Character Index
Sun Ruhui: Right Secretariat of Justice, Kayla's primary advisor.
Lin Yaoguang: The Grand Duke's money launderer, allied with the conspirators.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of Censure.
Tao Qian: Kayla's retainer and bodyguard.
Lin Jie: Former Attendant Censor who was murdered for investigating the conspirators.
Zhang Wuxian: Attendant Censor who recently resigned, Lin Jie's friend.
Wu Zhihuan: One of the conspirators who was pushed forward as a scapegoat. Since his desire for revenge outweighed his desire to drag the others down with him, he didn't confess his co-conspirators.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince.
Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.
Ashina: Personal name Ibilga, princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.
General Yan: A general in charge of reinforcements to the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. Started acting out once he was out of the country by fighting way too eagerly for a potential enemy.
Lord Qu: Oversight Censor, sent as the head of the oversight committee to watch General Yan.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Lord of the Liang clan, Oversight Officer of the committee. He is the grandson of Great General Liang, who was framed and executed.
Alizhi: Chieftain Tumidu's grandson and cousin of Princess Mingda (sixth princess). Acquaintances with Hu Qing from their previous time in the North together.
Xie Rengui: Hu Qing's retainer, a talented farmboy who happens to share a given name with a legendary general that doesn't exist in this timeline.
Chuluo: Khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.
Ju Shou: The Third Prince's poison tester (employed by his own household). Introduced this chapter, but doesn't appear in-person.
Sima Qi: The Third Prince's poison tester (sent by Kayla from the Bureau).
Archduke Qi: The Emperor's brother who fell into ruin after the untimely death of his student the Sixth Prince in a riding accident.
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Kayla glanced down at where Sun Ruhui had her hands in an iron grip and then back up at his face in confusion.
“Ruhui, what are you saying? You want me to spare Lin Yaoguang?” Kayla asked incredulously. “That bastard is the Grand Duke’s man, has been for years! He’s probably involved in the murders of the First and Second Princes, and now he’s forcibly tying himself to me. He’s no man of honor, his death is not even worth lamenting!”
Sun Ruhui gave her a pained look.
“My lord, I can understand your feelings. I agree that he’s too dangerous to be kept around, or even kept alive, but you must not kill him now, not yet!” Sun Ruhui pleaded.
He caught sight of Kayla’s conflicted look and sighed.
“It’s no longer the Grand Duke’s time,” Sun Ruhui said meaningfully. “Whether or not he was the Grand Duke's man, if you kill Lin Yaoguang now, you’ll just be following in your grandfather’s footsteps!”
“Everyone keeps saying that,” Kayla said in frustration. “I’m trying not to. I’ve always been trying! I never hurt this man, he’s the one who came to me, dangling threats over my head and forcing me into magical oaths!”
“You’re ordering his murder right now,” Sun Ruhui shot back mercilessly.
“Do I need to list out the reasons why again?”
Sun Ruhui shook his head. “Yes, he’s a threat. But is he actually that much of a danger to you right now? You’re the Director of the Bureau and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The Office of Censor is in your godfather’s hands, the Ministry of Justice will back you, and the Imperial Guard answer to you. And yet this Lin Yaoguang is a threat? Do you hear what you’re saying, my lord?”
“Hundreds of people just died, most of them innocent, and you’re pleading for Lin Yaoguang’s life,” Kayla said in disbelief.
“I’m not pleading for his sake! I’m pleading for your future,” Sun Ruhui replied.
An uncomfortable silence descended, and Sun Ruhui let it stand.
“What do you mean?” Kayla finally asked.
“If you kill Lin Yaoguang right now, there will only be more like him in the future. Whether you like it or not, you will be forced to follow the same road as your grandfather. I will gladly subject my foolish thoughts to your scrutiny, but please withhold your orders for now,” Sun Ruhui said.
Kayla hesitated, but only briefly. Like it or not, Sun Ruhui always had a point.
“Alright,” she acceded. She sent a quick message to Tao Qian, watching the communication device until she had received a confirmation in return.
“I’ve called off the hit,” Kayla announced.
Now that she said it out loud, it sounded way worse. She silently cursed her choice of words.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Not sure how to respond, Kayla gestured at the couch. “Please, sit.”
Sun Ruhui sat down, watching her expectantly until Kayla uneasily took a seat.
“There are countless eyes on you, my lord. They’ve seen this man enter, they’ve seen this man leave. If he dies right now, they’ll point at you. Who would know of your circumstances? You certainly couldn’t clarify anything, not without incriminating the Zhao clan with the Grand Duke’s crimes,” Sun Ruhui said patiently. “How many know that he’s dangerous? In comparison, how many know of your high position and many privileges, as well as the suspicious deaths tied to your name? Lin Yaoguang knew what he was doing when he came in through your front gates rather than sneaking around to arrange a meeting after Lin Jie’s death was publicized. He knew that the eyes on you would bind you.”
Kayla stiffened, an instinctive surge of irritation rising in her stomach.
“You can ignore all that, of course,” Sun Ruhui said, watching Kayla’s reactions with a cold, evaluative gaze. “But if you kill this man, people will fear you even more. No one will dare to approach you without having some safety measure in place. Would you approach a man so much more powerful than you, one who you know has killed a previous informant, without having anything to ensure your survival? Then what would you do? Kill them for threatening you as well? You're actively encouraging the worst outcome!”
“Then what?” Kayla demanded. “Should I just leave him be? So long as he lives, he’s a threat to me!”
“For now, you must bear with it. You can always kill him later, at a time when no one will think of you first. Certainly, you can claim that you’re just protecting yourself, just playing by the rules. But then what? Lin Yaoguang happens to deserve to die. But can you say that those who come after him will be the same? You’ll be trapped in a cycle of malice until you distort into someone you can’t even recognize! Is that worth a moment’s satisfaction?” Sun Ruhui asked.
Kayla shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
“And I say a moment’s satisfaction, for you know better than anyone else whether he is actually a threat dangerous enough that you can neither control nor contain him. Are you actually acting out of necessity, or are you using your power to lash out in order to assuage your unease?” Sun Ruhui pressed on mercilessly.
There was an instinctive flash of outrage.
“That’s not–” Kayla began to protest.
“You fear that something is amiss in this country, and yet you’re actively discouraging anyone from coming to you with information,” Sun Ruhui cut her off. “Even though your servants fear you enough to hold their tongues, the people who see Lin Yaoguang everyday, who know that he went to the Zhao household a few times, they would talk. Unless you wish to silence them too?”
“No, no of course not..”
An acidic mix of shame and indignation gnawed at the inside of her stomach lining.
Sun Ruhui let out a soft sigh and lowered his voice. “I heard that Zhang Wuxian resigned.”
“He did,” Kayla replied. “I get it, alright? If people fear me more than they desire my help, then I’m screwed–I understand your point.”
“Good,” Sun Ruhui said firmly.
His tone softened. “Don’t trouble yourself with the Wu clan. Wu Zhihuan was the one who doomed his clan. He knew this was a crime that warranted the harshest sentence when he committed it. The only one who could grant mercy would be the Emperor, and he had no such mercy to give. All you can control is how you respond. If you allow this to cloud your judgment and lead to further mistakes, then that would be a foolish course of action.”
This whole thing is fucked up to begin with. Why would you give one man the ability to decide that?
The executions hadn't just killed the Wu clan. Kayla was almost certain that they were killing the Emperor as well, glad as he had been to watch them.
And without even naming an heir. It was irresponsible. But who would dare to say that?
“How long do you think the Emperor has left?” Kayla asked, blurting the words out before she could swallow them.
“I don’t know,” Sun Ruhui replied. “But whatever apprehension you feel, don’t let it show before him or before anyone else. Not even...”
“I know better than to tell Ibilga, but I’d be a fool to think she doesn’t know anything,” Kayla said. She shook her head, the sharp sentiments fading into a staticky blankness. “Don’t worry, your point’s well taken.”
“I apologize if my words were out of line,” Sun Ruhui said.
“Not at all,” Kayla replied. “Rather, I should be thanking you. What do you think I should do with Lin Yaoguang then?”
“Just keep an eye on him, don’t let him leave the capital or do anything that could cause you trouble, but don’t touch him,” Sun Ruhui answered. “Believe me when I say that tolerating him for a time will bring you great benefits in the future.”
Kayla nodded. With the way things were going between the Third and Seventh Prince, not scaring off any whistleblowers was more important than anything else.
“Thank you, Sun Ruhui,” Kayla said. “I’ll do as you advise.”
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The oversight delegation arrived in Urzhar after an intensive journey. Most of them, being in the prime of youth, were in high spirits despite rushing day and night to get here. The small group had grown in size, having been joined by a few members of the Tiele en route.
It was unlike anything they’d expected. The vastness of the grasslands meant that the front lines felt little like a battlefield save for the military camps of the Turkic forces and their Wu reinforcements. After Lord Qu’s solo meeting with the Khagan, they were unceremoniously dumped off at General Yan’s camp.
Hu Qing and Alizhi didn’t feel out of place at all among the Turk and Wu warriors, but some of the other young men were noticeably nervous. General Yan himself soon emerged to the smiles and greetings of his adoring men, approaching them with a purposeful stride.
General Yan courteously greeted Lord Qu while all but ignoring the rest of the delegation. When he caught sight of Hu Qing, General Yan’s face instantly darkened.
Oh? Hu Qing hadn’t thought the man would recognize him. The two had never actually spoken.
Acting as if he hadn’t seen Hu Qing, General Yan arranged for a few soldiers to help them settle in before heading off again with the same purposeful stride as before.
Hu Qing waited until nightfall, after he had gotten the gist of the camp. He approached Lord Qu, who nodded as soon as he saw Hu Qing coming.
“Lord Qu, with your permission…” Hu Qing said quietly.
“Go on then. Better get this dealt with now, before the Turks start suspecting why we’re here,” Lord Qu said. “But tread carefully. Have your attendant wait outside. It won’t do much, but at the very least, General Yan will be more likely to consider the consequences of his actions.”
Hu Qing bowed his head slightly and headed towards General Yan’s quarters. With only a glance in his direction, Xie Rengui immediately followed after, stopping a few paces away from the commander’s tent.
Hu Qing gave Xie Rengui a small nod before approaching the guards.
If he recognized me, then he won’t refuse to meet me, will he?
“Halt! Who goes there?” One of General Yan’s guards barked, barring Hu Qing’s path with a spear.
“Liang Hongfei, Oversight Officer. I urgently need to speak with General Yan,” Hu Qing replied.
The guard scowled, but reluctantly went into the tent to report Hu Qing’s arrival.
As he waited, Hu Qing subtly observed his surroundings.
It wouldn’t do to fight our own people, politically speaking at least, but…I could take the General’s guards in a fight. And I could run from the General as long as he doesn’t throw that spear he was carrying around earlier. It’s Xie Rengui that I’m worried about.
“You can go in,” the guard announced, emerging from the tent flap.
“Thank you,” Hu Qing replied. He gave Xie Rengui a meaningful look and entered the tent.
“Oversight Officer Liang Hongfei humbly greets General Yan,” Hu Qing said, giving a full bow.
“Hmph, so the Duke’s dog has arrived? You sure came running over quickly,” General Yan said with great disdain. Hu Qing raised his eyebrows at the ground before straightening, not waiting for General Yan’s permission.
“It sounds like you were expecting me, General,” Hu Qing said.
General Yan gave a harsh bark of laughter.
“Of course I did. That brat in the capital can’t tolerate anything that doesn’t go according to plan, can he now?” General Yan asked. “I know why you’re here. The Duke wants me to hold back.”
“Yes,” Hu Qing admitted.
General Yan snorted. “Well you can go right back and tell that coward to fuck off. I won’t do it!”
Hu Qing gave him a quizzical look.
“Has the General hit his head recently?”
“Are you tired of living?” General Yan snapped back.
“I simply find it difficult to understand why you would make such a foolish decision if you were in your right mind,” Hu Qing said, remembering to tack on an honorific at the end. “Sir.”
“If not for the fact that I have to mind the owner when beating the dog, I would have you begging for mercy,” General Yan said flatly. “But if you’re going to continue testing my patience, then I might not even be able to give the Duke that much face. Get out of my tent.”
“Can you at least give me a reason to report back with?” Hu Qing asked, hastily switching tactics. “Are the Turks pressuring you? Is there a bribe that we need to cover up?”
“How dare you?! As if they could force my hand, much less sway me with riches!” General Yan snarled.
“Then may I ask why you’re doing this? The fact that you knew I would appear tells me that you also understand that your current actions invite trouble,” Hu Qing said, softening his tone further. “Does the General have some difficulties that cannot be spoken of? Please at least give me something with which to respond to the Duke with. That would also be more convenient for you, General. If he isn’t satisfied, the Duke will send delegation after delegation to irritate you.”
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“That annoying little pest,” General Yan grumbled. He gave Hu Qing a dirty look. “Fine then, out of consideration for the fact that he got me this post, I’ll give him a clear reason. I need to win my men proper rewards. If I just sit on my ass like that brat wants me to, they'll get nothing out of risking their lives here.”
Hu Qing scanned General Yan’s face, but the man was as honest as his temper was sharp.
“Of course they should be rewarded properly, by the Wu court,” Hu Qing said. “The Khagan will be obligated to grant gifts to you and your men as well, but that cannot and should not be the aim of your presence!”
“The Wu court? If I don’t attain victories that neither the Khagan nor the Wu people can ignore, they’d leave my men with nothing but some empty praise!” General Yan said. “They’d be lucky to receive a feast in their honor at most! The court will only do it’s right and proper duty if they’re afraid to lose face before the Khaganate!”
“That’s what you have a political alliance for, to make sure that’s not the case,” Hu Qing hastily said. “Both the Third Prince and the Duke are backing you, how could they leave you and your men unsatisfied after your accomplishments?”
General Yan looked at Hu Qing with a mix of disdain and pity.
“What, you actually believe that? Boy, you’d best get it into your head that you cannot trust the court politicians. Whether it’s that Duke brat or any other so-called virtuous man of good repute, they all operate on the principle of usefulness, regardless of what ancient classics they go around citing and quoting. When you’re useful, they’d pile any amount of praise and favor on you. But once they’re done? You’re no better than the leftover food at the end of a meal.”
Hu Qing stared at the General, turning the words over in his head.
“You really don’t trust the Duke at all, do you?” Hu Qing murmured thoughtfully.
“Trust him? I would be a fool to do so! That kid thinks he has the right to everything. So long as he needs it, he can make use of it , regardless of anyone’s feelings or dignity. It’s only because he’s someone who will shape the future that I’ve no choice but to bet on him. But I’d be a fool to expect anything from him!”
Hu Qing’s mind raced as he sifted through the contingency plans he had memorized en route.
“But what you’re doing right now is…well, it’s tantamount to raising a tiger to become a threat,” Hu Qing pointed out.
General Yan laughed, shaking his head. “If the Western Turks can be conquered just because I’m here, then doesn’t that just mean they’re already too weak to withstand any blows? In that case, Chuluo Khagan would obtain this outcome sooner or later, with or without my help. By achieving victories, I can win my men acclaim, honor, military titles, and rewards while driving the ferocity of the Wu army into the hearts of the Turks. How else do you expect soldiers that you recruit to have any will to fight if they can’t get something solid out of it? This is the example that will set the foundation for the future strength of our country!”
“There’s a difference between Chuluo Khagan doing it himself and Chuluo Khagan doing it with your help,” Hu Qing replied. “The matter of a reward can be negotiated with the capital, but if you actively–”
“Negotiate? Warriors receiving their due reward is the righteous outcome by heaven and earth! And yet to the politicians at the court, it’s a game of how much benefit they can squeeze out of it!” General Yan snarled.
Wenyuan, you really misjudged this man, Hu Qing thought to himself with a note of chagrin. He’s not a battle junkie at all!
Chen Caichun had considered the possibility of strong political ideologies being at play in her many contingency plans, but in reality, Hu Qing found himself at a loss with how to deal with the man before him.
General Yan paced the room, growing increasingly emotional as he worked himself up.
“Some people are born into nobility. From birth, they’re entitled to what soldiers can’t attain even a fraction of after putting their lives on the line repeatedly for years and years. They can participate in dozens of battles throughout their career and walk away without even enough savings to live in the cities they’ve protected!”
He turned sharply on his heel to glare at Hu Qing.
“There are soldiers who can’t even afford medicine for the illnesses and disabilities they sustain from the frontlines! Yet who benefits? The politicians, the commanders, the profiteering merchants, everyone except for the common soldiers! Victories give face to the dynasty, sure, but with one commander’s accomplishments tens of thousands of skeletons are left to exposure. But what does the capital care about that? When soldiers die, the Emperor makes a show of crying, and then he gets to be remembered as a benevolent ruler!”
Hu Qing hastily glanced over to the tent’s opening, increasingly worried as General Yan’s speech grew more agitated.
“Your Duke who sent me here–does he even understand what sending reinforcements actually means? Did he consider what happens afterwards? This war could last for years. Those who die won’t even be buried in their homeland. Those who live will go back to wives and children who look at them like strangers, to parents who have aged into elders they don’t recognize. If soldiers can’t move up in the world even after risking their lives on the battlefield, then what the hell do you expect them to fight for? You can’t treat soldiers like chess pieces and still expect them to turn around and serve the nation loyally!”
If it comes down to choosing between his ally’s wishes and his own convictions, there’s no way he could possibly choose Wenyuan.
But Wenyuan’s political concerns were far from misplaced. Even with a princess in Luoyang, there was no guarantee Chuluo Khagan wouldn’t declare war once the opportunity appeared.
If having General Yan allows him to take down the Western Turks, then that just means Chuluo could do it to begin with? Try saying that to the court when war breaks out. You won’t even keep your head long enough to finish that sentence!
“Chuluo Khagan may very well be our next enemy on the battlefield,” Hu Qing said in a low voice. “Do you understand what that means to the court? If you know that politicians love to find scapegoats, then you should know that you’re setting yourself up to become one! Should there ever be a conflict, and you know there will likely be one, they’ll blame you for enriching and embolden the Turks!”
General Yan shook his head. “Our men would have the courage and confidence to repel any incursions,” he said. “Even if they’re self-serving to the very last one, they aren’t foolish enough to get rid of the general with the most experience in dealing with the Turks on the eve of battle.”
“Not necessarily, pettiness can lower one’s intelligence,” Hu Qing pointed out. “It would hardly be the first such case.”
“Well, yes,” General Yan reluctantly agreed.
He’s not convinced…of course not. To someone who already risks his life on the daily, a potential threat in the future isn’t enough to dissuade him. I need to say something that can get through to him, but what?
Hu Qing was good at needling people into anger, but coddling them into a good mood when all the odds seemed stacked against that was a different story.
Before his racing mind could figure out a solution, the tent flap opened abruptly.
“Who goes there?!” General Yan snarled.
“Apologies for intruding, General, Lord Liang,” Xie Rengui said sheepishly. “I wished to let you know that there is currently an active privacy ward in place that may interfere with the operation of other magical wards or spells.”
“A privacy ward?” Hu Qing said in puzzlement, putting away the dagger he had drawn.
“Well, we could hear you quite clearly near the entrance so I took the liberty of activating a privacy ward,” Xie Rengui explained. “Please don’t be alarmed, I did so as soon as General Yan first expressed his displeasure towards the court.”
“Then why are you coming in now?” General Yan demanded suspiciously.
“This lowly one apologizes for intruding. General Yan, you are a man of great fortitude and decisiveness, and I know that neither Lord Liang nor this lowly one can change your mind. However, before you give the final ultimatum, I beg your permission to say one thing,” Xie Rengui said.
“Hmph. Go on then,” General Yan said
Hu Qing shot Xie Rengui a curious look.
What are you doing?
Xie Rengui gave the smallest hint of a smile in return.
“Ever since arriving in the North, I have heard many stories of your bravery and prowess in battle,” Xie Rengui said. “Your soldiers have high morale, the Turks respect you, and the enemy is already learning to fear you.”
General Yan scoffed lightly, but didn’t seem too displeased to hear praise coming from someone with a face as honest as Xie Rengui’s.
“Your men have a high level of respect for you. In fact, they worship you. Just being under your command fills them with strength and courage, and this makes them fierce warriors on the battlefield. But what happens if they leave your command?” Xie Rengui pointed out.
“Once instilled, that sense of confidence will not dissipate easily,” General Yan said firmly. “The experience and skill you gain through hacking your way to survival is not something that can be easily taken away.”
“No, of course not. Even having served under you in the past would be enough to motivate them for the rest of their careers,” Xie Rengui agreed. “That is, so long as they know you’re still alive. The Turks that have come to fear you, those who have come to respect you, all of them agree that you’re dangerous to face as an opponent. Please think of it like this–in such a short time, they’ve already formed that opinion, won’t their feelings grow stronger as time goes by?”
“The point is for the Turks to fear us,” General Yan said with surprising patience.
Xie Rengui shook his head. “If they fear you, General, then would they really leave you unharmed to face them on the battlefield? What if they bribe court officials to frame or persecute you? If you are killed as a result–no, even if you are only stripped of your position, it would be an enormous blow to military morale. That confidence you’ve painstakingly instilled would crumble. Please just look at what happened to Lord Liang’s grandfather!”
Something changed in General Yan’s face, harsh and unrelenting as his expression remained. After a long silence, he turned towards Hu Qing.
“And who is this boy? What position does he hold?” General Yan demanded.
“He is Xie Rengui, my attendant,” Hu Qing replied.
General Yan burst into a rage.
“A mere boy of an attendant dares to teach me how to act?! How dare you?!” He shouted.
Xie Rengui bodily flinched. Hu Qing hastily stepped forward to move between them.
“General, please calm your anger! While this man does not hold a position as of yet, his talents are well-recognized in the capital. And he’s already 25, he just doesn’t look it!”
“What? Twenty-five? This farmboy?”
“Yes, General.”
“That doesn’t matter! You allow your attendant to criticize my decisions?!”
General Yan leveled Hu Qing with a furious look, keeping up the bluster for only a brief moment before bursting into laughter.
Behind Hu Qing, Xie Rengui let out a soft sigh of relief. Hu Qing slowly stepped aside, taking two steps back.
“Looks like there’s still some talent left in the capital after all!” General Yan gave Xie Rengui a hearty slap on the shoulder blade, making the young man wince. “I like you, kid! Which farm did they snatch you off of?”
“Actually, I went to the capital on my own–”
“I wouldn’t have thought you a day over seventeen!”
Now that’s not an option I’d considered, Hu Qing thought to himself, watching with bemusement.
“I…I’m married!” Xue Rengui protested.
General Yan laughed heartily at that before sobering again.
“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, boy. But it doesn’t solve my problem. My men need honor and rewards, and I can’t let them down,” he said. “Plus, I can’t just stop fighting and tuck my head in like a turtle.”
“That would be unthinkable,” Xue Rengui agreed. “How to artfully navigate the intricacies of battle is your expertise. But in terms of reward, since politicians are good at making things happen behind the scenes, it’s hard to believe that this would be the one thing they can’t make true. I’m sure that some of them would have to line their pockets or accept some expensive gifts, but you can just leave that to your political partners. Why not make a deal in advance? They can’t refuse. After all, they’re the ones desperate for you to stop.”
“You’ve got politics down to its fundamentals, huh?” General Yan said in amusement.
“Why don’t we invite Lord Qu to discuss the specifics and arrange negotiations with Duke Zhao? If you’re worried that he won’t hold to his word, we can have the Third Prince serve as his guarantor,” Hu Qing suggested. “And if you fear the two would cover for each other, we could bring in someone who is at odds with Duke Zhao to serve as the guarantor–they would certainly favor you over the Duke.”
“Make it clear to the Duke that if he wants to be stingy, then the two of us can just go down together when the time comes!” General Yan snapped, his attitude taking a notable dive.
“Most certainly, General,” Hu Qing quickly agreed. At least General Yan had gone from a hard no to being open to cooperation. He gave Xue Rengui a quick glance, impressed at how easily the young man seemed to handle General Yan.
It was a good decision to bring him after all, Hu Qing thought with gratification.
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A gaunt man sat alone in a dark room, facing a communication device. On the other end of the call, a veteran polished his sword, not caring that the blade took up most of the screen.
Ignoring the lack of consideration, the haggard man continued to remain in a good mood.
“The Seventh Prince didn’t back down after all,” he said proudly.
“I know, I know, you were right,” the veteran replied, relieved but also a little annoyed.
“I’d say we can proceed to the last step,” the haggard man said. “The conflict between the princes has escalated enough, and with what the Emperor said about him, it would be believable for the Seventh Prince to take extreme action.”
“Should we stoke the flames some more?” The veteran asked.
“This is good enough. Once something reaches an extreme, it will inevitably begin to reverse. We should take action before the princes’ attitudes begin to soften.”
The veteran frowned, though it was barely visible from the other end. “Would they?”
“Even if just for show, the advisors and supporters on both sides would try to push for one. That would weaken the impact of our plan,” the haggard man explained.
“Hmm. So the Third Prince it is then?”
“Yes. It works out in terms of practicality as well. The Seventh Prince is much more distant from his poison testers, but contrarily, the Third Prince’s close relationship is what will doom him. He’s known his original poison tester for years now, and while the Third Prince treats the Bureau poison tester with respect, there isn’t such a strong bond between them.”
“Easier to break protocol then?”
“Exactly.”
“But can we get the original poison tester to do it?”
The haggard man smiled in amusement. “But of course. The Third Prince treats him well, but we have his family members hostage. Even if…what was his name again? Ah, yes, Ju Shou. Even if Ju Shou is attached to his prince, how could that possibly outweigh his love for his family?”
The veteran laughed. “As expected of you! But…well, in the aftermath, are we sure it will go according to plan?”
“Of course. The Seventh Prince would be lucky to be exiled instead of outright executed,” the haggard man assured him. “The Fifth Prince would be the only option left.”
“But Zhao Wenyuan and his backers are still forces to be reckoned with, I’m worried that they will get in the way.”
The haggard man shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, my friend. What do you think their current power stems from? It’s grounded in Imperial favor. And why is that the case? The Emperor needs someone who can prevent the princes from joining hands with the clans and starting a civil war. So what happens when only one candidate is left?”
The veteran pondered the question. “Well, he can’t just turn back and rely on the clans either.”
“No. The clans are still the primary threats to his power. But the neutral faction he’s fattened by his own hands…can he feel secure letting them become the strongest force at court? Of course not. The new Crown Prince will require a force of his own if he needs to secure his power rather than becoming their puppet, and that's where you come in.”
“So that’s how it is. No wonder you’re so confident,” the veteran remarked.
“It’s just how power works. It is a pity though, really,” the haggard man sighed.
The veteran set down his sword, leaning forward with a perturbed look. “What? Don’t tell me that you’re hesitating now, after we’ve gotten this far?”
“No, of course not…but I can’t help but feel a little sentimental. After all, the Third Prince used to be my favorite student,” the haggard man replied.
The veteran fell silent, at a loss of words.
The haggard man gave a bitter laugh. “But what does that matter? It’s all in the past now. Even if he was my student, even if he is my nephew…what do blood ties matter in the face of power? Look at what happened to me, at what happened to my children. How can I possibly forgive that? I never bore ill will to the Emperor originally, but he was the one who forced us into this state.”
“Indeed,” the veteran said.
The haggard man lowered his head to hide a pained grimace before forcing a smile.
“Don’t worry, my friend. Just sit tight and wait to be recalled to the capital…this time not as a disgraced general, but as the uncle of the Crown Prince.”
He ended the call and left the dusty room. The haggard man ran into his loyal and sole remaining retainer as he turned the corner.
Tan Hui gave a look of relief as he caught sight of his lord.
“My lord, where were you? The Archduchess was searching for you,” Tan Hui said.
Archduke Qi gave a faint smile, patting the dust off the hem of his sleeve.
“Oh my, I didn’t realize. Let’s go find her then, shall we?” He said lightly. “It wouldn’t do to keep her waiting.”
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Cultural Notes
死不足惜/Even [his] death is not worth lamenting: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
Fighting in the steppes: In Ancient Chinese history, we can see that in the Han Dynasty when intermarriage and intermingling of ethnic groups was relatively rarer, the most common outcome of trying to fight a nomadic army was that you can't find the army. We have copious records of sending four different wings of soldiers out to corner and pincer the army, three wings get lost, and only one actually managed to fight the enemy at all. Many people of Han ethnicity who grew up in the Middle Plains, in sedentary agricultural societies, once on the plains, would entirely lose their sense of direction and have very few tracking skills for identifying where the enemy may be, finding landmarks and water sources, etc. As cultural exchanges increased and they slowly gained experience and expertise from nomadic allies or comrades, this became less of a problem. By the Tang dynasty, there were pretty significant nomadic influences in the country, but city kids would still find themselves jarred by how life was outside the northern borders.
Treatment of soldiers: What General Yan describes is a structural problem that repeatedly emerges throughout Chinese history when it comes to rewarding soldiers and army morale. While officers could expect decent treatment, and soldiers could rise in the ranks through military merit, serving in the military was often an unprofitable and dangerous career. There are a great deal of poems from the Tang Dynasty lamenting the poor treatment of soldiers who lose their lives or sacrifice the best years of their life under extremely dangerous circumstances with very little to show for it. In fact, the prioritization of military merit often motivated commanders to take unnecessary risks with the lives of their men, which only made things worse for the common soldiers. Unless there were serious accomplishments involved, the rewards were often concentrated on the individual, rather than the entity, which could be very demoralizing for soldiers who were unable to achieve impressive feats.
打狗看主人/Mind the owner before beating the dog: A Chinese saying, essentially means to give the "owner" face.
难言之隐/Difficulties that cannot be spoken of: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
引经据典/Citing classics and quoting sources: An Ancient Chinese proverb, can mean that someone is well-educated, or that someone is good at justifying their behavior.
残羹剩饭/Leftover food [at the end of the meal]: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
Military titles/军爵: In addition to the various noble ranks, there were military ranks that didn't count among noble ranks. While these usually didn't come with actual stipends, it allowed you to a) use ceremonial rites and clothing above those of commoners, and b) exchange your title to cancel a legal punishment.
养虎为患/Raising a tiger to become a danger: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
天经地义/Righteous and just by heaven and earth: A Chinese saying.
物极必反/Once something reaches an extreme, it will inevitably begin to reverse: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
Rent in the Tang Dynasty: Rents in major cities were insane, much like today. Housing in the capital was scarce, and usually rather cramped.
一将功成万骨枯/With one commander’s accomplishments tens of thousands of skeletons are left to exposure: A line from an Ancient Chinese poem lamenting the horrors of war.