Peach Blossom Decree Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Jinling City (32)

Ever since he had woken up at the Imperial Physician Courtyard, Lin Zikui had been deep in thought as he followed Liang Gonggong. So, the Prince Regent Xiao Fu was actually Xiao Zhaoling. He had disguised himself as a woman and “married” him—what on earth had he been after? Was it all for amusement? Did he see him as some weak, easily deceived scholar from a poor background? Was he just playing a prank, watching Lin Zikui being kept in the dark for his own entertainment?

And now Xiao Fu had the nerve to use the excuse of stepping down from power as a way to act shamelessly. Lin Zikui didn’t believe for a second that Xiao Fu thought love was more important than imperial power. He only thought it childish and absurd. That court robe—was it something you could just toss aside like it meant nothing? Could you simply say you’d give up the throne and be done with it?

Without the Prince Regent, wouldn’t the entire Ye Dynasty fall into chaos? Wouldn’t Prince Zhao rise in rebellion? The barbarian tribes beyond the borders—this fragile illusion of peace across the land—would all come crashing down.

Xiao Fu said nothing. He silently removed his jade belt, then took off the grand, ornate outer robe he wore. Underneath was a silver patterned inner robe with a refined, understated design. The collar and cuffs were lined with a deep crimson. At his waist hung his command token.

Hanging from that token were a safety charm and a scented sachet. Lin Zikui immediately recognized them—the safety charm was the one he had given him, and the sachet had been something he prayed for at the Tiefo Buddha Temple in Huainan. People always said that temple was especially effective when it came to praying for health and safety. That was when he had made the wish.

As Lin Zikui’s gaze landed on those three items, he went completely still.

Xiao Fu extended his arms. His sleeves were long and flowing. Without the ceremonial robe, the oppressive aura he normally carried seemed to ease. He lowered his voice and said to Lin Zikui, “Now like this—will you finally acknowledge me?”

A bitter smile curved Lin Zikui’s lips. Maybe, just maybe, Xiao Fu did have a sliver of sincerity. After all, he was still wearing that cheap little charm he had given him.

But that didn’t mean Lin Zikui could simply accept all of this. He would rather believe this was all just a dream—that Xiao Zhaoling was merely a nobleman from a southern family, not someone so high above and untouchable.

“Zikui?” Xiao Fu knelt in front of him, his long fingers gently cradling Lin Zikui’s face. His eyes held sorrow as he looked up at him, his voice soft, “I’m giving up being the Prince Regent. I’ll issue the decree today and announce it to the world. And you still won’t forgive me?”

Lin Zikui shook his head and tried to turn away, but Xiao Fu’s gentle touch held him in place, unexpectedly firm. Forced to meet his gaze, Lin Zikui looked into those dark eyes. His own voice had gone hoarse. “By doing this, you’re abandoning the people of the realm.”

“What does this have to do with the people? This is just between you and me. What, I’m not even allowed to coax my own husband?”

Lin Zikui saw that Xiao Fu was smiling. That gentle, affectionate smile was the same one he’d always worn around him. In that moment, it was as if he really was that delicate “wife” again. And then in the next blink, he became the towering center of power in court. The two images flickered and blurred in front of his eyes.

Lin Zikui closed his eyes. “This humble student begs the Prince Regent to let me leave the palace.”

Xiao Fu stared at him for a long moment. “I’ll have someone escort you back to your residence.” He reached out to cup Lin Zikui’s face again, tilting his head slightly to press a kiss to his lips. It was a gentle kiss, warm and soft, but Lin Zikui trembled. That familiar sensation—the warmth, the slickness—every time their tongues entwined, he would end up completely drawn in, unable to pull himself back out. Now, though, his heart was torn and full of fear.

Seeing him shake, Xiao Fu wrapped his arms around him and pressed Lin Zikui’s head against his chest so he could hear the beat of his heart.

Was he really so afraid of him?

Thank goodness the truth couldn’t be hidden any longer today. Better he find out now—if Lin Zikui had known sooner, he would’ve surely run far away by now.

Xiao Fu’s large hand stroked the back of his neck and spine in a comforting rhythm, but Lin Zikui still trembled all over. He spoke with difficulty, “Please… let me leave the palace.”

Xiao Fu answered in a low voice, “I will.”

In the darkness of his arms, Lin Zikui felt his nose sting with the urge to cry. He wanted to return the embrace—but he didn’t dare.

Xiao Fu remembered how, in the past, when he kissed Lin Zikui, the scholar would blush and respond timidly—he’d know to open his mouth, know how to extend his tongue. But now, all he did was shake.

Whenever Xiao Fu faced something he couldn’t resolve, his first instinct was often to kill. Eliminate the source of the problem, snuff it out at the root—and the frustration would disappear.

It had been the same with Yuwen Duo. Even after tolerating him over and over, he still found the man unbearable. In the end, death was the best solution.

But now—who could he even blame for this?

Blame the fact that Second Young Miss of the Xiao family just happened to share his surname?

Should he just kill her?

Blame that day when Prince Zhao’s men tried to assassinate him? If that hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t have gone to Xingzhi Temple. He never would have met Lin Zikui.

Xiao Fu gave orders to Yuanqing: “Escort Lin Zikui out of the palace. Take him back to the private residence. Have Elder Xue brought to see him. You and Jinzun both stay with him—don’t let him go to the Prince Shuo’s Residence on his own. Don’t let him leave the house.”

Xiao Fu knew that Lin Zikui was someone who cared deeply for the common people—a scholar of great righteousness. Now that he had come this far, made it to the final stage of the imperial exams, there was no turning back. Once the results were posted, there would be no way for him to retreat.

High office and a generous salary were right within reach. Lin Zikui had once told him, eyes shining with hope, that he wanted to reform the legal system, improve the examination system, eliminate corruption and evil, and stand up for the injustices of the world—there was no way he’d give up the official robes bestowed by the court.

Xiao Fu believed he wouldn’t.

After sending Lin Zikui away, Xiao Fu went to check on the emperor’s selection of the second-class scholars. The first class had already been chosen according to Xiao Fu’s wishes. “Royal Father, please take a look,” 

Xiao Fu had little interest in the list. His gaze lingered only a moment longer than usual on Lin Zikui’s name, then he withdrew his eyes. “Once Your Majesty has finalized the third class, send people to post the rankings immediately—let the world know.”

The young emperor, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed something off about his expression and demeanor. “Royal Father… is there something you want to say to your son?”

Xiao Fu cast him a glance and shook his head. “It’s enough if His Majesty does this one thing right.” With that, he got up and left, though the irritation in his chest remained. He summoned Liang Gonggong: “Liang Hong, go drag Yuwen Zhou here for me!”

To keep Prince Zhao in check, his son Yuwen Zhou had been kept as a hostage in the palace and was living quite comfortably.

Though Yuwen Zhou wanted to leave, the letters he sent to his father clearly stated that the Prince Regent hadn’t mistreated him—in fact, he was treated quite well. Occasionally, he was even allowed to train in horseback archery with Commander Chen.

When Yuwen Zhou asked for beautiful palace maids, Liang Gonggong fulfilled his requests per the Prince Regent’s orders.

He believed that life in the palace, aside from not being able to be emperor, was carefree—fine wine, exquisite food, beauties at his side. He figured it was the threat of his father’s heavy troops that kept Xiao Fu from daring to harm him.

Yuwen Zhou often dreamed: When will Father rescue me and rise in rebellion? He clearly sent spies to tell me to stay put until the time was ripe. But when is it ripe? When will he become emperor? And when will I finally be made crown prince?

That day, when he heard about the imperial exam finals being held, Yuwen Zhou was drinking and enjoying himself in his palace. A young eunuch rushed in with a summons: “Young Lord! The Prince Regent is calling for you!”

“He’s summoning me? What for?”

The little eunuch shook his head. “The eunuch delivering the message said it was urgent!”

Yuwen Zhou’s eyes lit up, his mind racing: So urgent? Could it be my father’s troops are at the gates? That would be bad. That dog Xiao Fu wants to see me? He must want to kill me and use me as a bargaining chip!

“I’m not going,” said Yuwen Zhou.

Several Brocade Uniform Guards burst in from outside. “That’s not up to you, Young Lord. Forgive us.”

With that, they dragged him away by force.

“I’m not going! Let me go!” he shrieked and struggled like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum. From far away, his noise was already giving Xiao Fu a headache. When Xiao Fu stepped in front of him, he looked down with a commanding presence.

Yuwen Zhou saw a snake-bone whip in his hand. He looked up and met Xiao Fu’s cold, half-smiling, hellish face. Panic set in—he dropped to the floor and crawled backward in terror. “What do you want, Xiao Fu? Don’t come any closer! My father won’t spare you!”

Crack! The snake-bone whip lashed down with force from Xiao Fu’s arm. It landed with a heavy snap, followed by a blood-curdling scream from Young Lord Zhao.

“Aaaahhh! Ahhh—!”

Xiao Fu felt a rush of satisfaction at the sound of his screams and lashed him again. Within moments, Yuwen Zhou had passed out from the pain.

“Useless trash.” Xiao Fu clapped his hands emotionlessly and ordered someone to bring a bucket of icy saltwater. It was dumped on Yuwen Zhou, shocking him awake with another scream and a fit of coughing.

Covered in blood and barely conscious, Yuwen Zhou howled, “Xiao Fu, you’re insane! You’re mad!”


In the Imperial Study.

Just then, the eunuch sent by the young emperor rushed back in to report: “Your Majesty, the Prince Regent just left—he’s taken Young Lord Zhao! It looks like he’s going to kill him!”

“What?!” Though still young, Yuwen Xuan understood the gravity of the situation. If Young Lord Zhao died, Prince Zhao would lose his last scruple and surely launch a rebellion. Why… why would Royal Father do this? What did Yuwen Zhou do to provoke him?!

Royal Father must have been in a foul mood. That had to be it—Yuwen Zhou must’ve said something stupid and triggered him!

Yuwen Xuan immediately ordered, “Pass on my decree—go to Qiyang Palace and summon Prince Kang!”

Little Fourth had always been favored by Royal Father. He never carried Yuwen Xuan, but he would pick up and play with Little Fourth.

Letting Little Fourth interrupt Royal Father’s rage would surely work—he wouldn’t be able to stay mad.

At that moment, Xiao Fu had already tortured Yuwen Zhou half to death.

Suddenly, someone came to report, “Your Highness, Prince Kang has arrived.”

“I don’t have time.” Xiao Fu had been so busy lately that he hadn’t seen the Fourth Prince in quite some time.

But Little Fourth had come with an imperial order from his Second Brother. He heard the weak cries from within and paused at the door before stepping forward. “Royal Father, Royal Father, it’s Yun’er! When are you going to take Yun’er out of the palace to see Master Lin? I finished all the books he told me to read last time!”

“Stop him,” Xiao Fu ordered, tossing the whip aside. “Drag Yuwen Zhou away.”

Blood dotted Xiao Fu’s face and robe, though he hadn’t even noticed.

When the door opened, the little Fourth Prince saw his father in that state and froze for a moment.

Xiao Fu crouched down, his expression softening into a smile.

“Royal Father will take you out of the palace, take you to see Master Lin. Do you know how to make Master  Lin happy?”

Yuwen Yun’s eyes lit up. He ignored the blood on his royal father’s face and reached out to hug him. “I know! Royal Father, let’s go right now!”

Xiao Fu picked him up directly and ordered a carriage to be prepared.

Back in the Imperial Study, the eunuch returned with news: “Your Majesty, Young Lord Zhao has been spared. The Prince Regent has left the palace with Prince Kang.”

The young emperor had just finished selecting the successful candidates for the imperial exam. His fingers paused around the purple brush, but his expression didn’t change. He lowered his gaze and said, “I understand.”

He folded the imperial paper. Though still small in stature, his demeanor now held a true emperor’s air. “Deliver this to the Ministry of Rites. Tell the Vice Minister to immediately draft the imperial announcement. It will be posted tomorrow at the Examination Academy and all the provincial halls at the hour of Si. Proclaim it to the world!”

Lin Zikui was escorted out of the palace by Yuanqing. The whole way, Lin Zikui didn’t say a single word. Yuanqing sat at the front of the carriage but turned around several times to look at him, his eyes catching glimpses of the distracted and absent look on Young Master Lin’s face through the bamboo curtain fluttering in the wind.

Yuanqing had heard about the palace examination held that very morning.

He knew Lin Zikui was an extraordinary man, but he hadn’t expected him to be this unorthodox. Brilliant, yes—but lacking the restraint expected of an official. Surely the Prime Minister must have taught him better. But temperament was something carved into one’s bones—impossible to change.

“Young Master Lin,” Yuanqing finally broke the silence.

Lin Zikui looked up. “Hmm?”

“There’s something I’d like to say, though I’m not sure if I should.”

“If it weren’t for the fact that the one seated in court today is the Marquis, then today, you probably would have…” Although Xiao Fu was now the Regent, Yuan Qing still habitually addressed him as “Marquis.”

Lin Zikui’s expression was blank as he gave a quiet “Mm,” and said, “You mean to say, without him, I should’ve died a hundred times over by now?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Yuanqing,” Lin Zikui interrupted him. He paused, then corrected himself, “Commander Chen, I understand. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be blind. If it weren’t for him inviting his senior, Mister Xie, to treat me, I might still be teaching in Huainan—or perhaps I’d already be dead. There would be no justice left to seek for Brother Huang, and the sense of righteousness in me would’ve been buried beneath the green mountains, lost forever. Without him, I would be nothing more than a wandering ghost under the pot.”

Xiao Fu had saved not only his life but also a heart that had been on the verge of collapse.

Hearing this, Yuanqing felt even more confused deep down.

If Lin Zikui understood all of this and wasn’t ungrateful, then why was he treating the Marquis like this?

Yes, the Marquis had hidden his identity—but was it really that unforgivable? Young Master Lin had even forgiven the fact that the Marquis was not a woman. But now that he had discovered Xiao Fu was the powerful Prince Regent, he was even angrier.

What Yuanqing didn’t understand was that love wasn’t the same as gratitude.

Lin Zikui could recognize a debt. He believed Zhao Ling had been sincere with him. Xiao Fu had not.

It felt like they were two different people. And if only they had been two people, that would have made it easier.

Yuanqing delivered Lin Zikui to the estate, where the Prime Minister was already waiting. He had been anxious about the exam results, but suddenly someone from the palace had arrived—a personal messenger from Xiao Fu.

He had come with a message: persuade Lin Zikui.

Prime Minister Xue had known it would come to this. He had known that Xiao Fu’s hidden identity was bound to be exposed today—there was no hiding it anymore. Playing with fire would eventually lead to getting burned.

And now Xiao Fu had come to him to act as a mediator. When he had introduced Lin Zikui to him back then, perhaps it had all been for this very moment.

The carriage stopped, and Lin Zikui was the first to step down. Mo Liu was waiting by the door. “Young Master! You’ve finally returned. How did the exam go? Huh? Why is Brother Chen the one escorting you?”

Lin Zikui shook his head. His complexion was still very pale.

Mo Liu’s heart sank. Had the exam gone badly? He quickly added, “The Prime Minister is inside waiting for you.”

“Teacher is here?” Lin Zikui paused at the door to compose himself, then stepped inside. Prime Minister Xue was waiting for him in the study, looking as gentle and calm as ever. “Huaifu, how did the exam go?”

Standing before him, Lin Zikui replied, “Teacher, the palace exam… is over. I don’t know the result yet.” Seeing Prime Minister Xue now, Lin Zikui immediately realized—he had helped Xiao Fu keep the secret. But did that mean his teacher had ill intentions?

Lin Zikui couldn’t bring himself to accuse or question him. He could only remain silent and say nothing of it.

But it was Prime Minister Xue who brought it up.

“Did you lift your head during the exam?” he asked, then added, “Sit down.”

Lin Zikui had calmed down a little by now. The shaking had stopped. He sniffed lightly and sat down. “I did.”

“Then you saw the Prince Regent.”

Lin Zikui pressed his lips tightly together. “I saw him…”

Prime Minister Xue sighed. “You must be angry with me, thinking that I knew and didn’t tell you, that I helped him deceive you and trampled on your sincere heart.”

Lin Zikui shook his head. “I’m not angry at Teacher. His identity… I know it’s not something that can be revealed easily.”

It wasn’t like the Emperor could just go around the streets and whisper to people, “Hey, I’m the Emperor.”

Knowing was one thing. Accepting it was another. It was too soon for Lin Zikui to sort it all out. Maybe with time, his heart would find peace again.

Prime Minister Xue explained, “The reason I didn’t say anything is because this matter should’ve been told to you by that brat Zhao Ling himself. I am your teacher, yes—but this is something between you two. It wasn’t my place to intervene.”

Lin Zikui nodded. He seemed obedient, but no one could tell if he truly took it to heart.

Prime Minister Xue continued, “Xiao Zhaoling once told me that he wanted to pave a smooth path for your rise, so you wouldn’t have to struggle through the muddy waters of officialdom. Do you understand what that means?”

Lin Zikui looked at him.

The Prime Minister said, “Back in my day, I had to survive the bureaucracy by learning to read faces, bow my head, and swallow every insult. I couldn’t punish even one corrupt official. I could only endure it. I kept working and accumulating merit. By the time I became Imperial Envoy at thirty-five, I finally had the power to strike back and clean house. And now, you—you hold in your hands the sharpest sword in the world. It can cut through anything. Will you use it to kill corrupt officials—or to destroy yourself?”

This was his way of reminding Lin Zikui: even if he couldn’t accept the marriage bond between them, for the sake of his grand ideals, he must not throw away the sword he now held.

In this entire world, who else could wield the power of the supreme Regent to root out corruption and punish evil like this?

Lin Zikui’s ears were buzzing. This wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now—he didn’t want to think about it. He knew that everything his teacher had said was right. Lin Zikui thought, maybe what he really needed… was an apology from Xiao Fu. Maybe even one wouldn’t be enough.

But Lin Zikui also knew that he couldn’t walk away from this, nor could he sever this relationship. He didn’t have that kind of power.

Outside the window lattice, ginkgo leaves had blanketed the ground. Lin Zikui was hungry but couldn’t bring himself to eat.

His teacher had left.

Prime Minister Xue had given him space to think, offering just enough guidance—any more would’ve been useless.

Lin Zikui silently stared at the fallen leaves on the ground, and at the dusk settling over the pond.

From outside the door came the sound of a carriage stopping. Down the corridor echoed the noisy laughter of children. Lin Zikui sat beneath the eaves by the doorway. At the sound, he looked up and saw Yun’er—taller now—running toward him in a cheerful peach-pink brocade robe, laughing joyfully. “Master Lin! Master  Lin! I made a kite for you!”

Yun’er threw himself into Lin Zikui’s arms. Caught off guard, Lin Zikui barely managed to catch him, and a smile finally appeared on his face. “Yun’er, what brings you here? Is this a swallow kite?”

“Master , I’ve been dreaming about you every night!” Yuwen Yun beamed, nestling into his arms. His wide, round eyes gleamed like crystal grapes as he looked up at Lin Zikui. “But my brother said you were very busy and wouldn’t let me… let me leave the residence to see you.”

That suspicious little pause made Lin Zikui suddenly recall the voice he had heard during the palace exam earlier that day. And when he looked up then, hadn’t he caught a glimpse of a serious, mature child—one who seemed far too solemn for his age?

Lin Zikui looked at the boy in front of him.

Yun… Yun—

Wasn’t that “Yuwen”?

In an instant, it all became clear to Lin Zikui.

So the orphaned Yuwen Yun was actually Emperor Wen Tai’s son.

Everyone had lied to him. Even the child. But could a boy with such a status really have told the truth? And if he had—would Lin Zikui have dared to hold him in his arms so freely?

He didn’t know. Maybe that was why, up until now, he had never feared offending the young prince while letting him snuggle in his lap.

Now that he’d figured it out, he felt… strange. But what was even stranger was that Lin Zikui still couldn’t bring himself to push Yuwen Yun away. He couldn’t bring himself to say, I shouldn’t be doing this.

“Yun’er, why did you run so fast? Even your brother couldn’t catch up with you. What if you’d knocked your master over?”

That voice—bright and slightly hoarse—belonged to Xiao Fu. Its familiarity was such that even a single cough would’ve made Lin Zikui recognize him instantly.

Lin Zikui hesitated for a long time before slowly looking up. Under the fiery red sky, Xiao Fu walked toward him at a steady pace. A soft golden light spilled along his side, and his strikingly handsome face looked like a living statue of a divine being come to life.

“Brother!” Yun’er shouted. “Come fly kites with us too!”

A gentle evening breeze rustled past. Just a little more time, and it would be dark.

Xiao Fu’s eyes never left Lin Zikui. “Of course, but Yun’er, you’ll have to ask your master if he’ll allow me to play with you two.”

There was something rare in Xiao Fu’s gaze—an unease, a flicker of vulnerability. He was afraid Lin Zikui would say no.

Author’s Note:

Xiao Fu: If he says no, Yuwen Zhou, you’re dying first.

Ciacia/N: You know…maturing is realizing Xiao Fu is no way sane….he’s insane even toxic in relationship….so dear girlies, if you fantasizing a partner like him, you might wanna reconsider. Cause no one knows what happens next after ‘happily ever after’.

If you’re loving the tangled fates and slow-burning tension in Peach Blossom Decree, help Ciacia keep the petals falling by buying her a Kofi.

Can’t bear the suspense? Join the Duo-a-cia Tier to unlock up to 5 chapters early—and get ahead of the drama before the next decree drops.