Character Index
Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince. A reasonable and reserved man who is in the Third Prince's faction. He is currently sitting out on court politics due to the Emperor taking his maternal clan to task.
Shu Yunsong: Zhou Yunqi's maternal uncle, a former General who was removed from his post along with other members of the Shu clan.
Wise Consort: Zhou Yunqi's mother, currently in ill health due to the physical and mental stress resulting from the political onslaught against her clan.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince and the primary contender for the throne.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's friend and right-hand man, he is also the rightful heir to the Liang clan as the only surviving son of a wife (as opposed to a concubine). However, he was listed as Minister Liang's illegitimate nephew after his older half-brothers hid the records of his true identity through bribery.
Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong: The son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he had sought revenge against the Grand Duke for multiple years, but had his well-laid plans tossed into disarray by Kayla's transmigration into Wenyuan. He was involved in the Grand Duke's death and was recently reinstated through Kayla, who used his true identity to stir up the political situation and hasten her own release from prison.
An Haoyang: Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong's retainer and a former Imperial Investigator. He had crossed blades with Hu Qing multiple times and walked away the loser each time.
Li Sanjin: A former servant of Liu Hongyu who had testified against his master on the orders of the Empress Dowager. He was forced by the Grand Duke to accuse Kayla of forcing him to provide false testimony. By producing an eyewitness to Liu Hongyu's impropriety, Kayla was able to strong-arm the Grand Duke into backing down and rescinding the accusations.
Shu Zhengyan: Yunqi's younger maternal cousin, a polite young man who had been poisoned on a (heavily-guarded) outing in the capital. By coincidence, Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong had ran into Shu Zhengyan right before the poisoning while fleeing from the Grand Duke's assassins.
Zhang Dingyong: The Right Secretariat of Justice and a member of Kuang’s faction, he was born of a union between a prostitute and a criminal, making him ineligible for civil service. However, he was adopted by a childless family and became a high-ranking official.
Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince. He was involved in the death of the Grand Duke, seeking revenge for the murder of his mother, Consort Chen.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather, he was the one who submitted an anonymous tipoff that resulted in Kayla's imprisonment.
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Yunqi sat at the table, going through the motions of eating and drinking despite being unable to taste anything, his senses enveloped by the freezing iciness that emanated from his very core.
Across from him, his maternal uncle downed another cup of wine.
“Uncle, I’ve arranged your return trip for tonight,” Yunqi said as casually as he could manage. “Please be assured that the route is very discreet, no one will notice you were here.”
“That’s unnecessary, I got here just fine without anyone noticing,” Shu Yunsong said, giving Yunqi a confident smile. Yunqi bit down on a sharp retort.
Shu Yunsong was his mother’s second brother, and one of the most capable men in the entire Shu clan. The only problem was that his abilities were balanced out by his unrelenting pride; pride that had propelled the former General into secretly coming to the capital when the political situation was at its most volatile. Yunqi had broken into a cold sweat when Shu Yunsong abruptly showed up at the back gates and his skin remained clammy in the hours since. The potential repercussions of being discovered had Shu Yunsong’s head in a basket even in the best case scenario.
“Of course, Uncle’s more than skilled enough to make the trip without an escort, but I really must insist,” Yunqi said. “It’s my duty as your nephew to provide the best precautions available.”
“I’d be happier if you could provide some progress in court instead,” Shu Yunsong said, setting down his cup with a thunk. Yunqi carefully kept his irritation under control. He could sense the brewing storm under his uncle's skin and wanted nothing more than to avoid what was sure to come.
“All in due time,” Yunqi said courteously.
“Admit it, nephew. You’ve let the chance slip by you,” Shu Yunsong said. “Zhao Wenyuan has been released and instated as a Lord. It’s only a matter of time before he officially obtains the title of Marquis. Everyone knows it, with that little parade the palace gave him. Whatever little advantage you’ve gained by disarming the neutral faction is hardly worth much in the face of that.”
“That’s not quite the case,” Yunqi said. “Whatever Zhao Wenyuan and the palace does, we’ve already gotten what we wanted.”
“And what is that?” Shu Yunsong asked.
Yunqi glanced at him quietly before averting his gaze.
“You think I could not keep a secret, dear nephew? I, who had been entrusted with military secrets since before you were born?” Shu Yunsong pressed, rising from his seat and circling around to stand next to Yunqi.
“I’m withholding this not out of mistrust, but out of concern for you, Uncle. This works best if fewer people know of it,” Yunqi replied. From the edge in Shu Yunsong's voice, Yunqi could tell that his uncle would not be assuaged. But he had to try regardless. “Be assured, you’ll see results soon.”
“And is the Cao clan also excluded from this knowledge?” Shu Yunsong asked, his voice sharpening.
“I’m sure they are,” Yunqi said.
“It seems that for each question I ask you have three that you cannot answer,” Shu Yonsong snapped, his patience crumbling away. “I came all this way just to confirm one thing–can you succeed or not?!”
“Of course I can. Wenyuan’s release was something we had accounted for in our plans, it wasn’t as though we expected him to be there for long,” Yunqi said.
“Even a fool can tell that his release wasn’t planned by you lot–you’ve been outmaneuvered, I already know that. What I want to know is where does this leave you? Where does this leave us?” Shu Yonsong demanded.
“There’s no need for concern, Uncle. We know what we’re doing, this isn’t much of a setback,” Yunqi assured him.
Shu Yunsong let out a low growl. “My dear nephew, have you gone daft? Just give me a clear answer for once. What exactly does this mean for the Shu clan? How much longer do we have to bear this humiliation?!”
Yunqi withheld a wince at Shu Yonsong’s increasingly loud volume, glad for the layers of privacy spells he had set up beforehand.
“Uncle–” Yunqi began.
“You never have a clear answer for us! Every day feels like a year for us, but every single time I ask, you only reply in vague terms. You’ll do this even when I’ve come all this way to the capital?!” Shu Yonsong shouted.
“Please calm down, Uncle. It’s hardly that I don’t wish to give you a proper time frame, but it’s simply impossible! The situation at court undergoes thousands of changes and tens of thousands of transformations at any given moment. Would you rather I lied to you simply to make you feel better? The more you struggle the worse it is for you. Father’s seriously beginning to consider killing you,” Yunqi said quietly. “And if that happens...you know what will happen then.”
“My dear nephew,” Shu Yunsong said in a deceptively level voice. He stepped closer, landing a calloused hand on the back of Yunqi’s neck. “You think that I am being unreasonable, do you not? But you are the one who does not understand.”
Yunqi took a deep breath slowly, closing his eyes to force his expression under control.
“Us soldiers are no more than hunting dogs to the court,” Shu Yunsong said resentfully. “Their promotions are worth more to them than our lives! We’ve endured all this quietly out of loyalty, and now you want us to sacrifice even our dignity?! For what? A new Emperor who might not treat us any better than the current one?”
Yunqi stiffened at Yunsong’s words. “Uncle! Hold your tongue!” Yunqi cried in alarm.
Shu Yunsong’s grip tightened. “Am I wrong, nephew? We weather harsh climates and constant danger for the dynasty, but how are we treated?! If they tell us to hold a fortress without reinforcements, we have to hold on until the very last man, or face execution anyways. If they tell us to go serve as bait or human shields, we have to do so or be charged with insubordination! On what do you think our prosperity is built on?! It’s built on the piles of unclaimed bones outside the border fortresses, not on the haggling and whining of the court!”
“I know, uncle. But what do you think you can do by hitting a rock with an egg?” Yunqi asked quietly.
“Then what are we supposed to do?! Wait for death like obedient dogs?!” Shu Yunsong snarled, his grip tightening until it was painful.
“I won’t let that happen,” Yunqi said through gritted teeth.
“Your father is crushing us underfoot and you’ve never done a thing about it,” Shu Yunsong hissed. “You and your mother–how much silver do you think we’ve spent to ensure your positions in the palace? And how many favors?! And yet you’re useless, the both of you!”
“You don’t understand the political situation here, uncle. Any move I make right now would only be used to crush you all–the more I stay still, the less Father will see you as a threat! Just comply for now, I beg of you! I swear that there will be a solution soon,” Yunqi pleaded.
“You’re right, nephew. We don’t understand politics. But we know that a few politicians blabbering away comfortably in the capital can force us to lay down our lives whenever they want! We've complied, we’ve been patient, but you haven’t followed through on your end!”
“Uncle, Father is serious about reorganizing the military! No one can resist the tide of history once it is decided in what direction it will flow, all we can do is try to save ourselves amid the waves. It’s impossible and meaningless to flail about, be patient and you will be rewarded for your suffering. Don’t cull your path for tomorrow with your stubbornness today,” Yunqi said.
“I’ve had enough of being patient!” Shu Yunsong shouted, smashing his cup onto the table before Yunqi. The prince carefully held still, watching as the shards shattered across the wooden surface.
“Uncle, I understand your feelings. But you have to leave the capital,” Yunqi said, his voice taking on a gravitational calm. Shu Yunsong’s grip on the back of his neck strengthened.
“Nephew, look at what your father has done to my career and reputation,” Shu Yunsong hissed. “When will you man up and do something about it?!”
“I already have, Uncle. You only need to be patient and wait,” Yunqi replied, his voice somehow even more serene than before.
“I’ve had enough of empty assurances! I want your word!”
“And this is how you ask for it, by sneaking into the capital and threatening a prince? How many lives do you think you have?” Yunqi asked. He glanced at Shu Yunsong, the fire in his eyes now replaced by a deadly calm. “Uncle, it is precisely this temper of yours that endangers us all.”
“I wasn’t threatening you,” Shu Yunsong protested, his grip loosening as he realized his outburst had crossed the line.
Yunqi straightened, letting out a sigh. “Uncle, if I had not sent away my guards, you would have garnered several death penalties with what you have said tonight. Just coming to the capital is already enough to get you killed–can’t you understand my difficulties? I promised you success and I will follow through, but you must help me, not drag me down. Do you understand?”
Shu Yunsong remained silent, his jaw clenching in irritation before he reluctantly nodded.
“Excellent. Please go with the escort I prepared for you once you’re ready. You’ll be back safely by midday at the latest, and no one will know you were ever here,” Yunqi said.
“Fine,” Shu Yunsong bit out his reply. “If you want me gone so badly, I’ll go.” He bowed his head mockingly before turning on his heel and leaving.
Yunqi took a deep breath, pushing down the aggravation in his chest. “Uncle,” he called out after Shu Yunsong. The man stopped and turned towards him with a displeased look.
“Please be careful,” Yunqi said gently. Shu Yunsong let out a sharp huff of air before bowing his head again, less irritation in his movements this time. The door closed, and Yunqi was alone again. He stared at the shards on the table before him for a moment, eyeing the sharp edges scattered across the wood before shaking his head and getting up.
There was a knock on the door as his steward entered.
“My prince, General–Sir Shu left just now,” the stewards said, a worried note in his voice.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Yunqi took another deep breath, hearing the steward’s unspoken words.
He was furious, wasn’t he? Yunqi thought wearily. He would have to give a bonus to the guards in the escort who had to deal with Shu Yunsong’s sharp anger. The steward glanced at the broken cup on his table, his creased brows knitting together even more.
“Please keep a close eye on the escort, make sure the trip does not face any…complications,” Yunqi replied. The steward bowed his head and quietly took his leave again, waving in two serving girls to clean up the table. Yunqi left the room and returned to his own study, keeping his expression as calm as possible. Only after he was back in the complete and warded privacy of his own desk did Yunqi let out an aggravated groan. After a moment of thought, he reached for the communication device.
“Third Brother,” Yunqi greeted as the device connected on the other end. “There’s a problem.”
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Kayla took her sweet time to get to Xiang Daozong’s new residence, finishing up her business in the Zhao household before heading over. She still had trouble thinking of him as Xiang Daozong rather than Qu Boyong despite being the one who actually made that transformation happen.
I doubt he’d thank me much for it, Kayla thought to herself with a note of amusement. The younger man’s consistency was almost refreshing in that regard.
Hu Qing followed two steps behind Kayla with the bronze plaque gifted to him by the Empress Dowager hanging from his belt. Kayla had brought him for business, but she had no doubt that he had been primarily motivated by the malicious glee of flaunting around right before Xiang Daozong and An Haoyang’s eyes with them being unable to do anything, indulging the age-old joy of I-know-you-want-to-hit-me-but-you-can’t-so-suck-it.
Kayla had to bite on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling at the thought.
“Minister Zhao,” Xiang Daozong called as he came out into the courtyard to greet her. His residence was gifted to him by the Emperor, and staffed by servants hired for him by the palace. From the tenseness at the corner of his eyes, Kayla could guess that Xiang Daozong had already realized why this was too much of a good thing.
“Lord Xiang!” Kayla greeted him with a cheerful smile, stretching out her arms to clasp his hands warmly. “My dear cousin, I’m so glad to see you well.”
Xiang Daozong went along with the act and escorted her into the sitting room by the arm. An Haoyang bowed his head slightly in greeting from where he stood guard outside the sitting room, doing a double-take of disbelief and outrage when Hu Qing went in as well before hurriedly entering himself. An Haoyang and Hu Qing engaged in a stare-off from where they stood behind their respective lords’ seats, Hu Qing’s smug grin met by An Haoyang’s hostile glare.
“Some wine, Minister?” Xiang Daozong offered. “Or would you prefer tea?”
“Tea would be wonderful,” Kayla replied. “And there is no need for such formalities between family–we’re cousins after all, hence why Uncle has asked me to take care of you as you adjust to your new role.”
Xiang Daozong nodded as the servants set out the tea, waving for them to leave. Once the last person had left, An Haoyang quickly began setting up privacy talismans. Kayla patiently waited until An Haoyang was finished before commencing their conversation.
“Well then, dear cousin,” Kayla said with a hint of amusement in her voice. “How does becoming a Lord feel?”
“Thank you for that,” Xiang Daozong replied flatly. “I have to admit that I was surprised at how much you managed to accomplish from behind bars, though perhaps I shouldn’t have been.”
“No, you really shouldn’t have been, especially when you were one of the people who helped me the last time around during the Li Sanjin case. Don’t you remember?” Kayla asked. “Surely you didn’t expect me to sit around and wait for death.”
Xiang Daozong lifted his chin slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes as he bared his teeth in a smile. “Of course not.”
“I’m glad you understand. Well, we’ve worked together quite nicely twice in the past, what do you say we join hands for a third time?” Kayla offered.
“What do I gain from refusal? I hardly have any other options, so I might as well go along with it by my own will,” Xiang Daozong replied.
Kayla couldn’t hide her smile of amusement. Xiang Daozong doubtlessly already knew how complicated court politics could be, but what he was aware of wouldn’t even scratch the surface of what she intended to drag him into.
“It’s good that you have such determination. Since you have been entrusted to me, the two of us are now on the same boat, like two ants on the same rope,” Kayla said. “It’s true you’ve been instated, but you won’t have any sway in court without any achievements–I’m sure you originally intended to gain merits by revealing the Grand Duke’s framing of your father, but unfortunately, I’ve snatched that opportunity from you. But I don’t leave my debts unpaid. Do you remember the evidence in the Grand Duke’s vault?”
“Of course, how could I possibly forget? I had thought it strange that only the evidence on my father's case had emerged. You kept all that from the Bureau on purpose, didn’t you?”
“I was saving it for our use,” Kayla replied. “You helped me obtain it–it’s only right you also benefit. I’ll make all the arrangements, you’ll only need to follow my lead to gain merits and recognition in the court. This is exactly what you need at this point in time if you want to make it any further than just a reinstated noble living off his stipend.”
Some small part of her almost hoped that Xiang Daozong would be satisfied with leaving the capital to live quietly in the provinces. It would save both of them a lot of trouble and turmoil, even if it also removed a few opportunities from the board, but if he had been someone willing to accept a quiet and comfortable existence, he couldn’t have stirred up so much trouble as Qu Boyong.
From the glint in Xiang Daozong’s eyes, Kayla’s guess was on the mark.
"I'd be glad to do so,” Xiang Daozong replied.
“Good, I have more than enough time before my wedding to get some merits under your belt,” Kayla said.
Xiang Daozong’s expression flickered with surprise. “Your wedding?”
“In two months’ time,” Kayla said. “I’m foregoing the Grand Duke’s mourning period. It would be hypocritical of me otherwise, especially since I happen to be the one posthumously investigating his crimes. I’ll be continuing the investigation after as well, of course, but I’d like to make some progress before I’m consumed by the wedding preparations. I don’t want to spend too much time on these matters in place of my work, but this is a political alliance after all.”
“I heard from Investigator Tabuyir that you recommended me for the marriage, is that true?” Xiang Daozong asked suspiciously.
“It is,” Kayla agreed. “Like I said, it’s a political alliance, how can it be treated lightly as though it were child’s play?”
“You only said it to increase the Emperor’s faith in your loyalty, and he bought it up without a drop of hesitation or doubt,” Xiang Daozong said with a dry chuckle. “You really are his favorite, aren’t you?”
Kayla fixed him with a cold smile. “I don’t dare to guess at His Majesty’s thoughts, much less take Uncle’s favor for granted. But there’s no need to worry–if you show your loyalty, you’re certain to be rewarded for it as I have been.”
“Show my loyalty…as you have?” Xiang Daozong asked, gesturing at her with a wave of his hands.
Kayla leaned forward towards him. Getting rid of the Grand Duke was on the palace’s wishlist, yes, but Kayla’s actions were definitely outside of the sanctioned bounds of propriety, legality, and morality. Even if the investigation’s results were in her favor, between the involvement of Kayla and Xianchun’s employees and the Zhao clan members, the truth was known to no small number of people. But the beauty of it was that they were all complicit–no one could betray the truth without implicating themselves.
“As we have,” Kayla replied, her smile widening. “And haven’t you been rewarded for it accordingly?”
Xiang Daozong took a deep breath, looking as though he were trying to calm down his temper. After a moment, he gave in with an irritated huff.
“So what do you plan to do?” Xiang Daozong asked.
“First things first–I’m introducing you to Imperial Edict Bearer Wei Guang, my esteemed godfather,” Kayla said. “With both his backing and mine, your ascendance in court is all but ensured.”
Xiang Daozong’s brows furrowed slightly. “You’d willingly grant me access to the Imperial Edict Bearer’s support?”
“His generosity is not finite. Why would I wish to hoard it? Did you take me as such a narrow-minded person?” Kayla asked.
“What do you want me from me in turn?” Xiang Daozong asked after a moment of thought.
“I want an alliance with a buy-in,” Kayla replied. “You help me reinstate Hu Qing here to the Liang household the way I helped reinstate you, and I’ll ensure your footing in the neutral faction.”
“You ask me to damage the Seventh Prince’s faction for your sake. The Seventh Prince who helped both of us in our revenge,” Xiang Daozong pointed out.
“You’re meant to be part of the neutral faction. You are not on good ties with the Third Prince despite his shows of goodwill, I’m guessing that you can’t trust him because of what happened with the Fifth Prince’s cousin–how do you think others interpret this? The automatic assumption would be that you’re the Seventh Prince’s man, which means the palace will never let you become anything more than a fleeting thought in their minds. This is your chance to prove yourself otherwise,” Kayla replied.
At Xiang Daozong’s hesitant look, she pressed onward in a gentle voice. “It’s not like I’m asking you to actively set this up. You only need to go along with the flow and do your job when the moment arises. No blame for this will lie with you, and though Seventh Cousin may not be pleased, he would not resent you for it. Haven’t you seen how I did things when you were still working for me as Qu Boyong? I wouldn’t cause my ally harm.”
“I have no doubt of that,” Xiang Daozong said, evidently not believing her words. “But I would like a buy-in from you as well.”
Kayla nodded for him to go on. The threats could wait until after she had heard him out.
“Zhang Dingyong is adopted. His true identity is the son of a prostitute and a criminal–he is ineligible for civil service. If I am to damage the Seventh Prince’s faction, it should at least be balanced out, no? We are meant to be neutral, after all.”
“I’m not doing that,” Kayla immediately replied.
Xiang Daozong gave her a cold smirk. “Then I’m afraid we’ll have to negotiate our terms, cousin. It’s hard to trust your intentions without any assurances.”
“Between the two of us, who is the one who has betrayed the other’s trust before? I don’t need to give you any assurances beyond the goodwill I have repeatedly shown. If I reveal Zhang Dingyong’s ancestry, it would end his career. He’s a good official, I won’t do that to him. Minister Liang will lose his position as Lord, yes, but we have no intention of costing him the seat of Minister. Isn’t that right, Hu Qing?” Kayla glanced over her shoulder to Hu Qing, whose smile had disappeared somewhere along the line.
“That’s right,” Hu Qing replied.
“Cousin, I understand that you have many things to be uneasy about, but you should also understand that I do not need to help you. I simply want to,” Kayla said, turning back to Xiang Daozong. “We don’t have the Seventh Prince present, we don’t need to go through the motions of arguing just to demonstrate we have a spine. Don’t be difficult.”
Something flickered in Xiang Daozong’s gaze before he nodded. “Very well then, I accept your terms. If you want me to reinstate Hu Qing, I’ll do it,” he said. “When will you introduce me to the Imperial Edict Bearer?”
Yeah, considering how he acted before as Qu Boyong, this is definitely not going to be that easy. But that’s fine, Kayla thought to herself in amusement. In fact, that’s all the better.
“Right now,” Kayla replied, getting up from her seat. “Come on, let’s get moving.”
Xiang Daozong gave her a look of shock. “Right now?” He echoed. “Does he know we’re coming over?”
“No, but I’m sure he’s expecting me,” Kayla said. “I haven’t had a chance to reach out to him yet after my release. Might as well take care of both matters at once.”
Xiang Daozong’s eyes crinkled in disbelief, but he got up as well.
“Alright then, let’s go,” he said.
Kayla smiled and turned towards the door. “After you, cousin.”
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Cultural Notes
桀骜不驯/Prideful and unwilling to be reined in: An Ancient Chinese proverb describing someone whose arrogance drives them to ignore hierarchies and propriety, often to their own detriment.
一问三不知/One question three unknowns: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that someone has no answers or is very ignorant. It is the opposite of the quote "举一隅不以三隅反/For raising one corner can you not deduce the other three corners' existence?" from the pre-Qin classic The Analects.
出乎意料/Outside of [my] expectations: An Ancient Chinese proverb expressing surprise for an unexpected development.
答非所问/Answer is not to what was asked: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that someone is purposefully being vague and unclear in their answers, or trying to deflect the question.
度日如年/Each day feels like a year: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to an agonizing stretch of time, either in wait of something or while suffering through something. One of the earliest iterations of this is from a pre-Qin love poem that contains the line "一日不见如三岁兮/One day without seeing you feels like three years."
千变万化/Thousands of changes ten thousand transformations: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that the situation is so unstable and ever-changing that it's impossible to nail down or predict.
动了杀心/Sparked the intent to kill: A Chinese phrase meaning that killing intent has stirred in someone's heart.
白骨如山/White bones like mountains: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a large number of deaths. It can refer to physical piles of skeletons or metaphorically refer to a large number of casualties in man-made or natural disasters. Often used to refer to battlefields and the aftermath of war.
荒野残骸/Remnants of corpses in the wild wastelands: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the chilling and pitiful state of abandoned corpses that are then subjected to exposure and wild animals, especially in the aftermath of deadly conflicts where either not enough people are left to clean up the corpses or people are unable to do so for some reason.
歌舞升平/Song and dance and rising prosperity: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a state of peace and prosperity.
以卵击石/Hitting a rock with an egg: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to take on an impossible fight, to needlessly and foolishly destroy oneself in hopes of causing damage to an enemy even when it's impossible to do so.
Bribery and the Imperial Harem: Ever since the earliest dynasties, bribes have gone a long way in the Imperial harem. Especially when there is an overabundance of beautiful women, the difference between a bribe and no bribe may be the difference between becoming a favored consort and languishing forgotten in a corner of the harem.
垂死挣扎/Struggling on the verge of death: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
几个脑袋都不够砍/Even if you have several heads it would not be enough for the number of executions warranted: A Chinese saying meaning that someone is being way too careless or is doing something way too dangerous, to the extent that their crimes could warrant being executed several times over. This also refers to how some Emperors will give out 免死金牌, aka gold plaques that serve a get-out-of-execution-free effect to officials who have made major contributions to the court, but some Emperors find ways around that anyways. (For example, accusing the official of committing enough crimes to be executed several times, with the get-out-of-execution-free card not offering that much coverage).
就喜欢看你想打我又不能打我的样子/I just like to see the way you want to hit me but can't hit me: A Chinese phrase often used in internet slang to describe trolling behavior.
坐以待毙/Sit and wait for death: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
何乐而不为/What joys do I have in not doing so: An Ancient Chinese phrase meaning "Why not?"
一条绳子上的蚂蚁/Ants on one string: A Chinese phrase meaning that the two of you share a common fate should things go south.
一条船上/On one boat: A Chinese phrase meaning that the two of you share the same fate and are tied together by your circumstances.
岂能儿戏/Cannot be treated as child's play: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning something needs to be taken very seriously.
投名状/Proof of allegiance/Buy-in: An Ancient Chinese term referring to an act you undertake to prove your loyalty/commitment to an organization or a person before entering a collaboration. For example, you might be required to assist in a murder before entering a criminal gang so that you can no longer sell out the gang without screwing yourself over. A tamer version might be signing a vow of allegiance that is then kept by the organization so that any betrayal or defection will result in its immediate publication (and your ruin). Also the Chinese name of an incredible movie set in the Qing Dynasty, which has been translated as The Warlords (2007). [Also known as Blood Brothers]