Character Index
Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice, Kayla's supporter.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Younger half-brother of Minister Liang, Kayla's retainer.
Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and teacher of the Imperial Princess and current Emperor, Kayla's godfather.
Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, a maternal nephew of the Emperor. Seeking revenge for the extermination of the Xiang clan.
Ji Fangluo: A pregnant woman filing a case on her father's behalf. The case is tied to the framing and subsequent extermination of the Xiang clan, but has progressed slowly due to the neutral faction.
Ji Yantao: Ji Fangluo's father and formerly an accountant for the Xiang clan. He suffers from PTSD from losing his wife and unborn son during the extermination of the Xiang clan and has stayed out of Qu Boyong's revenge plot as a result.
Tao Qian: One of Kayla's employees, assigned by Hu Qing to be her bodyguard. He saved Kayla when the Grand Duke attempted to kill her.
Sun Zhong'e: One of Kayla's employees, a woman who is good with healing magic, but only through unorthodox methods.
Lady Lin: A blind divinator who worked with Wenyuan's mother.
Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and a magical researcher.
Sixth Princess: Wenyuan's cousin, she is wheelchair-bound due to illness, and her maternal clan is one of the leaders of the northern tribes.
Housekeeper Wang: The Grand Duke's loyal servant.
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“Only in the matter of revenge would I align with the Seventh Prince. As for the succession to the throne, I wish to side with the Third Prince.”
Kayla’s declaration was met with a brief moment of silence before Sun Ruhui finally nodded.
“If that is what you wish, then I have no arguments. But there are many factors to consider, my lord. Whether it’s dealing with the palace or dealing with the princes, we’ll have to act carefully. Please give me some time to think of a plan, and rest up in the meanwhile,” Sun Ruhui said.
She couldn’t tell if Sun Ruhui was just appeasing someone he thought was emotionally unstable, or if he genuinely agreed.
It doesn’t matter, I’ll try again once I’ve hammered out the plan properly. He’ll understand once he sees the underlying logic.
“That sounds reasonable,” Kayla replied.
Hu Qing glanced between the two of them before nodding with satisfaction. He activated a cleaning talisman to get rid of the shards on the ground, turning over Kayla’s slippers to ensure there weren’t any left inside.
“I’ll have the servants notify the Imperial Edict Bearer and bring you something to eat,” Hu Qing said. He returned momentarily, with a new cup of water. Kayla absentmindedly downed its contents.
I think I know how to deal with Xianchun, but how do I negotiate with Qu Boyong? He’s in so deep that he probably won’t listen to reason.
If that was the case, she needed to gain leverage over him. She had something to hold over his head in the form of Chujiao, who was still under Kayla’s “protection”, but threatening him outright would have minimal effects.
The easiest way was to create debt between them, through whatever means necessary.
“Speaking of Ji Fangluo, she’s filing a case on behalf of her father, isn’t she?” Kayla asked distantly.
“Indeed, her father’s ill, so she’s the one handling everything,” Sun Ruhui replied.
“And where is this man?”
Sun Ruhui hesitated to reply. “That–”
“Ji Yantao’s renting a room just outside the city center,” Hu Qing cut in. “He barely goes outside since the widow who owns the house brings him meals, and his daughter lives separately from him.”
Kayla glanced at him, a sharp glint in her eyes.
“The Grand Duke doesn’t know about Ji Fangluo’s case, or what it entails. We should leave him a hint,” Kayla said.
Sun Ruhui jolted but didn’t say anything in protest.
“Send Tao Qian and a few others to watch over Ji Yantao day and night. The second he’s in danger, be sure to swoop in and save him,” Kayla continued. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sun Ruhui relax slightly.
Hu Qing frowned. “Tao Qian should watch over you. Don’t forget that you’ve injured the Grand Duke. Do you think he would just let you off easily? He’ll definitely send someone to kill you.”
“There are lighter matters and heavier ones. This should take precedence over everything else,” Kayla replied. “Just get me a few more bodyguards. What they lack in skill, they can make up for in numbers.”
“Alright then,” Hu Qing said reluctantly. “I’ll send him over. How about adding Sun Zhong'e to the team? Just in case the old man gets frightened out of his wits, it would be good to have a healer on hand.”
“Good thinking. Add her.”
Kayla was about to continue, but Hu Qing held up a hand to silence her. After a moment, there was a knock at the door.
“Minister, my master is here to see you,” the steward announced.
“Please come in,” Kayla said, hastily getting up from the bed. Hu Qing and Sun Ruhui shuffled to the side, bowing as Wei Guang entered. Kayla bowed her head, stepping forward to greet him.
“No need. Sit down and add some layers, you’ll catch another fever at this rate,” Wei Guang ordered. Kayla obeyed. Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing silently filed out, leaving with the steward and closing the door behind them.
“How are you feeling?” Wei Guang asked.
“I’m perfectly fine now, thanks to godfather’s care. I apologize for causing so much trouble,” Kayla replied.
“You gave us quite a fright, but what matters is that you’re fine,” Wei Guang said. “If you’re feeling well enough, could you tell me what Lady Lin showed you?”
Kayla complied, giving him a basic rundown. She left out anything related to her true identity or the original timeline in which Wenyuan had died and stayed dead. Wei Guang’s expression grew increasingly darker as she spoke. By the time she finished, he looked ready to rip someone apart with his bare hands.
“I apologize for my incompetence, godfather. But I’m sure that this is only part of the story–there’s definitely a way to avoid all this, it is merely my current approach that is lacking,” Kayla said quickly.
The last thing I need is for him to toss me away, where the fuck would that leave me?
“The situation is much worse than I expected. What plans have you for dealing with this?” Wei Guang asked.
“I’ll play the victim in front of the Seventh Prince to lower his guard and hand him the Grand Duke on a silver platter. Then, I’ll push the Third Prince to the throne,” Kayla said.
“How will you do it?”
“My parents died under suspicious circumstances. My father’s death was definitely the Grand Duke’s doing, and my mother’s…well, no one can prove that it was him, but no one can prove that it wasn’t him either,” Kayla replied. “If the Seventh Prince knows of my parent’s deaths before he learns of his mother’s murder, then he’d be hard-pressed to view me as an enemy even when the information is uncovered, and that leaves us more leeway for staying in the political arena.”
Wei Guang nodded slowly.
“You would even make use of your own parents’ deaths…you really are the culmination of both the Zhao line and the Zhou line,” he said.
Kayla lowered her head. Of course he wouldn’t like it, he was the Imperial Princess’ teacher.
“My mother loved this country, and my father did too. Had they survived, I would never have cause to worry for our dynasty’s future. But in their absence, I have to do everything I can to ensure its survival, even if it's using their deaths as a shield,” Kayla replied, scrabbling towards the moral high ground.
Wei Guang shook his head. “No matter, it may be for the best that her child is like this. If that’s what you wish to do, then I’ll support your plans. Is there anything else Lady Lin spoke to you of? She mentioned to me that you had an important secret she wished to discuss in person.”
Fuck, that woman didn’t out me, did she?
“It’s about my nullification magic,” Kayla said instead, refusing to elaborate. Wei Guang gave her a thoughtful look, a solemn expression on his face. It made her uneasy.
“Godfather, is something the matter?”
Wei Guang let out a heavy sigh. “I sent someone to check with Lady Lin after your return, and they’ve sent back a message.”
Oh shit. Did she tell him who I really am?
“Yes?” Kayla prompted.
“Lady Lin has passed away,” Wei Guang said gravely.
“What?!” Kayla shot to her feet, shock coursing through her veins.
“Take it easy, Wenyuan. Sit down, your body’s still recovering.”
Kayla complied. “How…how did she pass away? I was speaking with her just this morning and she seemed fine!”
Wei Guang didn’t say anything, silently stroking his beard.
“She mentioned that she exchanged years off her life to view the future, but I didn’t think it would be this bad!” Kayla said. As much as Lady Lin had pissed her off, Kayla felt a little guilty in retrospect.
Wei Guang continued to watch her for a moment before he spoke.
“That was not the case, Wenyuan. It would seem that she was murdered.”
Kayla gave him a look of disbelief. “What?! But she’s a divinator!”
“Divination is not omnipotent,” Wei Guang said, his voice a little gentler. “But I suspect that she knew they were coming. You arrived much earlier than expected today. If I'm not wrong, she was the one who sent you back in a rush.”
Kayla felt a rush of coldness in her veins.
They were after me?
“But who–” Kayla cut herself off.
The Grand Duke. Kayla could think of many people who would try, but only one who could chase her all the way to Lady Lin’s place.
Then why did Wei Guang say it like that–was he testing me? Panic spiked in her chest. Kayla squashed it down. If Wei Guang wanted to work out his suspicions, then let him. Emotional blackmail and some acting skills may get her a part of the way, but he was a seasoned veteran. For long-term cooperation, it was better for him to understand what Kayla’s true nature was.
“May she rest in peace,” Kayla finally said.
“I’ll arrange for her funeral,” Wei Guang said. “But I believe this is a good indication of how serious the situation is. Since you wish to push the Third Prince to the throne, I’ll assume that you don’t plan to simply act within the limits of your position?”
Kayla hesitated before answering honestly.
“I thought that aligning myself with the palace would be my way out. I believed that as long as I didn’t hanker after what I wasn’t given and accepted what I was offered, then the palace’s trust would be my strongest protection. But it seems that is not the case. Do you disagree, godfather?”
Wei Guang pressed his mouth into a thin line, a displeased expression on his face.
“I only wish to do what is best for this country,” Kayla added.
“And how far will you go for that goal?” Wei Guang shot back.
Is he testing me or does he disagree? Kayla couldn’t get a grip on his intentions.
“Anything short of treason.”
Wei Guang’s eyes narrowed.
“The traditionalists are a bunch of doddering old fools who tremble at the slightest danger. The Court of Judicial Review would quickly capitulate and abandon you if the palace was pressuring them. The Imperial Investigator’s Bureau is the Emperor’s, and the Ministry of Justice is only nominally under your influence. The provincial officials you’ve promoted have barely gotten their own footing, much less worry for your sake. If you really come down to it, all you have is the Imperial Edict Bearer, the Left Secretariat of Justice, a young girl, and a cut-sleeve retainer,” Wei Guang said severely. “If you really want to make your own path, you need a proper power base of your own.”
So he’s supporting me?
Kayla nodded slowly. “Please lend me your advice.”
Wei Guang sighed. “If you cannot gain one in the short run, then co-opt another’s. Your mother’s investigation would allow you to rein in the Grand Duke’s faction if used correctly. Do you need to make another trip to the villa?”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“I doubt Grandmother would let me even if I needed to,” Kayla replied. “I have some coded notes right here.” She pulled out the scrolls of English notes, showing them to Wei Guang.
A subtle look flashed over his face.
“This code…”
“Yes? Is something wrong with it, godfather?” Kayla asked.
Wei Guang shook his head. “It just reminds me that your mother often wrote in code as well. It was different from yours but it also used a series of repeating characters. She would scribble in code on her assignments since she was a child. I used to scold her for it, but she would always say it was a coherent language of its own…” He trailed off.
A strange sense of foreboding swept over her.
“May I take a look at what she wrote?” Kayla asked. “It’s no rush, of course, but if I could see it, perhaps I would be able to decode them.”
“If you want to try, I’m happy to find them for you,” Wei Guang replied. “I keep all my students’ assignments. But I digress. From now on, you’ll need to make as many friends as you can and as few enemies as possible, the opposite of what you’ve been doing so far. My influence alone won’t be enough. Can you look to the Third Prince for help?”
“I believe so, especially if I hint at my intentions of supporting him. In addition to him and the Fifth Prince, I’d like to try allying with the Sixth Princess as well,” Kayla said.
Wei Guang nodded. “Good, try that. It won't be enough, but it'll be a starting point. But don’t mistake your priorities, your first step should still be dealing with the palace. No matter what they ask you, bring up the Ministry of Revenue immediately and downplay everything that happened in the Zhao household as much as possible. They still need you, so they’ll accept it.”
Kayla bowed her head slightly. “I understand, godfather. Thank you for the advice.”
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Four assassins knelt before a folding screen, their heads carefully lowered. Unlike usual, the Grand Duke did not appear before them but rather remained hidden from sight.
“Were my instructions not clear? That brat was not to return to the capital alive!” The Grand Duke snarled.
The team leader winced, knowing they were in for it now. “I truly apologize, my lord. We had trouble tracking him down, and by the time we found him, it wasn’t possible to kill him subtly anymore–”
“When did I say to kill him subtly?”
The team leader glanced at Housekeeper Wang for help, but the housekeeper resolutely avoided eye contact from where he stood next to the folding screen.
“But he was accompanied by guards from the Wei household,” the team leader protested feebly.
“And what of it?” The Grand Duke demanded.
“We found who he was meeting with,” the team leader offered. “A blind old woman. she seemed to be a mage. Minister Zhao had left her alone in the cave.”
The Grand Duke remained silent, Housekeeper Wang speaking up on his behalf. “Did you get anything out of her?”
The team leader faltered. “That–she bit her tongue off before we could ask anything.”
“You didn’t bring any healing talismans?” Housekeeper Wang pressed on.
The assassins glanced at each other. They hadn’t bothered healing the old woman, being in too much of a rush to chase after Zhao Wenyuan. But the Zhao scion’s party had moved so quickly that they hadn’t gotten a chance to intercept them until right outside the capital, where it was too risky to make a move.
“Useless, the lot of you!” Housekeeper Wang snapped, looking down on them disdainfully.
“You weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand the situation!” One of the assassins protested. “We had to chase down the target–”
“But you failed at that too, didn’t you?” Housekeeper Wang shot back.
“Enough. You pathetic bastards failed, and that’s all there is to it. Since Zhao Wenyuan isn’t dead, you will pay the price,” the Grand Duke thundered, silencing the squabbling that had broken out. “A life for a life. Select one of your own to bear the punishment.”
If they refused, they would die. They knew that perfectly well, having made it happen multiple times for other teams. Even though they knew it was only a matter of time before they were on the receiving end, it still caught them blindsided.
The assassins froze on the spot for a moment, dread curling up in their chests before all four of them sprang into action. Following the team leader, three assassins attacked the man who had spoken back to Housekeeper Wang. The man tried to run but didn't get two steps away. Standing over the body of their former comrade, the remaining three exchanged uneasy looks before turning back to the Grand Duke and kneeling.
“My lord, we’ve carried out the punishment,” the team leader said. The room was deadly silent for a long stretch before the Grand Duke spoke again.
“If you’ve learned your lesson, then go on and make up for your failure. I want Zhao Wenyuan dead. I don’t care how you do it, but absolutely do not give him a chance to plead for his life or even to speak.”
“Understood, my lord. We will not let you down,” the team leader promised. Housekeeper Wang waved at them to go, and the assassins left with their comrade’s dead body in tow.
Housekeeper Wang stepped behind the folding screen, approaching the Grand Duke.
“My lord, should I contact your allies in the court to launch an attack?” Housekeeper Wang asked. The Grand Duke turned towards him. Once towering over everyone else by at least half a head, the Grand Duke now needed Housekeeper Wang to bend over to speak with him. Confined to a wheelchair by the effects of Wenyuan's poison needle, he was far from being as intimidating as before.
“No, don’t bother. That brat always finds a way to twist things in his favor. With the Imperial Edict Bearer behind him, he’ll only be like a tiger that has gained wings. For a man like that, death is the only solution,” the Grand Duke said. His eyes narrowed in malicious amusement. “Every man’s corpse rots just the same. Even the Empress Dowager herself will be helpless to do anything.”
“I understand, my lord. I will see it done.” Housekeeper Wang bowed his head, a chill running down his spine. He knew better than anyone else that the Grand Duke before him, wheelchair and all, was more terrifying than ever before.
Zhao Wenyuan, you’ve really sealed your own fate, Housekeeper Wang silently remarked to himself. You only have yourself to blame.
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By the time Wei Guang left Kayla’s room, Caichun had already been anxiously waiting outside for a while. Kayla didn’t even notice Caichun entering, followed by Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing. The three of them exchanged uneasy looks of confusion as Kayla continued to be lost in her thoughts.
Co-opting a power base doesn’t do enough. Once the Grand Duke goes down, most of them will too. It’s only an emergency measure. Wei Guang had mentioned as much, but the question of how to deal with that was a problem.
And if things really do go south, I need to be able to run, even with all the eyes watching my every move.
“My lord, are you feeling alright?” Sun Ruhui’s voice cut into her thoughts.
“I’m fine,” Kayla replied, jolting back to attention. “Sit down, I need to speak with you guys. You all know that I went to speak with Lady Lin, the divinator who worked with my mother, right? Let’s just say that things aren’t looking good right now.”
Kayla repeated the summary she had given to Wei Guang, followed by a brief rundown of her discussion with her godfather.
“That’s so messed up,” Hu Qing complained the second Kayla finished talking. “How is the son so much worse than the father? At least our Emperor hasn’t fucked up the country this much.”
“Mess or not, does anyone have any ideas? It’s also alright if you feel like backing out, it’s not too late to move as far away from the capital as you can manage,” Kayla offered. Foolish as it was, Kayla actually meant it.
All three shook their heads. Caichun was particularly vehement, looking offended that Kayla had even suggested it.
“Caichun, what do you think?” Kayla asked.
“I don’t believe that divinator really knows what the future holds,” Caichun replied firmly. “Think about it, if the future was set, why would she call you over? Knowledge shapes your perception of the world and influences your decisions. In other words, showing you this future may very well be the impetus for changing it altogether.”
“A recursive solution? It’s possible,” Kayla remarked. “Then does anyone have any objections to the new approach I’ve decided on?”
Sun Ruhui and Hu Qing shook their heads, but Caichun raised her hand.
“Minister, if I may, I have a few words to say,” Caichun said.
“I’d gladly hear your advice,” Kayla said, gesturing for her to speak.
“My words don’t qualify as advice, but I’m grateful for your patience in bearing with me,” Caichun replied. “They say that every man has responsibility for the rise and ruin of a country. You should worry for the people if you are in a high position in court, and you should worry about the central government if you are far away, among the rivers and lakes. It is an official’s responsibility and privilege to worry about the country’s worries as a priority, and only then indulge in its joys. Though I cannot reach such lofty goals, I aspire to them, and thus cannot remain silent when faced with a misjudgment, rude as my words may be.”
“It’s rare to see such a mindset,” Sun Ruhui remarked.
“Then that’s truly a pity! I had always aspired to serve the dynasty, even though I was disqualified from trying on the basis of being a woman, but those who were able to become officials waste their positions on personal gain!” Caichun said passionately. “Minister, with the current condition of the government, it doesn’t matter even if the Seventh Prince doesn’t become Crown Prince. Isn’t our focus a little too narrow if it’s the dynasty’s survival that we’re aiming for?”
I didn’t know she was this idealistic. It would worry me if it were anyone else, but she’s talented enough and practical enough to navigate the murky waters…it really would be a waste if she wasn’t an official.
“Then let me ask you, what do you think we should be doing right now?” Kayla asked, keeping her voice carefully neutral. Caichun began to look a little nervous but quickly collected herself.
“That…I know that you’re focused on the neutral faction, and we’re primarily concentrating our energy on balancing the Imperial Court. But given the concerns you have for the country’s future, we should be worrying more about the foundation of the dynasty.”
Kayla tilted her head slightly. “And what is that?”
“The ancient greats have said that the people are the foundation, the administration is lesser in importance, while the ruler is least important,” Caichun said after a moment of hesitation. “You spoke of consecutive years of famine, plague, and invasions along the north–and yet we have no way of dealing with that. Even if the Third Prince becomes Emperor, all we might see is that resources and disaster aid would be distributed more efficiently, but what about the invasions from the North? What about the depletion of the grainage stores and the overpopulation of refugees in the Southern provinces? You may think that we have our hands full in the capital right now, but I think we should be worrying about mitigating the impact that the upcoming disasters will have on the populace.”
“How? With what power? What resources?” Kayla shot back a volley of questions.
Caichun’s back seemed to straighten even more as she replied. “For methods, there are many. The simplest would be the redistribution of magical resources. Noble households and major clans are oversaturated with magical devices and spells, and the capital has an overabundance since this is where most magic users choose to work. We have magic for entertainment and for war, but not for agriculture. We have magic for the whim of every noble, but not for communication magic between the villages and towns. If we could redistribute–”
“How would we manage that? We have so many enemies already, and you’re speaking of increasing their numbers, and on a national scale as well,” Kayla cut Caichun off.
“You will gain the enmity of the nobles and the major clans, I won’t deny that. But what you’ll gain in turn is much more important–the populace’s support and the unconditional backing of the Imperial Family. If you have the heart of the people, then combined with your bloodline, it’s the equivalent of having guaranteed immunity against the death penalty. Any official who attempts to get you killed will have their reputation dragged through the mud, and if any of the princes want to gain the populace’s loyalty, they will have to not only protect you, but also you treat you with respect. You’d also gain more say in who succeeded to the throne. Moreover, detracting from the clans means benefitting the Emperor, and creating vacancies for new people to rise to power. So long as you prove yourself capable and efficient, the throne would back you with everything they have,” Caichun explained.
Kayla remained silent, and Caichun gulped nervously under Kayla’s unreadable gaze. Sun Ruhui kept silent, watching Kayla intently.
“What do you think, Left Secretariat?” Kayla asked Sun Ruhui.
He bowed his head slightly. “It is worth considering, my lord. If we wish to form a power base of our own within the capital, the palace will retaliate. But if we wish to form one that doesn’t threaten the palace, then the only way for us to do so is outside of the capital.”
Kayla nodded at his response. After a long moment in which the room held still, Kayla smiled at Caichun.
“To think you had such broad-hearted ambitions, truly, it brings me to shame,” Kayla praised her.
She’s right, I’ve been focusing so much on the capital until now. But when you’re at a disadvantage, you could expand the playing field or add more players on one hand, and change the rules of the game on the other. Or even better, do both at once.
Kayla didn’t have such lofty ambitions as Caichun did. If it was possible for a relative of the Imperial Family to leave the country silently, she would’ve done so already. But with the Imperial Investigation Bureau watching her like a hawk, Kayla wouldn’t even make it to the first pass, much less the border.
Having the Bureau watch you is the absolute worst, they’re way too thorough. The only reason Yunqi and Cao Shuyi were able to make it out in the future is that the Bureau willingly turned a blind eye. But right now, the Emperor’s in charge, and he wants them to watch me. Trying to run will just get me killed off sooner.
On the other hand, idealistic as it sounded, Caichun’s idea was a viable path. Kayla hadn’t even gotten that far with planning how to build up her power base, but Caichun was already mapping out a route.
Kayla’s eyes crinkled with approval as she looked at the younger woman. I really hit gold with you, didn’t I?
Caichun flushed bright red, bowing her head slightly.
“I’m unworthy of such kind words, my lord.”
Kayla nearly raised an eyebrow at the change in address but said nothing on the matter.
She nodded to Hu Qing. “See if you can grab the steward for me, and ask him if my godfather has any surplus communication devices.”
If she wanted to do anything, she had to work with what she already had. Since an opportunity wouldn’t open up for her to make use of pre-existing resources, then she would just have to create one.
A moment later, Hu Qing returned with the steward in tow.
“Minister, my master wished to convey that he had a good number of communication devices in surplus and that you should use them however you like,” the steward told her.
“Excellent! Please convey my deepest gratitude. And if I may ask, how many do you mean when you say there’s a good number of them?” Kayla asked.
The steward bowed his head slightly. “My master used to dabble in magical research, so it was quite simple for him to gain them straight from the source. There is a warehouse of them for your use. There are at least three hundred and fifty devices in good condition and dozens more that can be easily refurbished.”
A warehouse?! Damn!
“Thank you,” Kayla said. The steward bowed and took his leave.
Kayla turned to Hu Qing. “Call Feng Yi for me and ask him if he’d like to be rich. As always, I’ll ensure his safety.”
If she wanted to interfere with the distribution of magical resources, she needed a proper excuse to do so. And what would be a better impetus than a case that revolved around it?
As long as Feng Yi went about selling communication devices to peasants and small businesses for cheap, it would devalue existing devices by reducing their scarcity. It wouldn’t take long before local nobility or influential clans tried to stop him, whether through legal means or by force. No matter which it was, Feng Yi could simply bring his case to the Court of Judicial Review, and Kayla would have a reason to start meddling in the provinces.
I feel a little bad for dragging Feng Yi into these things. Even if he doesn’t make any money, I’ll have to make sure he becomes rich.
“Will anyone connect this to the matter with the Seventh Prince and his strategist?” Sun Ruhui asked.
“I’ll just present it as having sponsored Feng Yi in exchange for making him leave the capital,” Kayla shrugged. There would be suspicions, of course, but she needed someone trustworthy to handle this.
“Let’s move as fast as we can,” Kayla said. “Time doesn’t wait for us, if we can’t keep up, we’ll be done for.”
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Cultural Notes
断袖/Cut-sleeve: A term used in Ancient Chinese to refer to romantic or sexual relationships between men. Ancient China did not differentiate between homosexuality and bisexuality, and many men had both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. The term stems from a famous story of a Han dynasty Emperor who had to go to the convening of the court at an ungodly hour, but the Emperor's boyfriend was sleeping on his sleeve. In order to not wake his lover, the Emperor cut off his own sleeve.
天下兴亡匹夫有责/Every man has responsibility for the rise and ruin of a country: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
居庙堂之高则忧其民/If you are in a high position in court, you should worry for the people: A quote by Song dynasty official, educator, and writer Fan Zhongyan, the full quote is "居庙堂之高则忧其民,处江湖之远则忧其君/If you are in a high position in court, you should worry for the people. If you are far away, among the rivers and lakes, you should worry about the central government." This reflects his own philosophy as a public servant and scholar.
先天下之忧而忧/First worry about the country's worries: Another quote by Fan Zhongyan, the full quote is "You should first worry about the country's worries, and then take joy in the country's joys." Considering that many of his contemporary officials were highly corrupt/cared only about their own fame or power, this served as a recrimination against his colleagues.
民为本，社稷次之，君为轻/The people are the foundation, the administration is lesser in importance, while the ruler is least important: A quote by Mencius, a pre-Qin Confucian scholar/sage. He has always been a proponent of policies that benefitted the population rather than an elite majority and was famous for lambasting kings fearlessly.
得民心者得天下/Those who win the hearts of the populace will win the country: Usually used in terms of internal strife, especially in the scrabble for power between dynasties, but also applied to times of peace. Having the population's support means that you can always hide out and then start again, unlike those who are hated by the populace and will probably get torn to shreds if they fell from power.
心胸宽广/Heart and chest [are] wide and broad: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to have a big heart, to be able to think for the greater good over personal gain.
时不我待/Time does not wait for me: A proverb originating from a quote from The Analects "日月逝矣，岁不我与."/The sun and moon pass by, time does not stay with me."