind of palace secret history.
Speaking of which, how did A’Bai find out about this?
Just as Yu Wanyin’s mind was turning here, Xiahou Dan reached out with his chopsticks and picked a piece of fish for her, “Regardless of whether it will succeed or not, let’s send someone to talk separately with them first. Negotiating peace talks is a major national policy. If there’s a wise ruler among them, they should understand and set aside personal grudges. Wanyin, who do you think is suitable to send?”
Yu Wanyin’s attention was diverted, “Oh… among the scholars we recruited earlier, Wang Zhao is a talented diplomat and also knows the Yan language.”
“Alright, let’s go with him.”
“But to prevent any suspicions from Prince Duan, all our actions must be discreet. We can’t openly send an envoy. We’ll have to sneak him out. There’s a central military guard on the northwest frontier. He’s just a scholar. Can he slip out safely?”
A’Bai interjected, “Then why not avoid going out from the northwest?”
“Great Xia only borders Yan Kingdom in the northwest,” Xiahou Dan replied.
A’Bai rubbed his hands and explained, “Here’s the thing, General Luo of the Central Army has a close relationship with Prince Duan. The connections of the left and right armies with Prince Duan are comparatively looser. General You, who commands the Right Army stationed in the southern border, happens to be returning to court for a report soon.”
Xiahou Dan frowned slightly.
A’Bai glanced at Xiahou Dan, suggesting, “In my opinion, how about arranging an official position for Wang Zhao? Place him in the Right Army and have him accompany General You back to the southern border? If you’re concerned, I can accompany him in the army. When the time comes, I’ll escort him and find a way to slip out from the southwest, passing through the Qiang Kingdom and circling around to the Yan Kingdom.”
What kind of place is the Qiang Kingdom?” Yu Wanyin asked.
A’Bai waved dismissively, “Even smaller and more isolated than Yan Kingdom. Sometimes they assist Yan Kingdom as bandits, but they flee on their own when the battle turns bad. Nothing to worry about.”
Xiahou Dan still frowned, shaking his head, “Joining the army isn’t safe. Being under General You’s watchful eyes will only increase the risk of exposure. Let him blend in with a merchant caravan.”
A’Bai opened his mouth.
Xiahou Dan didn’t give him a chance to reply, “You cannot accompany him abroad; there are other ways you can be useful.”
Xiahou Dan assigned a few Shadow Guards to escort Wang Zhao.
When Wang Zhao set off, he had no imperial decree, no title, and no farewell. Travelling lightly in a merchant’s cart, he quietly set out on the official road at dawn.
They would separately contact the uncle and nephew of Yan Kingdom, proposing peace and trade.
Currently, Great Xia urgently needed Yan millet. To avoid attention and make the proposal more enticing, Wang Zhao suggested a lengthy list, allowing the Yan people to exchange local specialties for Great Xia’s grain and cloth. As for Yan millet, it remained discreetly hidden on the attached list.
Xiahou Dan went to court, leaving A’Bai to secretly escort Wang Zhao.
When A’Bai returned, he brought Yu Wanyin the latest gossip, “Last night, that commander of the Imperial Army got drunk and drowned in a pond.”
Yu Wanyin recalled something, “Did that Deputy Commander Zhao take over?”
“They probably appointed him like that. How did you know?” A’Bai asked.
Yu Wanyin shook her head.
Prince Duan was gradually undermining the power of the Empress Dowager according to Xu Yao’s plans.
This was a good thing, indicating that his primary focus was still on dealing with the Empress Dowager. Their side could remain low-key for a long time, until…
Yu Wanyin suddenly shivered.
She had forgotten a major issue. Xie Yong’er also knew about the drought.
There was no mention of the drought in Xu Yao’s writings, indicating that Xie Yong’er had not yet informed Prince Duan. Perhaps she felt that the future was still far away, and it wouldn’t be good to suddenly release a prophecy. Or perhaps she believed it was a foregone conclusion, and mentioning or not mentioning it would make no difference.
However, seeing the implementation of the ZhongFa and the upcoming border trade, she would sooner or later suspect their plans.
As long as she opens her mouth before the millet is sown in Yan, everything will be ruined.
She had to silence her!
But what could she use to persuade her? Would revealing the whole truth move her?
Xie Yong’er was determined to follow the path of becoming the Empress of the ages. Once she discovered that there were two other transmigrators threatening her position, would she be bold enough to risk everything and let Prince Duan kill them?
Would they dare to take such a gamble?
Before she could find Xie Yong’er, she received a note from Prince Duan’s envoy.
Xiahou Bo was waiting for her in the broken house designated for secret meetings.
“Wanyin, have you seen anything with your divine eye recently?”
Yu Wanyin fabricated a bunch of useless clues, from flowers blooming somewhere to a minister suffering from impotence.
Xiahou Bo smiled as he listened to her nonsense, and finally said, “I heard that the expert by the Emperor’s side has appeared again, this time within the palace.”
Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat.
How could that be possible? How did he find out about Bei Zhou? Bei Zhou had switched to the disguise of Nanny Bei after revealing himself once on the lake and hadn’t shown his skills in the palace again…
Prince Duan frowned, “This person is very dangerous. Can you predict how we can get rid of him?”
Yu Wanyin hesitated and asked tentatively, “Is the information reliable? Your Highness, who did you hear this from?”
Xiahou Bo looked at her with a slight smile, as if laughing at her shallow cultivation, “I saw it with my divine eye in a dream.”
Yu Wanyin, “…”
Just a moment ago, you said you heard it from someone else, you confused rascal!
Yu Wanyin stalled for time, sitting cross-legged where she was, and made a lotus seal, pretending to be mystical, “Let me try.”
Xiahou Bo looked at her with interest, “Please.”
Yu Wanyin closed her eyes and pretended to rest peacefully, her mind in turmoil.
Who leaked the information? Who had the opportunity to see through the seamless disguise of the Nanny Bei?
Then her mind flashed. Bei Zhou hadn’t shown his skills, but someone else had.
Those flower petals dancing in the wind.
The wilted petals scattered on the ground, awaiting the palace servants’ clean up.
Yu Wanyin outlined a rough draft, opened her eyes, and slowly said, “I seem to have seen a tall man walking through a corridor.”
She glanced at Xiahou Bo.
Xiahou Bo had no objections, “Which corridor?”
Good, the informant saw A’Bai.
Yu Wanyin quickly calculated in her mind, stumbling over her words, “It seemed to be near the Imperial Garden… or maybe not… there were others with him… Ah, I couldn’t see clearly in the rush. Has Consort Xie foretold this for His Highness?”
Xiahou Bo gently replied, “I came to you first. If after three days you haven’t figured it out, I’ll go ask Yong’er.”
Yu Wanyin dragged her feet back to the Noble Consort’s Palace.
Xiahou Bo’s words sounded affectionate, but she knew it was an ultimatum: this was her last chance to prove her loyalty. If she couldn’t be of use to him now, she would disappear.
She still couldn’t figure out who the traitor was. Bei Zhou, the Shadow Guards. Everyone in the original story was loyal to Xiahou Dan to the end.
If it was the Shadow Guards being disloyal, Xiahou Bo would have received word when Bei Zhou first entered the palace to secretly train them, and they wouldn’t have been caught off guard during the battle on the lake.
This traitor only knew about one expert, not two…
Yu Wanyin’s steps towards the bedchamber halted abruptly. She turned midway and walked to the rear courtyard, where she found a duty-bound Shadow Guard. “Did you see who was cleaning up the fallen petals in the courtyard that day?”
“Miss, don’t just eat sweets, have some tea.” Xiao Mei smiled warmly as she brought tea to Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin quietly assessed this maid who came along with her as her dowry.
Xiao Mei didn’t survive even half of the original story. In the palace intrigue, she was dealt with by Xie Yong’er.
Yu Wanyin had never doubted her because in the original, Xiao Mei was just a simple and honest tool, never a troublemaker.
Yu Wanyin sighed.
Curiously, Xiao Mei asked, “Why does Miss look so worried?”
“Ah, I just saw Prince Duan outside, it seems like he clashed with the Emperor and was punished with a beating.”
Xiao Mei’s hand shook, spilling the scalding hot tea.
She dared not make a sound, nervously put down the teapot, and hid her red hand behind her back.
Yu Wanyin pretended not to notice, “I wonder how severe the punishment was, and if he’s injured.”
Xiao Mei bit her lip, “Shall this servant go check for Miss?”
“Are you crazy? If you’re caught by the Emperor, how would I explain?” Yu Wanyin rebuked gently.
Xiao Mei hesitated for a moment, lowered her eyes submissively, “I’ll inquire later then.”
She retreated.
Yu Wanyin nodded subtly at the Shadow Guard in the corner.
Silently, the Shadow Guard followed her out. Moments later, he returned dragging Xiao Mei by the collar, forcing her to kneel before Yu Wanyin, “Madam has a keen eye. This palace maid sneaked out and was searching around. My men apprehended her.”
Xiao Mei panicked, “Miss, what’s happening?”
“When did you start colluding with Prince Duan?” Yu Wanyin asked calmly.
“……”
“No need to play dumb, I’ve already investigated it.” Yu Wanyin deceived her.
Xiao Mei gritted her teeth and denied, “I don’t know Prince Duan…”
The Shadow Guard crushed one of her fingers.
Xiao Mei sobbed, tears streaming down her face, “Before Miss entered the palace on New Year’s Eve, I followed you and first met Prince Duan by chance on the flower market street. I was captivated by his demeanour… Later, he would occasionally come to chat with me. It was the first time someone treated me like a person in this world…”
Yu Wanyin sneered, “So whatever he asked, you answered? So you’ve been passing my information to him?”
Xiao Mei panted heavily, refusing to speak.
“And I haven’t treated you like a person?” Yu Wanyin’s eyes flashed with a hint of bitterness.
Xiao Mei’s eyes showed a trace of resentment, “Miss has always been kind to me. So when I saw you and His Highness Prince Duan falling for each other, I kept this feeling hidden in my heart, not daring to reveal a trace.”
“If that’s so, then why. ” Yu Wanyin began.
Xiao Mei indignantly interrupted, “But you’ve clearly moved on to the Emperor long ago. Why still keep Prince Duan hanging, letting him grow increasingly haggard for you?”
Yu Wanyin almost burst out laughing.
Then she suddenly remembered another thing, “I never understood why Prince Duan found the lakeside that day. Now thinking back, it was you who helped me change my appearance before leaving the palace. But I didn’t tell you where I was going. How did you guess?”
Xiao Mei had given up resistance, “When His Highness asked, I told him which gate you left from, and he immediately sent someone to follow.” She smirked, “His Highness is exceptionally clever. He stopped trusting you long ago.”
Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, “Alright, alright. What else did you tell him?”
“Why, are you scared now…?” Xiao Mei screamed like a slaughtered pig as the Shadow Guard crushed her second finger.
A buzzing noise filled Yu Wanyin’s ears. She focused her mind, carefully recalling everything, feeling slightly relieved. Whenever she discussed matters with Xiahou Dan, she made a habit of dismissing all servants. Palace maids wouldn’t overhear any crucial secrets.
The Shadow Guard asked, “Madam, shall I kill her?”
Yu Wanyin instinctively wanted to shake her head, but stopped halfway.
Leaving this hidden danger, even if she were expelled from the palace, Prince Duan would immediately understand her position. He would definitely save Xiao Mei and make good use of her to know every aspect of her daily life.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t imagine how much he could deduce from that.
The Shadow Guard pressed, “Madam?”
Yu Wanyin again started to nod, but found her head weighed down as if by a thousand pounds.
Xiao Mei curled up on the ground, trembling.
After a long while, Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, “If you don’t want to die, go do something for me. Since Consort Shu became Noble Consort, she’s been making things difficult for me. Go poison her for me. As long as you aren’t caught, I’ll spare your life.”
Xiao Mei crawled away in panic.
The Shadow Guard looked at Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin’s fingernails dug deep into her palms, struggling to suppress the tremor in her voice as she said to him, “Follow her. Let the Noble Consort catch her in the act.”
She couldn’t leave any loose ends.
Not only that, to deceive Prince Duan, she had to use a knife to kill.
Yu Wanyin sat alone in the room, feeling as if she were in an icy abyss.
After what seemed like an eternity, the shadow guard returned and reported, “Noble Consort Shu has found Xiao Mei’s attempted poisoning in the kitchen. She ordered her to be beaten to death, and now she’s rushing to seek justice from the Emperor.”
“I understand. You may go.” Yu Wanyin nodded.
Yu Wanyin vomited on the floor. She called a palace servant to fetch water, rinsed her mouth, then vomited again, feeling bile rising.
This was the first person she had killed.
Xiahou Dan arrived, “So, uh, Consort Shu said you sent someone to poison her, and I dismissed her. What’s going on?”
He carefully examined Yu Wanyin’s face, his tone becoming more serious, “What happened?”
Yu Wanyin forced herself to calm down and recounted the events, then said, “We need to act out the whole play. You’ll have to punish me. demote me to a concubine, confine me, whatever.”
Xiahou Dan nodded silently.
“I’m sorry,” Yu Wanyin said.
Xiahou Dan chuckled, “What’s there to apologise for…”
“I’m sorry for suspecting that you orchestrated the whole thing on the lake that day,” Yu Wanyin said with her head down, noticing a strange movement in Xiahou Dan’s arm. It seemed like he wanted to open his arms for a hug but restrained himself.
“It’s okay, I understand you were scared,” Xiahou Dan said gently, embracing her as she sobbed.
“It’s over,” Xiahou Dan whispered, patting her back gently. “Being betrayed is hard, right? Even though it’s just a fictional person, after knowing each other for so long. Killing someone is hard too, isn’t it? You didn’t expect it to be this hard, did you?”
“I’m so incompetent, how could I be so incompetent!” Yu Wanyin exclaimed.
Xiahou Dan laughed softly, “You’re just a normal person.”
He continued to pat and stroke her back, “If there’s ever a need to get rid of someone, tell me, let me handle it.”
Yu Wanyin shifted uneasily, wanting to raise her head, “Why?”
“Maybe because I acted in period dramas before I came here, I’m more adaptable than you. Let me do this, and you… won’t have to change,”
Hidden from her sight, his expression was far more serious than his voice, “You never need to change.”
Yu Wanyin’s thoughts calmed slightly, then she suddenly remembered Prince Duan’s blunt threat.
Taking a deep breath, she sat up straight, switching into her dedicated and professional mode, “This is very tricky. He won’t allow you to have any assistance. He’s determined to eliminate A’Bai, and he’s giving me three days to deliver the message.”
Xiahou Dan glanced at his soaked shoulder, lost in thought.
Yu Wanyin continued, “I got too close to you, and Xiao Mei blabbed everything to him. Now, if I want him to believe me, it’s as difficult as climbing to the sky. But until you achieve something big under the radar, I can’t afford to be on his blacklist.”
“Are you suggesting a counterplot?” Xiahou Dan asked.
Yu Wanyin knew this was a tough matter and hesitated, “But we can’t really send A’Bai to his death.”
“A’Bai has always worn a mask. We can find a look-alike to be the scapegoat.”
“Prince Duan isn’t that easy to deceive. Even if the appearance can be mimicked, what about the skills? The only one who can mimic A’Bai’s martial prowess is probably Uncle Bei…”
Yu Wanyin’s eyes suddenly lit up, “I have an idea.”
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 10
Previous: Chapter 8