Character Index
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince.
Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince.
Zhou Hong: The deceased First Prince. His marriage to his maternal relative from the Gongsun clan was the beginning of the Gongsun clan's downfall due to what the Emperor perceived as an attempt to control the future heir as well as his potential heirs.
Liang Shen: Former Lord of the Liang clan, Hu Qing's older half-brother. In Xianchun's faction.
Captain Jiang: A young guard from the Imperial Guards. Accompanied Kayla to the north.
Sir Yang: The Emperor's trusted eunuch, an elderly man.
Tao Qian: Kayla's retainer and bodyguard.
Lin Yaoguang: The Grand Duke's money launderer, now bound in service to Kayla.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minsiter of Censure, Kayla's godfather.
Ashina: Personal name Ibilga, Princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and Kayla's wife.
Chuluo Khagan: Khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Kayla's father-in-law.
Shegui Khagan: Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate.
General Yan: A general formerly stationed in the north, he was sent to Chuluo as the commander of Wu reinforcements in the war between the Khaganates.
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Kuang swept into the study, robes billowing behind him. Yunqi hurriedly kept pace with his older brother, closing the door and activating a privacy talisman behind them.
“Damn that brat!” Kuang snarled. “It was foolish of me to think he could be swayed!”
After only a brief lull, Xianchun’s supporters had begun opposing posthumous honors for the First Prince’s unfortunate wife again, citing everything they could think of, from Empress Dowager Lü to Wang Mang’s usurpation of the Western Han. With only two days left to the funeral, the Emperor had ceded to the remonstrations and refused to grant posthumous honors to either Zhou Hong’s wife or his son.
Xianchun, you fool, Yunqi thought grimly. You’re haranguing father when he’s already exhausted in body and mind, and now you’re provoking Brother to this extent?
A length of cloth can still be sewn, a sack of seed grain can still be planted, but two brothers cannot condone each other–no matter how he looked at it, that was the direction things were heading in.
You’re seeking your own demise, Yunqi lamented.
“So even Wenyuan couldn’t persuade him,” Yunqi said out loud. “Xianchun probably only agreed to consider it in order to lull us into complacency.”
“Damn it, and at a time when no one has access to Father! He’s called off two sessions of court now, and handles everything from his private quarters. No one, not even my mother can approach him. Wenyuan’s the only exception, but he won’t agree to taking such a risk before he has a culprit to present as an arrow-shield,” Kuang said in frustration.
“Then our only option is to deal with Xianchun. Sending Wenyuan a second time probably wouldn’t be of much use. How about bribing someone close to him? Perhaps Sir Liang?” Yunqi offered.
Kuang heaved a sigh. “Do we have enough time?”
“Not before the funeral, but the matter of posthumous honors can be dragged out for quite a while if we continue appealing,” Yunqi said. He cautiously examined Kuang’s face, hesitating before he spoke.
“That is, if you think it’s worth it.”
“What do you mean?” Kuang said sharply.
Unfazed at his brother’s irritation, Yunqi plodded on calmly.
“We’ve done what we could, and sent the signals we wanted to both Father and to the court,” Yunqi said in a level voice. “Letting Xianchun proceed might actually be our best option at this point. With Wenyuan’s help, Father can be brought to regret his decision to disenfranchise the Gongsun bride, and the court certainly wouldn’t look kindly upon Xianchun’s decision. As they say, a subject should stop at respect, a son should stop at filial piety–to go this far pushes the boundary of acceptability. Our younger brother has erred, and erred greatly, but he does not know it yet.”
Yunqi paced the room slowly, spreading his hands earnestly.
“Some wooden-headed individuals may agree wholeheartedly with him, but the more time passes, the more sympathy this case will garner. It’ll just make Xianchun look ruthless, and it certainly shows that he won’t go easy on the clans, not even a deceased woman who was barely out of girlhood, one who was his sister-in-law at that.”
“Yunqi, you…” Kuang fell quiet, at a loss for words.
“I know full well your feelings on this matter,” Yunqi said. “And I know that it’s not just about our brothers either—this holds importance to your ambitions too. With what we know is coming for us in the future, making sure every step is solid becomes all the more significant. But fighting this to its bitter end…I’m not sure it’s the best option for us right now. You will surely accomplish everything you wish, Brother, but first you need to gain that coveted position to do so.”
Kuang sighed again, sinking into his chair. He leaned back, tilting his gaze to the ceiling. Slowly, he closed his eyes, a look of resignation passing over his face.
“Very well.”
“I’m sorry,” Yunqi said earnestly.
“I know.” Kuang extended his hand without opening his eyes, a small smile crossing his face when Yunqi took hold of it.
“You’re right, Yunqi. I’ll do as you advise.”
The smile on his face widened, taking on a dangerous glint.
“After all, we have more important matters at hand.”
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Kayla sat next to the Emperor, giving her report as they shared a meal. In truth, neither of them were really eating. Kayla was too busy keeping an eye on the Emperor’s mood while acting like she wasn’t, and the Emperor was staring blankly at his food.
“As for the investigation, we’ve arrested both the hired assassin and the hired spy, but–”
Kayla paused as the Emperor set down his chopsticks with a clack. She waited silently for a moment, but he only placed down his bowl, disinterested in its contents.
He’s buying time, Kayla noted. He’s not sure if he can face it.
On one hand, they were getting closer to catching the men behind his sons’ deaths. On the other, if they did, he would have to look the gruesome murders in the face.
With how much fuss has been raised over just the funeral alone, this must be even harder for him to bear.
She went along with his mood, changing the topic.
“Uncle, please eat a little more, this much isn’t enough to maintain your health,” Kayla said worriedly. “Shall I mix some pickles into the fish for you?”
The Emperor sighed, listlessly pushing the bowl away.
“Forget it, I’m not hungry. Continue with what you were saying,” the Emperor ordered.
Kayla shuffled slightly closer, carefully schooling her face into the right balance between deference and determination.
“We’ve arrested the killer, and he’s being transported to the capital as we speak. His name is Wu Zheng, a man from Sichuan province. He has no family, and the Bureau is currently conducting an investigation into his acquaintances as we speak,” Kayla said.
Contrary to the avoidance she was expecting, the Emperor’s eyes lit up. It was a look akin to the glow he would have prior to the tragedy, but there was a sharper, hungrier edge to it now.
“What about his employer?” He demanded.
“The killer wouldn’t speak–he tried to bite his tongue and kill himself. The local Investigators managed to stop him, and I’ve sent our best interrogators to join them on the road,” Kayla replied.
“Ha! Good thing that they stopped him! I won’t be satisfied letting that bastard die so easily!”
“He deserves to be cut ten thousand times by a thousand blades,” Kayla agreed, going along with his words. “As I told you yesterday, the man we arrested in the hostel raids has also given up his middleman, and as of now, we are narrowing down the locations near Yongan County where we can find him. There is an active manhunt going on within the province, with checkpoints on every road, major or minor. Once we’ve arrested him, we will be sure to extract every last answer.”
“Well done, well done!” The Emperor gave a smile that sent chills down Kayla’s spine.
“Your words have given me more appetite than anything else,” the Emperor said, picking up his chopsticks again.
“I am grateful to hear that,” Kayla replied.
He ate silently for a moment, content to let Kayla fill him in on the minor details.
“Wenyuan,” the Emperor said, setting down his bowl. “You have my permission to use whatever means necessary. You need not apply for permission to conduct arrests or raids, or to use restricted interrogation methods. It’s fine even if you make mistakes or offend people, I’ll take responsibility for your actions.”
Kayla gulped nervously as the Emperor leaned closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“But get me the culprits, hear?”
“Of course, Uncle. I will stop at nothing to see it done,” Kayla replied.
“Good,” the Emperor murmured. “Good.”
He leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. Kayla gave a small wave to the eunuch on standby and he quietly stepped forward to clear the table.
It’s normal for people to want revenge, Kayla tried to assure herself. This much is…anyone who lost their son to murder would do as much if they had the power to do so, right?
But the Emperor wasn’t just anyone.
“Uncle, why don’t you rest on the bed?” Kayla said softly. The Emperor opened his eyes blearily.
“Oh, I’m not tired,” he replied in a haggard voice.
Low energy, low appetite, and mood swings…I thought I still had time.
Her heart sank. The Emperor had been healthy for his age. There was every reason to believe he would recover once the grief ebbed. But as one of the few people allowed to approach him these days, Kayla had a feeling that he might never fully recover from the blow.
“Even if you’re not tired, taking a noon rest is good for the body,” Kayla said as lightly as she could manage.
“Well, I suppose,” the Emperor said.
“Shall I remove your hair pin for you?” Kayla asked.
The Emperor gave a faint smile. “Forget it, what are the eunuchs for?”
Kayla gestured for the eunuch again, and the man stepped forward with lowered eyes to help the Emperor with his hair and robes.
“Uncle, there was another thing I wished to report to you, but I’ll submit a written report later and let you rest for now,” Kayla remarked.
“Hmm? It’s fine, you can just tell me now,” the Emperor replied.
She scanned his face, judging it safe to proceed.
“Given that we don’t know exactly what we may find right now, it may so happen that we might uncover further threats to the palace or…and please forgive me for saying this, in the palace. In case we need the Imperial Guard to strengthen security or take action on a short notice, I would like to station an Investigator with the Imperial Guard’s command center as a liaison so as to convey intelligence from the Bureau immediately and discuss responses to any threats on a timely basis,” Kayla said. “I know that we already make reports directly to the palace, but I’d like someone to be perpetually available on an official basis, at least for the time being. That way, it would cut down on the procedures necessary for coordinating a response. But of course, it’s only if Uncle is alright with it.”
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“A liaison? Don’t bother with that. You can just tell the guards what to do directly if there’s something urgent,” the Emperor replied.
Kayla’s heart skipped a beat. This was more than she had ever hoped for, and the Emperor was handing it over as easily as he would a trinket.
Is he…serious? Did he mean that or did he say it thoughtlessly?
“Uncle, but that’s…wouldn’t that be inappropriate?” Kayla protested.
The Emperor dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. “Inappropriate? How can it be inappropriate to rely on the one person I can truly trust? I’d rather place my fate in your hands than in the hands of someone with filial ties elsewhere.”
Right, the current Commander of the Imperial Guard is from a major clan in the Wuchang region.
“I’m truly grateful for your trust in me, Uncle! I’ll strive within an inch of my life to ensure your safety and to complete your wishes!” Kayla said, hastily bowing her head.
“I know that you will,” the Emperor said fondly.
“That being said, I fear that this will be looked upon unkindly by the court and the Imperial Guard, to have an outsider who can intervene like this,” Kayla said worriedly. “I would not wish for their resentment to unduly impact your safety. Perhaps a liaison is best after all.”
“What have they to resent?” The Emperor said dryly. “The Imperial Guard will do as I say.”
“I merely do not wish anyone to speak ill of your decisions,” Kayla said, flushing a little.
The Emperor’s face softened.
“Don’t worry about such things,” the Emperor said. He nodded at the eunuch. “Summon Sir Yang to transcribe my edict.”
The eunuch bowed and scurried off, eyes still wide with surprise at what he’d heard. Kayla tried to calm her own pounding heart.
“Uncle,” Kayla began hesitantly.
The Emperor sat down on the bed. “Don’t worry so much, Wenyuan. Of all my family, you’re the one I look upon most fondly, and the one I intend to entrust with my posthumous affairs. Both for your sake and for the sake of this country…accept it, Wenyuan. That’s the best for everyone.”
He briefly took on a look reminiscent of how he used to be merely weeks ago, before the crushing tragedy of his sons’ deaths.
His posthumous affairs? The weight of those words slowly settled onto her shoulders.
A sudden surge of emotion overtook Kayla and she knelt on one knee before the bed, tentatively reaching out to hold onto the hem of his robes.
“Uncle, please just live forever,” Kayla said in a small voice.
The Emperor let out a laugh, his voice thick with emotion. He patted her head as if Wenyuan were still a child. Kayla’s eyes stung, and she leaned forward to briefly rest her forehead against his knee.
Out of everyone, the one person with the power to end her life at any time was also the one person who would indulge her like this. Pulling herself out of the sudden flurry of emotions, Kayla quickly withdrew, retreating to stand respectfully at the Emperor’s side as Sir Yang approached.
Sensing the Emperor to be in an unusually good mood, Sir Yang’s face brightened as he got closer.
“Your Majesty,‘’ he greeted.
“Sir Yang, send out my orders–Duke Zhao is loyal and filial, and has contributed greatly to the dynasty as the Director of the Bureau and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. In light of the unrest that has plagued the Imperial house, Zhao Wenyuan shall hereby have the authority to coordinate the Imperial Guard with the Imperial Investigation Bureau in the case of emergencies that require urgent action. Furthermore, Zhao Wenyuan shall be granted the special privilege of wearing a sword before the Emperor,” the Emperor said, his voice swelling with authority. He gave Kayla a knowing smile.
“Even if you can’t use it well, carrying one will make the martial officers respect you more,” he said before turning back to Sir Yang.
“Have Captain Jiang select one of my best swords for the Duke to use,” the Emperor ordered.
Kayla knelt before the Emperor, bowing her head.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! Zhao Wenyuan humbly accepts your magnanimity.”
The Emperor gave an approving hum, gesturing for her to rise.
Sir Yang finished writing down the edict and set down his brush.
“Then I will convey this to the Imperial Guard and register it in the archives,” Sir Yang said.
“Go on then. I grow weary,” the Emperor replied. “You may all take your leave.”
“Please have a good rest,” Kayla said, bowing. The Emperor smiled and waved her off. Keeping her head bowed, Kayla backed away a few steps and left the building.
“Congratulations, Your Excellency,” Sir Yang murmured as they stepped outside. He extended a handkerchief to her. Kayla stared at it in befuddlement for a moment before realizing there were tears on her face.
I actually cried?
Kayla took the handkerchief with a nod of thanks, patting the moisture off her cheeks. Puzzled and a little in disbelief at her own reaction, Kayla absentmindedly placed the handkerchief on the tray that a junior eunuch held out to her.
“Sir Yang, what do you think of all this?” Kayla asked quietly. “I had merely hoped to station a liaison in case of emergencies–better to have someone familiar with the reports on hand at the palace so that we need not waste time in deciphering our shorthand, but the Emperor’s decision just now went beyond my expectations.”
She trailed off, observing the old eunuch’s face.
If the Emperor ever comes to regret this, I need someone at his side to speak up for me. An eunuch who can actually get a word in might be worth more than any ally at court, no matter their rank.
“Your filial piety has not gone unrecognized, my lord,” Sir Yang replied in a gentle tone. “The deaths of the First and Second Princes has put the clans on edge as well, having someone who can counter their influence within the walls of the palace aligns with the Emperor’s interests.”
“I only fear that I cannot live up to my duty,” Kayla murmured.
“Your Excellency is someone that His Majesty places great faith in. You need not feel such self-doubt, for that would be the same as doubting the Emperor’s judgment of you,” Sir Yang replied.
“Your words are enlightening,” Kayla replied. “I thank you, Sir Yang.”
Sir Yang’s gaze suddenly grew cold as it pierced into her face, evaluating Kayla’s sincerity. Within a second, it returned to the amiable look of before.
“True loyalty is hard to come by. It’s my duty to support it where it can be found,” he said warmly. “I would escort you to the gates, but I must go and deliver His Majesty’s edict.”
“Of course, please go at your leisure,” Kayla replied.
She had passed some sort of test in his eyes.
Good. Kayla couldn’t afford for him to doubt her loyalty as a subject.
A thousand thoughts swimming through her mind, Kayla reached the carriage.
“My lord,” Tao Qian greeted her, pausing at the look on her face.
“My lord?” He tried again.
Kayla jolted back to reality. “Ah, yes. We can go now,” she said.
“Where to?” Tao Qian asked.
“The Bureau,” Kayla replied.
She stepped into the carriage, sinking back into thought.
The ability to command the Imperial Guard and the privilege to wear a sword before the Emperor…I’d better find the culprit quickly if I want to keep any of these.
The height of Imperial favor was as dangerous as it was alluring—a position sought and attacked by countless people. And gaining these privileges at a time when the Emperor was enveloped in grief only made Kayla’s position more vulnerable to criticism. She should’ve been happy, but instead, a countless array of worry and relief followed her back to the Bureau.
Kayla mechanically notified her advisors and her senior staff of the Emperor’s new edict, sending a message to Wei Guang and Ashina to boot. She then proceeded to shut herself in her office, checking her communication device far too often in hopes of hearing from Lin Yaoguang or from one of the Investigators.
Any news is good news. I need that fucking middleman, and I need to know what he knows if I have to crack his skull open to get it.
The communication device finally showed a new message. Her stomach flipped.
A Level One notification?! The fuck is happening now?!
Kayla shot up in alarm just as a hurried knock sounded at the door.
“What is it?!” Kayla demanded.
An Investigator came in, his face flushed a bright red.
“Reporting to the Director, an urgent report from the front! Chuluo Khagan’s army clashed with the Western Turks near Urzhar!” The Investigator said. Kayla paced over to the map on her wall, gesturing for the man to continue.
“Last I’d heard they were still staring each other down with no intention of fighting,” Kayla muttered. “What changed?”
“Chuluo Khagan had been steadily pressing forward bit by bit while increasing his number of forces, and being unwilling to engage directly in battle, the Western Turks found themselves backed into a disadvantageous position. But it seems that Shegui Khagan personally took to the field with his youngest son,” the Investigator said. “His presence boosted the morale of the Western Turks and they led a charge, and Chuluo Khagan’s army suffered a great setback despite outnumbering the enemy.”
So it’s going to be an all-out war then, just as Chuluo probably hoped!
“Then what is the situation now?” Kayla demanded. “What is the condition of the army?”
“Don’t worry, Director. General Yan was able to turn the situation around–he outflanked the enemy and completely shattered their offensive. The Western Turks’ cavalry fell apart and scattered to the winds, allowing Chuluo Khagan and General Yan to gain control of the region. Congratulations, my lord, your father-in-law and our general have won an astounding victory!”
“Our General has done us proud!” Kayla said out loud.
General Yan!!!! What are you doing?! Didn’t I tell you not to go too far? We don’t want Chuluo to gain too much ground!
She stifled her inner screeches. I told him, didn’t I? Her mind zeroed in on the section of her last letter where she had repeatedly emphasized that to him. I definitely did. Did he even read it?
Kayla smiled at the Investigator, clapping the elated man on the shoulder.
Then again, the situation at the front is always volatile and dangerous. Maybe it was just a situation where he had to pursue his advantage or lose everything. Let’s calm down and wait for the full reports of the battle to come out instead of acting like one of those shitty desk commanders.
Plus, a victory was a victory. If nothing else, General Yan’s prowess in battle made them look good.
I mean, he did win, didn’t he? A victory’s a victory. Except for when it was strengthening a potential enemy and when it bore so many political implications for his sponsors back home.
“Send an immediate dispatch to the palace–the Emperor should be resting right now, but make sure he hears of this once he wakes,” Kayla ordered.
“Yes sir!”
Kayla sighed, tracing a hand across the map.
Let’s just wait and see.
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Cultural Notes
吕太后/Empress Dowager Lü: The wife of Emperor Gaozong, founder of the Han dynasty. She was known for dominating politics for a long time after her husband's death until her own. She was known for her persecution and killing of several of Gaozong's sons by other women, partially to cement her own power and partially out of revenge for things that happened under her husband's reigns, but putting aside the murders, she was otherwise a capable ruler. Nonetheless, her name is synonymous with "后宫干政/Internal Palace interfering in politics" due to her political hegemony.
王莽串汉/Wang Mang's usurpation of the Western Han: Wang Mang was known as one of the most capable men of the late Western Han dynasty (known as the Western Han because there was brief lull in between when he usurped the dynasty), and was from the maternal clan of one of its young Emperors. By amassing influence and reputation (for which he killed two of his own sons, one for assaulting a maid, and another for attempting to stop him in the famous dog-blood incident*), Wang Mang managed to force the puppet Emperor into acceding the throne to him, but he was soon overthrown after an ineffectual reign.
*Wang Mang's son tried to stop his father from taking too much power by playing on his father's superstitious nature and secretly splashing dog blood on the household gates, which he hoped would be taken as an ill omen and a sign to stop. He was caught in the act and forced to kill himself, and his wife died soon after as well. This incident caused a famous scholar from Northern China to say "三纲绝矣，不去，祸将及人/The three constants (including the bond between father and son) are extinguished, if one does not leave, they will be caught in disaster". He then left the capital. A few years later, Wang Mang would go on to usurp the Emperor and raise the curtains on an era of bloodshed and civil strife.
挡箭牌/Arrow shield: A Chinese phrase for a shield/protection, usually a metaphor for a scapegoat, incident, or dynamic that one can play on to protect oneself.
公孙氏/[Bride] Of the Gongsun clan: A common way to refer to married women back in Ancient China was to call them by their family name, either because it's inappropriate to address a married woman by her name, or for the sake of convenience. The myth that "women in Ancient China didn't have given names, only family names" was false for most of history, but it remains unchanged that most women's given names were not recorded. In this case, Kuang and Yunqi refer to their sister-in-law as "Of the Gongsun clan", which in context would be "the woman who married in from the Gongsun clan".
身心俱疲/Body and heart are weary: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
一尺布，尚可缝；一斗粟，尚可舂。兄弟二人不能相容/A length of cloth can still be sewn, a sack of seed grain can still be planted, but two brothers cannot condone each other: A folk song from the Han Dynasty, this song was directed towards Emperor Wen of Han. His brother, King/Archduke of Huainan rose in revolt against him, and was captured and exiled to the Shu region (around modern-day Sichuan). En route, the Archduke allegedly refused food and starved himself in death rather than endure humiliation, though whether it was truly by his own will has been a source of contention even back in the day. As a result, a folk song lamenting the brothers' conflict spread through the country. Part of this was because they were both sons of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty, and were two of the few remaining sons who survived the schemes of Gaozu's wife, Empress Dowager Lü. For the two to turn against one another was seen as particularly lamentable given their shared suffering in the past.
为人臣止于敬；为人子，止于孝/As a subject, one should stop at respect; as a son, one should stop at filial piety: A quote from the Confucian Classic 大学/The Great Learning, it essentially calls for people to refrain from crossing the line into acting too excessively or extremely, but also to strive to one's best to fulfill one's duties and moral obligations (a weak example because I can't think of a better one: as a father you shouldn't be emotionally absent/uncaring, but you also shouldn't be getting all heated up and chasing your kid around with a sandal because they missed an assignment). The full quote is: "为人君，止于仁；为人臣止于敬；为人子，止于孝；为人父，止于慈；与国人交，止于信/As a ruler, one should strive to and stop at [ruling] humanely; as a subject, one should strive to and stop at [acting] respectfully; as a son, one should strive to and stop at filial piety; as a father, one should strive to and stop at kindness; in interacting with one's countrymen, one should strive for and stop at trust."
步步为营/Each step [as solid as] a military camp: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that every step you take is not only done so cautiously, properly, but also strategically.
千刀万剐/Cut ten thousand times by a thousand knives: An Ancient Chinese way to curse someone to a painful death, or to express vehement hatred of someone.
托付身后事/Leaving my posthumous affairs to you: For Emperors, this usually entails leaving the guidance of a young successor in the hands of someone they trust, but even for normal people, this is a sign of incredible trust (basically saying that you're [officially or unofficially] making someone the executor of your will).
御前佩剑/Wearing a sword before the Emperor: Save for the Imperial Guard who do so to protect the Emperor, most officials, even martial officers, were not permitted to wear a sword in the palace or before the Emperor. As such, it was a privilege granted to the very few and a demonstration of granting power and favor to someone.
秋后算账/Counting the tally after autumn: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that even if someone doesn't take you to account for something right away, they'll do so later when the opportunity emerges. Alternatively, it can mean that something seems to be allowed for now, but the authorities might turn around and punish you for it retroactively.
Urzhar: In the Abdai region of modern-day Kazakhstan, within the borders of the Western Turkic Khaganate in story.