Night travel on mountain roads is treacherous, a time most travelers would avoid at all costs. Fortunately, Xiao Xichi was a skilled rider, and the horse she rode – originally belonging to the Emperor – was among the finest breeds in the world. By the time the sky began to lighten with the dawn, she had successfully reunited with her clansmen at the far end of the mountain pass.
Awaiting her there were also eight to nine hundred imperial cavalry troops.
Leading these soldiers was none other than Song Nanlou. Spotting Xiao Xichi from a distance, he urged his horse forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, “Might this be General Xiao?”
Xiao Xichi looked him over and replied with sudden recognition, “So it’s General Song.”
Song Nanlou quickly replied with humble deference – in the customs of official interactions, many would address military officers with official posts as “General.” However, Xiao Xichi’s title of “General” was formally conferred by the imperial court, while Song Nanlou’s was purely an honorary form of address.
Xiao Xichi, being well-versed in military affairs, had anticipated that since the Emperor had seen through everything, troops would be stationed at the mountain pass to prevent any scattered soldiers under Marquis of Quanling from escaping in the event of her defeat, potentially turning into roaming bandits. Thus, she was not surprised to encounter Song Nanlou, but she had not expected the other man to hand her a letter.
Song Nanlou said, “During the first month, Her Majesty sent someone to deliver a letter, instructing that if I met General Xiao, I should pass it on to you.”
Xiao Xichi was momentarily taken aback.
During January – that was precisely when she had intended to leave the city with the aid of the Wuliu tribe.
She took the letter, opened it on the spot, and found its contents were simple: “Grain has been dispatched to Qingyi. Do not worry.”
Xiao Xichi gazed at the words on the page, remaining silent for a long while.
After all, she was far away in Jianping, too distant from her clan to learn of many matters in a timely manner. It was only now that she realized the Emperor had already sent someone to resolve the troubles in Qingyi back in January.
What shocked Xiao Xichi even more was the Emperor’s precise understanding of human intentions. Not only had she long discerned the true purpose of the Wuliu envoy’s arrival, but she had also anticipated the complex, half-guarded, half-cooperative relationship between Marquis of Quanling and the Qingyi tribe. Moreover, she had clearly foreseen that if Xiao Xichi managed to escape from Jianping, she would linger briefly in Gaoyi to have Song Nanlou relay a message to the central authorities.
She had previously believed Marquis of Quanling to be the most outstanding figure of this generation of the Wen family. Now, he realized that the Emperor had always been a step ahead. Though Wen Jinming had carefully planned every move, no matter how she strategized, everything remained firmly within the Emperor’s grasp.
With such a sovereign, who left nothing to chance, it would hardly be difficult for her not only to deal with her but to completely resolve the issues with Qingyi. Yet, despite the mainstream court officials’ exclusion of borderfolks, the Emperor had treated her with sincerity, benevolence, and righteousness. Xiao Xichi thought to herself that even if she were to remain in the borderlands in the future, she must never betray the Emperor’s grace.
Song Nanlou called out, “General Xiao?”
Xiao Xichi snapped back to reality, shifting her gaze away from the letter. She remarked with admiration, “With a sage’s discernment overseeing from above, no deceit shall prevail in the land. With such an enlightened ruler in the Great Zhou, the nation can enjoy at least a century free from peril.”
She had spoken merely to voice her thoughts casually, never expecting that her words would be noted by a listener. Shi Zhuhe observed the border chieftain before him closely, though not a trace of change showed on her face, which remained as gentle and calm as ever.
Finally, Xiao Xichi briefly informed Song Nanlou of the situation in the mountain pass. “Everything went smoothly last night. In about an hour, someone from Her Majesty’s side should arrive to relay orders to you, General Song.”
Song Nanlou thanked Xiao Xichi for the reminder, then commanded his soldiers to clear a narrow passage through the wooden barriers they had set up, allowing the Qingyi people to pass.
Xiao Xichi, who had already passed through the checkpoint, suddenly reined in her horse, dismounted, and knelt toward the direction of the Northern Park. The rest of the Qingyi clansmen followed closely behind, bowing solemnly as well.
After forcing herself to rally and deal with the captives, Wen Yanran’s physical strength could no longer support her on horseback. She was practically carried back to her quarters by Zhong Zhiwei’s arm, ready to rest. Compared to before her transmigration, her ability to endure late nights now seemed almost nonexistent. By the time the palace attendants helped her wash her face, she had already closed her eyes, and as soon as her head touched the pillow, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Chi Yi and others had initially considered whether they should drag various ministers out of bed to work through the night. However, the Emperor had now made it clear through her own actions that she cared about her subordinates’ quality of sleep.
Of course, for the high-ranking ministers in the Northern Park who were completely unaware of the events, sleeping soundly through the night might not necessarily be a good thing. At the very least, when Yuan Yanshi was summoned the next day and learned what had happened, he looked as if something was stuck in his throat, his expression resembling that of a seasoned official who had served through three reigns, eager to retire yet unable to find a suitable reason.
Yuan Yanshi never expected Marquis of Quanling to seize the opportunity of the spring hunt to bring a large number of armored soldiers into the capital. Even more unexpected was how the Emperor had quietly and effortlessly resolved the situation. Combined with the earlier incident of Ji Yue’s rebellion, Yuan Yanshi had reason to believe that perhaps the new Emperor possessed a unique talent for quelling rebellions – for instance, always managing to lead opponents unwittingly into dire straits, or consistently preventing officials from detecting anomalies in their surroundings in time, relying solely on herself to handle matters perfectly…
As one of the assisting ministers, Yuan Yanshi reviewed the current handling of the situation. According to Zhou law, all the armored soldiers and advisors accompanying Wen Jinming were involved in the rebellion and could be dealt with severely. However, since the mastermind behind it had already died, there was room for discussion. For now, they were merely disarmed and temporarily detained.
In addition, Zhong Zhiwei was tasked with conducting a thorough investigation of the Central Guards. Seeing how exhausted she was, Wen Yanran sent Zhang Luo to assist her in working overtime.
Zhang Luo himself did not consider it overtime work. Upon receiving the order, he cheerfully thanked the Emperor for her trust.
As the two of them left the Hengzhu Palace, they encountered many officials waiting outside for updates. Though curious about the specifics, these officials did not dare to stop the Imperial Guard commander or the Emperor’s personal attendant to ask for details.
A scholar from the Du clan watched the retreating figures of Zhang Luo and the others, sighing to his colleague, “Yesterday, I wrote in vain the lines, ‘Without hunting the tiger in person, all beasts came to the steps,’ never expecting such a scene today – during this spring hunt, Her Majesty did not hunt the ordinary prey, but in the eyes of the sovereign, the true quarry was none other than the threatening Marquis of Quanling, far surpassing us in foresight.”
Though somewhat calmer now, the Du scholar still vividly recalled the shock he felt upon hearing the news: “Last night, Marquis of Quanling led armored soldiers through the mountain pass to infiltrate the Northern Park, only to be captured by Her Majesty with the Imperial Guard.” When he rushed outside his tent, he didn’t even realize he had put his shoes on the wrong feet.
The Du scholar’s reaction was relatively composed. Many other officials, upon learning how close they had come to the chaos of rebellion, turned ashen-faced. They could hardly stand, let alone sit steadily.
During this spring hunt, Wang Youyin, as an Assistant Secretary, accompanied the Emperor. Among the younger generation of officials, she was considered exceptionally composed. Yet, upon learning of Marquis of Quanling’s defeat and suicide, the scroll in her hands still slipped to the ground.
Most people never expected the conflict between the Emperor and Marquis of Quanling to conclude in such a manner.
Yuan Yanshi, after all, was a figure capable enough to have been appointed as a regent by the late emperor. Upon learning of the incident, he gradually pieced together what had transpired.
He was both shocked by Marquis of Quanling’s risky move and deeply unsettled by the potential success of his plan – had the Emperor not seen through the true identity of “Luo Yue” and allowed Marquis of Quanling’s armored soldiers to infiltrate the Northern Park, Wen Jinming’s scheme might indeed have succeeded. Though such a victory would have left the throne precarious, inviting verbal criticism and armed resistance from various factions, it would still have offered a slim chance of survival.
Marquis of Quanling sought victory through risk, while the Emperor demonstrated foresight and anticipation. Yuan Yanshi now gradually understood why the young emperor, despite ascending the throne at such a tender age and wielding such formidable power, faced no one who dared to challenge her authority. It was because she possessed an exceptionally accurate judgment of both people and situations.
In short, this was an emperor who could compel even the most ambitious to behave as loyal subjects.
As Yuan Yanshi privately reflected on the character and capabilities of his superior, within the makeshift prison cell serving as a temporary jail, the two individuals from the Cui and Chu families sat facing each other in silence.
Cui Yi closed his eyes, his voice hoarse as he spoke, “Now that things have come to this, let us not struggle needlessly. It is best to confess our crimes honestly.”
The advisor surnamed Chu, eyes swollen and red, merely bowed his head in silence at these words.
Last night, when Marquis of Quanling chose to take her own life, they had fully grasped their lord’s intentions.
Wen Jinming had always been decisive, and this decisiveness extended even to the arrangements concerning her own life.
The Great Zhou had enjoyed a long reign, and by the time it reached Wen Yanran’s generation, it had already spanned over three hundred years. The Emperor inherently wielded supreme authority, and under such circumstances, the central court was not incapable of tolerating a princess, nor was it unable to accommodate a few powerful families in the regions.
However, combining the two meant that powerful families could rally behind the princess as a banner, while the princess could rely on these families as her support. Together, they could unite and pose a threat to the authority of the central court.
Moreover, Wen Jinming was not only capable of rebellion but also possessed genuine intent to rebel – a fact widely known. Therefore, after the failure of her plot, the central court had roughly three options for handling the situation: one was to eliminate both the princess and her supporters, eradicating all potential threats; another was to spare Wen Jinming but annihilate the Cui family and other followers; and the last was to eliminate Wen Jinming, offering others a chance to submit and realign themselves.
After a long while, the advisor surnamed Chu finally spoke, “What do you plan to do? Write to your clan now?”
His tone carried a strange note, as if mocking his colleague or perhaps himself.
Cui Yi shook his head, his voice calm, “As retainers, we failed to assist our lord in achieving her goals. Now, the foremost duty is naturally to attend to her funeral arrangements.”
Though they were individuals bearing guilt, their status as members of distinguished families still mattered. After expressing their desire to communicate with the outside, it wasn’t long before a composed eunuch arrived with attendants. Without waiting for their request, he politely said, “By Her Majesty’s oral decree: if the former officials of Marquis of Quanling request permission to arrange their lord’s burial, it shall be granted.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Yi was not surprised; instead, he felt a sense of inevitability.
If the current Emperor were not a sovereign who anticipated events before others, how could she have seen through all of Marquis of Quanling’s plans and lured her into a trap?
Wen Yanran, whose presence loomed large in the minds of both her subjects and the retainers of her foes, lay peacefully on her couch at that moment, suffering the consequences of staying up late while nostalgically longing for the sweet, hot beverages of the modern world, including coffee and cocoa.
Although the Hengzhu Palace in the Northern Park provided lodgings for nobility, its primary purpose was military training and imperial hunts. The sleeping quarters were not designed for official discussions and were relatively small, so ministers had to stand outside while eunuchs relayed their messages to the Emperor.
A palace attendant brought Yuan Yanshi’s inquiry – Court Architect for Imperial Entertainment sought the Emperor’s decision on whether to halt the spring hunt and return to the city due to the rebellion.
Wen Yanran replied, “There’s no need for that. Just keep the rebels detained. Now that Marquis of Quanling has passed, the representatives of the Cui and Chu families remain. Even if there are still those loyal to their former lord, they won’t stir up significant trouble.” She added, “First, draft a memorial about the Northern Park incident and send it to the city. Then, have the Secretariat prepare a follow-up plan.”
After a moment, she was asked how to handle Cui Yi and the others.
Wen Yanran smiled, “Marquis of Quanling had her subordinates’ interests at heart. I cannot simply disregard that. Prepare writing materials for Cui Yi and the others, as well as horses and a guard escort – after the funeral arrangements, Cui Yi will likely need to write to his family.”
Upon hearing the Emperor’s reminder, Yuan Yanshi immediately understood.
As members of prominent families, Cui Yi and the others had dual loyalties – to their lord and to their clans.
