Su Yan heard the gust of wind at his back and instinctively dove forward, bracing his hands on the ground and rolling in a perfect side-flip, dodging that first crushing blow.
The guard wielding the mace struck empty air, momentarily stunned: just a breath ago, this Su Shaoqing had been reciting poetry and standing tall like a hero who would never bend—yet now he was resorting to such a rough, ungainly trick, throwing all scholarly decorum to the ground?
Su Yan couldn’t care less about decorum. With this frail frame, one hit from the mace and his spine would be shattered. To stand and take it would be idiocy—dodging even once was a chance at life.
As the saying went: a desperate man can make blood flow five steps. Push him far enough, and he’d risk it all—he was only a few steps from the Empress Dowager. If worst came to worst, he’d seize the old woman as a hostage until help arrived. Fine—so he’d lose his office, abandon the Central Plains, take a junk across the strait and go open land in the Ryukyu islands.
He scrambled up, grabbed his robe hem, and charged up the steps. The Empress Dowager was still catching her breath, three or four palace maids clustered about her. Only Qiong Gu stood below the steps, relaying orders. Seeing him rush forward, she assumed he was fleeing in panic, and cried sharply: “Guards, seize him at once! Don’t let him crash into the Empress Dowager!”
The guards snapped out of their daze and swarmed toward Su Yan. One with long arms grabbed at his leg first, yanking downward. Su Yan curled up, shielding his head, tumbled down the steps, and bolted toward the Halberd Gate.
Just then, the guard with the mace caught up behind him, kicking him square in the back and sending him sprawling face-down on the stone. The Golden Mace came crashing down toward his skull.
Drawing on the reflexes honed on sports fields of his past life, Su Yan’s body exploded with speed and power beyond what he thought possible in a moment of life and death. But this body’s limits were narrow—he was already spent.
That kick to his back had driven air and blood from his lungs. His chest heaved, and a mouthful of blood sprayed across the stone, leaving it streaked in crimson.
Wind roared at his ears—he had no strength left to dodge. In despair, he closed his eyes and braced for the blow.
But another shrieking wind cut in from the front, sharp as a sonic crack. It seemed to graze right over his scalp, making it tingle.
Before he could open his eyes, he heard the guard behind him cry out in pain, then the resounding clang of the Golden Mace hitting the ground.
Su Yan, clutching his searing chest, gasped raggedly. Blood foamed into his throat, choking him into harsh coughs. Still, coughing and crawling, he forced himself toward the exit—until he slammed into a solid, warm embrace.
“Qinghe! Qinghe!”
…It was Yu Wang! Su Yan heard the familiar voice at his ear. His taut nerves slackened all at once. Clutching the other’s robe, he tried to speak, but only spat another mouthful of blood.
Yu Wang saw the dusty footprint stamped across the back of Su Yan’s robes, his face darkening. With a violent kick, he drove the mace-bearing guard back, nearly sending the man flying.
“Out of my way!” Yu Wang roared at the wavering Cining Palace guards. He turned and handed Su Yan to his own household guards rushing in from behind.
Then he picked up the Golden Mace, strode toward the imperial palanquin, gave only the briefest of salutes, and demanded bluntly: “Royal Mother, what is this? To wield the Golden Mace against a faultless, meritorious minister—are you abusing power to vent your spite?”
The Empress Dowager’s face flushed red, then white. She snapped: “Insolent! Is this how you speak to your Royal Mother? Get back to your own palace at once!”
But Yu Wang did not yield an inch: “If Royal Mother is angered by the punishment of the Wei family, that was His Majesty’s decree. Why vent it on an innocent official carrying out his orders? If word spreads, people will say the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are at odds—not only disgracing the imperial house, but leaving the court unsure whose will to follow. I beg Royal Mother to think twice.”
The Empress Dowager drew a deep breath, pressing down her rage, softening her tone slightly: “Cheng’er, this has nothing to do with the Wei family. What I sought to punish today is a fawning flatterer who deceives and seduces the ruler. Su Yan may look upright, but he is shameless, often slipping into the inner palace at night, entangling himself with the Emperor. Such a man, left unchecked, will be a calamity for both Emperor and state.”
Yu Wang frowned in open distaste: “Royal Mother, how can you say such things? Do you not know—he has been in office less than a year, yet his merits outstrip those old officials muddling away for decades! With a frail body but steadfast resolve, he has punished corrupt ministers, reformed the Embroidered Guard, founded the Heavenly Works Academy, foiled conspiracies and safeguarded foreign relations, overhauled horse administration, rooted out cults and pacified the capital. And such a pillar of the realm—you call him a treacherous flatterer?”
Su Yan stilled his coughs, his chest still aching, but turned his gaze in astonishment toward Yu Wang. He knows? Not only knows, but remembers each one clearly.
So, in Yu Wang’s heart, Su Qinghe was not merely a scholar of pleasing appearance and idle talk. His ambitions, his labors, his struggles—they had all been seen, and truly recognized.
The Empress Dowager choked for a moment, then said: “You are a prince of the realm—why would you know so much about a mere fourth-rank official, even going so far as to defend and praise him? I have long heard rumors that you have ‘confidants’ all across the court. This Su Yan is one of them, is he not? Now it seems the gossip is no lie… utterly shameless!”
Yu Wang replied sternly: “Royal Mother, please do not heed rumors. Your son and Su Shaoqing are perfectly innocent. There has never been any impropriety, not even half a step beyond the bounds.”
Su Yan: …
Su Yan: Oh my, utterly shameless.
The Empress Dowager slammed the armrest hard: “Get out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple! Or I’ll make you taste the lesson of this golden mace myself!”
Yu Wang lifted the hem of his robe, took the golden mace in both hands, and knelt before the Empress Dowager: “Your son is willing to accept your chastisement. But as for Su Yan—he couldn’t even withstand a single kick from a guard, let alone this mace. If Royal Mother insists on killing him, then forgive your son for being unfilial and disobeying.”
The Empress Dowager’s head throbbed with anger. Gritting her teeth, she said: “You have always acted willfully, but today you will not have your way. Attend! Take Yu Wang to the central hall and have him kneel before the late emperor’s spirit tablet!”
Yu Wang laughed: “Kneeling I can kneel, beating I can take. But before I go, this Prince’s guards must escort Su Yan away. Forgive me, Royal Mother.”
So enraged by this insolent son that her vision went dark, the Empress Dowager snatched the golden mace and lashed it down on Yu Wang’s shoulder. Yu Wang endured the blow without a change of expression, still smiling through the pain: “Royal Mother’s lesson is just. Your son has already turned over a new leaf—no more mingling with officials. I only beg that Royal Mother set an example for me, uphold fairness and integrity, and silence the world’s slander.”
Though the blow had not fallen on him, Su Yan felt as if he himself had taken it—he gasped in pain.
“This matter has nothing to do with Yu Wang—if the Empress Dowager wishes to punish someone, it should be your servant—” He tried to step forward, but Yu Wang turned and gave him a glare, at which the guards of his residence immediately dragged him back.
Seeing Yu Wang would protect Su Yan at all costs, the Empress Dowager raised the mace again but could not bring herself to strike. Instead, she flung it aside and delivered Yu Wang a stinging slap.
Qiong Gu, seeing the Empress Dowager’s eyes reddened and lips trembling, looking at once grieved, humiliated, and furious, quickly shouted at those below: “You guards of the Prince’s residence—do you intend to rebel? Can you not tell whether it is the Empress Dowager’s command you follow, or Yu Wang’s?”
The guards looked toward Yu Wang, uncertain.
Then a sharp, clear voice rang out: “Then perhaps Qiong Gu should say first—ought we obey the Empress Dowager’s command, or His Majesty the Emperor’s decree?”
Lan Xi’s voice… The Emperor?!
At the sound, Su Yan turned his head, and sure enough, saw Emperor Jinglong striding in from outside the halberd gate, accompanied by eunuchs and imperial guards.
The Emperor had not come by palanquin; likely he had galloped from the palace. His normally composed and refined gait was now noticeably hurried.
As he passed Su Yan, he only cast him a quick glance. But on seeing the specks of blood staining Su Yan’s collar, his brow furrowed—then he walked past.
“Peace to Royal Mother.” The Emperor ascended the steps alone and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager drew a deep breath: “Has the Emperor also come to reproach me?”
“Your son would not dare. I only have a matter to report to Royal Mother.” The Emperor gestured toward the side hall behind her. “May I ask Royal Mother to enter the hall with me and discuss in detail.”
The Empress Dowager could scold Yu Wang before the crowd, but she did not wish to clash with the Emperor. Rising from her couch, she let Qiong Gu support her toward the hall.
The doors closed behind them, shutting Royal Mother and son into private conversation under the fading glow of dusk.
Yu Wang seized the chance to rise, hurrying down the steps to Su Yan’s side, asking with concern: “Are you badly hurt? Where does it still hurt?”
The hammering pain in Su Yan’s chest had now eased into a queasy, suffocating ache. Forcing a smile, he said: “I’m all right.”
Yu Wang looked around—two imperial physicians were cowering under the eaves, hoping to stay clear. He beckoned them over.
Summoned by name, the physicians had no choice but to come and examine Su Yan.
“This time it truly is internal injury,” one of them said helplessly. “That kick to the back shook the organs, the impact stirred the heart channels and caused the spitting of blood.”
Seeing Yu Wang’s face change, he hurried to add: “But the injury is not too serious. The two of us will consult and prescribe a formula to disperse the blood stasis externally and nourish the organs within. Rest a few days and he will recover.”
The physicians went off to write the prescription. Yu Wang had a chair brought over for Su Yan to sit and catch his breath.
Su Yan rinsed the taste of blood from his mouth, drank a little hot tea, and felt much better. He asked: “How did Your Highness know and rush here?”
Yu Wang said: “Thanks to your little servant’s quick wit. Sensing my Royal Mother’s summons boded ill, the moment you left they went out to seek help. Shen Qi was not home, they dared not approach the palace, so the only one left was me. My residence in Chengqing Ward is closer to your home in Huanghua Ward, and Su Xiaobei once came delivering medicinal herbs to my house under my orders. He had gotten to know the gatekeepers, so they quickly brought word to me.”
“I galloped to the Ancestral Temple and arrived just in time to see you kicked to the ground. In desperation I threw my whip, infused with inner strength, and knocked the mace from the guard’s hand.”
Su Yan was deeply grateful: “If not for Your Highness’s timely arrival and rescue, this humble servant’s life would have ended here today.”
Yu Wang sighed: “I did not expect Royal Mother to… enough. No use saying more. Let us see how my elder brother will handle this.”
—
Inside the side hall, the Emperor personally helped the Empress Dowager to sit.
Once seated, she brushed his hand aside and said coldly: “Speak—are you here to plead for that Su Twelve, or to defy and affront me like your brother?”
“Royal Mother, you wrong me. I asked you here not on Su Yan’s account, but for another matter.” The Emperor took a scroll of silk from his breast and handed it over. “May Royal Mother take a look.”
The Empress Dowager accepted it with a trace of doubt. Just as she unrolled it, a string of flying-phoenix pendants slipped from within.
From the length, it was a woman’s waist ornament meant to weigh down her skirts. From the style, only concubines of the harem were permitted to wear it. The more the Empress Dowager looked, the more familiar it seemed—suddenly she remembered:
“I recall on Wei Lan’s birthday, the Western Regions had just sent tribute of pendant ornaments. She liked the phoenix motif, and chose this very string for herself. What does the Emperor mean by this?”
Emperor Jinglong gestured for her to keep looking at the scroll: “These two items were both found in the bedchamber of Mister He of the Void Sect, a guest at Marquis Xianan’s residence.”
At a glance, the Empress Dowager was first bewildered, then aghast, and finally overcome with uncontrollable rage—
She suddenly crumpled the diagram into a ball and hurled it to the ground, her face dark as iron, lips trembling.
The Emperor gently rubbed her back, persuading: “Royal Mother, calm your anger. Take care of your health.”
The Empress Dowager’s crimson lips twitched beyond her control, twisting into pained arcs again and again, yet no words came.
After a long time, she collapsed back into her chair with a long, anguished sigh: “That wretched woman… I treated her with such favor, and she repays me by cutting my flesh and carving out my heart!”
“The Wei woman has lost her chastity and virtue. My rage has cooled, but my heart is frozen with disappointment. I never wish to see her again. If not for Zhao’er’s sake—”
The Empress Dowager suddenly clutched the Emperor’s hand in horror: “Zhao’er couldn’t possibly…” She shook her head repeatedly. “It can’t be, it can’t be.”
The Emperor said: “I had intended to proclaim her crimes to the world, but for Zhao’er’s sake—lest he suffer ridicule in future—I held my tongue. Instead, I ordered Su Yan to search the two Wei mansions. As expected, they seized the Camp Leader of the Seven Kill Camp and Mister He. The Camp Leader was trapped by Yu Wang, failed to break out, and killed himself in shame. Mister He was taken in a prison cart, but his comrades rescued him; the Embroidered Guards are in pursuit.”
The Empress Dowager drew in a sharp breath: “So perilous last night? With so many guards, why did Cheng’er have to act himself? What if he had been injured!”
“Yu Wang is skilled and bold. Rather, it was Su Yan—though a scholar without strength to bind a chicken, he dared to lead troops against the enemy, commanding with composure. I confess I was quite surprised.” The Emperor said “surprised,” but inwardly, he smiled.
At the mention of Su Yan, the Empress Dowager’s anger flared again, yet compared with Noble Consort Wei’s adultery, it was already muted. Her face went pale, then dark, then pale again. At last she ground her teeth: “Have Wei Lan put to death. Wei Yan and Wei Jun, who raised their daughter so poorly as to bring a wolf into the house, should be thrown into prison!”
Up to this moment, all of her fury stemmed from Noble Consort Wei’s infidelity. Even in punishing the Wei family, she mentioned nothing of their crimes against the state. The Emperor noted this and felt a deeper chill in his heart. He said lightly: “Zhao’er is not yet one year old.”
The Empress Dowager reconsidered and changed her words: “Then confine her to the Cold Palace first.”
The Emperor nodded: “From this day, Yongning Palace is sealed. Zhao’er will be sent to Consort Shu to be raised under her care.”
The Empress Dowager wanted to take her beloved grandson into Cining Palace, but at the thought of his Mother’s disgrace, her heart felt blocked. She said nothing, tacitly agreeing.
The Emperor sighed: “If this matter spreads, my face too will lose all honor.”
The Empress Dowager consoled: “Just say the Wei woman was deposed for defying the imperial will and bullying the harem.”
“As for how to deal with Wei Yan and Wei Jun… the matter is weighty, we’ll decide later.” She let out a long sigh, as if she had aged ten years in a moment, her splendid makeup unable to hide her weariness and desolation.
The Emperor, sensing the moment was ripe, said: “Su Yan is a man of talent and courage. He serves me well. I beg a favor from Royal Mother.”
The Empress Dowager, battered and weary, waved her hand: “I’ve no mind to take his dog life, but he spoke rudely to me, and must be punished. Send him out of the capital to some remote place as a minor official. I don’t want to see him again.”
The Emperor was silent a moment, then said: “I will see him off, Royal Mother, rest assured.”
The Empress Dowager rose, and together with the Emperor opened the hall doors. She instructed Qiong Gu: “Back to Cining Palace.”
Qiong Gu looked at her with doubt but quickly lowered her gaze and obeyed.
From her long years serving the Empress Dowager, she knew her mistress’ love and hate were extreme, her actions guided solely by favor and disfavor, stubborn and forceful by nature, never one to change her mind. For her to let off Su Yan, who had provoked her wrath so thoroughly, was truly inconceivable.
But Qiong Gu also knew that loose words brought disaster. She only supported the Empress Dowager silently onto the phoenix palanquin, and with the guards escorting, they departed the Ancestral Temple.
Yu Wang leaned toward the Emperor and asked: “What did elder brother say, that made Royal Mother suddenly drop the matter?”
The Emperor cast him a glance: “I told her you had been poisoned, and as long as you lived, you would need a daily antidote to survive.”
Yu Wang: …
So elder brother could crack cold jokes too—utterly shocking!
Yu Wang: “Why not say he’s carrying my child, and beg Royal Mother to spare him for the sake of her unborn grandchild—”
The Emperor clenched his teeth and shoved Yu Wang down the steps by the back of his neck: “Scram!”
Yu Wang’s martial skill was keen; a few steps couldn’t harm him. But it startled Su Yan, who thought he was provoking the Emperor again out of spite. He hurried forward to bow and said: “Your Majesty’s forbearance, forgiving this servant’s disrespect toward the Empress Dowager—I am profoundly grateful.”
The Emperor lowered his gaze and looked at him for a long while. His expression was calm, but his eyes were like a lake under the moon, shimmering with complex, unspeakable light. At last he only said: “Go back and tend your wounds well.” Then he too returned to the palace.
Su Yan was still pondering—what hidden meaning lay in the Emperor’s seemingly cool attitude.
Yu Wang took the chance to sling an arm around his shoulder, half holding, half embracing him as they left the temple together, asking as they walked: “I haven’t seen my Royal Mother that furious in years. What words of disrespect did you fling at her? Tell me, let me hear.”
Su Yan shot him a glare: “I thought I was about to die—what wouldn’t I dare say? But you, must you gossip about even this? Are you sure you’re really her son?”
“Of course I am. But being her son doesn’t stop me from… ha! Wait—you didn’t…” Yu Wang’s eyes widened in shock and admiration. “Did you actually speak out the reply from my letter? Truly say it aloud?”
Su Yan kept a stony face, silent.
Yu Wang chuckled low: “I thought so. Every time I offend you, you curse like mad, swearing at my ancestors—it’s wonderfully fiery.”
Su Yan felt a little embarrassed, but said stiffly: “That’s not being fiery, that’s called sincerity of character.”
Yu Wang leaned close to his ear and whispered: “I don’t mind. In bed, the harsher you curse, the more it rouses me. Do you want to try again?”
Su Yan: …
He felt offended, yet it also seemed like nothing more than banter between close friends—it was hard to define whether it counted as harassment.
Su Yan: “Go to h*ll!”
