Character Index

Archduke Qi: The half-brother of the current Emperor.

Archduchess Qi: Wife of Archduke Qi.

Archduke Wei: Younger brother (of the same mother) of Archduke Qi, half-brother of the current Emperor. Father of Princess Chengxia, who was married into the Khaganate as Ashina's counterpart.

Tabuyir: A Senior Investigator of Khitan descent.

Tan Hui: Archduke Qi's loyal retainer.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince. Against all odds, he has emerged as the strongest candidate to the throne due to being the only level-headed son of the Emperor left alive.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of Censure. Kayla's godfather who is grudgingly trying to save her life.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, died when he was an inch away from being named Crown Prince.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.

Ashina: Personal name Ibilga, princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Meral: Ashina's personal attendant and lady-in-waiting, watched Ashian grow up.

Li Que: A Senior Investigator.

General Shu: Yunqi's grandfather.

Shu Yunsong: Yunqi's second maternal uncle (second son of General Shu).

Shu Yunzhi: Yunqi's eldest maternal uncle (first son of General Shu).

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“Archduke Qi,” Kayla greeted him. She located a small table and set down the poison. “This junior respectfully gives his greetings.”

“No need to be so courteous,” Archduke Qi said. “After all, you’re my nephew, are you not? We’re all family here.”

The small talk sounded almost ridiculous given their circumstances.

“I’m glad we were able to meet,” Archduke Qi remarked. “I was curious what kind of person you were.”

He tilted his head slightly, evaluating Kayla.

“You take after your mother.”

“So I’ve been told,” Kayla said.

She gestured to the poison. “My lord is aware of why I am here, surely.”

“Yes,” Archduke Qi said. “Will my wife be spared?”

“No.”

A look of consternation crossed his face.

“My wife is innocent,” Archduke Qi said quietly. “Is it possible for you to delay her execution for a while? Even if it’s only a few days, perhaps–”

“The Emperor will not change his mind even then,” Kayla said as gently as she could manage. “You killed three of his sons, he has no mercy left for either of you. It’s a pity that she has to go through this, but you knew what you were getting her into.”

“Yes, I suppose,” Archduke Qi said balefully. “Goodness, look at what I’ve come to, being lectured by a junior at the end of my life.”

“I apologize for my rudeness,” Kayla said.

Archduke Qi shook his head a little ruefully before growing somber again.

“What about my brother?”

“I have placed him under house arrest,” Kayla replied. “He is not only my uncle, but also the father-in-law of my wife’s brother. I would like to see him survive this.”

“Then I’ll have to thank you on his behalf,” Archduke Qi said sheepishly. “He probably won’t be very grateful for it, but please try to be understanding. He’s a good man, really, but he’s a bit too stubborn and hot-tempered for his own good. I thought that having a few daughters would mellow him out, but the more mature his daughters become, the more childish he seems to get.”

“I understand,” Kayla said.

“Does Your Highness have any final words?”

Archduke Qi glanced up towards the sliver of sky visible through the window.

“I never played in the snow as a child.”

Kayla frowned slightly. She had been expecting some declaration, a curse of some sort, or perhaps an explanation. But she had been the one who asked, and so she let him go on.

“My health was poor, you understand, and the Empress Dowager–your grandmother–ensured that it stayed that way.” Archduke Qi smiled wryly. “I couldn’t stand the cold. The slightest chill could make me sick for days.”

Archduke Qi’s expression grew melancholic as his mind drifted to better days.

“Only after I married…my wife liked the snow, you see. That first winter together, I saw her laughing in the courtyard, a flash of red silk among that pure white landscape, and I couldn’t stop myself from joining her. I was a grown man by then, but I ended up playing in the snow like a child. I had never felt so light in my body before then.”

“Our hoods fell off, and the snowflakes got all over our heads.” He smiled wistfully. “Though I can never grow old with her in this lifetime, at the very least, we can say that our hair had turned white together.”

The Archduke shook his head.

“We had a son, you know. I thought that with how close I was with the Emperor, I would get to keep the boy. But I couldn’t. When I had a daughter, I was relieved. Girls get to grow up. But once I came under suspicion from the Emperor, she died so quickly it was like she had never even been alive in the first place,” the Archduke murmured. “The Healers said it’s because they inherited my fragility. I’ll tell you what–I was never once sick while my mother was in favor.”

Kayla lowered her eyes, suddenly finding it difficult to continue watching him.

“I know you’ve suffered greatly, and a great deal of it for none of your own fault,” Kayla said quietly. “But what did the Third Prince ever do to you?”

She glanced at his face and saw that he was staring at her serenely.

“What did my children ever do to the Emperor?”

Kayla found herself unable to reply.

“That’s just the world we live in,” Archduke Qi lamented. “I tried to change my fate, but look where that’s gotten me.”

He glanced at the tray behind Kayla.

“Perhaps it’s for the best. No more humiliations will befall me. No more pain will befall my wife.”

He gestured at the slender vessel holding his death.

“My path ends here. But the path ahead of you is still long.” He smiled wanly. “Tread carefully, lest you end up where I am now.”

Kayla drew a deep breath.

“Thank you for the advice,” Kayla replied.

She picked up the tray and set it down before Archduke Qi.

Archduke Qi’s smile didn’t fade.

He lifted the cup and paused.

“How is the Emperor?”

His smile grew wider. “Does he suffer?”

Kayla stared back silently, discomfort swirling in her stomach.

They really look alike, she thought uneasily. The look on Archduke Qi’s face was far too similar to the Emperor’s when he watched the Wu clan’s executions.

“I hope he does,” the Archduke said bitterly.

With a slow sigh, he closed his eyes wistfully. His life had been longer than he could have ever expected as a child, and it had been too short for him to accomplish anything he had hoped for as an adult.

He put the cup to his lips and downed it in one go.

Kayla turned her eyes away as the cup clattered to the floor. She winced at the choked sound of pain as the poison began taking effect.

Compelled by some strange sense of morbid curiosity, she glanced back to Archduke Qi. He was smiling, looking rather amused by her reaction. As the poison continued to do its work, his thoughts seemed to turn inward, his face growing blanker by the moment.

Kayla watched him as the life slowly left his body, her mind swimming with a million emotions she couldn’t make sense of.

She couldn't stand it anymore. She flung the doors open.

“My lord,” Tabuyir greeted her with a note of worry in his voice.

“It is done,” Kayla said. “Have someone remove his head and prepare it for the capital, I’ll have his wife’s to send along in just a moment.”

Despite the false bravado, she couldn’t stop her hands from trembling. Kayla clenched her fingers into her palms, forcing them still.

The Archduchess’ voice reached them before they reached the room.

“Don’t touch me! How dare you lay your hands on a woman of the Imperial family?!”

“What’s going on here?” Kayla demanded.

A harried-looking Investigator bowed slightly.

“Director, the Archduchess–”

The Archduchess stepped into view, her previous fragility replaced by a harsh ferocity.

“So my husband is dead,” she said, more a statement than a question.

“My lady is correct,” Kayla said. “By order of the Emperor, you are to be granted a painless death that leaves your corpse intact. What fault does my lady find with that?”

Rage and grief glimmered in the Archduchess’ eyes.

Kayla uttered a silent prayer for the Archduchess not to cry–she had no idea how to proceed if the Archduchess started weeping.

“I will not be touched by a man other than my husband,” the Archduchess said resolutely. “I will die by my own hands!”

“My lord,” Li Que emerged at Kayla’s shoulder. “That does not align with our orders.”

“Let her be,” Kayla said.

“My lord,” Li Que stepped closer, a mild note of urgency in his voice. “Being merciful and softhanded is of no good to us here. Please choose wisely!”

Kayla’s heart sank. The Archduchess let out a mocking laugh.

“My husband drank poison by himself. Even Tan Hui ended his life by his own hands. And yet I, the wife of the Archduke, the daughter-in-law of the Imperial family, must allow uncouth men to lay their hands on me?!” The Archduchess demanded.

“I would not order such a thing,” Kayla said. “Chastity is a virtue that should not be impugned upon–if the Archduchess insists on taking action herself, then I will not deny her. However, please understand that if you are unable to go through with it, we have no other choice but to do it for you.”

Kayla stretched out a hand. An Investigator stepped forward, awkwardly holding out a folded length of cloth.

The Archduchess scoffed. “It’s only three yards of white cloth,” she said. “What have I to be afraid of?”

She snatched it from the Investigator’s hands, glaring at Kayla all the while.

With a graceful flick of the arms, she flung one end of the white cloth into the air, watching as it wound around the rafter and came rippling down on the other end.

The Archduchess turned and gave them an expectant look.

Kayla bowed her head slightly and left the room, the other Investigators following suit. There was the sound of a chair tipping to the floor. They waited a while longer before reentering the room.

“She’s a courageous woman,” Kayla muttered. She nodded to the Investigators. “Cut her down and confirm that she’s dead.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The trembling in her hands was growing worse by the minute, but just as Kayla thought it would surely become visible to the naked eye, it stopped completely.

“Prepare to set out for Youzhou,” she ordered.

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Yunqi stared at the darkened sky, an unreadable expression on his face. There was a vacancy in his eyes that left the eunuchs and maids around him disquieted.

With quiet steps, Wei Guang approached. The servants stepped away, leaving the two of them alone.

“Imperial Edict Bearer,” Yunqi said without turning around.

“Are you observing the skies, my prince?” Wei Guang asked cautiously.

“Indeed,” Yunqi said. “I wonder what my brother is seeing right now.”

Belatedly, Wei Guang realized Yunqi was speaking of Kuang rather than Xianchun.

“I’m very sorry for your loss, my prince,” Wei Guang murmured. “Once again, allow me to apologize on behalf of my godson for allowing this to happen.”

“On behalf of Wenyuan?” Yunqi glanced over his shoulder at Wei Guang.

“Your kinsmen…it cannot be an easy situation to accept, but please–” Wei Guang stopped as he caught the look on Yunqi’s face.

“Your godson is invaluable to me. Please rest assured.”

“Your Highness’ magnanimity knows no bounds,” Wei Guang praised him. “Wenyuan will surely be grateful for your leniency and repay it within an inch of his life!”

“You misunderstand me, Imperial Edict Bearer,” Yunqi said quietly. “I do not forgive Wenyuan. There is nothing for me to forgive.”

Wei Guang expertly hid his confusion, waiting for Yunqi to explain himself.

“When I said that Third Brother’s death wasn’t his fault, it was not merely a ploy to bind him to me as an ally. I meant it. The Bureau is very capable. The Ministries are very capable. And what have they accomplished?” Yunqi held out the flat of his palms. “They’ve only ever been competent when it was politically conducive to be. And it has not been for many years. Has Archduke Qi only been disloyal since Wenyuan became Director? How long has Wenyuan even been an official?”

He laughed mockingly.

“What have I to blame Wenyuan for?”

It almost took Wei Guang a moment before he heard the hidden layer of meaning in Yunqi’s words. Cold sweat beaded under his collar.

With only a few words he's shamed us all.

Wei Guang breathed in sharply, dropping to his knees.

“Please forgive my incompetence, my prince! I am truly ashamed to have failed you!”

Yunqi shook his head. “Please don’t say that, Imperial Edict Bearer. As the ancient greats say, if there is righteousness in the country, then show your talents. If there is not, then live in seclusion. As a scholar of the classics, who can blame you for following its teachings? The fact that you were even willing to emerge from seclusion is enough to speak to your virtue. I do not accuse you. I merely lament at the state of affairs that has led to this.”

The sound of Wei Guang’s pounding heart filled his ears, something within him stirring awake.

“My prince, though I am aged and incompetent, I will dedicate my withered mind and body to your service,” Wei Guang said, his voice trembling with genuine emotion. He bowed his head to the ground. “Please allow me to make up for my past cowardice!”

A hand grabbed his arm, pulling him up almost effortlessly. With only the light of the moonless night behind him, the Fifth Prince’s eyes seemed to take on an unearthly glow.

“I am grateful for your support, Imperial Edict Bearer. I entrust my honor and future to your hands,” Yunqi said gently. He placed a hand on Wei Guang’s shoulder.

“Persuading the neutral faction is surely of no difficulty to a reputable man like yourself. But I need you to do me a favor,” Yunqi said. “Find a good opportunity, and repeat my words just now to the elders of the court.”

He smiled, a kind and unassuming smile.

“Bend them to my will.”

Wei Guang nodded jerkily.

“As you wish, my prince.”

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Ashina curled on her bed, face buried in an armful of blankets.

“My princess, are you not eating again?” Meral asked worriedly.

“Send the others away,” Ashina said in a muffled voice.

Meral waved a hand, the other attendants and servants slipping out of the room. The woman sat down on Ashina’s bedside, watching her princess with concern.

“My princess,” Meral began.

“I’m not even pregnant,” Ashina said in frustration. “We can fool others for now, but what am I supposed to do in a few months’ time?!”

Meral went quiet for a moment before gently drawing Ashina’s head and shoulders into an embrace.

“Don’t worry, my princess. Us women have ways of dealing with such things,” Meral said comfortingly. “Faking a miscarriage is not difficult–plenty have done so before and gotten away with it.”

“I can’t stand it! I can’t stop worrying about being found out!” Ashina vented. “It’s suffocating with so many people watching–I can barely stand it now, but who knows how long I’ll have to keep this up?”

“You made the right decision, my princess, and you must stick by it,” Meral assured her. “I will take care of everything. Just try to stay calm, and it will be over sooner than you realize it.”

Ashina let out a frustrated sigh.

The urgent message from Wei Guang had jarred her, but Ashina had sprang into action nonetheless. Between her, Meral, and a healer sworn to secrecy, a pregnancy had emerged out of nowhere.

You’ll be saving your husband’s life, and yourself from an unwelcome fate.

The words of Wei Guang’s message replayed in Ashina’s mind long after its existence had been thoroughly erased.

Don’t tell Wenyuan the truth. The Emperor will have eyes and ears at his side while deciding whether or not to kill him, and an honest reaction will be easily discerned.

Wei Guang’s words had some sense in it, but it seemed almost cruel. Wenyuan had been genuinely shocked, and then he had been genuinely happy.

Wenyuan would be disappointed, or relieved, which might be worse. Her father would blame her for losing the baby when Ashina faked a miscarriage, and there were countless more ordeals involved in fooling the household and the capital until then.

The thought of the troubles that came after this, one after another, filled Ashina with a clawing frustration and dread. She wanted to thrash about like a child would, or perhaps to break something into very tiny little pieces. But all she could do was cling to the small comfort that Meral offered.

The past few days had been immensely stressful for the Zhao household. Ashina was starting to get the sense that the rest of her life would be like this, a rollercoaster of tumult that followed the fate of her husband.

I can’t accept it. I can save his life, that much I can accept! But my fate depends on him? Why should it? It’s not like I have a say in what he does! He treats me as someone who needs to be carefully handled, like a foreign dignitary or a child, he does all he can to keep information from me, and yet he’s the one who my fate depends on?

Wenyuan was good to her, a kind husband that took no concubines and actually cared about how his wife felt. But so what? Her father had been kind enough, good to her, a parent who actually cared about her amongst his many children. That hadn’t stopped him from sending her off into a foreign land.

She was caught between the two, and it felt like a net of thin threads that tightened into her flesh.

If I can’t accept it…then I won’t.

As of now, she was helping Wenyuan to preserve his life.

If that wasn’t worthwhile of his trust, then surely nothing was.

Ashina’s heart sank at the possibility, before she steeled herself again. She thought of the night when an intruder had been captured, a mage.

I can accept my fate, no matter what it is, but only if it was a path I chose myself.

Ashina slowly let out a deep breath, her mind slowly clearing.

When Wenyuan returned, they would have a lot to discuss.

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Kayla’s entourage rode throughout the night, only stopping to change out horses at the post stations along the way. Of the original group, only Li Que remained at her side. Tabuyir had been sent ahead to the capital, bearing a bloody cargo along with him.

By the time they pulled into Youzhou, it was noon of the next day. Both the horses and the men were worn out, though Li Que admirably held himself with the same composure as always. They were greeted by the Investigators of the local branch, to the relief of Kayla's exhausted companions.

Kayla approached the Shu clan's residence, almost surprised at the stark appearance. It was simply adorned, but entirely lacked the elegance and refinement of Yunqi's household.

The head of the Shu clan might not even know what’s coming for him and his sons. He doesn’t even know that his grandson might soon take the throne.

Kayla could tell him that much at least.

“What-what’s going on?!” A young man with a vague resemblance to Yunqi jolted in shock as the doors of the Shu residence flew open.

Black-clad Investigators spilled into the courtyard, rushing through the corridors to secure the household. Outside as well, Investigators that had gathered ahead of time closed in around the residence, blocking off every avenue of entrance or exit. The nearby streets were already closed off by Investigators dressed as members of the local guard.

Kayla smiled at the young man in the courtyard, fixing her exhausted features into a personable look.

“Kindly take us to General Shu,” Kayla said.

The young man gulped, the broom in his hands clattering to the ground.

Li Que peeled off from Kayla’s side, heading further inside to secure Shu Yunsong and his older brother.

Trembling from head to toe, the young man from the Shu clan led Kayla inside. Though she maintained a friendly demeanor, he only seemed to grow more afraid.

Kayla’s purple robes seemed to stand out all the more amidst the Investigators dressed in black, its embroidery shimmering subtly in the sunlight. The young man glanced at the patterns on her clothing with trepidation, gulping as he led her inside.

A woman rushed into their path, and halted, flinching as an Investigator grabbed her arm.

“Mother!” The young man cried.

Kayla waved her hand, and the Investigator let go of the woman.

“Please, my lord! My son hasn’t done anything!” The woman pleaded.

“Of course,” Kayla said pleasantly. “You have nothing to worry about.”

She patted the young man’s shoulder. “Assure your mother.”

“I’m fine,” the young man said in a trembling voice. The woman's expression grew frantic.

“Yu’er!” The woman wailed.

Kayla nodded, and the woman was gently but firmly shoved back indoors.

“So, Yu’er, where is your great-grandfather?” Kayla asked, guessing the relationship by his mother’s age.

“This way,” Yu’er said in a very small voice.

“Director, we’ve secured Shu Yunsong and Shu Yunzhi,” an Investigator reported.

Kayla nodded in response.

“Tell the men to be careful,” Kayla said mildly, patting Yu’er’s shoulder. “Those two are veterans, after all.”

“Yes sir!”

The poor young man was now trembling so much he could barely walk.

“Oh, if it's too difficult for you, then just point it out for us. And then you can go,” Kayla said. This seemed to frighten him more than anything else, and Yu’er found the strength to lead them to the General’s rooms.

“Return the boy to his mother’s care,” Kayla ordered.

“We would go in with you, Director,” one of the Investigators offered. “The General is a skilled veteran in his own right.”

“Very well.”

He opened the door for her, and Kayla stepped inside.

The old General sat in a chair facing the door, his callused hands draped over his walking stick. There was a look of resignation on his war-worn face. His skin was damaged by long years in harsh weather, body worn down from a lifetime spent armored on horseback.

He must have been waiting for us ever since he heard the commotion, Kayla noted. But he doesn’t yet know what for.

“So it’s come after all,” the General said wearily. “My good lord, I know you have your duties to fulfill. But I beg of you to show mercy to the women and children of this household, for they are innocent.”

Good god, I really hate this.

“Your lordship misunderstands,” Kayla said. “There will be no need for mercy today. Allow me to congratulate you on the prosperity about to be endowed upon the Shu clan.”

General Shu’s brow wrinkled in confusion, then lit up with hope.

“My grandson–?”

“His Highness the Fifth Prince is in good health, and in the protective embrace of his loving father,” Kayla confirmed.

"But how?" General Shu stared at her in bewilderment.

"The Third Prince has passed away," Kayla replied.

A chill went down her spine at the smile that spread over the old man's face.

Even if Kuang had been their savior for so long, it doesn't matter to him as long as Yunqi takes the throne, does it?

“However, there is only one little thing I ask of you to ensure the Fifth Prince's wellbeing,” Kayla said.

“Ask away, my lord. Anything that you wish for you shall have!” General Shu said, looking upon Kayla with so much gratitude that one would’ve thought she had personally created Yunqi’s current situation.

She nearly told him that it was his son's doing, but decided against it at the last minute.

“I ask for your head, esteemed General,” Kayla said gently.

The light dimmed in his eyes, but was replaced by a look of determination.

“If that is what is required to ensure my clan’s prosperity, then so be it,” he said.

“You will have your sons for company on the road to the Yellow Springs,” Kayla said. “But only the three of you, and no one else. Three heads for boundless glory. A worthy trade, is it not?”

“Do you speak the truth?” General Shu asked.

“That and nothing else.”

He evaluated her for a moment.

“Then I am your humble servant,” General Shu replied. He stood up slowly, joints creaking. The Investigators around Kayla stiffened as the General produced a blade.

He won’t point that at me.

The look of genuine relief and elation on the old man’s face was disconcerting. It didn’t fade even as he fell upon his sword.

Kayla remained still for so long that the Investigators glanced at each other in confusion.

“Fix his expression to a more suitable one,” Kayla said. An Investigator stepped to the unpleasant task as she left the room.

“Where are his sons?” Kayla asked.

“This way, my lord.”

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Cultural Notes

英雄迟暮/A hero's dusk: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a hero who has grown irrelevant and weak, having passed his prime and hour of glory.

白头偕老/Grow old and white-haired together: An Ancient Chinese proverb, often understood to mean "holding hands in our old age". It is often a well-wish used at weddings to bless the couple with a harmonious life together.

留全尸/Leave a whole corpse: In Ancient China, where funeral rites were rather important, leaving an undamaged corpse (aka still having your head and limbs attached) was considered rather important. So even when people were being sentenced to death, they would often be begged to be hanged instead of beheaded.

心慈手软/Merciful of heart and soft of hand: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is often used in contexts to refer to someone who is being overly merciful or soft when it is not the time for that.

三尺白绫/Three yards of white silk: The classic tool used for hanging oneself in Ancient China.

贞烈/Chastity/Fierce chastity: Just as loyalty unto death was valued in men in Ancient China, chastity (aka loyalty to one's husband) unto death was valued in women in Ancient China. A woman who killed herself rather than being violated was considered on par with an official who kills himself rather than surrender. Part of this was because of the parallels between the relationship of ruler-subject (a man to his Emperor) and husband-wife (a wife to her husband). It was often an unfair comparison (especially during wartime when women often had no say in what conflicts occurred while men still had the option to partake in the military or in politics), and some people back in the day also noted as much. Remaining chaste after being widowed, killing oneself to follow one's husband, etc., was a way for a woman to gain recognition for her virtue, but wasn't really an expectation throughout history, especially not in the Tang Dynasty.

If there is righteousness in the country, then show your talents. If there is not, then live in seclusion/天下有道则见，无道则隐: A quote by Confucius. The line that comes right after this is, "邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也;邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也/If the country is righteous, being poor and insignificant is shameful; if the country is not righteous, being rich and powerful is shameful." Yunqi is essentially (very politely) mocking Wei Guang for his previous act of trying to back out of politics (aka "live in seclusion") due to considering the country hopeless, but still being rich and powerful in such a country. On a broader scale, it also mocks both those who have muddled through their careers without really accomplishing anything despite benefiting from their high positions, as well as those who have sat back and let things happen while lamenting that the dynasty is in decline. It's basically an Ancient Chinese version of a millennial clapping back against a boomer who blames the younger generation for society going to shit. Yunqi points out, without directly saying as much, that everything that the current generation faces now is not their doing, but the result of the actions and inaction of the generations before them, so the older generations are obliged to help out.

黄泉路上/On the path to the Yellow Springs: The Yellow Springs was an euphemism for death in Ancient China, so saying "黄泉路上有个伴/Having a companion on the path to the Yellow Springs" means that someone else will be dying with you.

戎马一生/Armored on horseback for a lifetime: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the difficult life of warriors.