“Look, look! The gods are writing in the sky!” A young child tugged at his mother’s sleeve, pointing upward with a shout.
Countless people looked up at the night sky, stunned by the magnificent sight of four brilliant characters. Though the fireworks would soon fade, the image would be forever etched in the minds of all who witnessed it.
“How many ‘Sky-Rising Fire’ did they have to light at once for that?”
“They had to be arranged on the ground in reverse, like woodblock printing, or the characters wouldn’t display correctly in the air.”
An official stroked his beard and laughed, “‘Peaceful seas and clear rivers, harmonious times and abundant years.’ A fine omen for a prosperous era, hahaha! I wonder which department inside the palace came up with this—such clever thinking!”
An attending eunuch replied, “It was His Majesty’s personal decree.”
“The Emperor is truly wise. Using men as his brush, fireworks as his ink, to write upon the heavens and offer prayers for the realm—such devotion is sure to move the gods and bless our nation with peace and prosperity.”
More officials echoed: “Indeed, indeed! Long live His Majesty, long live, ten thousand years!”
Court diarist Linghu gazed at the charred remains of the fireworks on the ground and murmured, “Peaceful seas and clear rivers… Beautiful phrase, but it feels oddly familiar.”
Censor Jia Gongji chuckled, “You must write too many daily reports—every word probably looks familiar now. By the way, where’s His Majesty gone? Why aren’t you in attendance?”
Linghu glanced at the nearby tower gates and said, “The Emperor prefers quiet and instructed us not to follow. He wanted to enjoy the lanterns in peace. I’m not even sure which tower he’s gone up.”
“All the better! No work talk today—come, let’s go see the lights!”
As they turned around, they were startled to find Yu Wang silently standing behind them. They quickly bowed, “A thousand years to Your Highness.”
Dressed in brocade and a golden crown, Yu Wang cradled his little heir, who was licking a sugar figurine. His expression was hidden in the flicker of firelight and shadows. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
“Papa, papa! It’s gone….” The child’s sugar figurine had fallen to the ground. He wailed, “Gone, gone!”
Yu Wang stopped, looking down at his son. The little one’s face crumpled with sorrow as he stared at the shattered treat on the ground.
“It’s lost,” Yu Wang said after a pause. “Even if we picked it back up, it’d be dirty and broken—not fit to eat.”
“But I want my candy man…” the child cried louder.
“This one can’t be eaten anymore.” Yu Wang patted his head. “I’ll buy you a new one.”
“Will it be the same as this one?”
Yu Wang nodded. “I’ll ask the seller to make one just like it. We’ll start over from the beginning, okay?”
The boy instantly stopped crying and smiled again.
Lifting his son high, Yu Wang nuzzled his face into the child’s robes, silently pressing down the storm surging in his chest. The past is gone. Then let’s begin again—from the start, with something brand new.
The boy hugged his Father’s head and chirped, “Let’s go, Papa! New candy man!”
—
With a loud crack, the railing in Shen Qi’s hand snapped in two.
His subordinates had still been marveling at the word-fireworks when they heard the noise and turned in alarm. “…Sir, is something wrong? Please give your orders!”
Shen Qi clenched his jaw, his face dark as a brewing storm. Without a word, he strode off the wooden bridge, leaving his confused men behind.
He walked swiftly along the riverside toward where the fireworks had launched—not to the square before the Meridian Gate, but to one of the nearby towers with the best view.
“Stop right there!” came a cold voice from the side.
Shen Qi turned, hand on his sword. There, sitting on the stone steps by the river, was Jinghong Zhui, holding a red lotus lantern. A white lotus lantern already floated out on the water, a folded talisman inside its flame—a ritual for the dead.
Further down, countless lanterns lit the dark waters. Jinghong Zhui’s face, illuminated by the flame, was still as sharp as a blade.
He carefully unfolded the crumpled lotus petals and placed the lantern on the water, then stood up. “You’re radiating killing intent—where are you going?”
“What’s it to you?” Shen Qi had long harbored murderous thoughts toward Jinghong Zhui, but wasn’t in the mood for a fight.
He turned to leave—only to find Jinghong Zhui blocking his path in a flash.
“If it concerns the Lord, then it concerns me,” Jinghong Zhui said coolly. “I see the madness in your eyes. If you need to vent, do it somewhere else. Don’t take it out on the Lord.”
“You didn’t see the fireworks?”
“I saw them.”
“Can’t read?”
“…Peaceful seas and clear rivers!”
Shen Qi gave him a withering look. “The Lord you serve is named Yan, styled Qinghe. Those fireworks were a public declaration of love, can’t you tell? Boldly proclaiming ownership to the entire city, warning off anyone with ill intentions. Who else has that kind of power? Can’t you guess?”
Jinghong Zhui replied coldly, “So what if I can? He’s the Emperor. Don’t tell me you plan to challenge him directly.”
Shen Qi sneered. “Do you think I’m as brainless as you—a reckless mad dog? Any scheme must begin with understanding both yourself and your enemy. If you won’t even gather intel, then maybe Gao Shuo’s right—you’re only good for standing beside the Emperor’s wedding bed like a glorified coat rack.”
“Who is the enemy?” Jinghong Zhui asked. “Once, I thought it was you. Or Yu Wang. Or the Emperor and the Crown Prince.”
“And now?” Shen Qi mocked. “You see me as a comrade?”
“Now,” Jinghong Zhui said, “whoever stands in the way of Lord Su’s wishes is the enemy. If he wants to rise as a grand minister, anyone obstructing his path is the enemy. If he wants to retire in peace, anyone disturbing that peace is the enemy. Conversely, anyone useful to fulfilling his wishes—I must tolerate.”
“You tolerate me?” Shen Qi laughed bitterly. “Isn’t it me who’s been tolerating you, over and over again—for his sake?”
Jinghong Zhui nodded. “Yes. Lord Su has fallen for your poison. I had originally planned to find a chance to assassinate you as soon as we returned to the capital. But now I see—you’re useful to him. In official matters, you can be his helping hand; and in the eyes of those highborn nobles, you’re a perfect lightning rod to draw their fire.”
Shen Qi tugged at the corner of his mouth, letting out a cold and bloody-smelling chuckle. “Well, well. What a clever calculation. So you’re not just a block of wood after all. I underestimated you. You say all this in front of me—trying to propose an alliance?”
“Calling it an ‘alliance’ would be too generous. You and I don’t trust each other, and we find each other repulsive. Either of us might stab the other in the back at any time,” Jinghong Zhui said bluntly. “But at least for now, I can see you’re on Lord Su’s side.”
“Yu Wang humiliated the lord. He told me not to strike openly—so no matter how strong Yu Wang is, I’ll find a chance to strike from the shadows. As for the Crown Prince, he’s still young. The lord still looks at him with some elder-like fondness, and he seems manageable for now. The Emperor… I haven’t interacted with him enough to understand him. But at least for now, he values the lord’s talents. When the lord pursues his ambitions freely, there’s light in his eyes. But if one day that light is snuffed out—by the Emperor’s suspicion, suppression, or betrayal—then that’s the day I’ll act.”
He spoke a great deal in a flat tone, yet it stirred ripples in Shen Qi’s heart.
Shen Qi’s fingers brushed the metal studs on his blade’s hilt as if lost in thought. Finally, he said, “There’s one thing you said that’s true—whoever is Qinghe’s enemy is also mine.”
But there’s something else too—anyone who stands in the way of me being with him for life is my enemy. The Emperor, the Crown Prince, Yu Wang… and you, of course.
“A storm’s coming in the capital. Can’t you smell the earthy scent in the air?” Shen Qi rasped.
Jinghong Zhui paused, then recalled the elusive movements of Fuyin, the cryptic blood lotus symbol, the murdered envoy from the Oirat, and even the slander against the heir that had so angered Lord Su…
He slowly nodded.
“No matter who that storm targets, it will sweep over Qinghe. He’s standing too far at the front,” Shen Qi said.
“I will protect him,” Jinghong Zhui replied.
Shen Qi scoffed coldly, “If not for the Emperor guarding against me so tightly, it wouldn’t even be your turn.”
“He’s guarding more than just you,” Jinghong Zhui said. “There are four imperial guards stationed in the front hall—I had to climb through a window just to get in.”
The two of them fell into silence, seemingly sharing an unspoken understanding.
Jinghong Zhui frowned. “Will Lord Su… return home tonight?”
“Weren’t you pretending to be so generous? Why are you getting nervous now?” Shen Qi sneered again. “That’s why I have to go. As for you, keep floating your river lanterns. Even if you light a thousand, ten thousand of those red lights wishing for love, it’s nothing but wishful thinking.”
Jinghong Zhui retorted, “Even if it’s wishful thinking—I at least get to lie next to him and dream.”
Shen Qi’s face turned green instantly.
—-
Zhu Helin stood on the tower next to the Left Gate of the palace, holding out a hand as Fu Bao rushed over.
“Hand it over!”
Across the large plaza, the opposing tower beside the Right Gate was barely visible in outline. Even when fireworks lit the sky, one could only make out a vague shadow or two.
Fu Bao handed over a kui tong—a spyglass newly brought to the empire by a Western missionary not long ago.
Tube-shaped and collapsible, the kui tong had lenses on both ends and could be lengthened or shortened according to viewing distance. Not only could it observe celestial bodies, it could clearly bring objects from miles away into focus—hence, it was also known as a “telescope.”
Since only two had been brought into the country, both belonged to the palace and were extremely rare.
Zhu Helin raised it to his right eye and aimed toward the opposite tower. After a moment of careful observation, he suddenly slapped the railing in frustration.
“Afraid he’s cold, so you sent someone to give him more clothes—but why take off your own cloak to put on him?! How pretentious!”
Then he shouted, “From head to toe, even covering the face—what do you think you’re doing in there?!”
He practically stomped his feet in fury, tossing the kui tong aside. Fu Bao leapt forward in panic to catch it.
“That thing over there is what’s rare!” Zhu Helin fumed. “The cloak isn’t just covering him, it’s fluttering like a wave! Are you wrapping someone, or trying to catch fish? Have you ever seen anything like this?”
Fu Bao dared not speak and shook his head repeatedly.
“Shameless!” Zhu Helin cursed. “Just a moment ago, he was still making promises to me! And now he’s tossed me to the clouds! Shameless!”
Just as he was about to storm down the tower, Fu Bao suddenly screeched, “Young master! Look!”
“What is there to look at? I’m going blind from rage!” Zhu Helin roared.
Fu Bao pointed with a trembling finger toward the imperial palace. “F-fire… the palace is on fire!”
Zhu Helin froze, then turned to look. Flames were indeed blazing into the sky, though it was unclear which building was burning. He snatched the telescope back and extended it to its full length. A moment later, his voice cracked:
“—It’s Kunning Palace!”
“Royal Mother!” he cried out, clutching the spyglass as he nearly tumbled down the stairs of the tower.
“Young master, slow down!” Fu Bao shouted, chasing after him.
—-
Su Yan was kissed until his legs went weak and he was gasping for breath. He tried to retreat, but was captured again and again. Even when their lips briefly parted, they were sealed again. He let out a muffled whimper: “Y-Your Majesty… enough, please…”
The Emperor was like a burning house that had caught fire—once lit, there was no stopping the blaze. One hand held up the cloak, the other pressed against Su Yan’s back, as if trying to merge him into his own body.
“Not enough,” he panted, and then took Su Yan’s earlobe into his mouth, like a man in the heat of summer sucking on a piece of icy jade—only to feel the fire inside him grow stronger, the craving more desperate. “Hold on to me—tighter… good boy, come sit on my lap…”
Su Yan stumbled with him a few steps, bumping into a pillar, and slid down onto the low windowsill of a moon-shaped window.
The Emperor pulled him onto his lap. Something hard pressed up against him—Su Yan trembled in fear, pressing tightly against him, and clutched the Emperor’s shoulder in protest.
“No, Your Majesty, I don’t want…”
“Truly don’t want?” the Emperor guided his hand, pressing it down along his body—over his broad chest, firm abdomen, all the way down. “Or you just don’t want it here?”
Su Yan felt a little dizzy, as if his palm was touching a ball of tender yet searing fire. “I truly don’t want… to serve the Emperor with my looks. Your Majesty, please let me go…”
The Emperor sighed, “I’ve let you go many times already. But have you ever once let me go?”
Su Yan wanted to say more, but just then, a commotion rose from the foot of the watchtower, mixed with faint cries of “Fire! Fire!” He quickly steadied himself and said, “Your Majesty, something seems to be happening below. Allow me to go see and report back.”
The Emperor knew this time things would not progress further. He let out a long sigh and released his grip.
Su Yan threw off the cloak and scrambled off the Emperor’s lap in a hurry, nearly bumping his forehead against the window frame as he rushed to the battlements to look down.
The square below was calm, but a few palace attendants at the base of the tower stairs were shouting. Following the direction they pointed, Su Yan looked toward the palace—and saw a blaze of fire shooting into the sky.
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