Character Index
Zhou Yunqi: The Crown Prince.
Sir Yang: The Emperor's trusted eunuch. Chose to side with Yunqi.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of Censure, Kayla's godfather.
Zhou Ying: The current Emperor, father of Zhou Yunqi and Zhou Xianchun.
Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.
Zhou Chenqian: Kuang's son.
Zhou Mingda: The Sixth Prince, she is wheelchair bound. Granddaughter of Commander Tumidu of the Uyghur tribe.
Wise Consort/Empress Shu: Yunqi's mother, was posthumously created Empress as the mother of the Crown Prince.
Royal Consort: Mother of Kuang.
Cao Shuyi: The Third Princess Consort, mother of Chenqian.
Captain Jiang: A young commander of the Imperial Guard.
Archduke Qi: The Emperor's half-brother, one of the conspirators.
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Yunqi and Kayla stood tersely in the study, neither able to stay seated anymore.
“Any word yet from the Emperor’s quarters?” Yunqi asked for the third time in ten minutes.
“Not yet,” Kayla said tightly.
Almost on cue, her communication device showed a new message from Sir Yang.
“Wei Guang’s left the Emperor’s quarters and is returning to his own household,” Kayla announced. “All has gone according to plan!”
Yunqi’s face had gone completely white.
“Father–”
He steadied his shaking voice. “How long until the eunuchs on the night shift go to check on him?”
How long before they announce the Emperor’s death?
“Another half hour, my prince,” Kayla said.
“Will he even have died by then?” Yunqi asked.
“Yes, the poison is fast-acting,” Kayla said. “Do not worry, my prince, even if there is an autopsy, the coroners will be selected from the Imperial Investigation Bureau. They will find nothing out of the ordinary.”
Yunqi grabbed onto the edge of his desk, leaning against it as he breathed in deeply. After a long moment, the tension seeped out of him, and he straightened his back.
“Then it is done,” Yunqi said.
“Not until you have ascended the throne,” Kayla replied. “Please take strength, my prince. We’re only halfway there. I will keep the Imperial Guard on standby until the announcement has been made to avoid any last minute surprises. Once you are summoned to the Emperor’s quarters, you can order the palace to be shut down, and you’ll have full control over who enters and exits.”
Yunqi nodded, a serene assurance descending over him once more.
“Very well,” he said.
Half an hour seemed to pass in a haze of anticipation, and before long, there was the wailing cry of eunuchs and serving maids in the hallway.
“What is this commotion?” Yunqi demanded, stepping outside his study. In the time they had been waiting, he had smudged his fingerprints faintly with ink. By the papers strewn across his desk and the stains on his sleeves, everything about the prince screamed of diligently working late into the night. Behind Yunqi, Kayla stepped into the hallway as Sir Yang came running towards them.
The old eunuch fell to his knees, masterfully acting his part as he tearfully clutched the hems of Yunqi’s robes.
As if he hadn’t been the one to arrange Wei Guang’s entry.
“My prince, please head to the Emperor’s quarters! His Majesty has passed away!”
“What?” Yunqi asked in bewildered shock, disbelief written over his face.
“Your Highness, the Emperor has passed away! Please, head over to the Emperor’s quarters!” Sir Yang wailed.
“No–no! It’s not possible!” Yunqi cried, his entire body trembling. “Father was fine just this morning! He’s not dead, he can’t have died!”
Kayla rushed forward, grabbing Yunqi’s arm as if to steady him.
“My prince, please get a hold of yourself!”
On cue, Yunqi sagged to the ground as if losing strength in his knees.
“Your Highness!” Kayla tried and failed to support Yunqi’s weight, Sir Yang scrambling to his feet to help Yunqi back up.
“Father…no, I can’t accept this!” Yunqi said tearfully. He grabbed Sir Yang’s hand. “Bring me to him, I have to see him!”
What a touching display, Kayla thought as she noted the crying servants and guards around them as they rushed towards the Emperor’s quarters. It really did have to be Yunqi in this role, she couldn’t imagine Xianchun giving an act even half as convincing as this.
Yunqi ran up the steps, nearly tripping over the threshold of the door. He caught himself against the doorway, pushing aside the hands that reached out to steady him as he hurried to the Emperor’s bed.
An Imperial Healer and several weeping eunuchs stepped aside, their faces filled with dismay as they made way for Yunqi. At a glance, Kayla recognized the healer as one of Wei Guang’s men.
The prince stilled at the sight of the Emperor, lying there quietly as if he were asleep.
“My prince–” The Imperial Healer began to say, cutting himself off as Yunqi dropped to his knees, weeping over the Emperor’s corpse.
The eunuchs and guards knelt as well, silently dabbing away tears at the heartrending sight. Kneeling behind Yunqi, Kayla observed the Emperor’s grave expression, so still that it made her physically uncomfortable.
“My prince, please restrain your grief!” Kayla pleaded. “Please give us your orders!”
Choking up with sobs, Yunqi turned a tearstained face towards her.
“The Emperor has passed,” Yunqi said in a shaking voice. “Seal the gates of the capital and the Imperial Palace. Summon the Seventh Prince, Prince Chenqian, and Princess Mingda.”
“The court officials, my prince,” Kayla prompted.
“Summon the acting heads of the Three Departments, the Imperial Edict Bearer, the Minister of Rites, and the Court Historian,” Yunqi ordered. “Additionally, send for the Commanders of the Jingji Circuit and the Henan Circuit, as well as the Governor of Henan. Have the Governor of Dengzhou restrict the entry or exit of any Imperial relatives or in-laws until the funeral arrangements have been made.”
Kayla sharply turned her head towards a guard, who bowed and rushed off immediately.
“How could this happen?” Yunqi said.
“My prince, His Majesty was already in ill health for some time now, as you have seen yourself,” the Imperial Healer said gently. “He passed painlessly in his sleep, having expended his energy like a lamp that had run out of oil. My sincere condolences, my prince, but please mind your health even in your grief.”
“One by one, everyone is leaving me,” Yunqi wept. “Father, please…open your eyes, say something!”
He buried his face in the Emperor’s robes, shoulders shaking. The Imperial Healer knitted his brows together, trying to hold back tears.
Kayla closed her eyes briefly before sharply glancing over the room. No cup was in sight, and the Emperor was in his bedclothes. There was no sign whatsoever of Wei Guang’s visit.
She let go of a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
It didn’t take long for the officials to be summoned. Already dressed in the mourning clothes they had prepared for the preceding funerals, they filed in with grim faces.
Each of them were well past their forties, and their faces were waxy with lack of sleep after being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. Wei Guang fit in right amongst them, looking for all purposes as though he had been abruptly dragged out of bed.
“Thank you for coming,” Yunqi said through his tears. “Father–” He took a deep breath, steeling himself to say the words. “Father has passed away.”
The Imperial Healer in the back lowered his face with a suitable expression of regret.
“Your Majesty, how could you leave us so suddenly?” The Secretariat Director wept.
The Chancellor grimly patted his colleague’s shoulder.
“Please get yourself together,” he said firmly. “My prince, please restrain your grief as well. We offer our sincerest condolences, but we must think of the greater picture right now. Isn’t that so, Imperial Edict Bearer?”
Wei Guang let out a soft sigh.
“We must declare His Majesty’s death to the nation,” Wei Guang said heavily. “Crown Prince, the country cannot be without a master for even a day. As the heir to the throne, you must be crowned as soon as possible!”
“It is because of my lack of virtue that the Emperor’s life ended before its time, how can I think of ascending to the throne?” Yunqi asked tearfully.
“My prince, please don’t say such a thing! Your filial piety is truly commendable. If they are able to see this from beneath the Nine Springs, surely the Emperor and Empress Shu would be greatly relieved to see what a fine son they’ve raised,” the Minister of Rites chimed in. “Please, your subjects are heartbroken to see you blame yourself like this.”
A sentimental man, he was also crying as he spoke.
“The Minister is right,” the Chief Secretariat said. “Please, my prince, you are His Majesty’s rightful heir. You must ascend to the throne!”
“Your Highness, please!” Kayla chimed in.
Yunqi was silent for a moment.
Yunqi glanced over everyone present, hesitating for a moment before he drew a deep breath.
“As the eldest surviving son, and as the unworthy heir of my esteemed father, the first matter of course is to arrange my father’s funeral. We will discuss the matter of my coronation later.”
“My prince!” A chorus of protests sounded out, Kayla chiming in as well.
“Enough, I will hear no more of this matter right now,” Yunqi said firmly. “Have the Ministry of Rites prepare for the Emperor’s funeral.”
He sighed, eyes moistening. “I am weary,” he said heavily.
“You must take care of your health, Your Highness,” Wei Guang said, worry tinging his voice. “Please, do not lose yourself in your grief. We will leave you to rest now.”
Yunqi nodded faintly, and the other officials begrudgingly followed Wei Guang’s lead in taking their leave.
Kayla left with the rest of them, glancing back over her shoulder at Yunqi. The Prince stared blankly into the distance, his exhaustion written over his face. Instead, it was Sir Yang who caught her eye and gave a small nod of assurance.
Well played, Yunqi, Kayla thought to herself.
Yunqi had the Imperial Guard, the City Guard, the heads of the Three Departments, the commanders of the armies closest to the capital, the Imperial Investigation Bureau, and the Hanlin Academy on his side. No one would dare challenge him for the position of Emperor, not when he held all the cards.
But rather than grabbing at the chance, Yunqi was making a show of hesitation and forcing the court to beg him to become Emperor. They had no choice but to do so, as the outcome was inevitable. If they did not wish to be singled out as disloyal subjects to be gotten rid of, they would have to plead for Yunqi to ascend to the throne.
In a single move, Yunqi gained the upper hand several times over. No one could openly suspect him of being involved in the Emperor’s death, not when he has displayed both his lack of interest in the throne and an abundance of filial piety. Moreover, Yunqi was the one becoming Emperor, but the court was indebted to him instead of the other way around, since it was Yunqi who reluctantly acceded to their requests, being forced to abandon his filial piety and the three-year mourning period for the sake of his subjects.
If the court refused to comply with him in the future, Yunqi could simply lament that he had never wished to become Emperor, and wasn’t it the court that had begged and pleaded for him to ascend the throne? Now that they no longer wished for this, perhaps they would be happier if he stepped down?
It would basically be an accusation of treason, that the court was pressuring an Emperor to abdicate the throne.
Even if there were officials who rejected Yunqi’s reforms or contested his power, the court would never dare to band together against Yunqi, who could write them into history as traitors simply by threatening to step down from power.
Unlike Kayla, who couldn’t care less how she was remembered so long as she could seize the present, the other officials had legacies to think of.
“Confucius wrote the Records of Autumn and Spring, and the treacherous subjects and thieving officials quaked in fear.” Now, those who hold their pride in such high esteem will have to pay the price for it.
Kayla glanced in the direction of the Emperor’s casket, a painful tightness in her chest.
It wouldn’t be for nothing, she promised. We’ll make this worth it.
Before her, the Secretariat Director let out a squeak of alarm as Wei Guang stumbled. Kayla rushed forward to grab him, wincing as the old man leaned his weight on her.
“Godfather!” Kayla cried. “Godfather, are you alright?!”
She struggled to bear his weight, heart hammering at Wei Guang’s bloodless face. The man’s lips were faintly purple, and his breathing uneven.
“Godfather!”
“Call a healer!” The Chancellor shouted.
“No, I’m fine,” Wei Guang wheezed. The officials observed him warily.
“Maybe we should call a healer after all,” one said doubtfully.
“I’m alright, it’s just…” Wei Guang was silently crying now.
Everyone seemed to remember at the same time that Wei Guang had been the teacher of the Emperor. The mood grew even grimmer than before. Wei Guang drew a deep breath and waved away the concern of his somber-faced colleagues.
“I will be fine with my godson,” Wei Guang said.
Barely managing to keep him upright, Kayla nodded. She slowly walked him to his carriage, greatly relieved when a thoughtful Imperial Guard came forward to help her.
“Thank you,” Wei Guang wheezed. The Imperial Guard bowed and left them at Kayla’s nod, leaving Kayla to hoist Wei Guang into his carriage. She helped him settle into his seat and made to get out.
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He suddenly grabbed her arm, so forcefully that Kayla jolted in surprise.
“Godfather?”
“Take care of the Prince,” Wei Guang said. “I can’t intervene with the Imperial Family, but you can as the Emperor’s nephew. Whether it’s with Prince Xianchun or the Generals of the regional commanderies, you need to watch out for the Crown Prince! Do not allow anyone to pressure him, do not allow anyone to force his hand or to extract any promises! Your role is to visit swift retribution against any fools that may try, whether that be the lowliest maid or a prince of this nation, do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand,” Kayla replied. “Don’t worry, godfather, go and get some rest. You should really call a healer to check up on you.”
“I’ll be alright,” Wei Guang said unconvincingly. “Remember, if it becomes necessary, don’t hesitate to kill anyone who would wish harm to the prince, no matter their rank or station.”
“I will,” Kayla promised.
She turned to leave again and stopped, hesitating.
“Thank you,” Kayla said, abruptly feeling the need to. “And I’m sorry.”
Wei Guang shot out his hand and grabbed her by the collar, fixing her with a terrible look.
“Never say such a thing ever again,” he said in a cold voice. “Never speak of this, even indirectly, to anyone. This secret rots in you. It will die with you. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Kayla said quietly. He let go with a sigh.
“Go back to the Crown Prince,” Wei Guang said, his voice once again weary with grief. “Watch over him even if he doesn’t ask for you.”
At Kayla’s worried look, he forced a half-smile more grotesque than it was reassuring.
“Go on,” Wei Guang said.
“Then I’ll be off, godfather. Please have a safe journey back,” Kayla said. Smoothing her clothes, she stepped out from the carriage and closed the door for him. She bowed slightly as it pulled away, watching after him uneasily for a moment before hurrying back to Yunqi’s chambers.
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Yunqi stared blankly into the distance, a slow sludge muddling his thoughts. Was it exhaustion or grief? He couldn’t tell anymore.
Without meaning to, he recalled the night when he’d summoned Wenyuan. Yunqi hadn’t wanted to think of it, or think of anything at all. But fatigue rendered his mind defenseless, and the memory crawled forward of its own accord.
That night, the Emperor had a fit of delusion, and had to be physically restrained by his eunuchs. Yunqi had been called for by a frightened servant, and what he had seen hammered down the final nail in the coffin.
Father, I had to make this decision.
Was it a man or a monster that Yunqi had seen then? It was a grotesque amalgamation of hatred, fear, and anger. And from the looks of the Emperor’s servants, it was a long time in the making.
When the Emperor’s incoherent shouts died down, the sedatives taking effect, Yunqi had watched with horror as that monstrous image slowly faded back into the father he knew.
Is this what Wenyuan had to deal with? Is this what Mother had to deal with? For all these years, they’ve had to bear this…
At least Yunqi had known that the Emperor’s madness hadn’t been directed at him. What about those who had been at the receiving end of it?
He shook his head without meaning to.
I had no choice. I couldn’t possibly leave the fate of this nation in the hands of a madman.
Closing his eyes, he tried to banish the image from his mind. It disintegrated, the grave mask of the Emperor’s face in death emerging instead.
You left me no other option, Yunqi told the corpse. I loved you. I wanted you to care about me once, but your ruthlessness made me wish that you would simply be indifferent to my existence instead. But what use was any of that?
Everyone was slipping from his grasp. Kuang had walked off into the endless night, leaving a widow and child that Yunqi had to cautiously contend with.
The Shu clan survives, yes, but without the ones I loved most.
Patricide was a sin that he would have to bear forever, but Yunqi knew with certainty right then and there that he could stand it. He would never feel as guilty as he should. He simply wasn’t that loyal or filial, simply wasn’t a man of virtue. And he could live with that if it spared families across the country from suffering so much grief as he had.
My poor father…no one will suffer at your hands ever again.
Sighing, he pulled himself back to reality as Sir Yang approached with a woman in tow.
“My prince, there’s a lady-in-waiting from the Royal Consort’s quarters,” Sir Yang announced. A eunuch scurried into the room and stopped, seeing that there was already a lady-in-waiting there.
“Where is Sister-in-law? She should be here by now,” Yunqi said.
“The Princess Consort is with the Royal Consort right now–the Royal Consort fainted at the news,” the lady-in-waiting reported. “Perhaps…perhaps it would be best if…”
“Then I would trouble Sister-in-law to stay with the Royal Consort and to look after her,” Yunqi said in the woman’s stead, secretly relieved. He didn’t want to face Cao Shuyi right now. They’d trusted each other too much in the past for him to lie to her face.
“Things are still a mess right now, so it’s best that Chenqian stays with her as well. But when everything has settled down somewhat, Chenqian should come pay his respects to his grandfather.”
“Understood, Your Highness. Thank you for your kindness,” the lady-in-waiting said. She bowed and left. The eunuch who had been awkwardly standing at the side stepped forward.
“My prince, His Highness the Seventh Prince and Her Highness the Sixth Princess have arrived,” the eunuch announced.
“Please see them in,” Yunqi said, alarm spiking through his heart. He had not seen either one of them in some time now. Yet there was the strangest sense of insecurity, as if his mostly-estranged siblings would somehow recognize Yunqi’s sins, by blood if not by instinct.
“My prince,” Wenyuan’s voice rang out. The young Duke hurried into the room from the side door, bowing his head slightly.
“Wenyuan,” Yunqi said, his unease fading as rapidly as it had risen. “Xianchun and Mingda are here, just as well that you’re here to greet them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yunqi couldn’t tell what Wenyuan was thinking–the man was a better actor than he was.
Is he feeling vindicated now that the Emperor is dead? Or is he grieving more than anyone else?
Yunqi glanced away, readying himself to face his siblings.
To his surprise, he barely had to act when Xianchun and Mingda came into view–it all came to him naturally.
“Your Highness,” Xianchun and Mingda greeted him in unison, bowing their heads.
“Xianchun, Mingda,” Yunqi stepped forward, reaching out to take their hands. Tears welled in his eyes and Yunqi shook his head, unable to form words.
“Your Highness,” Mingda began to say.
“Will you no longer call me Brother?”
Mingda and Xianchun both stilled for a moment. The princess’ face crumpled first as she burst into tears.
Yunqi knelt down to hug Mingda in her wheelchair, heart aching at how much she was shaking.
She’s been neglected more than anyone else, he thought in sympathy. Yunqi glanced towards Xianchun, who was standing back uncertainly.
Were they still enemies? Was Yunqi still holding a grudge? Without either Father or Grandmother to restrain Yunqi, what could Xianchun expect from his new liege? Even without asking, Yunqi knew what thoughts were running through Xianchun’s mind.
Yunqi held out his arm towards Xianchun. Awkwardly, the younger prince joined the hug with stilted motions. The tension slowly eased out of Xianchun’s shoulders, failing to dissipate completely. From the growing dampness on his shoulder, Yunqi could tell that Xianchun was also crying.
It seemed both an eternity and a brief moment before they pulled apart. Yunqi rose to his feet, and Wenyuan stepped forward to help him up.
“It is a terrible loss,” Yunqi said. “Our house has suffered tragedy after tragedy in such a short time…just last year at this time, we could still take heart in the knowledge that most of our family members were alive, even if we couldn’t see them. But now, the four of us are all that are left.”
Yunqi gently patted Xianchun’s shoulder.
“As the eldest surviving sibling, I will take care of you,” Yunqi said. “I hope that you can rely on me from now on, and that I can rely on each of you in turn.”
Mingda and Xianchun nodded.
“I only wish…I only wish I had managed to persuade Father to summon you. If only I had known he would pass away so soon! Mingda, you have not seen him in months now. And Xianchun, I had wanted the two of you to resolve your misunderstandings and rebuild your bond as father and son. Now it is too late. I am so sorry,” Yunqi said earnestly. “I have failed as your brother.”
“Brother, please don’t say that. I’m grateful just for the thought,” Xianchun said.
Yunqi let out a sigh. “We will hold the funeral according to the rites,” he said. “I understand how difficult this must be for all of you, but you must take good care of your health at this time, if not for your own sake then at least for my peace of mind. Mingda, the mourning rituals will be long and physically taxing. I do not wish to rob you of the chance to fulfill your filial duties, but I fear you will take ill. How about just showing up to the first half-day?”
“Thank you for the consideration, Brother. I will gratefully follow your wishes,” Mingda said. “But more so than anyone else, you’re the one who should take care of your health.”
“That’s right,” Xianchun chimed in, still a little awkward. “Brother, you must preserve your energy for the coronation.”
“I will focus on the funeral and the mourning rites first,” Yunqi said.
Mingda and Xianchun shared a look of surprise with each other.
“Brother, the throne cannot be left vacant,” Mingda said. “You must ascend the throne as soon as possible.”
Yunqi gave a half-nod. “Do not worry, Mingda. We can think of such things later. First, we must send Father off properly, don’t you agree?”
The princess reluctantly nodded. As Yunqi’s gaze swung over to Xianchun, the younger prince quickly aborted an attempt to make eye contact with Wenyuan and bowed his head slightly.
“If that is what Brother wishes,” Xianchun said, uncertain of whether he had given the right answer.
Yunqi gave them a small smile.
“Thank you for understanding my selfish sentiments,” Yunqi said. “Do you wish to go see Father?”
At their agreement, Wenyuan stepped forward.
“I will walk them over, Your Highness. You have been overexerting yourself, please get some rest for now,” Wenyuan said.
He’ll feed them the answers they need to quash their doubts, Yunqi translated.
“Very well then,” Yunqi said.
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Kayla kept herself from glancing back at Xianchun, no matter how much she wanted to. The prince was simmering over with the need to demand answers, his impulsiveness resurfacing at the sudden loss.
Please stay silent until we’re alone, Kayla silently pleaded, repeating the words like a prayer. She could practically sense the countdown to Xianchun’s outburst.
If the prince started shouting accusations about the Emperor’s death, he would have to die for it.
Captain Jiang will kill him if asked to, but Princess Mingda…no, she could be negotiated with, right? Fuck, who cares if she can or can’t be negotiated with? Nothing will happen if he just bears with it a while longer. Damn it, Xianchun, just stay quiet, alright?
The prince’s stare was currently boring into her back.
Almost as if sensing Kayla’s predicament, Princess Mingda delicately cleared her throat.
“I am terribly sorry, but may I have a moment with Father alone?” Mingda asked. “Of course, I can wait until later.”
“Your Highness, you’re the eldest of us three, of course you should go first if you wish,” Kayla said, glancing at Xianchun. “Though of course, if His Highness is alright with it…”
“Sister should go first,” Xianchun said. “You must mind your health. Go see Father and then get some rest.”
Mingda nodded. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. Kayla gestured for the maid pushing Mingda’s wheelchair to go ahead.
“My prince, shall we wait in the sitting room first?” Kayla offered.
Xianchun gave a curt nod.
Thank you, Mingda.
Kayla barely had a chance to dismiss the servants in the sitting room before Xianchun had her collar in a vice grip.
“My prince?! Wait, wait!”
Kayla winced, activating a privacy talisman as fast as she humanly could.
“Wenyuan, tell me the truth!”
Kayla went still at the tremor in Xianchun’s voice.
“Did Father really die of illness?” Xianchun asked, tears shimmering in his eyes.
“Yes,” Kayla said firmly.
“I asked you for the truth!” Xianchun harshly shook her, looking as though he wanted to punch her in the face.
“It is the truth! I’m sorry, my prince, but that’s really what happened!” Kayla insisted. “You also know what happened in the Inner Palace, first with Grandmother and then with the Wise Consort–do you really think that didn’t take a toll on the Emperor? Those were people who had accompanied him for decades of his life.”
She tried to get her collar free in vain.
“I also wish that he hadn’t left so soon,” Kayla said bitterly. “I had hoped that I would have a chance to earn his forgiveness–he never stopped hating me until the end. Do you really think I wouldn’t have given anything for a chance to resolve that?”
Xianchun let out a shuddering sigh. “You–you don’t suspect foul play?”
Kayla shook her head wearily. “You don’t know what it’s been like…I saw the Emperor several times after he made the Crown Prince regent. You wouldn’t be able to imagine how quickly he declined in body and mind. We had been fearing this day for a while now, but we knew it was coming.”
She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry, my prince.”
“So he really just died like this?” Xianchun’s voice broke. “Father was always…I can’t accept this!”
“I wish it wasn’t like this either,” Kayla said quietly. “I would have told you, but the Emperor ordered us to keep his condition a secret. Someone still leaked the rumors though–once we figure out who did it, they’ll pay for it in blood.”
What’s Xianchun thinking? Kayla tried to discern his intentions without success. Was the prince really in shock and grieving? Or had the Emperor’s death dashed some final hope of his? Or did he have more cards in play for the aftermath?
I’ll have to increase surveillance.
“That’s how it is then,” Xianchun said in a forlorn voice. “I never even got to speak with him or explain myself. Tell me, Wenyuan, did he still suspect me to the end?”
“I…” Kayla winced. “Archduke Qi and his wife have been executed as the culprits.”
“Did he still suspect me of collaborating with them?!” Xianchun demanded. “He must have! Why else would he–why else–”
The prince cut off, angrily turning away.
“Even at his worst he never humiliated me for nothing,” Xianchun said. “He wouldn’t have subjected me to such surveillance right in public view if he didn’t think it was necessary!”
He still has no idea. And he can never be allowed to know, Kayla thought with a sinking heart.
“You chose Fifth Brother because you thought it was the right choice, but what about Father?” Xianchun sat down, clenching his fists into his robes. “He never even gave me a chance because he still thought I was guilty!”
“I never found any evidence of your involvement even after thorough investigation, and I reported such to the late Emperor,” Kayla said.
“And he didn’t believe you, did he?” Xianchun gave a bitter laugh. “It’s just like him to suspect everyone and everything. Everyone except Fifth Brother, poor Fifth Brother who never even dared to raise his head in front of Father.”
“My condolences, my prince,” Kayla said.
“Even if it were only once, I wish he could have believed me,” Xianchun said in a small voice. “Now, there will never be another chance.”
Xianchun lifted his eyes to Kayla’s face.
“Fifth Brother is delaying his coronation to force the court’s hand, isn’t he? I see now why you chose him. You chose well, Wenyuan.”
A sharp pang in her chest made Kayla close her eyes in pain.
“My prince,” Kayla began.
“Forget it,” Xianchun said wearily. “Forget it.”
It’s best that you do. Kayla silently observed Xianchun. She had allied with him before and stood in opposition to him as well. Now, she hoped to bring him with her into the new era.
Our path is still long, Xianchun. In fact, it’s only just beginning.
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Cultural Notes
三省/Three Departments: Refers to the three highest departments of state: the Department of State Affairs (headed by the Central Secretariat, seat currently empty due to holding too much power), the Secretariat (headed by the Secretariat Director), and the Chancellery (headed by the Chancellor).
史官/Court Historian: Refers to an official whose primary duty was to record everything that happened at court. These guys were often very hardcore, as in they would write down the truth no matter how much they were pressured into covering it up. Most famously, in pre-Qin China, an official usurped the throne and the court historian wrote it down as such. Even under the threat of death, he refused to change the record, and he was eventually executed. His family members took the position one by one and each wrote the same thing, that the official had committed treason and usurped the throne, and each was executed for it. By the fifth court historian who wrote the exact same thing, the usurper resigned himself to being remembered in history as a traitor and gave up. Just a somewhat extreme example, as there are plenty of historians who capitulated and wrote what they were told to, but they were generally a pretty principled bunch. That being said, they can't write what they don't know.
京畿道/Jingji Circuit: Historically referred to the civil and military administrative region of the capital of the Tang Dynasty, which was further west in Chang'an/modern-day Xi'an. For the purposes of the story, the Jingji Circuit refers to the administrative region that encompasses Luoyang (capital of the Wu Dynasty) instead.
河南道/Henan Circuit: Refers to the civil and military administrative region that encompasses most of modern-day Henan and some of its surrounding areas. Luoyang is located in Henan, but in the Tang Dynasty, it was contained within a separate circuit due to its administrative significance.
油尽灯枯/Oil runs out and the light fades: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to someone whose health withers away/to someone who dies of natural causes.
节哀/Restrain your grief: A Chinese saying that is often used as condolences, basically the equivalent of "don't beat yourself up about it".
国不可一日无君/A country cannot be without a ruler even for a day: An Ancient Chinese saying.
Refusing the throne as a power play: Many Emperors have done this before, especially the first Emperor of a new dynasty who has pressured the last Emperor of the previous dynasty to abdicate in favor of the new ruler. This is essentially to avoid being seen as baldly seizing power but rather "oh but he insisted". Also because asking and refusing several times (usually three) was also etiquette back in the day, and you can see that even today where an elder is giving you a red packet with a fat stack of twenties inside for New Years, and you go "oh no, I really couldn't", they say "no, please take it", and you guys go back and forth a bit before you reluctantly obey your elder and let them force you to accept the money (that you do want). It's about showing that a) you respect them and their resources and feel bad about taking it from them, b) you're not greedy, and you're a humble and considerate person, and c) doesn't really apply these days, but way back in the day when resources were scarce, it allows someone to back out if they can't really afford it but also really want to show that they care for and appreciate their family, and it also allowed their family members to give them face by acting as if they don't want the gifts and not that you can't afford them. That aside, the tactic of refusing the throne is also sometimes used by heirs to the throne as a means of cementing control. It's kind of a loyalty check (if someone hears that the heir is refusing the throne and goes "ok well here's a replacement", you know which officials and which potential replacements to get rid of) and also a way of showing that the new ruler is a humble person of good virtue, etc.
孔子作春秋而乱臣贼子局/Confucius wrote the Records of Autumn and Spring, and the treacherous subjects and thieving officials quaked in fear: A famous Ancient Chinese saying. While each of the pre-Qin kingdoms had their own written histories, Confucius was the first person to write a systemic record of each kingdom's histories, and unlike the whole "victor writes history", Confucius blatantly pointed out instances of treachery and usurpation for what they were. As people believed in the afterlife and cared about their posthumous reputations, leaving such a record that would be read for thousands of years (and indeed is still read today) was an ugly shock for many of the people who had committed various acts of disloyalty in hopes of getting away with it.
九泉之下也瞑目/Relieved to see [it] even from beneath the Nine Springs: The Nine Springs are often used as an euphemism for the afterlife in Ancient China. This saying refers to the belief that your predecessors can watch over you from the afterlife (and thus be relieved if you do well).
长兄如父/Eldest brother is like a father: Yunqi doesn't directly say this (since it's usually not the eldest surviving brother who says this but something that is applied to them) but he indirectly references this cultural understanding in saying he will take care of his younger siblings. Due to people marrying rather early on back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for your eldest brother to be a good chunk older than your youngest sibling. Even today, you can still see similar situations where a couple who married in their twenties might have a seventeen year old and a two year old. Accordingly, the eldest son might be married before his youngest sibling can walk, hence the saying 长兄如父长嫂如母/Eldest brother is like a father, eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. Should a child lose their parents, the eldest son of the family would have the responsibility of caring for the younger siblings.
头都不敢抬/Doesn't even dare to lift his head: A Chinese saying that refers to being greatly intimidated/timid before someone more senior or more powerful.