In the Year of Guisi, it was truly an unlucky year for Marquis Xianan, Wei Yan, and Marquis Fengan, Wei Jun.
First, Wei Jun suffered multiple assassination attempts. Not only did they fail to catch the assassins, but in the chaos, they ended up injuring Yu Wang and even offending the Crown Prince. Wei Jun himself had to pay the price—losing an entire arm. When they tried to vent their frustration on Su Twelve, whom they suspected of harboring the assassins, they instead got their elder brother Wei Yan involved, both of them receiving a harsh public reprimand from the emperor.
For an entire month, the streets of the capital rang with the sharp scoldings of the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. If not for the empress dowager’s repeated pleas, the emperor might never have relented. Who knew how long their family’s disgrace would have lingered otherwise?
As a result, the Wei family spent over half a year unable to lift their heads in court. Wei Yan decided to play deaf and mute, leaving the palace immediately after every session without so much as a word. Meanwhile, Wei Jun, still clinging to life, was too bedridden to continue his old habits of oppressing men and women alike.
With their decline in power, the once bustling Marquis’ residence grew desolate. Only thanks to Madam Qin, who continued visiting the empress dowager in the palace, did their household manage to avoid complete ruin.
But now, with the New Year approaching and the Imperial Consort Wei returning to visit her family, Xianan Marquis residence was once again decked out in festive decorations, echoing with laughter.
For the Wei family, Imperial Consort Wei was a beacon of hope. But for the woman herself, things weren’t so bright.
After dismissing her attendants, she stepped into her mother’s chambers, stripping off her peach-red, embroidered fur-lined cloak as she did. Just like when she was a child, she threw herself into her mother’s arms and wailed, “Mother, I’m so miserable! Everyone sees me looking glamorous, but who actually knows how awful my life is? I barely even see my husband! It’s driving me crazy—I feel like I’ve lost my soul. Look at me, I’ve become so haggard!”
“Oh, my poor eldest —” Madam Qin was just about to console her when she suddenly coughed heavily and scolded, “Stop speaking in that dialect! I warned you before you entered the palace—you must speak proper courtly mandarin! Otherwise, people will look down on you!”
Caught up in her emotions, Imperial Consort Wei had slipped into her hometown accent. Realizing her mistake, she blushed in embarrassment and muttered defensively, “Well, no one else heard me anyway… But let’s talk about the real issue, Mother. Sit down.”
Once they were seated, Madam Qin anxiously asked, “What’s wrong? Doesn’t His Majesty still favor you? And didn’t you just give birth to a little prince?”
Imperial Consort Wei’s expression was tinged with resentment. “What love or favor? It’s all fake. There’s nothing more heartless than the imperial family!”
“Tsk, speak properly. What’s the point of being filled with complaints? Can that solve anything?” Madam Qin advised.
Imperial Consort Wei took a deep breath to compose herself before recounting, in detail, how she had been neglected in the past few months—so much so that she hadn’t even been granted an audience with the Emperor.
Madam Qin frowned deeply. “That can’t be. I saw you even after childbirth—you’re still as beautiful as ever. If His Majesty didn’t grow tired of you then, why would he suddenly do so now?”
Her expression shifted slightly, and she leaned in close, whispering in her daughter’s ear, “Could it be that… he’s not functioning properly in that area?”
“…What area?” Imperial Consort Wei looked at her in confusion.
“Ahem! You know… that area! Men, once they reach a certain age…” Madam Qin coughed, clearly uneasy. Gossiping about her own son-in-law and grandson—no less than the Emperor himself—made her feel guilty and apprehensive. If they weren’t alone in a private room, she wouldn’t have dared to say it.
Imperial Consort Wei finally understood, looking even more embarrassed than her mother. “Oh, Mother, what nonsense are you saying? His Majesty is perfectly fine!” Yet, as she spoke, she bit her lip in frustration and added, “He’s just so cold and uninterested. I don’t even know how to describe it… It’s as if his mind is completely absent from the harem.”
“His Majesty is burdened with the affairs of the state. He isn’t an ordinary husband. As his consort, you must learn to accept this,” Madam Qin said.
Imperial Consort Wei sighed. “He is indeed busy, but in the past, he would at least visit Yongning Palace two or three times a month. Even if he didn’t stay the night, at least he made an effort for appearance’s sake, so I could still hold my head high in the palace. But now? Even when he wants to see Zhao Er, he simply has the Momo bring him to Yangxin Hall.”
“What about the other consorts? And has there been anyone new in the palace?”
“Consort Shu, Consort Xian, and Consort Hui are treated even colder than I am. As for new people, there hasn’t been a draft in years. Where would any newcomers come from?”
Madam Qin had no solution for this and could only offer more words of comfort. “Some men are like this—ambitious and unwilling to be distracted by romance. They love their empire more than they love beauty. As the Emperor, he carries the burden of ruling over millions. If he can still devote time to the harem, that’s a blessing for his consorts; if he cannot, they can only endure and wait.”
Imperial Consort Wei choked up. “But how long am I supposed to endure? Before I entered the palace, you and Aunt Empress Dowager assured me that, with my youth and beauty, I would be greatly favored, elevating the Wei family to prominence. Aunt also said that as long as I listened to her in the palace, she would support me and help me bear a royal heir…”
“But you have already borne a royal heir,” Madam Qin said, her expression calm. “Since Zhu Helin’s birth, your son is the first and only prince in the palace! The most important goal has already been achieved. My efforts, along with your aunt’s, were not in vain. You should have no grievances toward us.”
“Besides, being favored is just an additional advantage. Even if His Majesty no longer dotes on you, he hasn’t favored any other consort either. So in reality, you’ve lost nothing and remain the esteemed Imperial Concubine. The only way to deal with an emperor is through obedience—attend to his needs with care and never act impulsively. Do you understand?”
Imperial Consort Wei pouted in frustration but nodded reluctantly.
Madam Qin patted her hand reassuringly. But after a moment, Imperial Consort Wei frowned again and muttered, “I suspect that the one His Majesty wishes to favor may not be a consort at all—or even a woman inside or outside the palace.”
Madam Qin was startled. “What?”
Imperial Consort Wei sneered. “Two days ago, His Majesty had a severe headache. I thought it would be a good opportunity to tend to him and regain favor. But Lanxi turned away all the consorts who came to visit. I didn’t even get a chance to see His Majesty. Later, I bribed a palace maid to send word. She said that His Majesty even dismissed the imperial physicians and saw only one person—Su Yan!”
“…Who?”
“Su Yan! Mother, have you forgotten? The very Su Twelve who nearly ruined Second Uncle!”
Madam Qin’s face darkened. “Him? Wasn’t he banished from the capital? How is he back?”
“Not only is he back, but he’s also doing exceptionally well. First, he personally attended to His Majesty’s illness, and as if using some sorcery, His Majesty’s headache mysteriously disappeared. Then, immediately after, he went to the Eastern Palace and even stayed the night! Mother, tell me—Zhu Helin is already fourteen or fifteen, old enough to understand such matters. He’ll be getting married in a couple of years. Yet he’s spending the night with a young and bewitching official, and His Majesty doesn’t intervene?”
Madam Qin pondered for a moment before slamming the table and declaring, “This is no ordinary troublemaker. This is an enchantress—a Su Daji in the flesh!”
Imperial Consort Wei nodded fervently. “I think so too! He’s nothing but a disaster. As long as he remains, the Wei family will never have peace.”
“But the problem is, both His Majesty and the Crown Prince are protecting him. If we act openly, he may be exiled again but will surely return. If we strike in the shadows, look at what happened to your uncle.”
“Are you saying that the prestigious Wei family—three noble marquises—can do nothing against a mere junior official?”
Madam Qin thought for a moment before replying, “I need to discuss this with your Father.”
A flicker of disdain flashed through Imperial Consort Wei’s eyes. “My Father? What can he possibly come up with?”
Madam Qin replied, “Your Father may not be the best strategist, but your eldest brother recently introduced him to a military advisor—a brilliant man, renowned in Qingzhou.”
An advisor from their homeland carried an inherent sense of trustworthiness. Madam Qin had personally tested this man several times and was thoroughly impressed. He was exceptionally intelligent, knowledgeable in everything from astronomy to philosophy, and a master tactician.
Imperial Consort Wei, however, remained skeptical. “Older Brother is an honest fool. What kind of capable advisor could he find?”
Changning Marquis Wei Que was the son of Wei Yan’s late first wife and was, therefore, Imperial Consort Wei’s half-brother. The two had never been close. Imperial Consort Wei prided herself on her intelligence and beauty and had little regard for her brother’s straightforward and earnest nature.
“But this time, he made the right choice,” Madam Qin said as she rose. “I will tell your Father everything you just shared and discuss it with Teacher He.”
“Teacher He?”
“Yes. He is a devout Buddhist and calls himself ‘Cloud Crane Hermit.’ People refer to him as the ‘White Crane of the Clouds,’ so he is often called Master He.”
Imperial Consort Wei barely registered the name and didn’t think much of it. She got up, stretched, and said, “Then Mother and Father can discuss it at your leisure. I’m going back to rest.”
Madam Qin smiled, “I’ll have a maid bring someone to your chambers later.”
Imperial Consort Wei was startled. “Who? Not that Teacher He, surely!”
“Don’t say such ridiculous things! Do you think I, at my age, don’t understand the rules of propriety? It’s Ruan Hongjiao, a renowned courtesan of the capital. She’ll teach you some arts of seduction to help you win back the Emperor’s heart.”
Madam Qin left, and Imperial Consort Wei muttered behind her, “A noble lady, a future empress, learning the tricks of courtesans—how disgraceful.” But despite her complaints, she was a little tempted and returned to her chambers with her maid.
—
At dusk, Yu Wang returned from the Heavenly Works Academy and ordered dinner to be served.
Seeing his master in good spirits—perhaps even with a touch of elation—Yu Wang’s changshi, Cui Ti, took the opportunity to consult him on arrangements for the New Year, including tribute to the palace, formal acknowledgments, and external banquets.
Yu Wang found these mundane affairs tedious and waved a hand dismissively. “Let the changshis decide among themselves.”
Cui Ti nodded and then reported, “With the New Year approaching, we’ve recruited new servants. Among them, some martial artists have applied to serve as guards. Coincidentally, a few of our current guards have retired due to illness or mourning obligations, so these new recruits could fill the vacancies.”
The number of guards allowed in royal residences was strictly regulated and had been gradually reduced over the years. A feudal prince like Yu Wang could retain a maximum of three hundred guards, while a qin wang could have five hundred. The imperial court had also established the “Command Office for Royal Guards” to oversee the security forces of the princes and prevent them from growing too powerful.
Compared to the frontier lords of the early dynasty, who commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, this was a paltry number.
When Yu Wang was recalled from his fief in Great Tong and placed under strict supervision in the capital, his six-thousand-strong Jingbei Army, stirred by resentment among some officers, nearly mutinied in protest of his removal. Fortunately, Yu Wang acted swiftly, quelling the unrest before it could spread to the court.
Otherwise, even the five hundred guards he was allowed now might have been taken from him.
In the end, he brought only a few hundred of his most loyal soldiers back to the capital, resigning himself to ten years as a powerless Wangye. Among them was Han Ben, once a mere messenger he had saved from the battlefield, now the captain of his guards.
It was also Han Ben who had physically blocked his path when, in a fit of desperation, he had considered recklessly fleeing beyond the capital’s boundaries.
Yu Wang instructed, “Let Han Ben handle the selection. Pass on my words—‘Raise the standards, quality over quantity.’”
Cui Ti acknowledged the order and withdrew.
After dinner, Yu Wang headed to the training grounds, only to find a large crowd gathered. As he approached, he overheard the guards animatedly discussing a match.
“That kid—looks delicate, but he fights ruthlessly. He’s holding his own against Captain Han!”
“You’re exaggerating. Captain Han must be going easy on him.”
“Why? Because he looks young and handsome? Ha!”
“Come on, Ironface Han isn’t the type to go easy on anyone. Unlike you.”
“Hey, laugh all you want, but I think it’s the other way around. The new kid is the one holding back. He had plenty of chances to end it decisively but let them slip. Maybe he’s afraid of embarrassing the captain?”
“Nah, I think he just hesitated between old and new moves, missed his moment.”
“…Sounds like an interesting fight.” Yu Wang spoke up.
One of the guards answered without thinking, “Yeah, pretty good match. I bet on Captain Han to win. What about you?”
Yu Wang chuckled. “I’m not betting on either. Neither of them will win.”
“How could that—” The guard turned, only to realize who he was talking to. He stiffened. “Wangye—”
Yu Wang casually placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from bowing, and leaned against two of the guards, watching the match with amusement.
In the ring, Han Ben and the young recruit exchanged a powerful palm strike, both forced back several paces. Han Ben steadied himself, pressing a hand to his chest to calm the surge of his internal energy, and grinned. “Not bad, kid.”
The young man, barely past twenty, was of average build with a fresh, boyish face. A small crescent-shaped dimple marked his left cheek, making his smile particularly charming. He cupped his hands respectfully. “The captain was kind, careful not to hurt me. I was just lucky to last a bit longer.”
Han Ben asked, “What’s your name?”
The youth replied, “Captain, my name is Yin Fu.”
“What’s your weapon of choice?”
“Captain, I practice my family’s Five Ding Mountain-Splitting Palm.”
“—No,” a deep, commanding voice interrupted from the crowd. A tall figure stepped forward. “You use a short sword. About a foot long.”
Han Ben immediately knelt on one knee. “Your Highness.”
Yin Fu seemed momentarily surprised but quickly adjusted, following suit. “This humble one greets Yu Wang.”
Yu Wang instructed Han Ben, “Bring him a short sword.”
Then, he casually grabbed a wooden baton from a nearby guard and said to Yin Fu, “Show me your best. No holding back. If you can’t last three moves, get lost—I don’t keep useless men.”
Han Ben knew at once that Yu Wang had seen through Yin Fu’s earlier restraint and wanted to push him to his limits. Setting a three-move challenge meant he was serious—had this been a real battle, mounted and armed with his lance, Yu Wang could likely dispatch anyone present within three strikes.
Yin Fu took the sword, his face turning solemn. He fought with all his might, managing to last ten moves before his sword was finally knocked from his grasp.
Yu Wang, having gauged his skill, demanded, “You may have trained in palm techniques as a child, but you later switched to the sword—a sword meant for killing. What’s your real background?”
Clutching his injured wrist, Yin Fu’s expression turned grim as he knelt. “This humble one was born into a martial family. In my youth, my family was slaughtered by assassins from the Hidden Sword Sect. With no choice but to survive, I joined another school and learned the sword, hoping to one day take revenge. But before I could act, the Hidden Sword Sect was wiped out by the imperial court. My vengeance was fulfilled, yet I had nowhere to go. Without a trade or livelihood, I came here seeking a place to make a living.”
He then named the sect and its master—a second-tier sword school in the martial world.
Yu Wang nodded toward Han Ben. Han Ben understood—he was to verify Yin Fu’s story. Only if his background checked out would he be allowed to stay.
Yin Fu bowed his head. “I humbly beg Wangye to take me in.”
Yu Wang tossed the wooden staff aside indifferently. “You may stay. If your identity proves true, you can serve as a household guard.”
Yin Fu was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude repeatedly.
“This one’s yours,” Yu Wang told Han Ben.
Then he turned to the other guards and cursed, “Get back to your duties! Do I keep you around just to gawk? Useless lot!”
The guards, used to his scolding, grinned and scattered.
Yu Wang stood alone in the now-empty training ground.
As Han Ben led Yin Fu away, Yin Fu glanced back toward the field. In the flickering firelight, the once-glorious general stood solitary, his long shadow stretching into a deep, abyssal black.
Yin Fu pressed his lips together, then turned and walked away, disappearing through the moon gate.
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